2008 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,292 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
70,093 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 828 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 809 of 1,292 complaints (62.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 607 | 47.0% |
| Braking behavior | 266 | 20.6% |
| Engine operation | 175 | 13.5% |
| Steering behavior | 100 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 68 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 809 |
| Air Bags | 288 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 126 |
| Engine | 117 |
| Service Brakes | 74 |
| Steering | 53 |
| Power Train | 49 |
| Exterior Lighting | 43 |
Electrical System: 809; Air Bags: 288; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 126; Engine: 117; Service Brakes: 74; Steering: 53; Power Train: 49; Exterior Lighting: 43
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 136 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 134 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 156 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 176 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 172 |
| 150,000 and above | 54 |
Under 25,000: 136; 25,000 to 49,999: 134; 50,000 to 74,999: 156; 75,000 to 99,999: 176; 100,000 to 149,999: 172; 150,000 and above: 54
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (176). 464 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 46 |
| 2010 | 110 |
| 2011 | 88 |
| 2012 | 78 |
| 2013 | 48 |
| 2014 | 133 |
| 2015 | 497 |
| 2016 | 162 |
| 2017 | 36 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2008: 24; 2009: 46; 2010: 110; 2011: 88; 2012: 78; 2013: 48; 2014: 133; 2015: 497; 2016: 162; 2017: 36; 2018: 20; 2019: 19; 2020: 10; 2021: 9; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 607 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 266 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 175 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10240203 · 2008-08-29 (August 29, 2008)
I HAVE A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE 2008 WITH 16,XXX MILES ON IT. I HAVE PUT LESS THAN 4,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. 1) THE VEHICLE FIRST FAILED TO START IN THE FIRST PART OF JULY, CALLED CHRYSLER TO COME FOR A BOOST AS IT APPEAR BATTERY HAD GONE OUT, WHEN SERVICE ARRIVED IN PARKING LOT AT WORK, THE VEHICLE STARTED. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO GATOR CHRYSLER IN MELBOURNE, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. 2) VEHICLE WOULD NOT START (BELIEVE THE DATE WAS JULY 30TH). VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GATOR CHRY…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,051 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242509 · 2008-09-16 (September 16, 2008)
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR NEARLY 12 HOURS. A FIRE STARTED NEAR OR BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 484 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238112 · 2008-08-14 (August 14, 2008)
DRIVING ON I96 NEAR COOPERSVILLE MICHIGAN, WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ON. A SLOWER VEHICLE WAS AHEAD OF ME SO I HAD TO BRAKE TO STOP THE CRUISE FUNCTION. IT DID NOT DIS-ENGAGE. I HAD TO PULL OUT IN FRONT OF A FASTER VEHICLE TO MY LEFT, IN THE FAST LANE AND ACCELERATE. AT THAT POINT IT FULLY ACCELERATED. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. HEAVILY APPLYING THE BRAKE DID NOT DIS-ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL OR STOP THE THROTTLE FROM BEING FULLY ENGAGED. PULLED VEHICLE TO SHOULDER, 7,000 RPM. TURN OFF KEY TO SHUT OFF. POLICE IN COOPERSVILL…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245582 · 2008-10-15 (October 15, 2008)
POOR TRANSMISSION DESIGN ROBERT C HODGKISS GENTLEMEN: I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND WHILE GOING DOWN A LONG STEEP SECTION OF ROADWAY I DOWN SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLOW THE VAN DOWN BUT BEING SUCH A STEEP GRADE THE VAN INCREASED SPEED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR, ENDING UP FREE WHEELING, LEAVING ONLY THE BREAKS TO SLOW THE VAN DOWN. (IF YOU ARE GOING TO FAST TO START WITH IT WON?T EVEN DOWN SHIFT). NOW I ASKED THE MECHA…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249974 · 2008-11-26 (November 26, 2008)
IN MARCH 2008, I PURCHASE A NEW 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. WHEN DRIVING, ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE VAN WILL STALL. IT WILL IMMEDIATELY RESTART. HOWEVER, NO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WILL WORK. IE: HEADLIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, BLOWER MOTOR, RADIO ETC. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR AND ON OCTOBER 3. 2008. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE THE SAME DAY AND STATED THEY RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER AND THAT SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON OCTOBER …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,859 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296314 · 2009-12-17 (December 17, 2009)
THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS A GOOD CAR WHEN IT WANTS TO BE. WE BOUGHT IT THINKING IT WOULD BE A GOOD CAR FOR THE KIDS AND TURNED OUT TO BE A LEMON. TWO WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE RUNNING MID DAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALER BECAUSE EVERYTIME I STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WOULD STALL. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I PICKED IT UP AND TOOK IT HOME. ON THE WAY HOME IN THE HOT PART OF THE DAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY. I …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10296314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266063 · 2009-04-20 (April 20, 2009)
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A STRIP MALL, MY DRIVERS SIDE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CONTACT OF ANY KIND WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT ON THE PAVEMENT. MY RIGHT ARM WAS INJURED WITH LACERATIONS AND CONTUSIONS, ALTHOUGH NOT SERIOUS ENOUGH TO SEE A DOCTOR. THE NEXT DAY, I TOOK IT INTO THE DODGE DEALER FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A WARRANTY REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT LOOKED TO HIM LIKE IT HAD A FRONT IMPACT. I COULDN'T SEE ANY DAMAGE OR INDICATION OF AN IMPACT , BUT HE WAS QUITE SURE AND SUGGESTED I CALL MY I…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266724 · 2009-04-25 (April 25, 2009)
02/23/2009- PURCHASED 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN- ON DAY OF PURCHASE I ASKED WHY BRAKES MADE A BARKING SOUND,WAS TOLD BECAUSE IT SAT IN PARKING LOT FOR A WHILE. ODOMETER-19230THE NEXT DAY THE VAN SHUT ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I COULD STEER AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT I COULDN'T ACCELERATE AND ALL INSTRUMENT LIGHTING WAS OFF.I CALLED SALE AUTO MALL THE PLACE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID CALL BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. SOMETIME IN MARCH TOOK IT BECAUSE THE STEERING KEEP PULLING ME TOWARDS THE CURB. THE SERVICE MANAGER OF SALE AUTO MA…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,034 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216935 · 2008-02-04 (February 4, 2008)
CAR WAS PUT INTO DRIVE, AS I STARTED TO DRIVE, I NOTICED THE ENGINE RACING. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW IT WAS IN FIRST GEAR. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RACED, I ENGAGED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN AND IT SLAMMED INTO DRIVE AND SPUN THE WHEELS FOR A MOMENT THEN DROVE NORMALLY. IT HAS BEEN ACCELERATING WHILE IN DRIVE ON ITS OWN ALSO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 645 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231698 · 2008-06-20 (June 20, 2008)
2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WAS STUCK IN GEAR AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. I HAD TO EXIT TO SIDE OF ROAD, SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTART. VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING BUT THEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A BURNING SMELL. DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT VEHICLE AND CLEARED CODES AND REPROGRAMMED PCM. DEALER STATED CODES WERE RELATED TO TRANSMISSION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,085 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231698 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245395 · 2008-10-14 (October 14, 2008)
2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THE CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING,OCCASIONALLY WON'T SHIFT AFTER DYING AND RESTARTING. ALL WARNING LIGHTS GO ON AND SOMETIMES STAY ON OR FLASH ON AND OFF. HAVE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. ALSO HAD SLIDING DOORS OPEN ON THEIR OWN HAD THAT FIXED THEN THEY WOULDN'T CLOSE WITH BACK ACCESS BUTTON, APPARENTLY CAUSED BY A LOOSE WIRE HAD THAT REPAIRED, THEN REAR BUMPER WARPED SO BACK DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN, HAD TO TAKE IT IN TO HAVE THAT FIXED, BASICALLY MY CAR IS IN FOR REPAIR MOST OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,154 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10408772 · 2011-06-24 (June 24, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FOUR SECOND DELAY BEFORE STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT SUGGESTED A PROPER REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10408772 at NHTSA ↗