U.S. public vehicle records

Dodge GRAND CARAVAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

12,329 owner complaints analyzed

67 distinct recall campaigns

72,282 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 to 2020 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 7,049 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3,851 of 12,329 complaints (31.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	2,304	18.7%
Braking behavior	1,494	12.1%
Transmission and shifting	1,161	9.4%
Engine operation	1,089	8.8%
Steering behavior	1,073	8.7%
Fuel system concerns	525	4.3%

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.

Electrical System

3,851

Air Bags

1,374

Engine

1,023

Unknown Or Other

922

Power Train

714

Structure:Body

559

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

528

Fuel/Propulsion System

514

Electrical System: 3,851; Air Bags: 1,374; Engine: 1,023; Unknown Or Other: 922; Power Train: 714; Structure:Body: 559; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 528; Fuel/Propulsion System: 514

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

832

25,000 to 49,999

1,218

50,000 to 74,999

1,577

75,000 to 99,999

1,402

100,000 to 149,999

1,470

150,000 and above

550

Under 25,000: 832; 25,000 to 49,999: 1,218; 50,000 to 74,999: 1,577; 75,000 to 99,999: 1,402; 100,000 to 149,999: 1,470; 150,000 and above: 550

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1,577). 5,280 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.

1996

2000

501

2001

625

2002

569

2003

470

2004

523

2005

277

2006

260

2007

254

2008

372

2009

293

2010

472

2011

445

2012

305

2013

282

2014

582

2015

1,572

2016

618

2017

314

2018

339

2019

718

2020

704

2021

515

2022

362

2023

340

2024

276

2025

210

2026

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1996	32
2000	501
2001	625
2002	569
2003	470
2004	523
2005	277
2006	260
2007	254
2008	372
2009	293
2010	472
2011	445
2012	305
2013	282
2014	582
2015	1572
2016	618
2017	314
2018	339
2019	718
2020	704
2021	515
2022	362
2023	340
2024	276
2025	210
2026	99

1996: 32; 2000: 501; 2001: 625; 2002: 569; 2003: 470; 2004: 523; 2005: 277; 2006: 260; 2007: 254; 2008: 372; 2009: 293; 2010: 472; 2011: 445; 2012: 305; 2013: 282; 2014: 582; 2015: 1,572; 2016: 618; 2017: 314; 2018: 339; 2019: 718; 2020: 704; 2021: 515; 2022: 362; 2023: 340; 2024: 276; 2025: 210; 2026: 99

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2,304 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1,494 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1,161 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 10067456 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)

ABS BRAKE ALARM AND DUAL PRESSURE SWITCH WAS PART OF THE RECALL BUT THE PRESSURE SWITCH WASN'T REPLACED. *PH THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO START UP DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. *MR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067456 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10069998 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

ANDY LEWIS DODGE DID NOT REPAIR ANTI LOCK BRAKES ON RECALLS THEY WERE HOSTILE TO ME AND MY VAN WAS OPERABLE WHEN LEFT THERE. WHEN I PICKED IT UP I HAD TO HAVE A WRECKER TAKE IT HOME.THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND THE ANTILOCK LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. THEY NEVER REPAIRED THE BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THE RECALLS. THEY ARE LEAKING NOW.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 508158 · 1996-08-30 (August 30, 1996)

BRAKE CALIPERS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO SMOKE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508158 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 754060 · 2001-11-04 (November 4, 2001)

IN A DESIGN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE GAS MILEAGE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BUILT TO "COASTS OR FREEWHEELS" DOWNHILL AT IDLE RPM OF APPROX 1000 AND ZERO ENGINE COMPRESSION BRAKING. THE RESULT IS EXCESSIVE ACCELERATION DOWNHILL, TAILGATING AND/OR EXCESSIVE BRAKE COMPONET WEAR.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754060 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10069399 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

AIR CONDITIONING, PAINT AND TRANSMISSION AS OF TODAY HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS THE A-604 ULTRADRIVE TRANSMISSION. AND IT IS STUCK IN ONE GEAR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069399 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 508001 · 1996-08-28 (August 28, 1996)

TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO EITHER STICK OR JUMP FORWARD.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508001 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 861020 · 2000-04-26 (April 26, 2000)

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLED. THEN, CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT CAMSHAFT WAS BROKEN, AND ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 861020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10039975 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)

ON AT LEAST FIVE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED. ONCE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT COULD BE RESTARTED. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039975 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10172008 · 2006-10-27 (October 27, 2006)

WHILE DRIVING IN LIGHT RAIN, MY SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. THIS BELT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING, ETC. IT ALMOST CAUSED A SEVERE WRECK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE GRAND CARAVANS OF THE LATE 90'S AND EARLY 2000'S. IT IS VERY UNSAFE. WE HAVE HAD THE TENSIONER REPLACED, INSTALLED A SNOW SHIELD, ETC. TO TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, ALL TO NO AVAIL. THE BELT HAS COME OFF 4 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, EVEN IN VERY LIGHT RAIN AND VERY SHALLOW PUDDLES. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 126,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172008 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8011440 · 2002-06-10 (June 10, 2002)

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE OUT OF DRIVEWAY AN NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8011440 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10229439 · 2008-06-01 (June 1, 2008)

CAR KIND OF SPUTTERED AND THEN CONTINUALLY RUNNING GOOD. AS IF IT ALL OF A SUDDEN WAS SHORT ON GAS. HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. ONCE IN WISC., LUCKILY ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM A DODGE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. AGAIN IN ARKANSAS, HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT ON A SUNDAY. STILL HAD PROBLEMS. WOULD RUN A FEW BLOCK AND DIE. ABOUT 4-5 TIMES. WAITED UNTIL MONDAY WHEN DODGE DEALERSHIP OPENED, TOOK IT TO THEM. THEY SAID A WIRE RUNNING TO THE FUEL PUMP RAN OVER THE TRA…

Owner-reported narrative. 173,178 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229439 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007967 · 2003-02-22 (February 22, 2003)

SEPARATION OF FUEL RAILS CONNECTING U TUBE CUASING FUEL LEAK ONTO SPARK PLUGS. GAS ODOR IN VAN LED TO DISCOVERY OF PROBLEM BEFORE TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES. REPAIR SHOP INFORMED US THAT THEY ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM OFTEN.

Owner-reported narrative. 129,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007967 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.