2006 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
173 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 147 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 173 complaints (14.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 32 | 18.5% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 12.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 9.2% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 6.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.7% |
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 | 25 |
| Air Bags | 21 |
| Steering | 21 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 15 |
| Engine | 14 |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
Electrical System: 25; Air Bags: 21; Steering: 21; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 15; Engine: 14; Exterior Lighting: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 42 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 42; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 10
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 26 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 24 |
| 2010 | 30 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 5; 2007: 14; 2008: 14; 2009: 24; 2010: 30; 2011: 20; 2012: 10; 2013: 9; 2014: 13; 2015: 6; 2016: 7; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2023: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10158674 · 2006-05-31 (May 31, 2006)
I PURCHASED A 4 CYL 2006 DODGE CARAVAN ON APRIL 28TH, 2006. ON MAY 22ND THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE MY WIFE AND FAMILY WERE OUT SHOPPING. THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL LEAK OF RED FLUID THAT HAD SPAYED THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. (AFTERWARDS I REALIZED HOW FORTUNATE WE WERE THAT THERE WASN'T A FIRE) WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THAT A HOSE WASN'T PROPERLY "TORQUED" AT THE FACTORY AND HAD COME OFF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. I VOICED MY CONCERN THAT ALL THE HOSES, BELTS AND WIRING HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 532 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164959 · 2006-08-08 (August 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ILLUMINATED INCORRECTLY WHEN TURNING LEFT, AND VICE VERSA. THE SIGNALS ALSO DID NOT FUNCTION AT FULL BRIGHTNESS. THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED AND THEN INCREASED BACK TO REGULAR ILLUMINATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE DEALER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE TURN SIGNALS REMAINED DIMLY LIT ALTHOUGH THE HEADLIGHT WERE TURNED OFF. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170504 · 2006-10-11 (October 11, 2006)
SAFETY RECALL F10- WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174436 · 2006-11-27 (November 27, 2006)
WE WERE ON OUR WAY BACK FROM TENNESSEE, IT WAS RAINING VERY HARD, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED SUDDENLY. I COULD HEAR A WINNING NOISE COMING FROM THEM. WE HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AND SIT THERE BECAUSE WE COULD NOT SEE AT ALL TO DRIVE. WE WERE IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SO I CALLED THE JELLICO TENNESSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO SIT WITH US UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED AND THERE WAS A BAD WRECK IN FRONT OF US AND THEY ALL HAD TO GO THERE. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ALL OK AND THE WIPERS WERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174436 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175494 · 2006-12-07 (December 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSIDE PANELS OF BOTH FRONT DOORS RUBBED AGAINST THE OCCUPANTS LEG AND CAUSED SWELLING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10180735 · 2007-01-25 (January 25, 2007)
SOON AFTER TEMPERATURES WENT BELOW FREEZING, THE BLOWER FAN STOPPED WORKING IN MY VEHICLE. THEREFORE, SUFFICIENT HEAT COULD NOT BE BROUGHT THROUGH VEHICLE TO WARM PASSENGERS, DEFROST WINDOWS, AND MOST DANGEROUSLY, KEEP WINDOWS FROM FOGGING UP WHILE DRIVING. AT FIRST THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RESISTOR SWITCH - BUT 2 DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, TODAY THEY REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR AND I HAVE YET TO SEE IF IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. THEY SUGGESTED A DEFECT WHERE MOISTURE MAY BE GETTING INSIDE THE BLOWER MOTOR & FREEZING, CAUSING IT TO B…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181440 · 2007-02-02 (February 2, 2007)
MAJOR CRASH, BOTH FRAME RAILS CRUSHED AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,528 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184559 · 2007-03-08 (March 8, 2007)
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. TOLD SENSORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. SENSOR REPLACED - CHARGED OVER $300 AND PROBLEM NOT FIXED. THEN TOLD IT IS A DIFFERENT SENSOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10184559 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V067000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
Reported: 2006-03-08 (March 8, 2006)
ON CERTAIN VANS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ARMATURE SHAFT MAY BREAK.
Consequence: DURING CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY COULD OCCUR, AND THE DRIVER'S VISION COULD BE OBSCURED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2006, TO DODGE DURANGO OWNERS. MINIVAN OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V008000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Reported: 2010-01-11 (January 11, 2010)
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 DODGE CARAVAN, GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, ALASKA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER INTO THE SENSOR. THIS CAN CAUSE THE SENSOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THESE SENSORS WERE ADDED TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES.
Consequence: IF THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER IS IMMEDIATELY ALERTED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PROMPTLY SERVICED. UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED, THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE ENHANCED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WITH A NEW DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA campaign record ↗