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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

87 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

51,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 58 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 87 complaints (54.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues2832.2%
Braking behavior1314.9%
Engine operation1213.8%
Fuel system concerns44.6%
Transmission and shifting33.4%
Steering behavior33.4%

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
47
Engine
19
Service Brakes
9
Unknown Or Other
8
Fuel/Propulsion System
6
Air Bags
4
Power Train
3
Seats
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System47
Engine19
Service Brakes9
Unknown Or Other8
Fuel/Propulsion System6
Air Bags4
Power Train3
Seats3

Electrical System: 47; Engine: 19; Service Brakes: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Air Bags: 4; Power Train: 3; Seats: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
10
25,000 to 49,999
17
50,000 to 74,999
9
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
12
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00010
25,000 to 49,99917
50,000 to 74,9999
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 5

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 29 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.

2012
2
2013
7
2014
16
2015
28
2016
8
2017
3
2018
16
2019
6
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20122
20137
201416
201528
20168
20173
201816
20196
20211

2012: 2; 2013: 7; 2014: 16; 2015: 28; 2016: 8; 2017: 3; 2018: 16; 2019: 6; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 28 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 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 10465871 · 2012-07-16 (July 16, 2012)

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE GARAGE PUT IN PARK, TURNED OFF BUT DID HAVE THE KEY LEFT IN IT. THIS WAS INTENDED TO ONLY TAKE A MOMENT WHILE WE MOVED A LAWN TRACTOR INTO THE GARAGE AHEAD OF THE PARKING SPOT FOR THE MINIVAN. WHILE WE WERE BUSY MOVING THE LAWN TRACTOR THE MINIVAN ROLLED ABOUT 30 YARDS AWAY FROM WHERE IT HAD BEEN PARKED. IT SETTLED ON SOME ROCKS RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONCERNING PART OF THIS INCIDENT WAS THAT THE VAN WAS STILL IN PARK AND TURNED OFF WHEN IT LANDED ON THE ROCKS. I HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,154 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465871 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10470128 · 2012-08-10 (August 10, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN EQUIPPED WITH KUMHO TIRES, SIZE: 235/60R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW AIR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INFORMING HER THAT ONE OF THE TIRES WAS LOW ON AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS LOW ON AIR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS BUBBLES ALONG THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. A SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED AS A REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470128 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10499398 · 2013-02-20 (February 20, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER FRONT OUTER SEAT SHIELD FAILED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,287.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499398 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10499466 · 2013-02-20 (February 20, 2013)

THE PROBLEM IS AUTONOMOUS ACCELERATION. WHEN MY CAR IS MOVING SLOWLY AT IDLE SPEED WHILE I'M PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR MY HOME GARAGE AND I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO GUIDE THE CAR, THE ENGINE RPM SPEED SURGES BY ABOUT 400 RPMS CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FORWARD OR BACKWARD, DEPENDING ON THE GEAR SELECTION. THIS HAS CAUSED A NUMBER OF NEAR ACCIDENTS, INCLUDING NEARLY STRIKING CHILDREN AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN I WAS PICKING UP MY GRANDDAUGHTER. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER, BUT …

Owner-reported narrative. 127 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499466 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10537244 · 2013-08-26 (August 26, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS MANUALLY OPENING THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOORS WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE DOORS WERE ROCKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49434. UPDATED 9/17/13*CN

Owner-reported narrative. 49,434 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537244 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10542307 · 2013-09-06 (September 6, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BEZEL CLIP THAT SUPPORTED THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BEZEL CLIP WAS BROKEN, THE SEAT WOULD NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE CONTACT WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BEZEL CLIP REPLACED SIX TIMES. NONE OF THE REPAIRS REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CLIP AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542307 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10543058 · 2013-09-11 (September 11, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BUT HEARD A WHISTLE LIKE NOISE AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS, ROUTES AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,958. UPDATED 11/26/13*LJ

Owner-reported narrative. 32,958 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543058 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10543271 · 2013-09-12 (September 12, 2013)

REAR BRAKING SYSTEM WORN OUT, NEED THEM REPLACED PREMATURELY. THE BRAKES WERE GRABBING, NOT RELEASING, VIBRATING AND NOT STOPPING LIKE THEY SHOULD. TOOK IT IN AND SURE ENOUGH I NEED TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES, ROUTER AND A PISTON/ SENSOR REPLACED 30,000 FOR BRAKE WEAR OUT. HIGHWAY DRIVING NOT CITY DRIVING I WAS TOLD REAR BRAKES ONLY LAST 25-30,000 MILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543271 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.