Dodge Grand Caravan Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 743 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Dodge Grand Caravan across 24 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (177). The words owners use most often: “serpentine belt” (22% of reports).
- 743engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 11mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Serpentine belt: mentioned in 166 of 743 complaints (22%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Dodge Grand Caravan at $1,300, and half of them between $630 and $4,850.
Based on 24 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 353 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 743 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 72 a fire, 11 an injury.
Dodge Grand Caravan engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Grand Caravan | 1 | 0% | 105,000 |
| 2018 Grand Caravan | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2017 Grand Caravan | 2 | 0% | 88,250 |
| 2016 Grand Caravan | 3 | 0% | 65,000 |
| 2014 Grand Caravan | 1 | 0% | 73,000 |
| 2013 Grand Caravan | 2 | 0% | 177,000 |
| 2012 Grand Caravan | 2 | 0% | 169,500 |
| 2011 Grand Caravan | 5 | 1% | 9,700 |
| 2010 Grand Caravan | 24 | 3% | 12,500 |
| 2009 Grand Caravan | 9 | 2% | 45,500 |
| 2008 Grand Caravan | 28 | 2% | 53,600 |
| 2007 Grand Caravan | 15 | 8% | 50,000 |
| 2006 Grand Caravan | 15 | 5% | 60,625 |
| 2005 Grand Caravan | 25 | 3% | 39,712 |
| 2004 Grand Caravan | 14 | 12% | 80,000 |
| 2003 Grand Caravan | 10 | 5% | 46,640 |
| 2002 Grand Caravan | 13 | 4% | 61,000 |
| 2001 Grand Caravan | 18 | 6% | 89,000 |
| 2000 Grand Caravan | 76 | 17% | 84,500 |
| 1999 Grand Caravan | 57 | 13% | 85,000 |
| 1998 Grand Caravan | 129 | 23% | 86,228 |
| 1997 Grand Caravan | 102 | 17% | 94,484 |
| 1996 Grand Caravan | 177 | 15% | 100,000 |
| 1995 Grand Caravan | 14 | 13% | 90,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling
Model years: 2012
Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 chrysler vehicles, including 200 and town and country models, dodge vehicles, including charger, durango, grand caravan and journey models and jeep grand cherokee vehicles manufactured from august 31, 2011, through september 13, 2011, that are equipped with 3.6l engines. These engines may experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block.
Risk: Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners and replace the engine free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about november 18, 2011. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline
Model years: 1996
Problem: In certain vehicles, the engine cylinder head oil galley plug does not seal properly and engine cylinder head oil is not adequately retained.
Risk: Inadequate sealing and retention of the plug can result in oil leakage which could cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Fix: Dealers will install an expansion plug and retaining bracket over the cylinder head oil galley plug.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jolted and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Upon further inspection, the contact became aware of excessive white smoke…
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the contact's husband smelled an abnormal burning odor coming from the front of the vehicle. Upon inspection, both the contact and her husband noticed that there was an oil leak. The vehicle was taken to an…
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased in 2010, the vehicle was missing the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while…
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-70 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly slowed down and then abruptly stopped. The contact stated that it felt as if a part had fallen from the bottom of the vehicle. While attempting to drive off, the…
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the independent mechanic for a service appointment, the contact was informed that the oil pump housing had melted and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the oil pump housing was made of…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Grand Caravans have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 743 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Dodge Grand Caravan. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Grand Caravan engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Dodge Grand Caravan?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,300 (half paid between $630 and $4,850), from 24 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Dodge Grand Caravan?
The most frequent phrase is “serpentine belt”, in 166 of 743 complaints.
Other Dodge Grand Caravan problems
- Electrical System problems (4,325)
- Air Bags problems (1,642)
- Power Train problems (1,410)
- Engine problems (1,027)
- Structure problems (907)
- Steering problems (701)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (583)
- Latches/locks/linkages problems (563)
See all Dodge Grand Caravan problems.