Dodge Grand Caravan Engine Problems
Owners have filed 1,027 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Dodge Grand Caravan across 25 model years. The 2010 model year has the most (137). The words owners use most often: “shuts off” (6% of reports).
- 1,027engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $3,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 26%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.
- Shuts off: mentioned in 59 of 1,027 complaints (6%)
- Stalled without: mentioned in 53 of 1,027 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Dodge Grand Caravan at $3,250, and half of them between $920 and $4,200.
Based on 33 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2026), 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 problems happen?
Based on 736 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,027 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 20 a fire, 2 an injury.
Dodge Grand Caravan engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Grand Caravan | 2 | 10% | 83,749 |
| 2019 Grand Caravan | 43 | 18% | 45,000 |
| 2018 Grand Caravan | 34 | 13% | 65,110 |
| 2017 Grand Caravan | 58 | 14% | 61,556 |
| 2016 Grand Caravan | 83 | 8% | 80,000 |
| 2015 Grand Caravan | 38 | 14% | 101,000 |
| 2014 Grand Caravan | 80 | 22% | 78,000 |
| 2013 Grand Caravan | 70 | 15% | 93,000 |
| 2012 Grand Caravan | 119 | 20% | 106,000 |
| 2011 Grand Caravan | 92 | 17% | 90,000 |
| 2010 Grand Caravan | 137 | 16% | 96,000 |
| 2009 Grand Caravan | 42 | 8% | 80,000 |
| 2008 Grand Caravan | 117 | 9% | 92,000 |
| 2007 Grand Caravan | 26 | 14% | 84,500 |
| 2006 Grand Caravan | 16 | 6% | 95,600 |
| 2005 Grand Caravan | 24 | 2% | 115,500 |
| 2004 Grand Caravan | 6 | 5% | 87,500 |
| 2003 Grand Caravan | 7 | 3% | 149,000 |
| 2002 Grand Caravan | 6 | 2% | 170,000 |
| 2001 Grand Caravan | 1 | 0% | 168,000 |
| 2000 Grand Caravan | 12 | 3% | 138,500 |
| 1999 Grand Caravan | 3 | 1% | 255,000 |
| 1998 Grand Caravan | 5 | 1% | 130,000 |
| 1997 Grand Caravan | 4 | 1% | 105,617 |
| 1996 Grand Caravan | 2 | 0% | — |
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.
Randomly shuts off Says key is in the ignition when it isnt
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and jerked slightly before accelerating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, and the…
The vehicle has experienced repeated serious engine/cooling-system problems. It ran hot/overheated and would lose some power on even very slight inclines; when this occurred, the temperature gauge would rise. It never completely lost power or stalled. The vehicle developed an engine ticking noise…
While driving, the engine shuts off, leaving the driver with no power steering or power brakes. All power is off. There is no warning or error messages on the dash of any kind. No warning at all. The last time this happened, I was able to coast to the side of the road to a stop. Once stopped, i can…
I just started having this issue 3 days ago. When I put the car in reverse it does not directly go into drive. I have to go back to park to get the car back in drive. I put a brand new transmission in this car in 2024 and since I can only drive 45 miles per hour. When the drive or reverse does not…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Grand Caravans have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,027 owner complaints about engine 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?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Dodge Grand Caravan?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,250 (half paid between $920 and $4,200), from 33 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Dodge Grand Caravan?
The most frequent phrase is “shuts off”, in 59 of 1,027 complaints, followed by “stalled without” (53).
Other Dodge Grand Caravan problems
- Electrical System problems (4,325)
- Air Bags problems (1,642)
- Power Train problems (1,410)
- Structure problems (907)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (743)
- Steering problems (701)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (583)
- Latches/locks/linkages problems (563)
See all Dodge Grand Caravan problems.