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Dodge Grand Caravan: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Dodge Grand Caravan problems by model year, from 5,172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2015 (44%, 114 drivetrain complaints), 2019 (44%, 19 drivetrain complaints) and 2011 (44%, 223 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 10 Dodge Grand Caravan years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2018 (22%), 2017 (23%) and 2010 (30%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2018 (22%) to 2019 (44%), up 22 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (340 of 1,525 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Dodge Grand Caravan year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Grand Caravan | no elevated signal | 30% | 251 | 1,041 | 8/10 | 6 |
| 2011 Grand Caravan | high | 44% | 223 | 530 | 3/10 | 4 |
| 2012 Grand Caravan | elevated | 36% | 202 | 583 | 4/10 | 6 |
| 2013 Grand Caravan | no elevated signal | 30% | 131 | 470 | 7/10 | 4 |
| 2014 Grand Caravan | no elevated signal | 32% | 97 | 358 | 5/10 | 5 |
| 2015 Grand Caravan | high | 44% | 114 | 281 | 1/10 | 4 |
| 2016 Grand Caravan | no elevated signal | 32% | 340 | 1,159 | 6/10 | 6 |
| 2017 Grand Caravan | no elevated signal | 23% | 92 | 414 | 9/10 | 3 |
| 2018 Grand Caravan | no elevated signal | 22% | 56 | 270 | 10/10 | 4 |
| 2019 Grand Caravan | high | 44% | 19 | 46 | 2/10 | 4 |
| 2020 Grand Caravan | too few to score | – | 11 | 20 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Dodge Grand Caravan years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Dodge Grand Caravan engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the Dodge Grand Caravan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 23 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2011 | 11V487000 | engine and engine cooling | 2012 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V461000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2015–2016 |
| May 2020 | 20V278000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2016–2019 |
20 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2011 | 11V139000 | electrical system: ignition | 2010 |
| Jun 2011 | 11V315000 | steering: column | 2011 |
| Apr 2012 | 12V141000 | suspension: rear | 2012 |
| May 2012 | 12V191000 | equipment | 2012 |
| Jul 2013 | 13V283000 | electrical system | 2013 |
| Jul 2013 | 13V291000 | air bags | 2013 |
| Feb 2014 | 14V055000 | suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly | 2010 |
| May 2014 | 14V234000 | electrical system | 2010–2014 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V373000 | electrical system: ignition: switch | 2010 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V632000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2014 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V595000 | latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch | 2016 |
| Jan 2016 | 16V044000 | visibility: windshield | 2014–2015 |
| May 2016 | 16V300000 | seats: mid/rear assembly | 2016 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V376000 | air bags: frontal | 2011–2012 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V824000 | equipment | 2014–2016 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V523000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2018–2019 |
| Aug 2018 | 18V524000 | electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 2017–2018 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V759000 | seats | 2019 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V396000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Dec 2025 | 25V876000 | equipment adaptive/mobility: wheelchair restraints/securement: latch/anchor: | 2010–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Dodge Grand Caravan
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Dodge Grand Caravan
What are the worst years for the Dodge Grand Caravan?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Dodge Grand Caravan years are the 2015 (44% of relevant complaints, high), the 2019 (44% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2011 (44% of relevant complaints, high). 4 of 10 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Dodge Grand Caravan?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Dodge Grand Caravan years are the 2018 (22%), the 2017 (23%) and the 2010 (30%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Dodge Grand Caravan have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 10 scored years, 1,525 of 4,737 relevant NHTSA complaints (32%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019.
Is the Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 10 Dodge Grand Caravan years we score have an elevated complaint share and 6 do not. Pooled across those years, 32% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Dodge Grand Caravan?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Dodge Grand Caravan years we track, out of 23 in total: 11V487000 (Sep 2011, 2012), 16V461000 (Jun 2016, 2015–2016), 20V278000 (May 2020, 2016–2019). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.