Van stops abruptly. Will die while driving, wheel will lock up and and van powers down. Will start back up as soon as its stops.
Vehicle safety record
2012 Dodge Caravan Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 87 complaints about the 2012 Dodge Caravan with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (47) and the engine & cooling (19). Those complaints describe 3 crashes, 3 fires and 4 injuries. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 2011 has 78 and the 2013 has 30.
NHTSA data checked
AFar fewer problems than a typical Caravan year, for its age
#99 most complained-about 2012 vehicle
- Complaints
- 87
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 3
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 4
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2012 Dodge Caravan problems
Share of all 87 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
No recalls for the 2012 Dodge Caravan
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Dodge Caravan. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.
What owners say
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87 complaints about the 2012 Dodge Caravan
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 4.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge caravan. While driving 15 mph, the vehicle stalled and was towed to kendall dodge chrysler jeep ram (13355 sw 137th ave, miami, fl 33186, (786) 231-2120). The dealer diagnosed that there was an electrical failure and they repaired the ignition switch and replaced the key, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was still with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge caravan. The contact stated that their vehicle would not start. They jump started the vehicle and it was able to restart. The following day the vehicle failed to start as a result, the contact replaced the battery and the vehicle was then able to start. However, the failure recurred and the driver side door was unable to be unlocked. The contact had to get a new key made. The locksmith that made the new key jump started the vehicle. The contact went to work, when they left the...
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vehicle would not start again. They hooked the battery up to a battery charger and the battery was drained. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown (the contact can't get inside the vehicle).
2012 Dodge grand caravan stops running suddenly while driving. On several occasions over the past week the vehicle will just cut off while driving. So far this has only happened on city streets and not on the highway. On a least one occasion I noticed that I bumped the key. Maybe an ignition problem? This is very dangerous as it happens without warning.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge caravan. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning and was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.
Dodge caravan. Consumer would like to know if there are any existing factory recalls on vehicle. *Ld *tr
Fuel pump continues to stay on when vehicle is off with no key in ignition. This is causing battery drain and hard starts after jumping battery. Car also is stalling at times while in motion. I have seen a recall for other males and models of same year from mopar vehicles, such as durango. It seems to be fuel pump relay in tipm.
Van had engine stall while going down highway. Lost all power due to this..Was only going about 45 so was able to maintain control and get to side of the road. Was in the rural area so traffic was light...Daughter and granddaughter was in van with me ...This could have been tragic if I had been on interstate or on busy highway...Was told by machanic that fuel relay tipm gone out
2012 Dodge caravan suddenly shuts off while driving losing the ability to brake or steer, with no warning signs from the vehicle. After research, this is a common problem for dodge caravans resulting in serious safety concerns.
My wife while driving slammed on the brakes and the van shut off it however restart right away.This was very scary and could put her life in danger if someone had run into her van back.
Takata recall',i am complaining about the engine,the right side rockers are making noise when running pretty bad. I thought there was a recall on that
My van when riding over bumps make a loose frame of axel rattling noise and spitzer have had my van back to back two visits 04-07-2018 to 04-20-2018 and 04-20-2018 to 04-28-2018 and the problem is still their. Spitzer refuse to pay another dealer I used after spitzers three negligence jobs on my van first the five months it took to discover after my first oil change the air filter cover had not been look back, second, van had to be towed in after I got home and was told brake dust was causing noise. Next bad...
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wheel bearing. The extende warranty is still valid. I now pay for all non warranty service outside of spitzer because I fear for my safty when spitzer perform work on my van. The van was brand new 68 miles, but its as if I had purchased a use van. I have all invoice of work which exceed 5. After to two visits spitzer still have not/can"t seem to repair my van.
Ok. I've only had this vehicle for 2 1/2 year and I've found after a year, it was hard to keep gas in the vehicle even though I filled it up at times, it would still go out , the doors have gotten jammed, the windows stuck because of heat, last year the seat belts in the back stopped working and now I have a transmission problem and the vehicle will only go backwards. I never knew those things could happen to this vehicle. Also the alarm no longer works after 2 years. I have to take the key out just to open the vehicle. When I got the vehicle , there was a cd stuck in it and radio didn't work and couldn't be fixed.
My caravan loses all power while driving in low speeds, high speeds, over railroad tracks, on the interstate!! I have to stop immediately and restart. This is a safety issue! It happens randomly at any time, I never know when or if it will die on me. I have complained to my dealership and 2 others. They say, nothing is showing on the computer, there's nothing we can do.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge caravan. While driving 5 mph with the brake pedal depressed, an abnormal squeaking noise was heard. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the failure would occur each time when depressing the brake pedal. The contact called the dealer cassens & sons chrysler dodge jeep at (618) 656-6070 (3333 il-159, glen carbon, il 62034) where an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing and repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,184. *Tt
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and it was diagnosed that the rocket arm failed and caused the engine to make an abnormal noise. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000.
On interstate at 65 & while accelerating to pass slower car my accelerator stuck at full throttle. Braked to control speed and after short while pedal unstuck and normal operation. This happened again the next day but, although gas pedal was stuck to floor, the vehicle slowed to about 60. Exited highway to service area with pedal still stuck at ft & shut down. Car wouldn't restart with pedal at ft. After several minutes, the pedal "popped" back and restarted with normal operation thereafter. I each instance...
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the cruise control was probably on and a large red symbol appeared on the annunciator panel which extinguished when the accelerator pedal " popped" back up. No messages appeared in the driver information center. This is a very dangerous condition which internet searches show is occurring to other dodge / chrysler minivans and needs to be addressed. *Tt
"Takata recall" fuel pump relay .... Problem: car will not start leaving me strainted....... Tipm problem this is a common problem for dodge and should be a dealers recall
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge caravan. While driving 5 mph and attempting to make a left turn, a 2004 honda accord crashed into the passenger side and sliding door of the contact's vehicle. The contact stated that the overhead air bags deployed, but were deflated. In addition, the other air bags failed to deploy at all. The contact was not injured. The passenger sustained bruises to the upper right torso and hip that required medical attention. The contact stated that the driver of the 2004 honda accord...
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sustained head injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was awaiting inspection by the insurance company. The local dealer was not contacted for diagnosis of the air bag failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. The vin was not available.
I was taking my van in for an oil chane an noticed a knocking noise. My machanic said it was rod bearing failure in the enigine. He looked it up and saw there was a manufacturing recall on my engine. #(Po5184464ae 3.6 L) .I have an apt todau with dodge dealership to investigate. They are located at 255 smokey park hwy . Skyland dodge asheville,nc.....My case no.Is 33531139. My odi # is11074929.
2012 Dodge caravan se. Consumer writes in regards to electrical short in vehicle. *Ld the consumer stated the instrument panel, radio lights, and engine stuttered on and off. The electronic throttle control light illuminated. The consumer advised the breakdown was caused by a faulty battery. The consumer does not believe the battery was the cause of the failure. *Js
The key is stuck in the ignition and dealer states it's wind module issue wich was a recall for 2008-2010 dodge caravans but excludes 2012 dodge caravans perhaps this should be looked into.
Vechile stalls while driving with no waring. No instrument lights or hesitation. This now has happen to me 3 time. Speed ranging from 25-55 mph. Was able to get the van into neturel and restarted while the van was coasting without power. It was a good thing I didnt have anyone following too closely. This is a very dangerous problem. Something needs done about this before someone has a very serious accident.
The fuel pump relay switch won't shut off. It run doen battery and kilks the whole van.
Van stop starting will crank but not starttipm bad shut down while in use
Dodge Caravan: every year compared
All Caravan years2012 Dodge Caravan vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Dodge Caravan | 87 | 0 | A | |
| 2012 Dodge Charger | 648 | 14 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Dodge Durango | 640 | 10 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan | 584 | 6 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Dodge Avenger | 554 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Dodge Journey | 377 | 6 | C | Compare |
| 2012 Dodge Challenger | 253 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Dodge Caliber | 49 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 2012 Dodge Charger Police | 13 | 1 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2012 Dodge Caravan
Does the 2012 Dodge Caravan have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Dodge Caravan right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Caravan?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (47), engine & cooling (19), brakes (9).
How many complaints has the 2012 Dodge Caravan had?
87 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on July 16, 2012 and the latest on January 3, 2021. Of these, 3 describe a crash and 3 a fire, and together they report 4 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2012 Dodge Caravan a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 81 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical Dodge Caravan year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Dodge Caravan years have the most complaints?
1996 (1,402), 1993 (962), 1992 (929). See every Dodge Caravan year compared.
What should I do if my 2012 Dodge Caravan has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data