On certain minivans, the power liftgate (plg) latch may not engage the striker allowing the liftgate to open while driving.
Body, doors & structure
Dodge Caravan Body problems by year
1,344 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Dodge Caravan's body, doors & structure. Doors, hoods and latches, frame rust, sunroofs, leaks, trim and structural failures.
Body complaints by model year
| Year | Body complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | 213 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2002 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2001 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2000 | 35 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 1999 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | 99 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 1995 | 60 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 1994 | 131 | 13 | 12 | 3 |
| 1993 | 103 | 9 | 13 | 3 |
| 1992 | 112 | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| 1991 | 113 | 11 | 13 | 3 |
| 1990 | 99 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| 1989 | 66 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 1988 | 43 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 1987 | 23 | 6 | 12 | 2 |
| 1986 | 26 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 1985 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 1984 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Body recalls
Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might...
This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Vehicle description: 2001 plymouth voyager, chrysler town & country, and dodge caravan/grand caravan mini vans that are not...
Vehicle description: mini vans. The bolts used to attach the strut to the body and the rear liftgate can accumulate fatigue damage if three factors combine. If the bolt is loose, the gas strut is over-pressurized, and the frequency of opening and closing...
The bolts used to attach the strut to the body and the rear liftgate can accumulate fatigue damage if three factors combine. If the bolt is loose, the gas strut is over-pressurized, and the frequency of opening and closing cycles is higher than for the...
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans with remote release. This is not a safety recall. There has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. Chrysler is conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate...
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans with remote release. This is not a safety recall. There has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. Chrysler is conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate...
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans with remote release. This is not a safety recall. There has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. Chrysler is conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate...
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans with remote release. This is not a safety recall. There has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. Chrysler is conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate...
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans without remote release. This is not a safety recall. There has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. Chrysler is conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate...
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans without remote release. This is not a safety recall. There has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. Chrysler is conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate...
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans without remote release. This is not a safety recall. There has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. Chrysler is conducting a service campaign to replace the...
Vehicle description: light duty passenger minivans without remote release. This is not a safety recall. There has been no determination that a safety defect exists with the minivan latches. Chrysler is conducting a service campaign to replace the liftgate...
Latest Caravan body complaints
The door locks do not work for the sliding doors or the passenger side of the vehicle. We tried to fix this issue by checking the door lock fuse out to make sure it was okay, and it was. The driver's side is the only one that locks. The passenger door lock will not push down and lock when pressed down manually. I feel this is a safety issue and I have seen that others online are having problems with their door locks not working or getting stuck and not unlocking. I don't understand why there is no recall on this...
Read the full complaint
issue with the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. This is a serious safe issue on any vehicle. My sliding doors have to be manually locked and as I said, the passenger side won't lock, so it's dangerous for me to have passengers. My local Dodge dealership offered to diagnose it, but it's $125.00 for them to just find out what's causing this if they could even do that. Clearly it is an issue of some kind since one door locks. Can you please look into this? Again, I know others have had door lock issues with the Dodge Caravan. Why hasn't this been fixed and recalled already? This is very frustrating. Also, I don't remember the exact date I purchased my vehicle in June, so I've given it my best guess. Thank you for your time in reviewing this. Resolution that fixes this for myself and everyone else who is dealing with this, would be much appreciated.
Originally had taken car in for recall. The recall was for both doors. The dealer had delivered the car and told me I would be contacted for repair on the passenger door once the parts were in stock. After months of waiting I finally contacted them and was told that the parts were in stock. I made the appointment and when I was set to drop off the van I was told that I was going to be charged because it has been put in as complete in the dealers records but showed parts not installed. I was told to contact dodge...
Read the full complaint
and left the van there overnight. The next day I spent a lot of time on the phone to get the runaround with dodge. I picked up the car and didn't have the repair done. My family has used the van ever since. I have always put off repairing it because it was a recall that broke down as described in the recall verbatim and is a hazard for multiple reasons and I would blame dodge directly if anything were to happen. I have contacted them several times through out the last few years trying to rectify this egregious situation. I was told that the records indicate only one side was repaired however the recall still to this day shows complete. I take pride in buying and maintaining an 'american made' product and would have fixed this several times over had it not been for principle. Dodge does not seem to be concerned for a customer who is a family man. I protect my family with my own life. It is difficult to only use one door when parking on a busy street with 2-5 children who are forced to get out onto a busy street if that is the only option. It can be very risky. Even picking them up from school they are made to walk to the drivers side of the car even thou the pick up side is on the passenger. Secondly my main issue is a short while driving. Protruding wires could be pinched if the door is used which could lead to a fire or fault in the door functionality
I have had my dodge 2008 caravan for sometime. Was originally taken for repairs to the sliding door recall.
Vehicle was in motion- while driving along I heard and felt a loud noise (boom) from rear of vehicle-vehicle then swerved wildly out of control spinning around and taking down signs, mailbox-after looking at van it is apparent that the rear axle slid backwards in wheel well. While body is rust free, undercarriage has excessive rust in spring hanger area-van has been parked on pavement its entire life.
My driver side sliding door is stuck in the lock position. Cant open it with the fob or manually. No warning just stopped working. I have small children this is a hazard to not be able to open this door.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the driver's side sliding door seized and remained stuck. There were no warning indicators illuminated. When the contact attempted to open the door, "unlock door to open" appeared on the instrument panel. The dealer was not contacted, but the contact planned to take the vehicle to a dealer this week. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000. The vin was unknown.
The sliding door latch malfunction where door comes open while driving the auto lock also malfunctioning. I'm a master mechanic and this isn't the first time I heard of this problem on these vehicles. Mopar needs to have these vehicles recalled before someone gets hurt or their pet falls out.
The exterior b-pillar on the driver's door flew off on the highway making them dangerous to other motorists and construction workers. It seems that there are many comments on the internet about this.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the black trim on the driver's side door area, which extends to the rear door, blew off without warning while the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle was serviced by strieter lincoln motor company (520 w kimberly rd, davenport, ia 52806, (563) 391-1500). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised that the part be replaced. The vin and failure mileage were not available. *Tt
Front door hinge mount sheet metal tears or cracks. Door latches fail do to sagging doors. Sheet metal has cracked going back into the fire wall bulkhead. Doors can fly open on outside turns with out warning, potentially dislodging passengets.
Drivers seat was releasing and reclining, van door behind drivers seat completely came off the track and bent the railing and the black stopper came off, several times my engine light came on and I smelled gas on 1 incident and shortly after fixing it my engine light came on again. Trim on both sliding doors were coming off. Third bench seat was falling below other seat and was not even. All these happened during stationary
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the rear passenger side sliding door could not open or close correctly. There was also rust on the side panel that prevented the door from closing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,453. Updated 08/02/16*lj
I was hit by and 18 wheeler on the free way in no airbags deploy causing me to have surgery on my shoulder in I was driving a company car I work for enterprise in I was want to find a good lawyer that handle case or airbags my phone number is [[redacted]] I was driving a dodge caravan 2015 I know alot of people with big family drives caravan in I might can save someone life if I can make sure in the future this never happen again with the airbags not deploying. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr
In 18 wheeler came in my lane in side wipe the company car I was driving on the highway.
Manually operated sliding door will not unlock making the door unable to be opened. However driving down the highway the door will open on its own. Only the safety latch keeps the door from opening all the way. I called detroit (800-423-6343 rep karen) and reported the problem. She had me call the dealer to make an appointment to have it looked at. As the car is just out of warranty, repairs may or may not be covered.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data