2012 Dodge Caravan problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (34) · Engine (13) · Service Brakes (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Dodge Caravan model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
58 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (150)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2025-11-18 · 108463 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pad kit - rear disc brake, front disc brake
Service Brakes 2025-11-17 · 108464 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pad kit - rear disc brake, front disc brake
Engine 2025-03-20 · 103617 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
starter - engine
Seats 2024-11-27 · 9100456 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
incoming vehicles with deployed active head rest (ahr) should have a through enquiry. if there is no broken pieces or electrical failure, direction to reset the ahr following the procedure.
Equipment 2023-09-20 · 9100229 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lifter, hydraulic roller deactivating please do not replace mds lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
Suspension 2023-09-20 · 9100229 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lifter, hydraulic roller deactivating please do not replace mds lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
Showing the 6 most recent of 150 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-01-03 · Engine · 108,171 mi“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.…”
2019-05-29 · Engine“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 s…”
2019-05-14 · Electrical System“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 una…”
2019-04-30 · Unknown Or Other · 156,000 mi“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 wa…”
2019-03-29 · Engine · 122,000 mi“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 noti…”
2019-02-21 · Unknown Or Other“dodge caravan. consumer would like to know if there are any existing factory recalls on vehicle. *ld *tr…”
2019-02-19 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 99,000 mi“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.…”
2018-11-15 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 123,000 mi“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 machani…”
2018-11-13 · Unknown Or Other · 132,000 mi“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.…”
2018-11-11 · Service Brakes · 53,000 mi“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.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.