2012 Dodge Grand Caravan problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (206) · Engine (66) · Fuel/Propulsion System (56)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Dodge Grand Caravan model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
374 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (6)
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility:wheelchair Restraints/Securement:latch/Anchor: 2025-12-17 · campaign 25V876000 · 86 vehicles
Defect: Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.
Air Bags:frontal 2017-06-13 · campaign 17V376000 · 209,135 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering wheel and short circuits.
Risk: Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bag wiring within the steering wheel, replacing it if necessary. A protective cover will also be installed. These repairs will be made free of charge. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T33.
Electrical System 2014-05-07 · campaign 14V234000 · 644,757 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler Group, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, through October 31, 2013. The affected vehicles may experience overheating of the vent window switch in the driver's door armrest.
Risk: An overheated switch may result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the vent window switch with a newer version, free of charge. The owner notification letter was issued and the remedy campaign launched on on December 31, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P25.
Equipment 2012-05-02 · campaign 12V191000 · 471 vehicles
Defect: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 TOWN AND COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 9, 2012 THROUGH MARCH 12, 2012. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A RIGHT SIDE LIFTGATE PINCH SENSOR THAT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, INCREASED FORCE MAY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO STOP THE POWER LIFTGATE DURING FINAL CLOSING STAGES.
Risk: THE POWER LIFTGATE DOOR MAY CLOSE ON AN APPENDAGE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE LIFTGATE PINCH SENSORS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 18, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Suspension:rear 2012-04-03 · campaign 12V141000 · 289 vehicles
Defect: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 TOWN AND COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 21, 2011. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLIES THAT WERE NOT FULLY MACHINED.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A DECREASE IN DURABILITY, WHICH MAY LEAD TO WHEEL SEPARATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2011-09-29 · campaign 11V487000 · 667 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Service bulletins (98)
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.
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.
Electrical System 2023-09-15 · 9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
connector kit before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957a$, check it in the mopar connector repair kit website to confirm part number and applicability. there is an error with the wiring diagrams in service library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. please use
Electrical System:wiring 2023-09-15 · 9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
connector kit before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957a$, check it in the mopar connector repair kit website to confirm part number and applicability. there is an error with the wiring diagrams in service library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. please use
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-07-27 · 9100196 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lubrication and maintenance fluids if mopar fluids and chemicals are not readily available, please review service library for specifications so a suitable alternative can be used
Equipment 2023-04-15 · 1804823 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
witech small leak verification test (slvt) - p0456-evap system small leak
Showing the 6 most recent of 98 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-07 · Engine“randomly shuts off says key is in the ignition when it isnt …”
2026-04-14 · Power Train“we purchased our 2012 dodge grand caravan 1/2026. only 85000 miles on it. after about a week or 2, when husband tried go start van to go to work early cold, morning, van wouldn't start easily. sometimes he would wait up to a few hours and keep trying to start, eventually it would. but last 3 days, its gotten harder to start van.at all. not cool. w…”
2026-02-19 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the fuel pump would run all night and going down the road the van would cut off...had it checked the tipm was bad…”
2025-11-26 · Electrical System“my van tipm went out..it would cut off going down the road the safety door locks was not working the fuel pump was running all the time with switch off…”
2025-11-16 · Unknown Or Other“while driving, the vehicle will periodically shut down/lose all power. this appears to occur when a slight bump in the road occurs. the loss of power to the vehicle is obviously a significant safety issue. we have been able to restart it when switching to neutral and turning the key; however, this obviously isn't a safe solution while traveling dow…”
2025-07-03 · Air Bags“the driver's seat active headrest spontaneously deployed while my wife was operating the van. luckily this did not cause an accident, but being hit in the back of the head by the headrest certainly can cause an accident in the future. inspection shows the internal plastic latch mechanism broken, thus the spontaneous, unintentional deployment of th…”
2025-05-19 · Engine · 130,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated that while driving 70 mph on the highway, the vehicle inadvertently shut off. the contact stated that the steering wheel became inoperable. the contact was able to pull over safely and restated the vehicle. the contact stated that the failure progressed over time and the vehicle failed…”
2025-03-27 · Electrical System“car stalls unexpectedly with no warning or check engine light on. intermittent occurrences. sometimes interior lights stay on, sometimes not. can usually get car restarted right away but not always. has been doing this for awhile. never know when it will do it. has done it at all speeds, while parked and while idling. have had battery replaced as w…”
2025-03-17 · Electrical System · 183,000 mi · 🔥 fire“the contact owns a 2012 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, unoccupied, and turned off at the residence, she noticed that sparks and flames were coming from the overhead console. the flames then spread to the front driver's and passenger's side seats. the contact did not sustain any injuries. the fire departme…”
2025-01-17 · Engine“smoke comes out from the corner of the hood by the antenna and fumes come from the vents it makes my eyes burn and my throat sore. i'm afraid it might catch on fire. i have had the oil changed the power steering fluid changed i had the radiator changed. i don't know where it's coming from but i do know it is not safe.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.