Dodge Grand Caravan Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2016 draws 19.52 complaints per run and the 2002 2.32, a 8.4-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 82.1% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 2,465 complaints, typically at 5.1 years.

Dodge Grand Caravan years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Dodge Grand Caravan — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2020	1.29	18	14	yes
2019	1.92	46	24	yes
2018	7.08	262	37	yes
2017	10.61	403	38	yes
2016	19.52	976	50	yes
2015	7.03	267	38	yes
2014	6.59	336	51	yes
2013	7.84	439	56	yes
2012	9.08	545	60	yes
2011	8.1	486	60	yes
2010	8.63	803	93	yes
2009	7.46	500	67	yes
2004	3.1	90	29	yes
2002	2.32	230	99	yes
1994	2.28	155	68	yes
1993	3.51	235	67	yes
1992	3.17	209	66	yes
1991	2.64	103	39	yes
1990	1.71	41	24	yes
1989	1.4	21	15	yes
1988	1	5	5	yes

ROWS 21·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2016 Grand Caravan asks a median $5,999, against $6,995 for a 2017, the next model year: about 14% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 8 Dodge Grand Caravan years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2016, 2012, 2010; the three worth hunting are 2002, 2014, 2009.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Dodge Grand Caravan — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	202	3.4%	covered
1 year	336	9.1%	covered
2 years	517	17.9%	covered
3 years	712	30%	you pay
4 years	760	42.9%	you pay
5 years	956	59.1%	you pay
6 years	761	72%	you pay
7 years	558	81.4%	you pay
8 years	371	87.7%	you pay
9 years	270	92.3%	you pay
10 years	189	95.5%	you pay
11 years	100	97.2%	you pay
12 years	68	98.4%	you pay
13 years	54	99.3%	you pay
14 years	28	99.7%	you pay
15 years	15	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 17.9% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 82.1% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 24% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Electrical System at 5.1 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Dodge Grand Caravan — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Electrical System	2465	5.1 yrs	11	71
Power Train	742	5.3 yrs	14	4
Unknown Or Other	742	5.5 yrs	8	5
Engine	736	6 yrs	5	16
Structure	611	4.4 yrs	13	7
Air Bags	552	5.4 yrs	64	—
Service Brakes	479	5 yrs	20	4
Fuel/propulsion System	334	6.7 yrs	7	3

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Grand Caravan's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Sienna draws 6.57, the Honda Odyssey 7.17 and the Kia Carnival 2.83, against 6.45 for the Grand Caravan.

FIG.05·Dodge Grand Caravan — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Grand Caravan	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Sienna	8,640	165	1995–2026
Honda Odyssey	12,904	206	1995–2026
Kia Carnival	388	16	2022–2026
Chrysler Pacifica	7,112	98	2004–2026
Chrysler Town and Country	4,148	174	1990–2016
Kia Sedona	2,544	70	2001–2021

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Dodge Grand Caravan

Recalls103 campaigns Fuel economy22 mpg best Common problems7,201 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Used prices5,591 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1988–2023

Frequently asked questions

Is the Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 6.45 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Grand Caravan years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2016, 2012, 2010. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2002, 2014, 2009. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Grand Caravan problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 5.1 years, followed by Power Train.

Will the warranty cover Grand Caravan problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 17.9% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 24% of the complaints here.

Is the Grand Caravan more reliable than the Toyota Sienna?

Yes: 6.45 complaints per production run for the Grand Caravan against 6.57 for the Toyota Sienna.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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