2012 Dodge Grand Caravan problems, complaints & recalls

2012 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls (6)

• Recall 25V876000Dec 17, 202586 vehicles
  EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 17V376000Jun 13, 2017209,135 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 14V234000May 7, 2014644,757 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 12V191000May 2, 2012471 vehicles
  EQUIPMENT

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 12V141000Apr 3, 2012289 vehicles
  SUSPENSION:REAR

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

• Recall 11V487000Sep 29, 2011667 vehicles
  ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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.

  Remedy: 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

• PE19014Opened Sep 9, 2019Closed Feb 25, 2026

  Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment

  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deployments without a rear impact event.Reported safety consequences resulting from the AHR deployments in…

• DP14004Opened Sep 25, 2014Closed Jul 24, 2015

  Totally Integrated Power Module Failure

  In a letter dated August 21, 2014, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged failures associated with the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) installed in Chrysler SUV?s, trucks, and vans beginning in the 2007 model year. The petitioner alleges that TIPM defects may result in engine stall, airbag non-deployment, failure of fuel pump shutoff resulting in unintended acceleration, fire, and other symptoms. On September 25, 2014, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened DP14-004 to…

NHTSA 5-Star safety ratings

Recent 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Apr 14, 2026CAElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

   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. Why isn't this recalled, it seems ALOT of people have same issue..

   NHTSA complaint #11731166 · source
2. Filed Nov 26, 2025NCElectrical 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

   NHTSA complaint #11701716 · source
3. Filed Nov 16, 2025MNElectrical SystemEngineOther / Unknown

   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 down the highway with no power to the vehicle. This has occurred multiple times at varying speeds (30-70 mph) over the last few…

   NHTSA complaint #11699639 · source
4. Filed Jul 3, 2025CTAirbags

   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 the active headrest.

   NHTSA complaint #11670987 · source
5. Filed May 19, 2025130,000 miINEngine

   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 to start. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were flashing on and off. The local dealer was not contacted.…

   NHTSA complaint #11661834 · source
6. Filed Mar 27, 2025MOElectrical 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 well as starter. Suspect win module. See below - approximate date is unknown. Has been doing it for so long we don't remember.

   NHTSA complaint #11651093 · source
7. Filed Mar 17, 2025183,000 miNVFireElectrical System

   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 department arrived and extinguished the fire. The fire department filed a report, which determined that the fire was caused by an…

   NHTSA complaint #11648781 · source
8. Filed Jan 17, 2025CAEngine

   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.

   NHTSA complaint #11636519 · source

Compare the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan with another vehicle →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology