3.3

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,930 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #14

Jul 022012

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Headlight failure to come on. Side lamps, tail lights etc. Worked but headlights would not work except by holding the multifunction switch in the "flash high" position. Multifunction switch has been replaced twice after similar failures since the original problem. Problem reoccurred 7/27/12 with no warning. Vehicle is unsafe to drive unless you can be sure to be home before dark as the on board computer diagnostics are no help in diagnosing the issue so it's a game of russian roulette on whether the lights will work when you get in.

- Montross, VA, USA

problem #13

May 022012

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
For no reason the headlights turned off regardless of the light switch position, while driving down the highway, very scary and very dangerous, please issue a recall before someone gets hurt!! I have visited many forums and most say its is the switch but some say its the main grounding post located under the battery box. And it is always an 05 town and country or Grand Caravan. Thanks.

- Raytown, MO, USA

problem #12

Jan 042012

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 139,000 miles
Headlights only work sporadically. At times, they won't turn on at all (running lights and rear lights still work) and it often takes several tries to get them turned on. Holding the lever activates the high beams, which still work. Early this morning, they simply failed while I was driving down a busy road in the dark. Extremely unsafe. Research indicates a recurring problem with the switch as my exact issue has been detailed by many, many individuals. As big as a safety issue as this is, it's hard to imagine how this hasn't spawned a recall.

- Beaverton, MI, USA

problem #11

Jun 012009

Grand Caravan

  • 35,000 miles
My headlights do not come on when turned on. If I would turn off and on the lights eventually they come back on. Now it happens when I drive down the road. It happened again to my wife last night and she almost got into a car wreck. We cannot drive our van at night anymore.

- Grants Pass, OR, USA

problem #10

Aug 282011

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Headlights either will not turn on or go out while driving. Parking and tail lights not effected. Flipping switch on and off will sometimes work. Updated IVOQ 10/19/11.

- Warrensburg, MO, USA

problem #9

Aug 302009

Grand Caravan

  • miles
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan; headlights work only sporadically. Will turn off by themselves while driving. Will only come on with repeated turning of the switch, and then sometimes only after car has driven a few feet. This is apparently a common problem in this vehicle and is dangerous.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #8

Feb 082006

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • 19 miles
Purchased 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan used in Oct, 2005. Vehicle had approx. 9000 miles on odometer. Four months later the headlights would only work intermittently. Mileage was approx 13,500 miles. Dealer replaced dashboard switch under warranty. Approx. One year later headlight problem returned...very intermittent..so continued driving. Another year later, driving at night, on vacation, 2000 miles from home, headlights went out. Switching light switch on-off numerous times fixed lights temporarily. Lost lights several times that night. Texas dealer diagnosed bad switch. Replaced at approx 52800 miles. Paid for this repair. One year later switch again inop. Mileage approx 67700 miles. Lights will not work at all. Cannot drive car at night. This makes three times in three and a half years of ownership that headlights become inoperative. Internet search brings up hundreds of others with similar complaints. Dealer says no reported problems with Caravan headlights and car is out of warranty. Owner responsibility. This car has documented problem with headlights. Something not right here. Updated 09/11/12 the consumer sold the vehicle on June 30, 2012. Updated 09/12/12.

- St Helens, OR, USA

problem #7

May 092008

Grand Caravan

  • 70,000 miles
Head lights would flicker since I bought it. 5 months later on the freeway in the evening they turned off. Scary! I have taken it to 3 dealers they can not seem to fix it. They have not worked for 3 months. It is such a pain. Please help

- Layton, UT, USA

problem #6

Jul 042008

Grand Caravan

  • 72,000 miles
Driving down freeway at night my headlights went out. About two months ago I brought it in to the dealer because the lights had been flickering for a few days, then lights would not turn on. They adjusted some wires and it turned back on. Well two months later they are not working and have not worked for 3 week. They do not know how to fix them. They said it was the fuse, they said it was the wiring. They don't know.

- Layton, UT, USA

problem #5

Feb 012008

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
In my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan we had an issue with our turn signal either it would not work or you signal left and the right blinker came on. It took 3 visits and 6 phone calls to the dealer until fixed. We also have problems with the headlights working only when it wants to and it seems to work at the dealer so they say sorry come again!

- Newberg, OR, USA

problem #4

Dec 262005

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles
I had purchased my vehicle December 26, 2004. I am the not-so-proud owner of a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SE. There were 20 K(give or take a thous miles) miles on it when I purchased it, and it currently has just shy of 79K. All of the listed complaints have happened since owning the vehicle for 3 months or less... 1---when I purchased the lemon, I heard a thudding sound, while driving (coming from the front driver wheel well side). I was assured that this was road noise. I persisted something was wrong, on the 3rd attempt, they had tighted/replaced a "sway bushing" (forgive me I think that is what it was called). I didn't hear the noise for a couple of days and it returned. I had brought it in about 3 additional times to 2 different dealers, finally telling me they can not duplicate the problem, their suggestion to be was to turn up the radio!! out of pure it gets on my !@#$ nerves attitude, took it to another place I 6/07, and replaced the struts and shocks....still hear the thudding....2.5 years after initial complaint! 2----my headlights most of the time, do not come on. Or if you are driving at night, they go off without notice...how is this safe for me and my family...again could not duplicate. 3----my wipers rub funny while in use, which finally caused my back wiper to just not work on 7/4/2005. I go thru an unreasonable pairs of window wipers---once again, could not duplicate. This repair is still on the back burner for me to fix. 4--had to replace the egr valve to pass inspection/emissions....what about 7/70? 5-rust! I have several rust bubbles coating my white mini-van like a young child coming of age!

- Mount Pleasant, PA, USA

problem #3

Jan 292007

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
On November 20th, a module (part number 5144579-ac) was replaced in the vehicle due to intermittent headlights. January 8th, the vehicle was returned because the headlights failed to operate during operation. The service department was unable to find a problem. Today, January 29th, the headlights failed three times during vehicle operation and twice the high-beam headlight switched to low-beam without any prompting from the vehicle operator. See also 10175309. *

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #2

Jun 152006

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles
The vehicle headlights stopped working while driving on multiple occasions. Was forced to pull to the roadside because lights could not be turned on with the switch. A few seconds later the lights illuminated on their own. Received a ticket because lights went out during a daytime rain shower. North Carolina requires headlights to be turned on while operating a vehicle in the rain. Dodge service department replaced the front control module (item number 5144579-ac) ($220.87 parts and labor). See also 10180964

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #1

Mar 222006

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,000 miles
: the contact stated the headlights were difficult to turn on/off. The headlights started cutting off intermittently while driving at night. The vehicle has been to the dealership four times. The first time the dealer said the alarm system prevented them from repairing the vehicle. The second and third times they could not duplicate the problem. The fourth time the body control module was replaced. After the fourth time, the headlights started flashing from low beam to high beam intermittently finally going completely off. This last time, all of the lights on the dash went out. Ten seconds later all of the lights returned as normal.

- Colonial Beach, VA, USA