10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,581 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 #19

Mar 112014

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving at an unknown speed, both rear sliding doors opened independently. The contact stopped the vehicle and manually closed the doors. While parked, the rear sliding doors closed independently and had to be forced open. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and diagnosed the cause of failure as electrical. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000. MA 08/11/15 the consumer stated the failure causes physical pain and anxiety to occupants. The doors would lock children inside the vehicle. The interior lights and radio would not operate. The vehicle would also shake violently. Updated 8/14/15 updated 09/03/15 updated 3/29/2016 the consumer stated she as well as her children have been smashed by the doors and her family has been under doctor's care since the vehicle was purchased. Updated 04/05/16.

- Elyria, OH, USA

problem #18

Jun 272014

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • 49,500 miles
Passenger side sliding door will not lock by remote key. Driver side sliding door will not open or close by remote key or interior console key. I believe the system is defective and that switches are defective as well.

- Slidell, LA, USA

problem #17

Aug 112010

Grand Caravan

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact attempted to open the passenger side sliding door, but it would not open when the remote door control was activated. The failure occurred for four years. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.

- La Crosse, WI, USA

problem #16

Jan 092014

Grand Caravan

  • 162,000 miles
My sliding door quit working half way thru cycle. My power went dead in doors and locks I took it to the Dodge dealer they could not find the problem said it was either the ECM or the BCM but not sure. They did not want to replace as they would just burn out again if this was the problem and still a short somewhere it was safe to drive. I drove it home and next day went to start it and the main wiring harness under the battery and above the drivers side wheel well burst into flames burning the entire main electrical harness and ECM and fuse box up. Took it by tow truck to Dodge dealer again they said looks like wiring harness was worn through where it was fastened to the frame at the assembly plant. Called Dodge and they said this has happened before suppose to send an inspector and no one showed up it has been over a week and no help from Dodge or the dealer who told me it was safe to drive. I received a letter from Chrysler stating it was not a manufacturer defect yeah right!!

- League City, TX, USA

problem #15

Jan 092014

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • 154,000 miles
My sliding door quit working half way thru cycle. My power went dead in doors and locks I took it to the Dodge dealer they could not find the problem said it was either the ECM or the BCM but not sure. They did not want to replace as they would just burn out again if this was the problem and still a short somewhere it was safe to drive. I drove it home and next day went to start it and the main wiring harness under the battery and above the drivers side wheel well burst into flames burning the entire main electrical harness and ECM and fuse box up. Took it by tow truck to Dodge dealer again they said looks like wiring harness was worn through where it was fastened to the frame at the assembly plant. Called Dodge and they said this has happened before suppose to send an inspector and no one showed up it has been over a week and no help from Dodge or the dealer who told me it was safe to drive.

- League City, TX, USA

problem #14

May 082012

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the side doors would open and close without the button being depressed. The dealer stated that the doors were not under recall. The vehicle had not been inspected. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 170,000. The consumer stated the manufacturer was notified. Randomly, the doors also do not close. Updated 10/24/2012

- North Charleston, SC, USA

problem #13

Aug 302011

Grand Caravan

  • 78,000 miles
The sliding passenger door locks no longer lock automatically lock while driving. They have to be locked manually. This is a safety issue. With children in the back seat, they can now open the doors while the car is moving if an adult forgets to lock them. The lift gate in the back no longer chimes when opening. This is a safety issue. Someone can get whacked with the door, not knowing that it is about to open. The parking lights stay on or come on spontaneously after the headlights have been turned off. This is a problem. Very easy for the owner to come out in the morning to a dead battery and a car that won't start. Some owners have reported the headlights cutting out while driving, a serious safety issue.

- Flanders, NJ, USA

problem #12

Oct 012009

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • miles
Driver side passenger door automatic lock does not work.

- Woodbury Heights, NJ, USA

problem #11

Apr 092011

Grand Caravan

  • 60,000 miles
2006 Dodge Grand Caravan - door does not fully close or open with automatic button - wire in door track was severed from multiple openings and closings - have seen on the internet that it has happened to a lot of other vans.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #10

Mar 082011

Grand Caravan

  • 65,000 miles
2006 Dodge crand Caravan rear power sliding doors. Initially would not unlock with electric locks. Now doors open/close partially about 10 inches from the closed position.

- Romeoville, IL, USA

problem #9

Dec 262010

Grand Caravan

  • 79,485 miles
The automatic sliding door on the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT stopped the closing cycle within 6 inches of being closed. Due to the cycle stopping, the door did not reverse thus trapping a 3 year old between the door and the frame. The driver had to walk around the van and manually push the door open the free the child. The door has not fully closed using the automatic sliding door feature since this occurred.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #8

May 012009

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
2006 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. Sliding doors are inconsistent with operation and create concern for a quick exit in an emergency situation. The sliding passenger doors either will not open with the remote key set or will not open entirely with any of the door release buttons on the interior of the vehicle. This has impacted both the driver side and passenger side sliding doors. Inability to open these doors without support of an adult has created concern for a quick exit in an emergency situation for all passengers. To open these doors without support of the automatic door opening system is also very hard. The doors are heavy and often take several attempts to hold the (black) release button down to open the door(s). My children do not have the strength to do this on their own due to this mechanical failure. The button which you should be allowed to push and automatically open the doors (from either the front driver seat or the back two rear passenger buttons are not functional). From my research, of the Dodge mini-vans, I'm finding this is a very common problem. I would like to have this researched to determine the need for safety recall action. If a 9 year old child and children in their early teens cannot open these doors on their own, this presents a major safety concern. We purchased this car new in 2006 and 3 years later, the problem started impacting both doors. I will attempt to bring the minivan into Dodge to inspect but the information I've gathered has proven inconsistent outcomes with dealer repairs and even more concerning, an inability to fix this issue on a permanent basis.

- White Bear Lake, MN, USA

problem #7

Sep 012010

Grand Caravan

  • 74,000 miles
My 2006 Grand Caravan does not consistently allow the sliding power door on both sides close more than 1/2 or 3/4 of the way. Additionally, if it does close it will intermittently will not cycle fully to fully secure the door. As a result the power mechanism which seals the door will cycle over and over until someone manually opens the door and then pulls it shut.

- Minden City, MI, USA

problem #6

Sep 222010

Grand Caravan

  • 60,043 miles
Automatic passenger sliding door will not open or shut completely with either buttons or fob. When the door is closed manually the door cycles to "pull" itself shut. My children noticed this also starting on driver side door as well. We believe a wire in the plastic black casing has shorted or been severed.

- Plainfield , IL, USA

problem #5

Jun 112010

Grand Caravan

  • 48,212 miles
I own a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan with only 48,000 miles on it. The power sliding doors have stopped operating properly. The doors will close about eight inches and then open back up without closing all the way. Tonight the door has opened and will not close manually or electrically. So my van is in my drive way with the door wide open and will be there all night until I figure it out tomorrow. Many people that I know with these vans have the same problem after a few years of owning them. Something has to be done. It is not safe to leave a vehicle outside with the door open all night. I can not get the door to close no matter what I do. Chrysler/Dodge should have implemented a safety mechanism that would allow an owner to be able to manually close the door if it malfunctioned. They should be held accountable for this problem, issue a recall and fix this problem for the many, many customers that have bought their products through out the years.

- Quantico, VA, USA

problem #4

Apr 252010

Grand Caravan

  • 82,000 miles
2006 Dodge Grand Caravan electric passenger door stops 6" after opening, when closing stops in the same place. 82,000 miles - seems like a very common problem with others after doing research.

- Perry, OH, USA

problem #3

Feb 182010

Grand Caravan

  • 27,803 miles
Our 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan with less the 28,000 felt like it would not fully stop when hitting the brakes. I already had the front brakes done and take it to the dealer routinely for oil change and inspection. So I thought it was the tires since they were greatly worn (which is hard to believe @ this mileage) we changed all 4 tires. When we took it in to the dealer for an oil change and to get the automatic door failure looked @ they found the rear brakes were completely worn out and when they went to change the pads and machine the rotors it was so bad that everything started braking on them. Mechanics own description on receipt " ck. Brakes are scrubbing in rear rotors were rusted to hub. Pins for parking brake shoes to backing plate broke when taking off. Replaced brake pins & 2 broken wheel stubs. Chrysler has no respect for customers safety. Tires and brakes are worthless, automatic doors malfunction all these are safety issues! not to mention there cars are lemons water pump broken, issues with air bag, engine light on (5 times) and air conditioning all this with less then 28,000 miles on the car. When is government going to stop giving these thieves bail out money and going to dedicate time to keeping us safe and not allowing car manufactures to rip us off! I am a mother of 4 and fear for my family's safety not to mention that these rip offs really hurt family's financially.

- Simpsonville, , SC, USA

problem #2

Mar 052009

Grand Caravan

  • 38,000 miles
Passenger side sliding door lock will not work with power swicths at 38000 miles.

- Avon Lake, OH, USA

problem #1

Jul 182007

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
My 9 year old son reach back into my 2006 Dodge Caravan SXT and was hit by the door. It is an automatic door that is supposed to stop and retract when there is any obstruction in it's path. It did not stop. It pinned him against the side rail and he received bruises on his arm.

- Freehold, NJ, USA