9.3
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $360
- Average Mileage:
- 46,050 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 62 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (54 reports)
- replaced the egr valve (5 reports)
- change ignition switch unit (1 reports)
- replace ignition (1 reports)
- win sensor replaced (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Dodge dealer.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
This problem was very dangerous. While driving, with no warning, the engine would stop. I called the dealer, but they could only drive it to see the problem. When it first started it only stopped occasionally, but got worse after the warranty ran out. A friend , who had a analyzer, checked and found EGR valve problem. I replaced the valve myself, and it hasn't stopped since. This was in Sept. 2013.
- John H., Lizemores, WV, US
Vehicle stalls randomly while driving or sitting idle. EGR valve replaced but problem still exsists. Been waiting over a month to hear from Chrysler.
- Roger S., Charlottetown, PE, canada
We have had this Grand Caravan Van for a year now and everything was smooth until last month. The engine light came on and the car started going off while operating normally. Or 'missing' while in motion. There is no pattern to this - it happens randomly. We have had it looked and spent over $1,000 (change sensors, changed thermostat, reset computer, etc) - but to no avail.
We have had near-miss fatal accidents as it has cut on us at the most crucial times - several on the highway and twice while turning left at the signal - almost into the oncoming vehicles. I see that we are not the only ones with this problem - seeing the number of complaints on this and on other sites. Chrysler needs to take action fast before a major fatality occurs. Otherwise I smell a class action lawsuit in the making.
- Faruq K., Toronto, ON, canada
Have had this van for almost 5 years and in the last year it has started to shut down while driving. No Power Steering, no gas, have to grab wheel and coast to a stop and restart. The first 3 times it happened while starting up from a stop, so we sort of wrote it off as a random "stall", even though the engine was not struggling or showing any other indications that it might be about to stall. This last time, I was driving down the street at 35-40 MPH and coming up to a curve and the car shut off and the power steering stopped and I was going straight into the oncoming lanes. Fortunately, found some room in the center turn lane and came to a stop, and then restarted the engine and went on my way.
I took it in to the dealer and left it overnight and they called and said they could not reproduce the problem and the van was not throwing any codes. The dealer suggested that changing some valve might fix it (a $379 educated guess they admitted). When I complained that I did not want to keep driving that van on an educated guess and threatened to call Chrysler direct the service manager called me back. I told him I feel it is the ignition switch, he said that my van had already had the recall work done on it so what did I want him to do. I said maybe check the serial number of the replaced part and make sure that the right part got in there - to which he said "good idea"! I explained that the ignition switch on the van has always been a problem and that when starting the van, the starter will keep firing even though the engine has started. Like it is "stuck" in the start position. So if it sticks there, why is it unreasonable to think that it also might "slip" into the "off" position?
Anyway, they are investigating further. I will try to update with what I hear back.
- rockershousen, Naperville, IL, US
Stalled 3 times in 3 days. Check engine light came on, went to the dealer. They don't know what the problem is. Not happened since, all very reassuring.
- dodgevanhell, Mtl, QC, canada
I bought this car brand new in 2011. In the first month, they had to replace the lifters. Then, the brakes were recalled. Now, the stupid car shuts off while I am driving down the road, so that I have no power steering or brakes. Has shut off 4 times now, usually when I am trying to merge in and out of traffic. I took it in to the dealership and they pulled 3 codes--one for PCM, one for wiring, one for some switch. They refuse to do anything else and said they would not replace even though it was under warranty. They told me, and I quote, "You'll have to drive it until it happens more often so we can pull the code while it is duplicated." I told them I would probably end up wrecking the car if I had to continue to drive it and they said, and again I quote, "Oh, well we hope not but that is a possibility." I told them to get ready for a lawsuit if I wrecked it because they wouldn't fix it. I also contact customer service and was told, almost verbatim, the same thing--to drive it until I wreck it or it repeats everytime I get behind the wheel. Still fighting with them and will never buy another dodge.
- kswangin, Columbia City, IN, US
The ABS indicator lights up and car stalls and this happens randomly.When it occurs it creates a very dangerous situation as the steering wheel locks up and the van shuts down.I have to find a place to pull over,put it in park and restart the engine.Very dangerous if it occurs in heavy traffic.It seems to happen when the temperature outside dips.Dealership can't find the problem and the car doesn't act up when they test drive it.Very frustrating and I'm wondering if anyone else is having this problem.I had a Dodge Caravan back in the 90's and I went through 4 transmissions before I got rid of it.I thought I would give them another chance but I wish that I didn't as they are very frustrating to work with and your basically stuck with a "POS".
I'll try to get rid of it and not deal with them anymore.
- giago, Rapid City, SD, US
While travelling down the highway our engine seemed to lose power and cut in and out. I had heard of this already from this sight so was very concerned. The dash lights were dimming slightly (barely noticable) on and off. It turned out to be the battery lead. The wires connect to the battery posts like most vehicles, but for some reason there is a second connection just back from there. It was loose and caused the troubles. Very easy to miss if you only wiggle the battery post connection. Not sure if all Grand Caravans are set up this way but we have had no troubles since.
- linco, Kingston, ON, Canada
van just dies when it wants to. going through the rotary it stalled ,truck amost hit passanger side with my 4 year old there. time for dodge to do something about this.
- Jeff P., Halifax, Nova Scotia, canada
We bought the 2010 Grand Caravan in June 2011 with 32,000 KM. This spring it started shutting off while driving, has happened 6 times in less them a month. After it happened the third time we took to a dealer, no code in the found, call if it happened again. When it happened the fifth time the dealer was called and they took it for a week. Engineers at Dodge told them to change the WIN sensor and cost me $416.00 as the engine shutting of is not covered under the 100,000 KM drive train. I thought the engine was the main part of the drive train is it not? Paid the bill and drove the van for 5 days and it shut off again last night on my wife as she was slowing down coming into town. I am going to call the dealer today to see if they still have my old WIN sensor to put back in and give my money back as it is not fixed. This is a safety issue for Dodge that they have to get to the bottom of the issue.
- chill62, Shakespeare, Ontario, Canada
I drive a wheelchair accessible dodge van, while driving at 75 miles per hour the engine stopped abrutly. Luckily I was not rear ended. I took the van to the dealer, unfurtunately they were not able to determine the cause. I am afraid to drive, but unfurtunately i depend on it.
- Pablo A., Dunbar, WV, US
Was driving on the Interstate about 20 miles from home (at 65 mph) and the car just shut off!
With muscle (of course, no power steering) I was able to get the car to the side of the road without getting hit!
The car did start back up after I had stopped.
I did not drive back home on the Interstate, but took the back roads where I had more room to get off the road if the car shut off again.
The car has shut off other time, but it was on a local street/driveway.
We have an appointment Monday morning at the dealer to have them check out this huge safety issue!
- fayray, Valley, AL, US
2010 caravan shuts down while driving. I have been able to duplicate problem in my garage. the ignition key fob sometimes sticks in the start position, not returning to the on position. if i strike the dashboard to mimic a bump in the road, the key fob flips back past the on position to the off positon, egro shutting down the van...oh, so frustrating. called the fella i bought it from, (thrifty car sales) and he said he's never heard of that occurring. I was contemplating spraying a bit of silicone around the ignition switch to help free up the friction between the plastics. I'll post if it works out.
- Steve G., London, Ontario, Canada
my van has shut off 6 times in the past two weeks. This happens while I'm driving at about 65 miles per hour. Today I was crossing a 6 lane road when it shut off and I almost got broad sided. This is really scary and now I am afraid to drive the van especially that I have 4 young kids that I drive to school every day.
I hope that Chrysler is aware of this problem and working on fixing it. I'm taking my van to the dealership tomorrow morning to see what they say.
- Bassam B., Auburn Hills, MI, US
We bought a used 2010 Dodge Caravan with 32000 miles. When my husband took it for a ride the next day he was making a left turn and the car died out. Put it in neutral and it restarted. The same thing happened to me the next day making a left turn. Again it started right away. He took it back to the Dodge dealer and they scoped it and said they could not find anything wrong with it. Well it happened 2 more times within the next 2 weeks. I looked up the vehicle online for problems. I found that there are other Caravans that have the same problem and have been recalled. But they say that our Caravan is not one on the recall list. But the problem is exactly the same, has to to with the key modulator or something like that. They tested it once again and found no problem.
I would just like this noted because if I get into an accident because the car goes off the way it does, there needs to be some sort of documentation.
- Sandy O., Whittier, CA, US
My van stalled out twice today. Once backing up out of my driveway and the second time while turning a corner out of a parking lot. Both times I was able to restart the vehicle by turning the key. This is not the first time this has happened but it is happening more and more often. I have an email into the dealer as I believe there is a recall associated with this but I have not yet received a notice.
- Kelly A., Brantford, ON, Canada
WELL, BOUGHT THE 2010 DODGE CARAVAN IN APRIL,2011 TOOK IT HOME & ONE WEEK LATER WIFE SAYS THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. SO I SAID IT COULD NOT HAVE, ITS NEW. A WEEK LATER SHE CALLED & SAID I'M BROKE DOWN. SO WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY REPLACED RECALL PART SAID KEY HAD BOUNCED OUT OF PLACE. OK TOOK IT HOME. AGAIN CAR STOP RUNNING WHILE MOVING HOLY COW!!!!!! TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID IT GAVE A LOT OF CODES NOW THEY SAY GAS PEDAL IS BAD. THEY REPLACED IT. OK THAT WAS 9-6-2011. OCT 4 2011 CAR CUTS OFF AGAIN. THEY SAID IT HAD 17 CODES AGAIN. NOW THEY SAY PCM IS BAD. THEY CHANGED THE MAIN BRAIN. WE ARE VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF BUT KEEPS MOVING, NO BRAKES,NO POWER STEERING. HOW SCARY. NO ONE WILL HELP. PLEASE WE NEED TO ALL CONTACT EACH OTHER BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN THIS FAMILY CAR. WE NEED TO FIGHT THE CORPORATE GIANTS FOR OUR RIGHTS. WE ALL TOGETHER CAN DO IT. I KNOW WE CAN. DODGE WONT RECALL IT BUT THEY'RE ON NOTICE. SO IS CARMAX FOR SELLING IT TO ME. PLEASE BE SAFE IN THIS VAN. ITS VERY DANGEROUS.......
- Daniel S., Indianapolis, IN, US
WELL MY VAN KEEPS JUST DIEING OUT WHILE DRIVING,BUT THE CAR KEEPS MOVING. SOMEONES GOING TO GET HURT. THEY'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS. THEY'RE NOT SURE WHATS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS. PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL DODGE VAN DRIVERS THAT THEY MAKE IT HOME CAUSE IT WILL JUST SHUT OFF. NO ONE IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CAR. ITS LIKE MY PROBLEM AND I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG BUT BUY THIS VAN. NEVER AGAIN. PLEASE STAND BEHIND EACH OTHER. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. DON'T STOP HERE, CALL THE NEWS, CALL THE ATTY GENERAL, CALL EVERYONE. SOMEONE WILL LISTEN TO ALL OF US NOT ONE.............OUR LIVES ARE IN DANGER
- Daniel S., Indianapolis, IN, US
We bought our caravan new in 2010. During the first year, the car shut off 12 times while driving it in various stages; turning into traffic, slowing down, hitting the brake, hitting the gas. I brought it to one dealer twice...Both times they said no codes are showing up and they cannot duplicate the problem, therefore nothing could be done. I was furious.
It happened again which caused me to crash into a rock, damaging the underside of the van damaging parts. The car was brought to another dealer, and in March of 2011 there was another van, same make and model in for the same thing. This dealer replaced the win sensor and all was well, up until two weeks ago. I turned into traffic and the van died. I added two key chains to my ring, so I wrote it off as my error and removed the key rings. (they were light weight by the way).
The next week, I was driving my son home from school on a curvy road in Georgia, with no shoulder, and the darn thing shut off again....I flipped it in neutral like I had countless times before and turned the key. Except in this case, it did not start. CRAP...no power steering or brakes and a curvy Georgia road with no shoulder!!! I knew of a subdivision coming up. I set my arms across the wheel and prayed to be able to have the strength to turn it into the subdivision who's entrance was on an incline. I made it, barely, put the car in park and called the dealer. They told me that Dodge told them to fix the car and give it back to me. I have been in constant contact with Dodge and do not want this car back.
I have been lucky that I only got into one accident with it shutting off....I am afraid the next one we will not be as lucky. This particular car is unsafe not only to the people riding in it, but also to other people on the road. I am making it known that I have been told numerous times by Dodge that the van is fixed and safe. I do not believe this to be the case. I love my mini van, but do not want to drive it. We are loyal Dodge/Jeep owners and believe in their product. This particular one is a lemon and as such, I wish they would take care of the problem.
- monicamccarthy93, Cumming, GA, US
Had the ignition recall fixed in 2012. Driving down the road at 30 km, (June 12 2014) engine just shut down. No power steering, brakes or anything. Scary even at 30 km/h. Started right up after vehicle was put in park. Second occurrence June 14. Traveling on a main road doing about 70 km/ h with my daughter in the van with me. Same thing happened. Van shut right down. Fortunately I was able to coast into a store lot to get off the main road. Very scary. In my eyes van is a death trap.
From everything I have read, no one can figure out what the issue is. No longer a reliable vehicle at only 4 years old. Checked the error codes using the key in ignition turning the key to on, off, on, off, on. All I got was ---- Done. No errors present. At low speeds, it feels as though the vehicle bogs a bit. Bringing to the shop today.
- Kara V., Burlington, Ontario, canada