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2012 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 584 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan, most often about the electrical (58% of complaints, typically around 100,000 miles). It is 5th of 21 Grand Caravan model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan problems
Electrical
337 complaints · 58%Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, alternator/generator/regulator.
While attempting to turn left onto two lane highway, van surged, all dashboard lights came on and then had almost no acceleration. Had to maneuver into center turning lane and then was able to get van into parking lot of store. Engine was revving but van would not go above 10mph. Van was towed to local dealership…
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving the vehicle, the door panel started melting and smoke filled the vehicle. The vehicle was pulled over, turned off, and the fuse was disconnected. The smoke dissipated and there were no flames. The contact researched that the vehicle was included in NHTSA…
Engine
121 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 106,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The van cut off while driving. Eeverytime, I tried to start it, the instrument panel said "no fuse." I had it looked at by a mechanic and he said that my alternator and battery were dead. After they were replaced, the car started up and I drove it to work. On the way to work, while the car was driving, all of the…
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving various speeds, the contact heard a knocking noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was metallic debris in the engine. The vehicle was taken to motor village la chrysler jeep Dodge ram…
Fuel system
74 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 109,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and had to be jumpstarted. The failure recurred multiple times. The contact replaced the battery. In addition, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an…
Multiple attempts to start, perhaps occuring most often in the morning when the vehicle is cold. The problem gets worse over time and eventually won't start at all. Unexplained battery drainage due to a relay that is stuck in the closed/on position. You can likely hear the fuel pump running if listening from the rear…
Other or unspecified
60 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 105,000 miles.
Locks have failed on both sliding doors. The passenger side failed about a year ago but failed in the unlock position so the door is still usable. The driver said failed about 1 month ago in the locked position. There is no way to open the door to access to fix. This is a huge safety issue as what if this failed with…
While driving after taking a left turn, in the middle of driving the steering locked up and the rpms went down and stopped driving. The dashboard was still lit normally. Turned car off and would not restart.
Transmission
48 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 73,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The vehicle stalled and stopped. The engine light came on. The obdii test indicated transmission pressure, tsr solenoid, or gear ratio. The dealer said it is out of warrany and may require transmission rebuild.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle spontaneously downshifted and stalled. Also, the alternator warning indicator illuminated. A towing company jumpstarted the battery and the contact was able to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not…
Brakes
38 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles.
The brakes calipers/brakes are seizing up, after complete replacement of all brake components, this problem recurred in less than 5000 miles, at the same time, the axle bolts were loose and the car became very unstable.
Around 37,000 miles, check engine light came on, shortly after purchased, light would go off and on periodically. After a several weeks light stayed on and started blinking, at this time van was vibrating and sounded like it would cut off. Dealership ended up replacing engine head under warranty. A few months later…
Speed control
24 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 57,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Engine runs very rough, idles low almost dies at intersections. Does not have power when gas pedal is pushed down, looses power while driving as well. These vans have something majorly wrong with the engines and transmissions. Dodge needs to investigate and recall/repair these vans. They are hazardous. I cannot wait…
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving at approximately 10 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and became stuck causing the vehicle to increase in speed. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The…
Body and structure
19 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 49,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Rear evaporator leaking first reported some issue with AC @ 1285 miles when I had no AC in 2012 and again in 2015 so they recharged the system and it lasted until 2016. I went on vacation the next week and the evaporated was making loud noises. The dealer assured me I would not end up stranded in florida and the would…
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the rear sliding doors closed independently and struck a passenger. The contact was concerned that a passenger might sustain injuries due to the failure. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: An overheated switch may result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment
Risk: The power liftgate door may close on an appendage, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Suspension: rear
Risk: This could result in a decrease in durability, which may lead to wheel separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Active head rest inadvertent deployment
Summary
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 include concussions, headaches, soft tissue injuries, disorientation, nausea, vomiting and/or loss of
Totally integrated power module failure
Summary
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 evaluate the petition for a grant or deny decision. Odi analyzed complaint data provided by cas as
Questions about the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (337 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles); engine (121 complaints, typically around 106,500 miles); fuel system (74 complaints, typically around 109,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 17, 2025 (equipment Adaptive/Mobility). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Dodge Grand Caravan?
- It is 5th of 21 Grand Caravan model years by number of complaints, with 584 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.