4th generation (RS) · RS · 3,204 complaints, 2,592 with mileage
Owners filed 3,204 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001–2007 Dodge Grand Caravan, and 2,592 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 38,300 and 97,000 miles. The median is 64,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (14.1% of complaints, typically around 75,117 miles), latches and locks (12.5% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles), the airbag system (9.9% of complaints, typically around 60,000 miles).
4 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 453 | 14.1% | 75,117 | 50,000–104,000 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 402 | 12.5% | 60,000 | 45,000–80,000 |
| Air Bags | 317 | 9.9% | 60,000 | 40,000–93,000 |
| Steering | 293 | 9.1% | 45,345 | 29,900–73,000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 291 | 9.1% | 77,310 | 52,350–105,000 |
| Structure | 169 | 5.3% | 74,500 | 48,000–104,000 |
| Power Train | 164 | 5.1% | 48,316 | 21,000–65,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 146 | 4.6% | 105,000 | 80,000–130,000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 139 | 4.3% | 27,901 | 17,500–54,655 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 111 | 3.5% | 49,625 | 35,500–85,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 362 | 242 |
| 2002 | 417 | 273 |
| 2003 | 289 | 226 |
| 2004 | 144 | 115 |
| 2005 | 1,341 | 1,151 |
| 2006 | 378 | 338 |
| 2007 | 273 | 247 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 64,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 14.1% of complaints (453 reports, 386 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,117 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 104,000 miles.
Latches and locks account for 12.5% of complaints (402 reports, 352 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 80,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 9.9% of complaints (317 reports, 262 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 93,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 9.1% of complaints (293 reports, 247 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 45,345 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 29,900 and 73,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 9.1% of complaints (291 reports, 233 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,310 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,350 and 105,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 5.3% of complaints (169 reports, 134 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 74,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 104,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2005 model year drew the most — 1,341 complaints — while 2004 drew the fewest at 144. The median year sits at 362.
That makes 2005 an outlier: roughly 3.7 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 4 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around seats (2), equipment adaptive/mobility (1), the airbag system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 3,204 complaints filed against this generation, 116 reported a crash; 63 reported a fire; 165 reported an injury; 4 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 3.6% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 38,300 and 97,000 miles, with a median of 64,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and latches and locks are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Latches and locks in particular shows a median failure mileage of 60,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
41TE automatic failures continue as the leading complaint category.
Power sliding door motor, cable and latch failures — doors that fail to latch, open on their own, or jam.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 10V338000 | 2010-07-28 | Seats |
| 10V271000 | 2010-06-22 | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility |
| 10V261000 | 2010-06-10 | Seats |
| 10V008000 | 2010-04-19 | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive |