Dodge Grand Caravan 2008–2020

5th generation (RT) · RT · 9,699 complaints, 5,882 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

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 74,576 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The electrical system accounts for 35.2% of complaints (3,412 reports, 1,785 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 53,000 and 108,000 miles.

A single system taking 35.2% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.

The engine accounts for 9.4% of complaints (910 reports, 635 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 64,519 and 119,043 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 8.4% of complaints (815 reports, 390 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 71,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 49,900 and 100,000 miles.

The airbag system accounts for 8.1% of complaints (790 reports, 283 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 76,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 108,000 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.1% of complaints (688 reports, 454 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 108,000 miles.

Body structure accounts for 5.9% of complaints (572 reports, 350 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 80,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2008 model year drew the most — 1,965 complaints — while 2020 drew the fewest at 27. The median year sits at 656.

That makes 2008 an outlier: roughly 3.0 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.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 27 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 the airbag system (6), the electrical system (4), equipment (4). 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.

Reported severity

Of the 9,699 complaints filed against this generation, 225 reported a crash; 133 reported a fire; 249 reported an injury; 6 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 2.3% 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.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 45,000 and 103,104 miles, with a median of 74,576. 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 the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 80,000, 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.

Documented problems

Recalls (27)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Dodge Grand Caravan 1996–2000
• Dodge Grand Caravan 2001–2007