MODELYEARINDEX

Which Dodge Grand Caravan years to avoid

Across 11 scored model years, the 2016, 2010 and 2012 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Dodge Grand Caravan Full report
F
Grade 2010–2020
2016 vs model median 2.0×
Model median3× median
Electrical 169
Body & Interior 169
Drivetrain 71
Avoid

2010 · 2016

Best

2015 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.92× 394 F
2011
1.23× 288 C
2012
1.27× 341 D
2013
1.00× 287 C
2014
0.93× 221 C
2015
0.49× 122 B
2016
2.01× 621 F
2017
1.00× 263 C
2018
0.59× 169 B
2019
0.58× 146 B
2020
0.08× 18 A

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2010 F 394 reports · median 36,000 mi

  1. Electrical 106

    Supplemental to case 10315972. First event 2/10/10. After repeated complaints to the dealer, dodge installed computer to catch codes during next event. After one week and no more incidents, they removed the computer. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Brakes 64

    2010 dodge grand caravan - emergency brake went out. During a typical parking of the vehicle, the emergency brake was applied, and went straight to the floor. The release no longer worked. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 63

    I purchased a brand new 2010 grand caravan se in january. While making a turn over a puddle of water the car powered down, I.e. Lost power steering and all control. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

28 crash · 13 fire · 17 injuries

2016 F 621 reports · median 59,861 mi

  1. Electrical 169

    2016 dodge grand caravan. Consumer writes in regards to an abnormal amount of pressure that must be applied to operate the horn. Updated 07/07/16. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Body & Interior 169

    I was driving at 2 or 3 MPH in heavy traffic on a city street and the car accelerated when I touched the brake. Pressure on the brake pedal would not stop the vehicle and it crashed into the car ahead, pushing it into… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 71

    The contact owns a 2016 dodge grand caravan. While driving 35 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

11 crash · 7 fire · 8 injuries

The best year for the Grand Caravan

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2020 is the best-scoring Grand Caravan model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 95.6 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2020 0.08× 18 A
2015 0.49× 122 B
2019 0.58× 146 B

Recalls

23 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
20V396000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010 925,239
14V373000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH 2010 722,705
14V234000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2010–2014 644,757
13V283000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2013 224,264
17V376000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 2011, 2012 209,135
11V139000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION 2010 195,798
18V523000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER 2018, 2019 154,335
17V824000 EQUIPMENT 2014–2016 61,791
19V759000 SEATS 2019 30,354
16V461000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2015, 2016 26,298
18V524000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD 2017, 2018 12,779
11V315000 STEERING:COLUMN 2011 11,096

+ 11 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2016 were reported at a median of 59,861 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Dodge Grand Caravan years should you avoid?
2016, 2010, 2012 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Dodge Grand Caravan model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Dodge Grand Caravan?
2020 is the best-scoring Dodge Grand Caravan model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 95.6 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Dodge Grand Caravan have?
23 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Dodge Grand Caravan model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2016 Grand Caravan
Complaints in window
621
Severity-weighted
744.5
Model median (weighted)
371
vs model median
2.01×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
6
Open investigations
0
Score 34.8 F