10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,978 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan engine problems

engine problem

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2011 Dodge Grand Caravan Owner Comments (Page 3 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #51

May 302018

Grand Caravan

  • 101,141 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The van's engine shutdown while my wife was driving the van at night and barely had enough time to pull to the side of the road before losing control of steering. She had just made a right turn onto the highway. Towed the van to a local dealer and found the issue to be the diode on the alternator failing causing electrical feedback to the powertrain control module (PCM). So had to spend a lot of money to have the alternator and PCM replaced. I am aware other vehicle lines of 2011 have a recall for this specific issue and am unsure why the Dodge Grand Caravan is not on the list. There needs to be an investigation and have this vehicle added to the recall.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #50

Mar 022018

Grand Caravan

  • 52,000 miles
I have been having problems with starting my vehicle. It wants to start but will not kick over. I have to call a tow truck and they bring it to Dodge and they continue to tell me there is nothing wrong. It starts again. This has been going on for months an finaly Dodge said it was my alternator. It was replaced and after a week the same thing has happened. It has done it a few other times but will start after a few times. The vehicle is parked.

- Dracut, MA, USA

problem #49

Jun 022018

Grand Caravan

  • miles
My van has had electrical type issues since we purchased it, but in the last couple years they have imagnified. Every issue starts with the car smoking and some sort of light coming on (engine, battery etc..) many times I take it in and the dash light is no longer illuminated or they can not find anything wrong with it and reset the electrical panel. I have replaced the battery numerous times, alternator three times (last time it was completely burnt out and the time before it was completely melted). Transmission lines and coolant lines. The last time my headlights were replaced the wires were charred and frayed. Last night my son was pulled over by the police because the officer noticed the car was smoking. He popped the hood to let the smoke clear (my son said the smoke had a copery taste). After it cleared the van started and drove fine. This is after having the alternator replaced (for the third time) just last week. The technicians at the shop have never seen these kinds of problems before and the guy at interstate battery said he has never seen a car deplete a battery like mine does. With all these issue being associated with the words melting, charring, smoking, it really concerns me that one day my van is going to catch on fire or blow up and this is not normal for any vehicle, but especially one that has been taken care of and maintained. I have friends with the same van and similar mileage (155,000) and they have not had any of these issues. I contacted Dodge who referred me to the NHTSA and the local dealership. Please help!!!

- Lakeville, MN, USA

problem #48

Apr 262018

Grand Caravan

  • 79,900 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan R/T 79900 miles intermittent failure to start. Intermittent stalling after starting. Stalled on street after leaving driveway. No check engine light indicated on dash. Just bought the car used from a dealer.

- Baldwinsville, NY, USA

problem #47

Mar 292017

Grand Caravan

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving at any speed, the engine shut off without warning. The vehicle restarted after a few minutes and was taken to haasz automall of ravenna (4886 oh-59, ravenna, oh 44266, 330-296-2866) where the technician stated that there was no recall. A diagnostic test was performed, but the cause of the failure was not determined. The technician recommended a more extensive test, but the contact declined to pay the high cost for the test. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

- Canfiels, OH, USA

problem #46

Jun 062017

Grand Caravan

  • miles
2011 Dodge Caravan purchased 3/2017. Motor had a slight knocking sound took it back to dealer they sent me to their mechanic. I was assured that it was fine. Then brakes went really low and did not stop right. Told it was a master cylinder.installed that then it happened again so was told that it was a bad master cylinder. Installed another one. Did not fix the problem after a few days."???? then I was told we needed a brake booster. Installed that and it did seem like that was it fixed, then the brake light came on and brake pedal went low. Now it has a very horrible sound and the trany at times does not want to shift and the RPM's go up and I have to pull over and shut off the vehicle and turn it back on and it will shift.???? electronical.??" I have read complaints on NHTSA and I feel like Dodge should repair the brakes and the trany problem. From what I can read it is a defective part of the programming. The horrible nosie when you pull off, I dont know what it is but sounds bad.. I called Dodge dealership right after I bought the van and they were very rude and said there were not any recalls for this 2011 van and I see that there is and some says complete. Well if they are complete seems to me like it needs to be repaired again because it is doing what I see that people are complaining about. I owe nearly 14,000 on this van.. doge/Chrysler should make it good. The complete on the recalls like I said is not complete. Please help me if you can. I dont have much faith after the person at the Dodge dealership was so rude to me, but maybe you all there can help me get it repaired. This is a safety issue.the windows sometimes dont want to come down and yall have something about it might catch on fire.the keybob will not open the side doors.

- Lochloosa, FL, USA

problem #45

Nov 202017

Grand Caravan

  • 3 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Al encenderlo aveces no arranca tengo este problema como 7 meses Y a la segundo intento prende O aveces une tercera vez medicen que ES el switch

- Bristol, IN, USA

problem #44

Jan 252018

Grand Caravan

  • 179,000 miles
Driving down the road at 55 mph van started making weird clunking sounds lights began to dim lost accelerator control, brakes pulled to side of road manage to come to a stop vehicle still was making sounds and lights were flashing I put it in park vehicle stalled out I tried to restart and nothing wouldn't even turn over just clicked. Had it towed only came back as low voltage they replaced battery tried to restart engine still made clunking noise van still wouldn't start, oil pan was dropped and had chunks of metal in it. Final conclusion engine blown I have seen some recalls on this engine 3.6 vvt also previously had a problem with tipm I also see has an ongoing. Possible recall and is recalled in other vehicles that use same part. Would really love my van fixed as this engine is known to have problems

- Mountain, WI, USA

problem #43

Jan 072017

Grand Caravan

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owned a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. While parked, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #42

Oct 302017

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Tire pressure sensor light is always on, fuel pump runs after the vehicle is shut off, automatic rear doors open and close intermittently with out the push of the buttons. We have had to replace 4 batteries and 3 alternators, every time the dealership tells us this is a common issue with the tipm. Previously we have also replaced the transmission and the engine has needed repairs. Engine repairs were covered under a recall but not the transmission.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #41

Oct 212017

Grand Caravan

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall : while driving, van would not go into gear and sent super high rpms and would not come down while braking. Have read about several of these issues with this style of vehicle. Dangerous while having kids in the vehicle on the road.

- Bettendorf, IA, USA

problem #40

Oct 182017

Grand Caravan

  • 101,000 miles
The vehicle stopped in the middle of the road as I was driving, the vehicle took a while to start at times. The vehicle would not start

- Wappingers Falls, NY, USA

problem #39

Sep 212017

Grand Caravan

  • 165,000 miles
The vehicle stops running without warning. It has occurred on three occasions: Once at a slow speed (25 mph) on flat terrain, going uphill at 57 mph, going down hill at 45 mph, all in good weather conditions and traveling in a straight line. The car cannot be immediately restarted, but after a period of minutes will restart. The engine seems to be in good condition and has plenty of power. There appears to be no engine/mechanical reason for these events. The events leave no trace or error message that can be obtained by our mechanic. If this power outage occurred when in the passing lane, crossing a rode at an unprotected intersection or other condition where stalling out randomly would leave us or others in a life threatening situation it would be terrible. We have been forced to stop driving the vehicle for fear of injury or worse.

- Front Royal, VA, USA

problem #38

Jul 152017

Grand Caravan

  • 87,000 miles
Wont start. Fuel pump doesnt run at times, no fuel no start. At times it runs & stops on road. Verry dangerous in traffic. Windows roll down by themself. Doors un lock by themself. Dealer doesnt know what is wrong I am told. The dealer says the problem may be the tipm computer but will not say for sure. But they will replace it if I want, for $1200 no guarantee it will fix it. These vehicles with this type of computer should be recalled. They are a danger tothe public. When driving on road they will stop running because of fuelpump & tipm are not working correctlu.

- Waynesville, NC, USA

problem #37

May 242017

Grand Caravan

  • 128,000 miles
As I am driving the car just shuts off with no warning. It has happened multiple times both on the highway and in town. I lose instrumentation, power steering, and power brakes. I have had to glied to a stop and try and restart the vehicle.

- Fargo, ND, USA

problem #36

Mar 022017

Grand Caravan

  • 86,000 miles
My van is cranking but not turning over. There are several recalls for the same issue for other Dodge and Chrysler vehicles but not mine. It states when researching it's a tipm issue.

- Kent, OH, USA

problem #35

May 092017

Grand Caravan

  • 45,000 miles
I have reported this problem a year ago after seeing the lawsuit on Jeep Cherokee and Dodge durangos. Having to replace the tpim module. I've seen several complaint about having to change the battery then the altenator then the tpim. I did all that and my vehicles electrical system still is giving me problems. The doors will not side open the air blows heat automatically when not even on and now won't even start. Problem after problem and still no recall. There has been hundreds of complaints about faulty tipm's and even a lawsuit. The dealership say's they don't know what the problem is but each person I've seen complain shares the same problem. First told it's the battery then the altenator then the tpim. Why has this not been recalled. Dodge knows this is a problem or they wouldn't have settled a lawsuit about the Cherokee and the durango. This is not right at all and we need help fixing this issue asap.

- Thomasville, GA, USA

problem #34

Apr 112017

Grand Caravan

  • 131,000 miles
Van will shut off while driving at slow speed, normally when slowing down to turn, which is very dangerous as you have to coast across the road with no power. No check engine lights or error codes of any kind. This has happened several times almost causing accidents. The engine does run abnormally and performs well at highway speeds. When the problem happens it is just as if you turned off the ignition, but the radio and dash lights still work. The van will restart normally and drive. Have not been able to reproduce the issue for a mechanic to see the issue it seems to be random.

- Tellico Plains, TN, USA

problem #33

Mar 132017

Grand Caravan

  • 52,497 miles
Van stalls and sometimes will not start back up. This has happened a few times on the highway so I can no longer drive the van as this problem is getting worst every day my husband drives it to work and has had the same problem as I have had with the van. We are thinking of trading it in but don't want anyone to get suck in the middle of the highway

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #32

Feb 012017

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • 67,000 miles
I've had my van since October 2016, 60000 miles on odometer at time of purchase. January 29 and February 1, 2017 the car has completely shut off while driving. On January 29, I was on the highway doing 65 mph. Feb 1, I was leaving my job's parking lot and later a grocery store parking lot. The lights flickered each time and the van then 'died'. it restarted when I tried.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

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