10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 10
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,994 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.

2012 Dodge Grand Caravan electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2012 Dodge Grand Caravan Owner Comments (Page 1 of 17)

problem #321

Jul 012024

Grand Caravan

  • miles

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

I bought the car 2 weeks ago with 105k miles on it. The car has died approximately 20 times in the last 2 weeks while I am driving it. It is so insanely dangerous, you will be going down a busy street and the car completely dies without warning. There is no dash lights on, no warning. The power steering goes. It's an accident waiting to happen, it-??s unacceptable. After spending 2k at the mechanic and still the same problem. They have now told me I need the TIPM replaced at the dealership. Which also affects the lights, which are erratic, they come on or come off when they want, along with the horn. It-??s also pushes the motors into limp mode so it runs really hard over 20 miles an hour even while idle. The car will also die while in idle/park or when you shift gears. The car is basically an all day event to start and if you get it to stay on, if you are able to get it, don-??t touch the key or it will automatically the car off. The TIPM system will also stay on, even while car is off causing your battery to drain.

- Lapeer, MI, USA

problem #320

May 082024

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Van shuts off completely when driving., all lights go off-?? rolling the car when possible I shift to neutral then I start the ignition and works fine. But lately is more often. My wife picks grand kids from school., she is afraid an accident may happen. I see this problem on the internet specially at the caravan club. Why this problem is not tackled? Thanks. Also yesterday it shuts down at idle.

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #319

Jan 102024

Grand Caravan

  • miles
While driving on freeway or highway, electrical system fails, causing engine shutdown, and power steering and braking system fails to respond without excessive effort and delayed response. ALSO have had intermittent electrical failure while maneuvering vehicle at moderate to slow speeds or while steering around corners or turning into driveways. Touching or inadvertent bumping against ignition switch or rattling of keys on key ring can also cause electrical and dashboard electrical intermittent off/on/off in rapid succession. While driving in heavy traffic on freeway, almost wrecked car when electrical failure occurs during high speed travel and extreme effort to maneuver vehicle safely in heavy freeway traffic making effort to pull over safely a high-risk task. Tendency of driver to over-react or over-steer and under-steer and control car safely to side of road during heavy traffic, WITH NO FUNCTIONING SIGNAL LIGHTS, makes lane changing at high risk of major accident. According to similar reports found on Internet for same model year vehicle, others have reported similar cases of defective ignition switch in steering column, and is a safety hazard and should be recalled and replaced, and should include 2012 year models. While I was able to barely avoid an accident, only means that I was an exception to the rule.

- Midvale, UT, USA

problem #318

Nov 242023

Grand Caravan

  • miles

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

The van shut down from the sudden. No steering or power. Did it twice on a parking lot and big street

- Carrollton , TX, USA

problem #317

Oct 162023

Grand Caravan

  • miles
The van has COMPLETELY lost power on multiple occasions WHILE driving. Everything shuts down: engine, dash, everything. No error codes, so mechanic can-??t pinpoint. Very dangerous. Someone is going to die.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #316

Sep 282023

Grand Caravan

  • miles
The fuel relay switch is faulty and causing fuel pump to stay on draining the battery. This is a known problem and has been recalled on several other models. It causes my vehicle to continue to lose power due to electrical surge.

- Fort Bliss, TX, USA

problem #315

Jul 012023

Grand Caravan

  • miles

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

The car SHUTS OFF while DRIVING NO MATTER THE SPEED!!! The vehicle also pops out of gear when it shuts off. You have to use the emergency release button to change the gear to put it in park to try to start it again, which usually takes a little while to get it started. The safety hazard could be FATAL to the driver and whomever may rear-end the vehicle due it shutting off and loosing power steering and the brakes. This vehicle is currently at the dealership for the second time. They say that they cannot find the problem. I looked online for fixes and found HUNDREDS of complaints of the same issue for this same vehicle with no fix due to everyone being told they cannot find the problem. This could be FATAL!

- Shallotte, NC, USA

problem #314

Mar 022023

Grand Caravan

  • miles
TPIM is going on it causing fault codes that won't clear causing to fail inspection. Chrysler Dodge has known about defective TPIM for years and chose not to do anything about it.

- Cortland, NY, USA

problem #313

Dec 302022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Rear door won't engage or open seems to be electrical, then once figured out. The vehicle wldnt run, had a new battery put in, then it acted like the fuel pump, but the fuel pump kicks in the alternator was replaced as the fuel pump a year ago. Then we bypassed the regulator and now thr is nothing in the entire van works intact when u try put the charger on it, which the battery indicator says fully charged the whole fuel box vibrates and shakes. But thr is absolutely no power inside the vehicle thr is definitely without a doughty something wrong with the vehicles entire fusebox. This is very odd and not normal The entire brain of this vehicle is a problem. I have had a problem with this lemon since I bought it I have had it sitting more then driving spent more money on it then I. Able to use it something is definitely wrong with this vehicle.

- Madelia , MN, USA

problem #312

Nov 012022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
I would like the fuel pump relay recalled because it is unsafe and the Jeep Cherokee and Charger have the exact same TIPM with the same exact fuel pump relay and they both have recalls on the the exact same part.

- Oroville , CA, USA

problem #311

Oct 282022

Grand Caravan

  • miles

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

I guess started with noticing oil being used at a faster pace then normal then a decent tick began along with AbS light which prevented cruise control from working. At this point We seemed Professional advice from a licensed Mechanic who then preformed a small job of dropping transmission pan to clean metal shavings out! And replacing tires and brake pads assured us routers were fine. He was concerned with the fact that the abs light continued to be on so we the paid to get wiring for abs redone (not sure what was called). After this the cruise control worked abs went off but we noticed the brake pads went quick! Then the insane knock out of nowhere began loud metal on metal had harmonic balancer pulley replaced didn-??t do it any good. The. Was told cracked fly wheel was most likely the problem I continued to drive for about a month when the brake fluid light came on. I added fluid but every 3-4 days it came on again and of course brake pads again but this time the extremely loud knock went away and all was left was a quiet tick. That lasted couple months the out of no where wiring started shorting in dash and radio display. This lead to battery issues then out of no where motor is stuck in first gear and will not shift up but will shift between drive neutral and reverse. Idles extremely rough when in drive lights do not dim I had alternator checked. Now my family of six is with out a vehicle thank you for hearing my concerns

- Corydon, KY, USA

problem #310

Aug 232022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
2017 I purchased my car. I had several problems with the key lock and car starting. Immediately tried to return the car but dealer wouldn-??t allow it. I have now found out there were 2 recalls in 2017 I was not aware of this until now. Even though dodge has stated to me they were fixed as a consumer if my car was presenting issues so early on after these recalls I should have had a grace period to give the vehicle back if other issues were presented. Currently car is smoking on the drivers side with a heavy burning smell. Car is over heating as well as the car would not stop while I was driving it on8/23/22 in a mall. Car was shutting off a lot. I was under warantiy and took it to AAmco and found out there were transmission issues. My warranty company at the time let my car sitting at AAmco despite the major issue and refused to fix it as well as let my warranty expire. Now I am scared to drive this car concerned the vehicle won-??t stop.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #309

Aug 012022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
My van cranks, but won't start, it happens on and off... it seems to be the fuel pump relay everyone's talking about

- Uniondale, NY, USA

problem #308

Aug 312022

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • miles
I am experiencing an issue with the Totally Integrated Power Module TIPM. That can not be repaired by a local auto mechanic professional service. This appears to be a chronic issue with this vehicle make and model. In the 2011 this issue has been deemed a recall, yet the 2012, despite having the same engine, has not been deemed a recall. This needs to be addressed. Furthermore, the Dodge Caravan is one that is most frequently converted for wheelchair drivers and passengers. This is my case as well. I would like to commend Dodge for manufacturing vehicles that can be modified, and I would also like to implore that they be well supported in providing the safest most mechanically sound vehicle possible which also includes notifying and elevating problems to RECALL status so that wheelchair users can seek needed repairs before being stranded on the side of the road. There are literally no wheelchair accessible tow trucks, at least not in my area. Dodge had taken on a needed task and I am asking that they be supported to take it to the next level with recalling the 2012 TIPM and any other chronic issues on their vehicles especially for people with mobility differences. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Claremore, OK, USA

problem #307

Jul 292022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
I was driving on a side street fortunately instead of the interstate each of the times that the car died! All of the dash lights came on and it just stopped running. I called for service and the tow driver checked the battery and it was fine, but but would not start or jump. Had it towed to the mechanic. A new battery was put on and it ran for a couple of days then died again. It would not jump so towed back to mechanic. Mechanic said they charged the battery, got it started said they ran diagnostics finding no issues. the next day it died again and would not jump. It is back at the mechanic's with them trying to figure this out. In my own research, I found this site and the repeated problems just like this. If I had been on the interstate, any kind of busy traffic it could have been tragic! I don't know why this persistent Dodge problem has not been recalled and fixed! I'm concerned that when we get the part replaced it will have the same problem. I don't want anyone to have a dangerous car. I'm stuck with this vehicle that is not safe even when fixed or don't fix it and trash it. Either way I have to buy another car. The sad thing is that until this repeated problem, I loved the car.

- Hazelwood, MO, USA

problem #306

Jul 252022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
My Dodge Grand caravan is having ignition issues and will randomly turn off while driving or just parked/sitting.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #305

Jul 142022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
The TIPM has a built in fuel relay switch which fails sometimes won't allow vehicle to start other times it and stall while driving twice in one trip my vehicle stalled on the highway loss of all power and engine completely shuts off with no power steering or brake assist very scary and wreckless was very fortunate to have avoid multiple accidents the is already a recall associated with this issue on the Dodge Durango and Jeep Cherokee but for some reason the Doge Grand Caravan was left off and it posses a huge safety risk for the people and families that are driving them!

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #304

May 312022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
While driving, van completely shut down. This has happened twice now. No power brakes no power steering. Unable to restart. coasted to side of the road in one case and to a parking lot on another instance. It is currently at the dealer for repair for the second time. Battery replaced the first time. While engine would not start all accessories worked. Nothing found wrong. This time they picked up dead van. couldn't run diagnostics they said. Suspect win module, ($900 repair) not sure though. It has resurrected itself and now runs but once again they find nothing wrong. They said win module is a guess. Going to drive it with a computer on to see if they can find anything. 900 is a lot for a guess. have seen several complaints on line for this issue and similar complaints recalled on other dodges.

- Huron, TN, USA

problem #303

May 102022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
My Dodge Grand caravan is having ignition issues and will randomly die while driving or just sitting. It has happened on the highway going 70mph. It is very dangerous as I lose all power until I would flip the ignition off and then back on. I have looked and found the recall on other vans but it is not listed under my VIN. What do I do to get this fixed before I am in am accident.

- Auburn, IN, USA

problem #302

Jan 202022

Grand Caravan

  • miles
2012 caravan staling/dyng while driving, at take off from stops n issues starting with it just dying time after time over n over. Getting codes for low input power for the system n tcm plus misfire codes n O2 sensor code. Had new battery n both battery n alternator check out perfect. All new fuses n relays n CB1. Changed Oil, filter n housing n spark plugs twice, all new O2 sensors n new ignition coils. New starter. Got new key fob n ignition key as well. Still same issues with no starts, difficult starts, stalling n dying while driving months later

- Grove City, OH, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?