2012 Dodge CARAVAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Dodge CARAVAN has 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: first time, battery kept going dead. took it to cortland dodge, they said there was a problem with the wiring [not covered by warranty] charged us about 80.00 ! second time. fuses blown for seat controls and w. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 3 crash reports 4 injuries

116

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

47 complaints

41%

• FIRST TIME, BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD. TOOK IT TO CORTLAND DODGE, THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING [NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY] CHARGED US ABOUT 80.00 ! SECOND TIME. FUSES BLOWN FOR SEAT CONTROLS AND W
• RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING REAR QUARTER VENT WINDOW SWITCH. STATES IF EXPOSED TO LIQUID SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT CAUSING BURNING ODOR, SMOKE, OR DRIVER'S DOOR FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. TRIED TO SCHEDULE APPT JUST TO HAVE SWITCH DISCONNECTED SINCE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE TWO CLOSEST DEALERS WO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V234000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“FIRST TIME, BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD. TOOK IT TO CORTLAND DODGE, THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING [NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY] CHARGED US ABOUT 80.00 ! SECOND TIME. FUSES BLOWN FOR SEAT CONTROLS AND W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

19 complaints

16%

• THE PROBLEM IS AUTONOMOUS ACCELERATION. WHEN MY CAR IS MOVING SLOWLY AT IDLE SPEED WHILE I'M PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR MY HOME GARAGE AND I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO GUIDE THE CAR, THE ENGINE RPM SPEED SURGES BY ABOUT 400 RPMS CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FOR
• I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE VAN STARTED SPEEDING UP AND I WAS GOING ALMOST 50 MPH, I TURNED THE KEY OFF, PULLED OVER TO SAFETY AND STOPPED. THE SMELL WAS VERY STRONG. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE PROBLEM IS AUTONOMOUS ACCELERATION. WHEN MY CAR IS MOVING SLOWLY AT IDLE SPEED WHILE I'M PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR MY HOME GARAGE AND I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO GUIDE THE CAR, THE ENGINE RPM SPEED SURGES BY ABOUT 400 RPMS CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FOR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

9 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BUT HEARD A WHISTLE LIKE NOISE AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS, ROUTES AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLAC
• REAR BRAKING SYSTEM WORN OUT, NEED THEM REPLACED PREMATURELY. THE BRAKES WERE GRABBING, NOT RELEASING, VIBRATING AND NOT STOPPING LIKE THEY SHOULD. TOOK IT IN AND SURE ENOUGH I NEED TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES, ROUTER AND A PISTON/ SENSOR REPLACED 30,000 FOR BRAKE WEAR OUT. HIGHWAY DRIVING NOT CITY D
• I PURCHASED A NEW VAN ON JULY 5, 2013. ON JULY 8, 2013, I DROVE 4 MILES, AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I ACCELERATED TO APPROX. 40 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VAN SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT MOMENTARILY, UPON WHICH I REGAINED CONTROL IMMEDIATELY. SUDDENLY, THE VAN JOLTED RIGHT AGAIN, JUMPED THE CURB, CLIMBED A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BUT HEARD A WHISTLE LIKE NOISE AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS, ROUTES AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLAC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• I BOUGHT MY 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN MARCH OF 2012, AND BY THE END OF THAT SAME YEAR HAD TO HAVE NEW TIRE PUT ON THE FRONT OF THE VAN, (THEY WERE COMPLETELY WORN). I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC DRIVERS SET NOT WORKING IN FACT HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VAN, AND WHEN I
• WHILE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, THE CAR WILL STALL AND THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. EVERYTHING INCLUDING RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER AND PANEL SHUTS DOWN. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. I THEN HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TO OFF THEN RESTART. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS MAKING A TURN.
• MY VAN SHOWED THE BATTERY LIGHT I WENT TO GET THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT. THE TEST CAME BACK BAD BATTERY. I BOUGHT A NEW ONE EVERYTHING CHECKED GOOD. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AIR BAG LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT LIT UP. AFTER THAT THE VAN WOULD NOT START. WE CHECKED FUSES THEY WERE GO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I BOUGHT MY 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN MARCH OF 2012, AND BY THE END OF THAT SAME YEAR HAD TO HAVE NEW TIRE PUT ON THE FRONT OF THE VAN, (THEY WERE COMPLETELY WORN). I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC DRIVERS SET NOT WORKING IN FACT HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VAN, AND WHEN I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

6 complaints

• I HAVE A DODGE CARAVAN 2012 AND TAKING IT IN FOR SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES. WHEN IT WAS SENT TO THE DALLAS DODGE IN DALLAS, GA THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH CAR KILLING TWO BRAND NEW BATTERIES. BROUGHT A THIRD ONE AND FINALLY CALL TO HAVE IT PICKED UP SO THEY COULD CHECK IT.HE THEN CALLED ME AND SAID IT W
• THE VEHICLE TIPM MODULE NEEDS REPLACING REGISTERED MECHANIC STATED THE MODULE MALFUNCTIONING IS THE PROBLEM FOR ME FUEL PUMP GOING OUT AND THE DRAINAGE OF TWO BATTERIES I PURCHASE. AND THE PROBLEM FOR OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE. TWO OTHER PROBLEMS; WHICH ONE WAS A
• VAN STOP STARTING WILL CRANK BUT NOT STARTTIPM BAD SHUT DOWN WHILE IN USE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I HAVE A DODGE CARAVAN 2012 AND TAKING IT IN FOR SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES. WHEN IT WAS SENT TO THE DALLAS DODGE IN DALLAS, GA THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH CAR KILLING TWO BRAND NEW BATTERIES. BROUGHT A THIRD ONE AND FINALLY CALL TO HAVE IT PICKED UP SO THEY COULD CHECK IT.HE THEN CALLED ME AND SAID IT W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 116 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: FIRST TIME, BATTERY KEPT GOING DEAD. TOOK IT TO CORTLAND DODGE, THEY SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING [NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY] CHARGED US ABOUT 80.00 ! SECOND TIME. FUSES BLOWN FOR SEAT CONTROLS AND W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE PROBLEM IS AUTONOMOUS ACCELERATION. WHEN MY CAR IS MOVING SLOWLY AT IDLE SPEED WHILE I'M PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR MY HOME GARAGE AND I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO GUIDE THE CAR, THE ENGINE RPM SPEED SURGES BY ABOUT 400 RPMS CAUSING THE CAR TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN BUT HEARD A WHISTLE LIKE NOISE AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS, ROUTES AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLAC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I BOUGHT MY 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN MARCH OF 2012, AND BY THE END OF THAT SAME YEAR HAD TO HAVE NEW TIRE PUT ON THE FRONT OF THE VAN, (THEY WERE COMPLETELY WORN). I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC DRIVERS SET NOT WORKING IN FACT HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VAN, AND WHEN I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)