Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Dodge Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The door locks do not work for the sliding doors or the passenger side of the vehicle. We tried to fix this issue by checking the door lock fuse out to make sure it was okay, and it was. The driver's side is the only one that locks. The passenger door lock will not push down and lock when pressed down manually. I feel this is a safety issue and I have seen that others online are having problems with their door locks not working or getting stuck and not unlocking. I don't understand why there is no recall on this issue with the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. This is a serious safe issue on any vehicle. My sliding doors have to be manually locked and as I said, the passenger side won't lock, so it's dangerous for me to have passengers. My local Dodge dealership offered to diagnose it, but it's $125.00 for them to just find out what's causing this if they could even do that. …
As I was driving, the electrical system on my 2005 Dodge Caravan wheelchair-accessible minivan failed completely, shutting down my power brakes, power steering, all dashboard indicators, and all vehicle lights (including the four-way flashers). Fortunately, the engine continued to run, so I was able to pull it to the side of the road. This has happened to me twice. The first time we took it to our regular mechanic, who could not find anything wrong. After it happened the second time, a Dodge dealer mechanic told me that the automatic braking system locking mechanism had failed and shorted out the entire electrical system and would cost $900 to repair. It also cost an extra $500 to replace the mechanism that the part is attached to because it had rusted so severely. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the instrument panel lights and the headlights began to flicker after the ABS and brake light warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure was unable to be determined. The contact was informed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer but the failure was still unable to be determined. The contact was advised that the failure might have been due to the battery needing to be replaced. The battery was replaced and the ABS and brake light warning indicators were no longer illuminated but the instrument panel lights and headlights continued to flicker. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 146,000.
Airbag warning light lit. Looked up on NHTSA website, Chrysler issued a"safety improvement campaign" copy enclosed. I took my van to the dealer to have it fixed plus a new key and a recall notice for a fuel/stalling problem. I was informed that the airbag problem was not covered because of the VIN number. The van was purchased in mass. And I purchased it in rhode island. I donot think I should have to pay 216.61 dollars to have this fixed. Thank you
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that all of the doors failed to lock. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the computer needed to be reset. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the key failed to turn over in the ignition and the vehicle was unable to start. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 101,000.
I was driving my Dodge Caravan 2005 on the freeway and the exterior lights kept turning off and the instrument panel where the speedometer is would too. I was scary and dangerous had my three children and pregnant wife with me at the time. We could have been seriously injured.
The following item needs to be revisited and include the year 2005 for the Dodge Caravan. This morning I had this problem diagnosed on 2005 Dodge Caravan. The dealer wanted $212.00 for the part and $100.00 labor to correct this problem. NHTSA action number : ea04013, NHTSA recall campaign number : 04V480000; date investigation opened : June 4, 2004, and date investigation closed was May 25, 2005 . Summary: the driver's air bag clock spring can develop an open-circuit condition, resulting in nonfunctional driver-side frontal air bag, horn, cruise control , if equipped, and/or steering wheel radio control , if equipped. In its October 5, 2004 letter to NHTSA, daimler/Chrysler stated that it will conduct a safety recall and replace the clocks prying assembly on all the 1998--2000 daimler/Chrysler minivans, built between March 1998 and August 2000 with 70,000 miles or less. …
I drove 2 hours on the highway and parked the car when I arrived at my destination. After 10 minutes I went to leave and I put the car in drive; it started cranking and started to roll backwards. Parts of my car started falling out of the transmission. My car only had 32,000 miles on it. The axel got caught in the transmission and broke all the pieces in the transmission. It took 3 weeks for my car to be repaid and I was not able to get a loaner car from Dodge even though I complained.I could have been killed if this had happened an hour earlier on the highway. The second incident occurred in October. I was driving on my way home with my sister and my 6 year old daughter in the car. It was raining and all of a sudden my electrical system went haywire. My windshield wipers stopped working and my windows wouldn't open. …
Headlights do not come on have to turn switch many times before you get them to come on and then sometimes it still does not work. Lights will also dim on their own while you are driving have actually gone off and had to pull over until I could get them back on. Mechanics say they can not do anything until they see it happen. There are never any mechanics open when it is dark so you can never prove this really happens. They have checked switches and things all seem to be fine. Automatic door locks just stopped working one day. Tried the other key thought maybe the battery in my key was dead. Nothing. The lights will still flash and the horn will sound when you use buttons on the key but locks do not open or close. The back door hatch seems to work but other four locks do not. Very frustrating and unsafe these days to be in some areas we drive without having our doors locked. …
NHTSA investigations
Loss of Headlight Illumination
To date, ODI has interviewed several complainants who confirmed that the headlights fully extinguish, and remain extinguished, on an intermittent basis.In most cases this occurred while the vehicle was in motion.The occurrences do not show a repeatable pattern, and the problem occurs at a low frequency, typically one or more weeks between failures.For this reason most complainants have not attempted diagnosis or…
Loss of headlight illumination
The subject vehicle (SV) population includes MY 2005-2006 vehicles built between March 2004 and December 2005 manufactured with a TRW supplied headlight switch assembly (HSA).The HSA was the primary focus of the investigation; earlier and later vehicles utilized different HSAs.Consumers complain that the headlights in the subject vehicles do not illuminate when the HSA is turned on, or that the headlights extinguish…
Electrical complaints in other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2005 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA has 123 complaints about the electrical system of the 2005 Dodge Caravan, 23% of the model year's 537 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Dodge Caravan electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2005 Dodge Caravan, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Dodge Caravan electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.