Most common 2006 Dodge Caravan problems
Share of the 173 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Caravan complaints by model year
Best Caravan years: 2014, 2015, 2013. Years to avoid: 2005, 2000, 2008, 1996, 1997. Compare all years →
2006 Dodge Caravan recalls (2)
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2005-2006 Dodge caravan, grand caravan and Chrysler town & country vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, nebraska, new…
Remedy: Chrysler will replace the front airbag sensors with a new design. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety improvement campaign will begin during June 2010. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
On certain vans and sport utility vehicles, the front windshield wiper motor armature shaft May break.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper motor free of charge. The recall began on June 19, 2006, to Dodge durango owners. Minivan owners will be notified during July 2006.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 2006 Dodge Caravan:
Front air bag crash sensor failure
Chrysler will replace the frame rail-mounted front air bag crash sensors in approximately 312,442 model year (my) 2005 and 2006 Chrysler minivans (recall 10v-008).these vehicles are equipped with front crash sensors with ultradur brand plastic housings and steel bushings and were built between January 19, 2005 and April 5, 2006.this action covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in 27 states…
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…
Front air bag crash sensor failure
Daimlerchrysler (dcc) will replace the frame rail-mounted front air bag crash sensors in approximately 270,958 my 2005 daimlerchrysler minivans (NHTSA recall no. 07v-192).these vehicles are equipped with front crash sensors with brass bushings and were built between April 24, 2003 and February 2, 2005.this action covers vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in 27 states (alaska, connecticut, delaware,…
Engine Stall After Refueling
This defect petition evaluates July 7, 2014 allegations from an owner of a model year (MY) 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan that engine stall occurs in these vehicles without warning after refueling.The petitioner's vehicle is a Chrysler RS platform minivan.The RS platform includes MY 2003 through 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country and Chrysler Voyager minivans.NHTSA evaluated the…
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three…
What 2006 Dodge Caravan owners say
Electrical system all 30 →
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the related undisclosed recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.
3 yrs ago, fire in engine compartment while I was driving. Could not open doors windows or engine hood. I did have window down when this occurred. Just last week a woman in a car (type not known-) in spokane was trapped and had to be rescued when her car caught fire and she couldn't open door or window. She was lucky a cop busted a window and dragged her out. This is a spooky thing if all cars are like that in a fire.car had died in street.mine ignited at stop light. You have a very hidden problems in these plastic cars. If mine had happened a day later then there could have been a loss of seven young children that were going on a trip along with my daughter who was driving. Scary and no one seems concerned.
Steering all 27 →
I have a 2006 Dodge Caravan which has been modified into a braun entervan since I am a quadriplegic. In December of 2010, at about 21,500 miles the power steering started squealing. The power steering fluid was low, so we added some. After another 100 miles, the squealing noise returned, the fluid was low again, so I knew that there was a problem. It was taken in for service and an investigation of the power steering system revealed that the power steering fluid was leaking from the steering gear/rack n pinion unit. Although the vehicle had low mileage, it was more than three years old, so the warranty was expired. I had no recourse except to have them remove and replace the steering rack n pinion assembly at a cost of $870.00 to me. The service technician told me that there was no way that this system should have failed at this low of mileage and urged me to file a complaint. …
I bought a 2006 Dodge Caravan in 2009. It had 20,000 at that time. Shortly after purchase we drove the van approximately 100 miles. It began making roaring noises so I pulled over and stopped. After sitting for about 20 minutes, I started the car again and there was no noise. Every time I traveled for over 45 minutes, this would happen. I took the car to be looked at several times but no one could find a problem. Finally in January of this year the car started making this noise all of the time and my son-in-law, who is a mechanic, said that it needed power steering fluid. That fixed the problem for awhile. In March, I took my car in and was told that the rack and pinion needs to be replaced! Very expensive! The car is now only making noise when I go through standing water. Also, the airbag warning light illuminates at intervals. …
Air bags all 27 →
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the related undisclosed recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Dodge Caravan. Another vehicle crossed the contact's path and crashed into the contact's vehicle. The contact fainted. The driver sustained hand, wrist, and neck pains. The front passenger sustained neck and spinal injuries. Medical attention was required. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and was not inspected or diagnosed by a dealer. The vehicle was towed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and indicated that there was no recall. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.
2006 Dodge Caravan engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Dodge Caravan a good car?
Based on 173 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Caravan rates average: 28% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Caravan at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Dodge Caravan?
The electrical system — 30 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about horn. Next are the steering (27) and air bags (27).
How many recalls does the 2006 Dodge Caravan have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2006 Dodge Caravan, the most recent from January 11, 2010 (sensor/control module-inactive). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Dodge Caravan?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2015 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2005, 2000, 2008, 1996 and 1997. See the full Dodge Caravan years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Dodge Caravan problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 58,000 miles; 39% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.