Most common 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan problems
Share of the 298 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Dodge Grand Caravan complaints by model year
Best Grand Caravan years: 2020, 2007, 2006. Years to avoid: 2008, 2016, 2005, 2010, 1996. Compare all years →
2001 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls (3)
Equipment › Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
On certain Mini vans, condensation from the instrument panel air conditioning ducts May drop through vent holes in the top of the radio and result in a short circuit that subsequently sends direct current to the rear speakers.
Remedy: Dealers will add a special tape to the top of the radio to prevent the potential of water intrusion. The recall began on January 31, 2005. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Structure
Certain pickup truck, van, and Mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by American technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began March 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
Vehicle description: minivans. The lower control arm pivot bolt could fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right lower control arm bolts and nuts. Owner notification began April 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan:
Headlight malfunction
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation after receiving reports from consumers that their headlights would malfunction in various ways from flickering to complete non-illumination.headlight operation is monitored by the vehicle's body control module (BCM) and front control module (fcm).odi is upgrading this preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis (ea05-009) to further examine…
Headlight malfunction
Owner reports indicate allegations of improper headlight operation of one or both headlights.some report intermittent outage or dimming.many report that the condition is random; it sometimes does not repeat and lasts for a very short duration.
Power liftgate latch
This investigation was opened as pe04-054 regarding reports of alleged power liftgate (plg) opening while driving.the investigation was upgraded on November 22, 2004 based on information provided by daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc) in its September 17, 2004 response to pe04-054.
What 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan owners say
Lights all 49 →
Sometimes when the vehicle is started only the driver side daytime running light comes on. Turn the lights on and the driver side light goes out and the other side comes on. Turn on the high beams, the driver side light comes on and the other side goes out. Took the vehicle to a dealer,cause was said to be the multi function switch shorted. The multi function switch was replaced, lights worked properly for about 2 weeks,then the problem returned. Took vehicle back to the same dealer and was told they could not duplicate the problem.when both lights are on at the same time they flicker,the problem has gotten to the point to where only one light is working more times than when both lights are working. I researched the problem on the internet and found several other owners having the same problem as early as 2005. …
Since 8/25/04 30153 miles I have had light switch problems. First it was the interior lights that would turn on and off all the time. Dealer said switch was working normal.(it was like an old radio volume switch that made noise, if you kept moving the switch it would bet better for a while and then start up again)then 2/14/06 41931 miles my headlights started to flicker when I had the lights on (the headlight and dimmer are all in one unit) and the dealer did TSB 08-005-04 (which doesn't even apply to my vehicle) and charged me $41.50. Finally on 9/7/06 46022 miles it started again and I drove right down so the dealer could actually see it while it happened and they did witness the problem and made an appointment. Of course the tech. That witnessed it was on vacation when it went in for the appt. …
Air bags all 48 →
My 2001 Grand Caravan 's air bag light keeps on appearing intermittently. I've had the clock spring replaced which failed to end the condition. I'm aware that if the light is on, the airbags will not deploy. I'm also aware that there was a recall campaign which ended with the 2000 models. So, I guess that a person or persons in a collision in a 2001 or greater Caravan May or May not be protected by the airbags. I've seen a lot of complaints about this and I can't believe this has not been addressed as a major safety issue. I hope it will be and that no one dies or is crippled for life as a result of a faulty airbag system!!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently and whenever the contact would attempt a turn. The light remained illuminated as the failure progressed. The controls on the steering wheel failed and later, the horn also failed. After performing extensive research, the contact concluded that the clock spring failed. The dealer and manufacturer were both notified and neither offered any assistance to the contact. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 151,000 and the current mileage was 166,000.
Electrical system all 37 →
The car instrument gauges became erratic along with the instrument lights. The care jerked as though it lost its electrical power to the ignition but returned to normal and then quit in front of traffic. We could have been killed by a semi-truck. I got the car over and re-started it and it ran fine until later it started to die out again after starting to run. I had to accelerate the engine to get the car moving but the car jerked and went dead again. The car will start and run fine at times and shift well at times and then starts to repeat the same problems over and over. I only know that this situation could have gotten someone killed and I do not want it to be my children or wife or me. I only have one way to go now and have no way to have it looked at because I have been told a thousand things it could be and cannot afford non-sense like this. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan. While making a right or left turn using the turn signal, the lights on the instrument panel failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, but the technician could not locate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 157,936.
2001 Dodge Grand Caravan engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 22 / 19 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan a good car?
Based on 298 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Grand Caravan rates average: 33% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Grand 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 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The lights — 49 complaints, 16% of all complaints for this model year, most often about headlights. Next are the air bags (48) and electrical system (37).
How many recalls does the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan, the most recent from November 2, 2004 (radio/tape deck/cd etc.). 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 Grand Caravan?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2007 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2016, 2005, 2010 and 1996. See the full Dodge Grand Caravan years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 33% 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.