Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Our 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan with less the 28,000 felt like it would not fully stop when hitting the brakes. I already had the front brakes done and take it to the dealer routinely for oil change and inspection. So I thought it was the tires since they were greatly worn (which is hard to believe @ this mileage) we changed all 4 tires. When we took it in to the dealer for an oil change and to get the automatic door failure looked @ they found the rear brakes were completely worn out and when they went to change the pads and machine the rotors it was so bad that everything started braking on them . Mechanics own description on receipt " ck. Brakes are scrubbing in rear rotors were rusted to hub. Pins for parking brake shoes to backing plate broke when taking off. Replaced brake pins & 2 broken wheel stubs. Chrysler has no respect for customers safety. …
Back rear window imploded for the second time(first time 2009, second time 2010), nobody seems to have an answer for why this happens other than it was cold and snowy outside so the weather must have caused this to occur, (that is what they say) my family was in the van in the driveway getting ready to leave so I know for a fact that "nothing" went thru the window just a major defect of Dodge. Numerous issues with this van starting when van had 5000 miles, air bag sensor on, sliding doors do not work properly, loud sound from engine, tie rods need replaced for third time, control arm broke, locks make a whiny sound, check service engine light on told 3 times that we needed new spark plugs . Really at 30,000 miles. We changed them, light still on today. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. While parked, the contact attempted to unlock the doors with the key fob but the doors would not unlock. The contact stated the door had to be unlocked from the exterior manually using the key. The contact stated the electronic door locks from the driver's side control panel also were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the software would have to be updated. The software was updated however, after the repair the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer a second time where the technician then advised the contact that the body control module would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Power doors and locks not working on 2006 Dodge Caravan. Automatic quit working a year ago had a very hard time even getting door closed.. They are very heavy or almost impossible to operate manually. Sometimes they won't unlock to even open manually from the outside and cannot open them manually from the inside --a real pain. Bought this van off show room floor for all the features --now can't even get my grandkids in and out when taking them somewhere. And of course warranty was just off when this started happening. Have fought with this over a year now-can hardly afford the payments let alone repairs...very dissatisfied! Will not buy another Dodge van.
The automatic door locks are jammed on both sides of the vehicle and will not unlock even manually. While this May seem like a minor issue, if we were to end up in an accident with no way for my 5 children to exit the vehicle except through the front 2 doors, it would be a huge safety issue. I understand that the automatic locks occasional malfunction, there should be a safety mechanism that at least allows for it to operate manually but this is not the case. I researched online and on many sites there are others with the same issue. I called Chrysler to issue a complaint and they referred me here.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact noticed that the passenger side sliding door was making abnormal noises. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the locking mechanism was inoperative. The vehicle was not repaired because she had to be placed on a waiting list. Several weeks later, the sliding door would not latch properly, which allowed the door to open involuntarily. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The current and failure mileages were 3,200.
Rear side power doors began to not open, close or lock properly. It started out as intermittent and was repaired under warranty but within a short period of time, it happened again. Currently the doors only open, close and lock unlock manually. With the stuck automatic door - the door requires excess force to manually open and close the door. At times, the door can be open and the door open light does not register it to be open. The current situation still exists.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated the rear driver and passenger automatic sliding door locks failed to activate. In order to release both rear doors an occupant must manually open them from the exterior of the vehicle. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact pressed the power door button to unlock the sliding doors. When her child attempted to exit the vehicle, the doors slammed shut and almost severely injured the child. Secondly, when she attempted to unlock the trunk of the vehicle, it would only open sporadically. The dealer would not assist. The failure and current mileages were 24,000.
2006 Dodge Grand Caravan, driver's side sliding door will not unlock from inside or outside using any method: power buttons, keyless remote or manually pulling lock knob. All other doors and locks function as normal. The problem began approximately 1 week ago but we have no idea what caused the problem. Have seen several other postings on fixya.com with similar problems on Caravan model.
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan, 8% of the model year's 286 complaints. The component named most often is doors › latch (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for the 2006 Dodge Grand 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 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 16% 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.