Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
01 /13/18 the very first morning I had it I worked at 6 am about 5 mins into driving 11 degrees! The traction light came on without me pushing the button. Then a EPS w/ des lite up?? They both went on by themselves as well. Also the roads were not wet! This continues every morning despite the temperature. Up to current day 01/16/18 we received a dusting less the 1 inch on the ground. I pushed the traction button on despite that me and my 3 children slid into a mail box thankfully slowly! Had to be pulled out due to in not starting up and stuck.. This van is loud and runs behind, kind of stutters..it went through a half tank of gas in 1 day! There is at times but frequent we can smell gas.? Also this van started acting to the point of almost stalling out!
The tmpi on a 20008 Dodge Grand Caravan needs to be recalled. Used car lots are disconnecting the horn and selling the 20008 Grand Caravan for up to 10,000 dollars to customers who are unaware that any time the Caravan will become disabled while driving on any street or highway because the tmpi is faulty and Caravan wipers will spray continuously wiper fluid on windshield. ( the horn will blow continuously if not tampered with and disabled. As in this situation with the 20008 Dodge Grand Caravan. Resource '. Customer reviews and complaints filed against Dodge Chrysler corporations) Caravan will not excel over 30 miles an hour. When Caravan is finally parked the engine will not turn off. Caravan will not go into drive or reverse. Engine continuously idles while on the back of the wrecker/flatbed with the keys removed and then finally shuts its self off. Another issue.... …
My wife was driving the minivan today around 6:45 am. She was dropping off our daughter to school. Her speed limit was 25 MPH. 2 times, the traction stability control lit up in the dashboard. The engine stopped, brake was not working and steering wheel cannot be moved. Both times, she was able to turn on the hazard light to alert any vehicles behind her. Luckily she was not traveling fast and the vehicles behind her were slow. Both times she had to remove the key and reinsert it and restart the minivan. She was able to restart the minivan. This is the 2nd time that this happened. Our dealer have open appointments 6 days from now. This is a dangerous situation that others are also experiencing. Below is a link of complaints... Http://www.carcomplaints.com/Dodge/grand_caravan/2008/brakes/electronic_stability_control.shtml.
Have had my 08 van for a few years and everyone in awhile the alarm will sound wipers won't stop going. Has happened while driving car stalls looses ability to steer and light go off which at night make it really hard to see. My alarm and all other action combined happened at work while I was inside tried to turn off with fob had to unhook battery still didn't stop. I have 4 kids and this is what I have to drive them in we have went into a ditch and got stuck in a 4 way took to mechanic no codes no problem only this was. Was told by dealer the could not diagnose it unless it did it to them I am at a lose I have to drive to get to work my kids have to ride to go to sitter I am so afraid we are gonna die in this van.
The brake system on this van is a constant problem and is costing us thousands of dollars in repairs. The brake system on this van is running very hot even on cold days. The brake pads and rotors fail prematurely and the wheel hubs fail from constantly overheating. The ABS starts feeding too much pressure to the wheel calipers and causes the brake pads to constantly touch the rotors which creates excessive brake pad and rotor wear as well a overheating of the grease in the wheel hubs which causes them to fail. Nobody should have to replace brakes every 7,000 to 10,000 miles. This is a factory defect in the design and Chrysler is not going to do anything about it because it will cost them too much money.
Within the past several weeks on driving vehicle 2 block, my warning lights came on relating to ESP and the traction control light indicating upon evaluation by a private mechanic that attention was needed in the steering column mechanism (air bags?), and traction control sensor "idiot" light appeared causing vehicle to grasp the pavement more than usual, my tires appeared okay, and I was advised that when the ESP light comes on, traction control is automatic...please send me verification that this is a recall issue. I plan to have my vehicle towed by aaa to scott robinson Chrysler, Dodge in torrance and would request coverage of my rental vehicle for one week.
When driving the vehicle I've had the ESP/bas and trac light come on and the vehicle will shut down. I've had it to the shop twice and they can't get it to replicate what it's doing. The car just shuts off--the power steering is gone, I can't accelerate or keep moving at constant speed. The car is completely off and control is barely possible. It can happen anywhere, including at stop signs, driving along the road, the middle of an intersection, which makes it a severe safety issue. This has happened multiple times both city and open road as well as when parking in a spot.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the traction control system warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle lost acceleration. The vehicle was taken to vollmer motor sales (2249 3rd ave, new brighton, pa 15066) where it was diagnosed that the clockspring failed and needed replacement. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.
I have had my car in many times for horn blowing, wipers and washers going, all lights going off at night ( I could have been killed) blower not working, car not starting, doors not closing. It has cost me several thousand dollars in repairs and the last time I was told the TIPM computer would fix everything. The car computer was already replaced. The car was on the highway at 60mph and also at stop lights. This all happened over several years.
I was just getting onto the street and was just maybe going 10-15mph , when the vehicle traction control and stability control and ABS lights came on and increased acceleration and pulled to one side when the dash lights mentioned came on. Also sounded like brakes were being applied at same time . I was barely able to make it to dealer without being in am accident . The clockspring had to be replaced.
Traction Control complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, 3% of the model year's 1,293 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, though it has 8 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 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 112,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to stability & traction control problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.