Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While the Emergency Parking Brake was activated and vehicle in Park in the driveway that is on a hill, the car began rolling down the driveway at a fast rate of speed with no one in drivers seat. 3 young kids were in car seats in the van with it running while we were outside of the vehicle speaking. All doors locked and it flew down the driveway almost flipping over at the bottom. We took the vehicle to the dealership we purchased it from on June 29, 2023 and they could not recreate the issue. No warning lights were on prior to this incident and when citizens that stopped when this happened, got in the vehicle to dislodge it from the dirt that thankfully stopped it from flipping, they verified that it still showed the E Brake as being engaged it was still in park. No police or insurance was called because there was no damage to the vehicle or children but the dealership was called. …
Vehicle does not start easily and at times experiences total power loss I've changed every fuse and relay as well as fuel pump and any other module or relay that can be replaced and much to my dispare the problems are still there to the point I don't feel safe driving with or without my whole family when it finally does decide to start it runs great but then you have to worry about the complete power loss issue which renders my brakes power steering and stability control completely useless! I don't know what else to do I'm stuck paying my finance company for a vehicle I can't drive and basically serves as little more than a pretty yard ornament we just got this vehicle in November 2015 the first sign of an issue was less than a week after purchase after little more than a month after driving off the lot and the third time losing power while driving the final time being on 275 in …
I have had my van now for about 700 miles, we bought it used from a local dealership. I ran the van through an automatic car wash, and when I put the van back into gear and began to move the check engine light came on. So I turned off the van hoping to reset the check engine light and the van did not want to start back up. (at this point I am in a alley with one way traffic) finally I got the van to start but the check engine light was still on when I put it into gear it sputtered and then stopped it gave a red light with a bolt through it and also the oil light came one. Again I tried several times to start the vehicle and finally got it to go again. Then while driving down the road it began shifting on its own, it is an automatic but the 1, 2, 4, 3 , 2 , 1 gears began showing an finally it stalled, lucky I was able to coast into a parking lot. This vehicle is not trust worthy. …
There is a faulty TIPM in my 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. This causes my vehicle to stall in the middle of the road or not start when I am away from home. We have been stuck blocking traffic on the middle of a busy highway multiple times due to a fuel pump relay that stops working and disrupts gas flow to the engine. Currently my car is disabled due to this TIPM. Diesel Dodge vehicles are unsafe due to the disruption in the power module that supplies every system in the car with power to keep the vehicle running. As I was driving today, my air conditioner stopped, all lights on the dashboard lit up and I'll try am is in the car we're arranging this caused me to turn and go home immediately so I would not get stuck in the middle of the highway. Once I got home I was on able to start my vehicle and it currently has no power at all
Driving down the road at 55 MPH van started making weird clunking sounds lights began to dim lost accelerator control, brakes pulled to side of road manage to come to a stop vehicle still was making sounds and lights were flashing I put it in park vehicle stalled out I tried to restart and nothing wouldn't even turn over just clicked. Had it towed only came back as low voltage they replaced battery tried to restart engine still made clunking noise van still wouldn't start, oil pan was dropped and had chunks of metal in it. Final conclusion engine blown I have seen some recalls on this engine 3.6 vvt also previously had a problem with TIPM I also see has an ongoing. Possible recall and is recalled in other vehicles that use same part. Would really love my van fixed as this engine is known to have problems
A los pocos das de comprar la guagua en un dealer, cuando estaba dando reversa sent que da unos brincos y tiembla. Tarda un poco en moverse. Fuimos el da 2 de marzo y nos dijeron que era normal, al compararla con otra parecida, segn nos dijeron, an contina hacindolo. No le hicieron nada a la guagua. Al mes salimos a una cita mdica y no cogi freno, bajamos una cuesta y no quera parar, paramos con la emergencia frente a una casa,cuando la chequearon no tena patts en ninguna goma. Los compramos y cuando le reclam al dealer solo nos dijeron que tenamos que llevrselo daado que ahora no podan hacer nada, mi esposo est enfermo y no nos han ayudado. Tambin tiene problemas con los seguros ya hemos comprado 3 bateras y se agota muy rpido,(del control).'
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the battery and brake indicators illuminated. An independent mechanic replaced the alternator assembly, but the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the powertrain control module needed to be replaced. The dealer (ganley Chrysler of aurora, 161 w garfield rd, aurora, oh 44202, [phone]) indicated that the vehicle would need to be diagnosed to determine the cause of the failure and that the vehicle was not included in any recall campaigns. The manufacturer was notified and also stated that there was no recall. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. The VIN was unknown.
Well from the time I purchased the car I told the dealer about the ignition. The car speeding off while I'm driving in a regular street or highway. The warning lights doesn't warn . Enough is enough. Riding in the car in street yesterday once again the steering wheel locked in me in traffic and it shut down. No warning. So dangerous. There is no way there should be so many complaints about the same issues and they not have a recall and repairs .my alternator actually fried and we could have been killed along with my children!!!! I'm scared. Im paying $500.00 dollars a month for a vehicle that is sitting and I can't drive. Please give hello me to get justice.
The van's engine shutdown while my wife was driving the van at night and barely had enough time to pull to the side of the road before losing control of steering. She had just made a right turn onto the highway. Towed the van to a local dealer and found the issue to be the diode on the alternator failing causing electrical feedback to the powertrain control module (PCM). So had to spend a lot of money to have the alternator and PCM replaced. I am aware other vehicle lines of 2011 have a recall for this specific issue and am unsure why the Dodge Grand Caravan is not on the list. There needs to be an investigation and have this vehicle added to the recall.
Tamara are all I was driving home from the hospital and all of a sudden the van would not go over 20 MPH. We were on the highway. And it was without warning. I had to pull over at a service station and wait 45 mins for someone to come. I had it towed to my house the next day which cost 150 dollars. Then I tried to take it to a shop to be fixed but after 1.5 weeks they say it would be 2500 to fix. We didn't have that because my husband was in the hospital for heart failure. So I had to go get another car and am waiting for the van to be fixed. I am pregnant and had my daughter with me on the side of the road in a gas station. Which was terrible.
Transmission complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan, 8% of the model year's 530 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2011 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 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 32% 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.