Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2016 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that while her son was drunk driving and passed out at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle crashed into a sign and a guardrail causing the vehicle to flip over and come to a stop at a ditch. The contact stated the vehicle was in a previous collision where the air bags deployed and had to be replaced. The contact stated during this collision the police report confirmed the steering wheel, driver's knee and passenger dash air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries that required medical treatment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was totaled. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The contact owned a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the vehicle crashed into an animal and the airbags failed to deploy. Van rolled after about 100 feet it stopped. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop where it was undetermined why the airbags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000. The VIN was not provided.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure due to the warning light no longer being illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. On another occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the air bag and the driver's side seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the jumper wiring had shorted out by rubbing against the frame and the passenger's seat air bag and jumper wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,279.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the passenger's side seat belt sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
See Attached Documents: 1.) NHTSA- Questions Answered 2.) Service 2016 Dodge Grand caravan Note: The Dodge Dealership is not compliying with the mandated repairs. The diagnostic summary provided by [redacted] on December 17, 2025, significantly mischaracterizes my complaints and omits the relevant factory campaigns. It has been over 30 days and it is apparent that they have no intention of complying with the mandated repairs or providing me any paperwork for my repair.
The driver's side headrest has deployed on it's own while parked in a driveway and turned off. After inspection, the plastic brackets that retain the metal pin that is supposed to secure the headrest broke apart and released the headrest into a deployed position. This is a design flaw that should be recalled before someone becomes injured. The headrest is under a spring loaded force that the plastic was not engineered to restrain.
I was loading my dog into the driver's side door of my Grand Caravan when I heard a pop next to my head. When I started looking around I discovered that my driver's seat headrest had split apart. I was seconds away from driving. This just happened this morning before work so I have not had a chance to take it to a dealership. There were no warning lights prior to this event.
Airbag light came on with no collision or impact toy the vehicle, took it to dealership and they advised that it is the passenger side Active Headrest Restraint system. Even after admitting it was a faulty safety system, dealer will not replace it or fix it without compensation.
56k miles and transmission needed to be replaced on my 2016 Dodge Caravan. Immediately following my airbag light went on as well as my engine light. There was a recall on certain transmissions built. They need to look into it further.
Airbag complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, 2% of the model year's 1,002 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, though it has 6 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 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags 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.