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 owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate, and the RPM was at zero. The contact mentioned that there was a high pitch whining sound. The vehicle coasted and failed to shift gears. Additionally, once the vehicle was restarted, the vehicle jerked forward and was able to operate. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated continuously. The vehicle was seen by an independent mechanic where the contact was informed to reverse the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to reverse. The contact mentioned that the vehicle needed to be shifted into neutral and the mechanic pushed the vehicle back to check the vehicle. In addition, the contact mentioned that the vehicle failed to exceed 25 MPH a few hours later. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and jerked slightly before accelerating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, and the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission pump failure. The contact was informed that transmission pump needed to be replaced. The mechanic declined to repair the vehicle after discovering NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train) for the issue. The mechanic referred the contact to the manufacturer, who was informed of the issue and confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact's wife noticed white smoke coming from under the hood with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's wife drove the vehicle to a safe location and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle restarted; however, the vehicle would not move. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed hydraulic pump. The contact was informed that the hydraulic pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made abnormal whining sounds. Additionally, the contact stated that upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle jerked and revved significantly. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving and coming to a complete stop. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the contact's husband smelled an abnormal burning odor coming from the front of the vehicle. Upon inspection, both the contact and her husband noticed that there was an oil leak. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the oil filter housing had melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was 85,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact detected an abnormal winding sound from either the transmission or the engine. After the vehicle warmed up, the sound diminished. The contact called the local dealer who recommended an engine replacement. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed there were no open recalls on the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The traction control and two other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an open circuit and two other unknown DTC codes were retrieved. The contact was unaware of what needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled with the oil warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and was informed the vehicle was using an excessive amount of engine oil. Additionally, the vehicle was leaking transmission fluid. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 126,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the vehicle failed to shift into gear properly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware there was oil leaking from the front end of the vehicle near the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 225,419.
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the independent mechanic for a service appointment, the contact was informed that the oil pump housing had melted and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the oil pump housing was made of plastic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Engine complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 86 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, 9% of the model year's 1,002 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.