For a brand generally associated with performance vehicles, delivering a midsize van was unusual but Dodge has managed to understand what the users in the segment were looking for and also what the other vans were missing. The Dodge Grand Caravan has a lot of potential and along with the family-friendly layout, Dodge has made sure that the van feels exciting to drive as well. With a total sales of almost 111,000 units, the Grand Caravan definitely has been able to connect with the market, and even though the vehicle holds a total of 509 complaints with 3 recalls, the majority of those issues revolved around a faulty TIPM that was responsible for cutting off multiple functions in the vehicle. The Grand Caravan faces competition from vehicles like the Ford Flex, the Nissan Quest, and the Honda Odyssey.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Alternator – The contact stated that various functions like the power window, radio, and reverse camera stopped working. The problem was found to be common among owners and it has been identified to be a faulty alternator that was not able to recharge the battery. The users had to get the alternator replaced in order to get the functions running.
- Recall – Users received a recall notification from the manufacturers regarding an electrical issue but when the vehicle was taken to the dealers, it was said that the necessary parts were not available yet and that the users will have to wait. The car was considered to be unsafe and all the owners were exposed to a fire hazard until the fix was available.
- TIPM – The Totally Integrated Power Module is responsible for the distribution of power throughout the vehicle via fuses and computers and the users had to get the TIPM replaced as the module caused the engine to lose power abruptly, causing it to not accelerate past 35 mph. This was also said to be a common issue as the dealers have replaced the module on multiple vehicles.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The users started to notice smoke coming from under the hood with the check engine light flashing. The car was towed to the mechanic who identified the error code to be indicating the engine solenoid head to be needed a replacement. The mechanic performed the repair and the vehicle performed without any issue.
- Fuel pump – The van was said to stall at random times and it was said that the vehicle would need some time before it can start back again. The users took the van to the dealers and they ran a diagnostics which showed the fuel pump to have no power. Further investigation showed that the TIPM was faulty, which was the reason why the fuel pump had low power. Replacing the TIMP solved this issue.
- Transmission – Users complained about the car lunging toward the direction of the gear selector and it was also said that the car would shudder when driving. The dealer inspected the issue and stated it to be normal. Researches online show that multiple owners face similar issues for which there have been no solutions so far from Dodge.
- Brakes – Users complained that the brakes felt weak and would take extra distance to completely stop the vehicle. Upon inspection, the mechanics found the brake pads to have worn out and users stated that it was too soon for brake wear. Online research showed that premature brake wear was common for the van and dealers claimed it to be normal.
Safety Problems
- Seatbelt – The user found the steel cable attached to the driver-side seatbelt to have fractured. This meant that the belt would not be able to restrain the driver in the event of a crash. Dealers inspected the issue and stated that the seatbelt assembly needed to be replaced.
- Airbag – The contact noticed the airbag warning lights to always stay on and the dealers stated that the airbag sensor might have become faulty. This meant that the airbags may not deploy during a crash and the user had to get the airbag sensors replaced.
Miscellaneous Problems
- Door latch – The contact stated that all the door locks malfunctioned, causing them to activate and disengage independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealers where it was identified that the master switch had failed and needed to be replaced.
2011 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
13th June 2017 |
17V376000 |
Inadvertent airbag deployment due to chafed wire. |
A possible short circuit within the steering wheel can cause the airbag to deploy unexpectedly, resulting in disturbing the driver. |
Dealers will inspect the airbag wiring within the steering assembly and replace it if necessary. |
|
2. |
7th May 2014 |
14V234000 |
Vent window switch may overheat. |
Overheating of the vent windows may increase the risk of a fire. |
Dealers will replace the vent window switch with a newer version. |
|
3. |
8th June 2011 |
11V315000 |
Steering column. |
The affected vehicle may have a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet, which may fail to carry the occupant’s load during a frontal collision. |
Dealers will inspect for a rivet presence and repair the steering column pivot as required. |
Should you buy the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan has absolutely been able to balance out performance and reliability, making it a preferred choice for many. The Dodge also has a strong service network, making the users have easy access in terms of maintaining the vehicle. The Grand Caravan does hold quite a few issues but the majority of them can be resolved by simply replacing the Total Integrated Power Module. Dodge has managed to get rid of other concerns by rolling out recalls but the users have had to wait for a while as the parts were not available to repair the van. Make sure there are no check engine lights when taking delivery of this vehicle and also make sure to get the alternator diagnosed to see if it’s in the ideal state. Overall, the Dodge Grand Caravan is a great van especially if you feel like vans are generally boring to drive.
