Currently the Dodge line-up is limited to very few cars but they are each unique in their own ways. The 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan is the only minivan available from the brand and it carries some of the traits of this manufacturer while wandering as far away from it as possible. Its reputation has not entirely been great and we see that there are 299 complaints along with 4 recalls this year alone. With many cars catching fire, and several others having Dodge Grand Caravan engine problems, as well as electrical troubles, we must say that the failures are quite worrying. With prices starting at an MSRP of $28,170, it has no real competition around the same range. It has to compete against the Chrysler Town and Country, as well as the Honda Odyssey, both of which are priced higher. Let us find out more about the Dodge Grand Caravan problems through this article.
2014 Dodge Grand Caravan User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical problems:
- The starting system of this car is known to be quite cumbersome and can fail to start the car at times.
- Power steering failures are reported in this car, although the frequency has been quite low. In many cases, it is restricted to a warning message but several owners have faced a complete lack of power steering assistance.
- The brake system has caused trouble for many owners by producing loud screeching noises that are unnatural and results in a lot of wear and tear. The car may not respond to brake inputs at all due to a brake booster failure as well.
- Many cars have reported the problem of excessive oil consumption. Oil leaks are the most common ones among Dodge Grand Caravan engine problems.
- A large number of foreigners have also said that the cars are jerky and stall at times. The reasons are numerous including throttle body problems, faulty sensors, and so on.
Electrical system problems:
- Due to multiple reasons, many cars have caught fire which causes a safety concern for owners.
- Battery discharge and subsequent malfunction of several electrical systems have also been widely reported in these cars.
- Many owners have reported falls with the HVAC, radio, backup camera, and Bluetooth functions failing to operate as needed. The backup camera would also have issues and the airbag warning light was eliminated.
- Many cars have also registered the issue of not recognizing the key fob. This would result in owners having to go through the process of unlocking the car manually in order to get in.
- A few transmission system problems have been reported such as the car switching back to neutral when trying to shift to Park.
- A few complaints about the headlight failing to illuminate the road safely have been recorded.
- The electronic stability control is prone to failure as is the case for many cars from Dodge.
Interior problems:
- One user has reported that the sunroof seemed to spontaneously shatter inside the car. However, this problem is becoming increasingly common in many cars.
- The sliding door can be stuck after using it for a while as many owners have reported the problem.
- Many interior trim pieces have broken and come apart in several cars. This represents severe quality issues.
Safety problems
- The problem of airbag service warning lights coming on is quite a common one. The day airbags may not deploy in the event of a crash and have caused injury to many people.
- The seatbelt indicator has also produced a lot of problems for owners. It does not detect the presence of passengers correctly.
2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA Campaign Number |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
December 21, 2017 |
17V824000 |
Fire extinguisher may be inoperable |
The fire extinguisher inside the car may be clogged and would not be effective in the case of a fire. |
Dealers will guide owners through a fire extinguisher replacement |
|
2 |
January 28, 2016 |
16V044000 |
Windshield with incorrect primer |
By attaching the windshield of the car, the primer used may be an expired one, which may detach in the event of a crash |
Dealers will replace the entire windshield |
|
3 |
October 8, 2014 |
14V632000 |
Tire pressure warning may illuminate |
The tire pressure monitoring system may not learn the locations of individual sensors and fail to issue the warning |
Dealers will reprogram the TPMS module |
|
4 |
May 7, 2014 |
14V234000 |
Vent window switch may overheat |
The vent window switch near the driver’s door may overheat |
Dealers will replace the vent window switch with the newer version |
Should you buy the 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The Dodge Grand Caravan is an option like no other in terms of the space offered as well as the practicality that it brings to the table. And yet, it fails to provide owners with a reliable option with numerous catastrophic failures associated with it. We could also argue that the quality provided is subpar. But the fact remains that there is nothing like it at the price that Dodge offers it. Hence, with no real alternative that can compete with it in terms of price, we should say that this car should be bought, but it should be bought with a lot of caution. Aspiring owners should look at the service history and the recall history of each particular example before seriously considering it.
