The current generation of the Dodge Grand Caravan has been in sales since who knows when. Some of you out there would misinterpret this long life span as a virtue of its high-reliability quotient, which mostly is not the case in reality. Like any other vehicle, the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan is still a vehicle that has complaints and issues despite being in the same avatar for over 7 years now. Clocking in 2 recalls and 223 complaints about 2017, the Grand Caravan does place itself in a nice position, but for a package that existed for nearly a decade now, things definitely could have gotten much better. So with pricier and trusted alternatives like the Honda Odyssey, the Kia Sedona, and the Toyota Sienna hanging around, should you be even buying one for $26,995? Well, this article should help you decide.
2017 Dodge Grand Caravan User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Complaints
- Engine- Random engine stalls and oil leaks with increased mileage are some common issues to look out for on the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine on the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan. While the former issue was traced down to a faulty voltage regulator, which was resolved under a recall (18V524000) in the following year, oil leaks were to be dealt with at the owner's expense.
- Transmission- Transmission failures are not uncommon on the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan, mostly after crossing the 75,000- mile point. Owners complain about gripes like grinding noises, slipping, failing to upshift, and inability to engage a specific drive to be the precursor to the failure.
- Service brakes- Stuck calipers, malfunctioning brake light switch, and excessive front brake wear are common issues on the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan that owners complain about. Even though the previous model years did receive a recall for brake issues and overall service brake check-ups, the current model year seems to be exempt as of now.
Electric System complaints
- A/C- Compressor, lines, and blower are all to be inspected before getting a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan. Issues with the temperature control panel have also been reported by the NHTSA. Corroded line and AC gas leaks are something to look out for on the Grand Caravan. Spotting a leak is a labor-intensive job and could cost a person over $600 in fixes.
Structural complaints
- Sliding door lock/latch- Issues with the sliding door locks/ latch assembly are one of the most reported issues against the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan as per the NHTSA. Owners complain about the sliding door failing to unlock both electronically and manually. Owners also complain about loud buzzing noise when trying to open the door electronically. The issue was traced to be with a faulty batch of door lock actuators which prevent the sliding doors from unlatching. Even though it was a pretty common issue, several owners complain about having to pay for the repair.
Safety Complaints
- Airbags-The Airbag lights on the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan intermittently illuminate. Though the cars have been inspected by the dealers, no issues could be traced. The average mileage of failure is around 45,000-miles.
2017 Dodge Grand Caravan Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
15th May 2020 |
20V278000 |
Fuel pump gasket fuel leak. |
The fuel pump gasket may deteriorate, allowing fuel to leak, increasing the risk of a fire. |
Dealers will provide parts and reimbursement to owners for repair facilities to replace the fuel pump gasket, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2020. |
|
2 |
9th August 2018 |
18V524000 |
Voltage regulator may fail and cause a stall. |
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no-start condition, increasing the risk of a crash. |
The dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began on October 2, 2018. |
Should you buy a used 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The Dodge Grand Caravan has been one of the more affordable offerings with the best practicality levels in the midsize family van segment. Though customer satisfaction levels on this van have been decent, JD power rates it a mere ‘average’ when it comes to quality and reliability aspects. That does not flag it as a completely unreliable vehicle, but a prospective buyer should be cautious of the known issues before planning to buy one, especially used. Given the low purchase and running costs, it is not hard for us to recommend buying a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan. But if you are looking for a used one, make sure that it has a clean service record and all recalls that have been stated above have been covered without fault.
