2010 Dodge Grand Caravan: common problems

Owners of the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan filed 870 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 870
involving a crash: 20

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 63% of all complaints
2 Air bags 17% of all complaints
3 Engine 16% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
5 Steering 7% of all complaints
6 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
8 Engine and cooling 3% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Electrical system: 550 complaints (63% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Air bags: 144 complaints (17% of all), 13 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engine: 137 complaints (16% of all).
Service brakes: 87 complaints (10% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Steering: 64 complaints (7% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

3.3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
4 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 4 complaints
automatic, 4-speed
automatic, 6-speed

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 870 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

stalls while driving173 · 20%
warning lights, check engine88 · 10%
steering or power steering problems71 · 8%
won't start48 · 6%
headlights and tail lights43 · 5%
windows, sunroof38 · 4%
loss of power / limp mode34 · 4%
infotainment or screen glitches29 · 3%
A/C or heater22 · 3%
smoke, burning smell, fire20 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Electrical system	550	2
Air bags	144	13
Engine	137	0
Service brakes	87	2
Steering	64	2
Exterior lighting	46	0
Powertrain	40	2
Engine and cooling	24	2
Wheels	22	0
Electronic stability control	19	0
Fuel/propulsion system	19	1
Structure	18	3
Vehicle speed control	18	2
Tires	14	2

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Was hit in the side and in my Dodge minivan the side curtain airbags never deployed. The van was a total loss so was the car that hit me and his airbag did deploy. I did injure my lower back and shoulder.
Air bags · crash · 2023-10-19 · NHTSA complaint #11550932
The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed however, the brakes failed to operate causing the vehicle to rear-end another vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated.
Air bags · crash · 2021-12-14 · NHTSA complaint #11443789
The front driver's side air bag and driver's side curtain air bags did not deploy. The contact indicated that the passenger side curtain air bag partially deployed due to it being punctured by an unknown component of the vehicle.
Air bags · crash · 2019-12-05 · NHTSA complaint #11287094
While my car was moving at idol speed-the engine rpm's speed surges causing no control in steering, brake . The surgeing over rides the brake. Steering, everything.. Hit parked car. You have no control in situation.
Steering · crash · 2013-09-09 · NHTSA complaint #10542562
I was pulling into a parking spot at sam's club in woodbury, mn. As I was pulling in, my van rapidly accelerated and hit the car parked across from me head on. It felt as if I was riding a bumper car and I was whipped around a corner. My vehicle suffered damages at approximately $2600--so it wasn't just a simple bump.
Fuel/propulsion system · crash · 2013-05-22 · NHTSA complaint #10513204
On numerous occasions I complained to the dealer that the engine was stalling, cutting out, missing and lack of power. The dealer could not find a problem and nothing showed up on the computer. The dealer has a record on file of my complaints.
Engine and cooling · crash · 2011-03-29 · NHTSA complaint #10394530
Vehicle stalled while reversing out of a parking space. Moments later, while vehicle was in park and running, vehicle began to drift backwards and hit another vehicle.
Powertrain · crash · 2010-10-18 · NHTSA complaint #10361017
My year, make, and model were recalled for this issue, but Dodge says my vin falls out the production window. However, parts from the exact same vendor (Continental) that suffer from the same weak internal detents were often installed in vehicles outside the official recall parameters.
Electrical system · 2026-10-20 · NHTSA complaint #11772489

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

201020
201155
201239
201349
201471
2015249
2016132
201757
201840
201948
202042
202122
20229
202315
202410
20257
20265

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 311 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 1% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Grand Caravan has 375 complaints (36 years in the data). This year has 870, above average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, air bags, engine. Total complaints: 870. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (20%), warning lights, check engine (10%), steering or power steering problems (8%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2010 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.