FaultScore

2009 Dodge Caravan engine problems

20 of the 175 complaints about the 2009 Dodge Caravan are about the engine — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.

B

20

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 17 85.0%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 2 10.0%
Emission Control 1 5.0%

Engine & Cooling across every Dodge Caravan year

1987 13 0.9%
1988 18 1.2%
1989 34 2.3%
1990 28 1.9%
1991 49 3.3%
1992 84 5.7%
1993 107 7.3%
1994 80 5.4%
1995 78 5.3%
1996 261 17.8%
1997 145 9.9%
1998 145 9.9%
1999 116 7.9%
2000 72 4.9%
2001 18 1.2%
2002 23 1.6%
2003 19 1.3%
2005 17 1.2%
2006 27 1.8%
2007 17 1.2%
2008 29 2.0%
2009 20 1.4%
2010 35 2.4%
2011 14 1.0%
2012 19 1.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 149,000 miles Raleigh, NC

ENGINE

MY DODGE CARAVAN JUST STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES THIS PAST YEAR. THE ENGINE CUTS OFF AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART. IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-40 MILES PER HOUR. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY I HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED SO I KNOW IT IS NOT THAT. SOMETIMES WHEN MY CAR WILL NOT START I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTS. OUR MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT DID SEE THE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC.

NHTSA complaint #10969459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ormond Beach, FL

ENGINE

I WAS NOTIFIED IN EARLY JUNE, 2015 ABOUT A SAFETY RECALL #R03/NHTSA 14V-373 AND DIRECTED TO CONTACT A DEALER ABOUT THIS RECALL. I DID SO SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK LATER BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. I CALLED AGAIN ON 12/14/15 AND WAS PUT ON A WAIT LIST OF 40+ PEOPLE TO GET THIS FIX DONE. AGAIN I'M TOLD THAT CHRYSLER IS NOT SENDING OUT THE PARTS. LOOKS LIKE SLOW-WALKING IT TO ME. I FORMALLY REQUEST THAT CHRYSLER BE PUNISHED FOR THIS LACK OF CONCERN FOR SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #10810643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hatley, WI

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNDETERMINED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10786006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,000 miles Augusta, GA

ENGINE

COOLANT/HEATING HOSE - PLASTIC 'Y' VALVE LEAK ALONG SEAL CAUSING ANTI-FEEEZE LEAK

NHTSA complaint #10734383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,000 miles Howell, MI

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO START AND THEN STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA complaint #10726004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Chesterfield, MI

ENGINE

ENGINE SHUTS OFF DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH

NHTSA complaint #10717272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Holmen, WI

ENGINE

I 'VE HAD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN MOSTLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. I WOULD BE GOING ALONG AND HIT A HOLE OR BUMP OF SOME SORT AND I WOULD LOSE THE POWER STEERING, THUS THE ENGINE WOULD BE DEAD! LUCKY IT WAS ALWAYS AT LOW SPEED, HATE TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AT A FASTER SPEED. ANYWAY I GOT A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THAT SAME TIME, AND HAVE BEEN IN 3 TIMES TO GET IT FIXED BUT TO NO AVAIL. I WAS IN JUST APRIL 2, 2015 AND THE DEALER CHECKED WHO KNOWS WHAT, BUT THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO CALL A 800 NUMBER AND TALK TO WHO EVER. SO I HAVE TRIED TO CALL 3 TIMES THE 1ST TIMES I WAS ON THE LINE FOR 2HRS AND 20MINS, THE SECOND TIME ALMOST 3HRS, AND THE 3RD TIME 4HRS 25MINS... ALL I GET IS "THANK YOU FOR HOLDING, YOUR CALL IS IMPORTANT TO US, WILL BE ANSWERED BY THE NEXT AVAILABLE REPRESENTATIVE" AND THAT COMES ON EVERY MINUTE WITH NO RESULTS. I WANT THE PART FIXED. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF ANY??? THE DEALER TELLS ME I HAVE TO GET CHRYSLER TO OK THE FIX, BUT HOW DO YOU DO THAT IF THEY DON'T ANSWER MY CALLS?? THANKS MUCH.

NHTSA complaint #10704283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greenbrier, TN

ENGINE

I COMPLAINED TO DEALER WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR I PURCHASED (2009) ABOUT MY CAR CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAD IT CHECKED, NOTHING FOUND. THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE IN A WHILE AND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. BY THE TIME I HAD RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2014 THIS HAPPENED QUITE OFTEN. I HAVE DRIVEN A MILE AND CAR WOULD CUT OFF UP TO 5 TIMES!!! SOMETIMES I CAN GO SEVERAL MILES AND IT NOT HAPPEN BUT ITS SO BAD NOW ITS PRETTY MUCH EVERY TIME I DRIVE. WHEN THIS OCCURS I CANNOT CONTROL STEERING OR BRAKES. I HAD TO RENT A CAR TO GO OUT OF TOWN THIS PAST WEEK. I PICK MY GRANDDAUGHTER UP FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DRIVE. I HAVE CONTACTED DEALER MANY TIMES WHO JUST PUT ME OFF. THEY GIVE ME PHONE NUMBERS FOR CHRYSLER WHO NEVER ANSWER. I AM SURE THE CONDITION OF MY CAR IS MORE CRITICAL THAN MOST OF THE RECALLS. THERE WILL BE AN ACCIDENT. I THINK I SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH SOMETHING SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL MY CAR IS FIXED. I AM ON DISABILITY, ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD TO RENT OR BUY A CAR. PLEASE HELP ME. ALL I GET IS THE RUN AROUND AND PUT ON HOLD!

NHTSA complaint #10701093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,399 miles Holmen, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT MY VAN LOST POWER WILL I WAS MOVING. THE WORST PART WAS LOSING POWER STEERING. I HAD IT HAPPEN AROUND 5 OR 6 TIMES SINCE THIS TIME. USUALLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I HAVE SINCE GOT A RECALL ABOUT MY KEY SHUTTING OFF INADVERTENTLY, AND THAT THEY WILL REPLACE IT. I HAVE TRIED TO FIND OUT WHEN AND THEY JUST SAY THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. WHAT DOSE A PERSON HAVE TO DO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY WILL DO ANYTHING. LUCKY FOR ME IT HAS BEEN AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN IT HAPPENED. IS THERE ANY ACTION I CAN TAKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED?? I'VE DONE WHAT THEY ADVISED TO DO BUT IT HAPPENED ONE TIME SINCE. THANKS!

NHTSA complaint #10681282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Salina, KS

ENGINE

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VAN HAS SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE TO GO TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN RESTART THE VAN. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD TO BRING IT IN WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN, WHICH ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE WHEN I AM ON THE HIGHWAY OR AFTER HOURS. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS ISSUE (L25/NHTSA 14V-373) AND HAVE CALLED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY WOULD CALL ME AS SOON AS IT BECAME AVAILABLE. THE LAST TIME I CALLED I WAS TOLD THEY NO LONGER ARE MAKING THE PART OF THIS YEAR VEHICLE. MY QUESTION IS, THAT IF I HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND AM INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN UNRESOLVED WHO SHOULD I LET MY FAMILY KNOW TO CONTACT, FOR DAMAGES? I DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD BE FORCED TO BUY A DIFFERENT VEHICLE JUST BECAUSE THE CORPORATION HAS FAILED TO MAKE SURE THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA complaint #10676328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Vernon, NJ

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMISSION CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10670281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Vernon, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMISSION CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10670281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 144,000 miles Gwynn OAK, MD

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA complaint #10667234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Troy, OH

ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON I75 IN CINCINNATI,OH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES COULD ONLY BE MOVED WITH GREAT EFFORT. THE VEHICLE MUST BE IN THE PARKED GEAR SHIFT POSITION BEFORE IT CAN BE RESTARTED THUS THE NECESSITY TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY SO AS TO AVOID A REAR END COLLISION. WHEN GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT IS LOCKED. THIS SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OVER THE LAST APPROX. 2 1/2 YRS. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT OFF PROBLEM. THIS LEAVES ME WITH A VEHICLE THAT APPEARS TO BE TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE REQUESTED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER TO ADVISE ME AS TO HOW THE VEHICLE CAN BE SAFELY DRIVEN. AND ALSO TO ADVISE ME IF THE AIR BAGS WILL FUNCTION NORMALLY AFTER SUDDEN ENGINE SHUT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10607221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,000 miles Linden, MI

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10604795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 500 miles Darien, IL

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT STATED THAT THE EVAPORATOR SYSTEM INTEGRITY MONITOR SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA complaint #10604509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Swartz Creek, MI

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHO STATED THAT THE WIN MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE AFTER MARKET REMOTE STARTER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE WIRING BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH AN EGR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE PART NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE EGR REPAIR TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10578544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 133,500 miles Faribault, MN

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER REFLASHED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 3/12/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. UPDATED 03/21/14

NHTSA complaint #10561847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 53,000 miles Temperton, PA Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE HOSE AND TUBE ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ALCOHOL IN THE COOLANT OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE PART WAS MADE OF PLASTIC WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY INSTALLING A UNIVERSAL PART MADE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FULL HOSE AND TUBE ASSEMBLY HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,800.

NHTSA complaint #10515693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 459 miles Mérida, Yucatán, México, NM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

MOTOR UNSTABLE FOR PERIODS OF 2 TO 3 MONTHS. LOSES POWER WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. ALSO ACCELERATED THE MOTOR RUNS. ON OCCASION WILL NOT START. WHENEVER YOU TURN ON A RED RAY OF THE BOARD(ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WARRANTY), WHEN SUBMITTING THESE BREAKDOWNS.

NHTSA complaint #10380652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2009 Dodge Caravan problems

← Full 2009 Dodge Caravan report