Seats, brakes and powertrain issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Minivans have lost some of their popularity over the past few years, but the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan still seems to be a popular option. The automaker claims that “high energy is expected” with this model, but owners disagree. Instead, many drivers are met with defective powertrains, poorly-made seats and dangerous service brakes.
The powertrain is responsible for transmitting energy from the engine to the wheels. It’s what makes a car move. When this system fails, it can cause many troubles.
This NHTSA complaint discusses the problem. “The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving 20 mph, the vehicle began to hesitate and the contact heard an abnormal noise. Also, when depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to [dealer] where it was diagnosed with needing a new transmission and both cylinder heads needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failures continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer multiple times and the transmission was replaced two additional times, but the failures recurred. The dealer stated that they were unable to duplicate the failure during the last visits. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 10,716.”
A new vehicle with 10,000 miles should not have gone through three transmissions – ever! This is entirely unacceptable and should never occur, but Dodge doesn’t seem to be concerned about the batch of defective transmissions. Instead, they have washed their hands of any more problems and left this owner with a defective new minivan. Sadly, there aren’t any communications within the company that discuss transmission problems either. “High energy” is great, when it works the way it should.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Engine | |
| Power Train | |
| Structure:body | |
| Seats | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Air Bags | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch |
Considering the 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan is meant to hold seven people, it needs to have comfortable seating, especially for the longer trips. However, that’s not how customers feel about the interior.
Read this Edmunds review. “This car is absolutely awful. This car is the worst thing for humanity since Ebola. Completely uncomfortable. I hate it so much with a passion. This is the second time I have rented this car and both times have been completely terrible. The second row seats made my young children have back pain. No cushioning at all and completely unacceptable. The whole car is completely lacking in decor and features. I have never seen an uglier interior in my life. I personally believe a golf cart is a nicer ride than this car. It cannot take off without screeching at you. The second row doors choose when they like to close not when you want them to close. It’s insane to me that this car is still on the market considering how poorly it’s made.”
Aside from comfort, the seats in the Grand Caravan are quite dangerous. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V759000 states that over 30,000 vehicles have rear seat striker outboard welds that could fail during a front impact. This occurs in both the second and third row of seats, leading to a higher chance of injury or death. It seems Dodge isn’t concerned about the safety of children, as that tends to be the type of people riding in the back seat. For a company promoting “high energy,” you would think they would embrace children. After all, without them, there’s no hope of selling any minivans.
We've fixed thousands of lemon problems. Message or call 877-795-3666 today.
In an effort to prevent accidents, owners hope for reliable brakes that will stop the minivan before a collision occurs. However, the Dodge minivan fails on this front as well.
Another NHTSA comment states, “While traveling around 30 mph, brakes were applied in a ‘panic stop’ fashion – fast hard depression. The road was straight, clean and dry. Visibility was excellent and the view was clear for about a half mile. When the brakes were applied it felt as though the ABS system interfered with braking, causing no actual force to be applied to the brakes. No deceleration was felt by the driver, or any of the other two passengers. Although the brake pedal was fully depressed, the van continued at a speed of about 35 mph for an additional 70-80 feet without slowing, and was stopped only by the vehicle it eventually struck. Distinctive injuries on the driver’s leg created by the debris of the dash panel also reflect that the leg and foot were aligned with the brake pedal and not ‘elsewhere.’ Although this model has a safety recall regarding ‘surface coating’ affecting the braking ability, this VIN was not implicated. Also, this incident did not appear to involve ‘reduced’ braking ability. There was no braking. Other causes are possible, but the best way to describe the behavior of the braking system behaved would be to describe it as though the ABS had disengaged all braking abilities so that the pedal had some feedback to the driver, but no discernable effect on slowing the vehicle. It was as though the ABS somehow turned the brakes off.”
The recall being discussed is NHTSA Campaign Number 18V523000, which affects nearly 155,000 vehicles. It appears that Dodge created braking systems with the wrong coating on the rear brake caliper pistons, which can reduce the performance and increase the chance of an accident. Let’s just hope that the “high energy” created by this minivan doesn’t become so great that it becomes impossible to stop.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Dodge pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
See more posts from Brian Jones
I bought a 2019 Dodge Gran Caravan with 35000 miles on it. At 70000 the transmission went out. Cost $3000 to fix. Drove it to 83000 miles and misfire 2 cylinder engine light came on. Had plugs and coil pack changed. Engine light came back on. Took it to the dealer. They told me that the cylinder was faulty. It was out of warranty. Had no choice but to fix it. That was $5150. $8150 in one year to keep on the road. What kind of quality do they build into these vans. I’ll keep it for now with a extended warranty. I like the things I can do with this van. But never again with I buy a Dodge product. If anyone asks about a dodge I will tell them to run don’t walk. Very dissatisfied 😒.
Roll back at stop light
I have a 2019 Grand Caravan with 52,000 miles and I have had it in shop 4 times for transmissions issues. Green Way Chrysler Dodge in Florence Alabama can’t seem to get it fixed so far they put a TCM in it, didn’t fix the problem. Took it back and they serviced the transmission and charged me four hundred dollars while still under warranty. Problem still not solved. It’s back at that dealership as I post now.
My 2019 needed a new transmission last year. Not even 3 years old.
My 2019 dodge Caravan after 88,000 miles needs a new transmission and they are on back order so for 2 months now I have been out of a vehicle.
I bought my 2019 Dodge Caravan brand new in November 2019. It is now January 2023. I need a new catalytic converter, but I don’t think catalytic converter should be replaced after three years.
I’m on my third, Dodge Grand Caravan that before 70,000 miles seems to be having engine issues. I bought it used with 62,000, the warranty company is saying if there’s any sludge or a couple other things even though it has a lifetime warranty on the engine and drive train, they aren’t going to cover it. What the heck? I used any money I had to purchase this vehicle and a small warranty.
The one before this had issues I was told the warranty would cover and they stalled and stalled and even though it had the lifetime warranty on drive train and engine the Dodge Company, nor warranty company would stand behind it. At close to 200,000 and no results, I traded it. The one before this, I bought new and it had all the warranties, however; once the dealership started working on it just to change what should have been simple things, they had it more than I did all summer and Dodge wouldn’t stand by it either. What the Sam Hill is wrong with Dodge? They are awlful for standing by their products and warranties but have no problem just ripping faithful customers off. I’m done!
My 2019 Dodge Caravan with 55K miles needs a new transmission!!!! What? I really hope they take care of me!
My grand caravan has engine problems after 71,000 miles and the radiator has a leak. It’s going to cost 5200 to fix
My 2019 dodge grand caravan with 65250 miles, and absolutely no rust or corrosion had the emergency brake cable snap, while I was trying to use it. Although I purchased the Mopar protection plan, they are denying me coverage for the parts and labor on this 1000 dollar repair. I am curious if this has happened to others.