2006 Dodge Caravan: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 173 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (15% of complaints); the 2004 and 2007 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2010
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 173 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the related undisclosed recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2024
“The vehicle is turning off completely ir dying when driving. This is happening multiple times. I have to coast safely to pull over, can barely steer to get off the road. This happened 3 times on the way to town. This is very dangerous, I was lucky that I was able to pull over. If I was on express way I would have been in a crash.i don't feel safe driving the car with it cutting off intermittently without any warning.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2023
“Driving down a crowded interstate and the dash cluster started going crazy then stopped working. Mechanic said it was a kniwn wiring issue with the cluster and anti theft device.”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“Passenger side air bag exploded. Luckily no injury. Vehicle was not moving. I didn't even know it could do that! I'd like this fixed. Also, two leaks in engine. Oil leak/transmission leak. Is this normal? Leaks are ongoing. Another thing: noticing headlights getting slightly dimmer, then brighter, at night as if some sort of electrical problem? This happens during driving and not driving.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge caravan. The contact stated that on several occasions the rear tail lamps, headlamps, and instrument panel lights became inoperable. The contact stated that the instrument panel lights became dim, the indicator lights and headlamps failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to an unknown mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering column and attached electrical switches needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Neither a local dealer nor the manufacturer were contacted or informed of the failures. The failure mileage was 46,000.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Jan 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge caravan. While driving, the vehicle experienced an electrical failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuse box malfunctioned and caused the vehicle's computer to fail. Patterson chrysler dodge jeep ram tyler (3120 s sw loop 323, tyler, tx 75701, (903) 561-2404) was contacted and confirmed the diagnosis. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there were no recalls. The contact was referred to NHTSA and was informed to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The failure mileage was 126,000. *bf*jb”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2019
“The sliding door latch malfunction where door comes open while driving the auto lock also malfunctioning. I'm a master mechanic and this isn't the first time I heard of this problem on these vehicles. Mopar needs to have these vehicles recalled before someone gets hurt or their pet falls out.”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2019
“When the key is out of the ignition,and the headlight switch is off, the parking lights come on and go off intermittently.sometimes I wake up to a dead battery.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Nov 2018
“3 months ago, one of the sliding doors stopped unlocking, and will not open. Now my passenger side front door is doing the same thing. My autistic son got stuck in the van today because of this. The doors just will not unlock.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2018
“Every time I put any amount of fuel in my tank of my 2006 dodge caravan sxt there is a very strong smell of gas coming from the engine compartment and after the van starts it will always stall out within a minute or two of starting up. It will stall idling in park as well as when in gear and starting out at slow speed and up to 25 miles per hour. It occurs more often when the fuel tank reaches the full mark. I have had the fuel pump assembly replaced which did not change the problem.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jun 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 12 of these complaints and injuries in 18 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
ON CERTAIN VANS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ARMATURE SHAFT MAY BREAK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2006, TO DODGE DURANGO OWNERS. MINIVAN OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
MAXZONE IS RECALLING 2,520 HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 3341103L-AS AND 334-1103R-AS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR 2001-2007 DODGE CARAVAN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: 1-888-286-1188 (WA, OR, CA, ID, NV, AZ, MT, WY, UT, CO, KS, NM, OK, TX, AR, LA, AK, HI) 1-877-253-8930 (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI, NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, WV, VA) 1-800-859-4755 (NC, SC, GA, FL, TN, AL, MS) 1-866-783-6858 (ND, SD, NE, MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, MI, IN, OH, KY).
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 DODGE CARAVAN, GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, ALASKA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER INTO THE SENSOR. THIS CAN CAUSE THE SENSOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THESE SENSORS WERE ADDED TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES.
Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WITH A NEW DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
Remedy: SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
CURT MFG IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS 3 RECEIVER HITCHES, P/N 13347, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON 1997-2007 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS, 1996-2007 DODGE CARAVANS, AND 1996-2004 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER VANS. WHEN THE HITCH IS LOADED TO THE MAXIMUM RATING, THE HITCH MAY FRACTURE OR BREAK AT THE BEND LOCATION WHERE THE MAIN BODY OF THE HITCH MEETS THE HITCH MUFFLER STRAP.
Remedy: CURT MFG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE THE HITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MFG AT 1-715-831-8713.
EAGLE EYES IS RECALLING 11,534 HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. CS090-B001L AND CS090-B001R, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE LOWER BEAM PHOTOMETRY REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: EAGLE EYES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EAGLE EYES AT 1-800-568-1098.
How other years compare
Check your exact Caravan by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Dodge Caravan reliable?
NHTSA has 173 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2006 Dodge Caravan. The most complained-about area is air bags (15% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2006 Dodge Caravan problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 60,000 miles or less.
Does the 2006 Dodge Caravan have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.