2006 Dodge Grand Caravan: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 284 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is steering (18% of complaints); the 2004 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2010
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 284 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that on several occasions, the air bag warning light illuminated for two minutes and then disappeared. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,032.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2023
“The headlights and taillights come on randomly throughout the day and night while the car is parked and off. The warning dings for accidentally leaving your lights on happens every time you open the doors even though the lights are off. This has been going on since we got the vehicle.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2021
“Lights go out when the rain gets up under the car from splashing on the road. You have to pull over to the side of the road, turn it off and turn it back on several times and it stays on for a short time. Procedure is repeated again. Only in rainy weather and oregon gets a lot of sporadic rain. Also, the ignition tends to turn the airbag lights on and off whenever I turn a corner left or right of hit a bump.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“Sliding door lock actuator froze up.this rendersthe sliding door completely inoperable.if that door was needed foregress,it wouldnt be available!!”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 dodge grand caravan. While driving various speeds, the contact heard noises coming from the steering column. The contact drove to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The mechanic also stated that the VIN was included in an unknown recall; however, no recall was found. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.”Owner report · Steering · Aug 2019
“Driver side sliding door is locked and can't be unlocked manually or with fob or overhead button. Very worried about passengers not being able to exit during an emergency. *dt consumer stated she will take it to her local dodge dealer.*jb”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2019
“Driver side sliding door stuck in locked position. Unable to unlock using door lock switch, upper console door switch, key fob or manually. Passenger stuck and had to crawl out different door.”Owner report · Structure · Apr 2019
“Sliding door lock actuator froze up. This renders the sliding door completely inoperable. If that door was needed foregress, it wouldn't be available.”Owner report · Structure · Jan 2019
“2006 dodge caravans have a dummy spare tire located near the gas tank subject to all weather conditions and they become dry rotted and can explode.there is no protection cover that previous dodge cars had. I had one blow as I was about to use it on the van. I sincerely no one has one blow while mounted near the gas tank. *tr”Owner report · Tires · Dec 2018
“When driving in rainy conditions (note: wet road, not high water), power steering failed and van was uncontrolable. This has happened 2x in the past year. Dealership says this is a common issue with this model, as water can get to the power steering belt. They offered no solution. I nearly ran into a ditch as I was unable to steer. Thankfully I was able to stop the car without causing an accident, but this was a dangerous situation. Both times this happened I was driving on a city street in rainy conditions.”Owner report · Steering · Oct 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 12 of these complaints and injuries in 21 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 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.
DRIVING SPECIALTIES LTD IS RECALLING 2 MODEL YEAR 2006 AND 2007 CONVERSION VANS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.
Remedy: DRIVING SPECIALTIES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DRIVING SPECIALTIES AT 1-707-553-1515.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Grand 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 Grand Caravan reliable?
NHTSA has 284 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The most complained-about area is steering (18% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 60,043 miles or less.
Does the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan have open recalls?
4 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.