Dodge Grand Caravan engine problems, 2016–2020
226 of the 1,947 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Dodge Grand Caravan 2016–2020 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2016 (85), 2017 (60), 2019 (44). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 manufacturer bulletin. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Dodge Grand Caravan engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 10% | — | 13 TSBs | the year → |
| 2019 | 44 | 18% | — | 20 TSBs | the year → |
| 2018 | 35 | 13% | — | 20 TSBs | the year → |
| 2017 in depth | 60 | 14% | 63k | 23 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 85 | 8% | 80k | 25 TSBs | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 26 · 2020: 26 · 2021: 39 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 38 · 2024: 32 · 2025: 27 · 2026: 10
Across the model years, half of the 91 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 49,000 and 96,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
This is a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan r/t with mileage reading 99570. The engine is the 3.6l flex dohc. The check engine light came on. Had it checked it coded for a misfire in number 2 cylinder. Paid for a full tune up. Light came back on next day took the van back to be checked again.
Check engine light comes on, checked #2 cylinder missfire, had the coil changed, the fuel injector changed, light came back on. 73000 miles, Dodge recalled the 2016 Grand Caravan just not my VIN number,i called and they will not do the repair for free even though same model year has the same defect, #2 cylinder
About 1 week ago my check engine light came on. The code reader said it was a p302, misfire in #2. The vehicle idles rough and sometimes stalls while driving. Other 2017 Grand caravans have had a recall for a very similar reason, but my VIN is not included in that. I feel it should be.
Loss of engine power while driving. When it happens, there's also loss of powering steering and brakes. This has happened more than a dozen times on city streets and highways. It's been taken to a Dodge dealership. I'm told they can't find the problem. It's happened twice this week going to work on january 28 & 29, 2020
The Oil Filter Housing Unit was loose, causing oil to slow-leak into the spark plugs, resulting in my engine misfiring. According to the mechanic that worked on my vehicle, this is common in a lot of newer vans like the Caravan and the Chrysler Town And Country.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications1 manufacturer bulletin filed under this heading, any model year
- Aug 31, 2023
- Suspected engine coolant leak.
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Dodge Grand Caravan
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Dodge Grand Caravan problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Dodge Grand Caravan years have the most engine complaints?
2016, 85; 2017, 60; 2019, 44. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (18%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Dodge Grand Caravan?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the Dodge Grand Caravan?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 73,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 49,000 and 96,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.