Is the 2010 Dodge Caravan a bad year?
171 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Caravan years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2010 Dodge Caravan are in line with other Caravan years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 Caravan owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 74,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 78 (46%) | 46k–95k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 35 (20%) | 16k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 22 (13%) | 15k–36k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 16 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 14 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 12 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 74,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 171 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 5 report an injury.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2019.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Last year while driving my van, it stalled or turned off completely while driving. My power steering everything went dead.
My car has been having intermittent stalling/ no starting issues since 9/16/14. I have replaced the battery, spark plugs, crank shaft sensor, wyn module.
Driving on interstate hwy at approx 60 MPH when the vehicle/engine turned off. Got to shoulder of hwy and was able to restart the vehicle.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 74,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2010 Dodge Caravan: 2
During conversion, the chassis was raised and the floor was lowered to accommodate wheelchair accessibility features. In raising the chassis, the rear spring hats come into closer proximity to the rear tires. In rough or aggressive driving situations the tires may intermittently contact the rear spring hats. Contact between the tire spring hat may wear a hole in the tire over time. This may result in loss of vehicle control in the event of tire pressure loss increasing the risk of a crash.
During conversion, the chassis was raised and the floor was lowered to accommodate wheelchair accessibility features. In raising the chassis, the fuel fill pipe comes into closer proximity to the left rear tire. In rough or aggressive driving situations, the tire may intermittently contact the fuel fill pipe. Contact between the tire and fuel fill pipe may wear a hole in one or the other components over time.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Dodge: 38
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Dodge Caravan. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Active Head Restraint (AHR) Inadvertent Deployment - X91 Warranty Extension
Sliding Door Trim Contacting Vehicle Rear Quarter This bulletin depending on production date…
Power Steering Return Line Some customers, in extreme cold weather climates (beyond -40 deg C), may report a leaking power steering return line
Quarter Panel and Tail Lamp Extension If the rear quarter panels and taillamp extentions have been replaced and the taillamps will not fit into the provided…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Neighbouring years
2009 Caravan: 118 complaints, keep it · 2011 Caravan: 78 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Caravan year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · All Caravan years side by side
Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Durango · Dodge Grand Caravan · Dodge Intrepid · Dodge Journey · Dodge Magnum · Dodge Neon · Dodge Nitro · Dodge Ram · Dodge Ram Quad Cab · Dodge Sprinter 2500 · Dodge Stratus. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2010 Dodge Caravan a bad year?
171 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Caravan years. At 74,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Dodge Caravan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (78), engine (35), brakes (22), air bags (16), transmission and drivetrain (14).
How many recalls does the 2010 Dodge Caravan have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 10V-164), Fuel system (NHTSA 10V-148). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.