Is the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan a bad year?
284 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Caravan years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan are in line with other Grand Caravan years. Steering and air bags stand out for this year: see below.
7th quietest of 20 Grand Caravan years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 Grand 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 53,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 61 (21%) | 40k–76k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 54 (19%) | 37k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 36 (13%) | 49k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 27 (10%) | 40k–102k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Latches and locks | 22 (8%) | 45k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 15 (5%) | 31k–84k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 13 (5%) | 22k–83k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 12 (4%) | 24k–93k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 6 (2%) | 39k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 5 (2%) | 24k–58k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 38 (13%) | 62k–128k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 31 (11%) | 71k–115k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 28 (10%) | 60k–110k miles · ahead | — |
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 53,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 284 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 17 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
After filling fuel tank, pulled into traffic and the van stalled 30 seconds later. Was able to pull out of traffic and restart.
While driving down the highway in heavy traffic the engine blows out of no where leaving the van almost inoperable.
Rear ac evaporator leaking.. I heard there was a recall on this, estimated cost to replace is between 850-1000, can you give me any information.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 53,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan: 4
There is a possibility of a defective weld at the joint between the pivoting plate and the pivoting plate pin. The seat occupant may be injured if the seat base pin were to break.
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. If the front crash sensors become inoperative, the driver is immediately alerted by illumination of the airbag warning light and the vehicle should be promptly serviced.
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… In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(S) may be seriously injured by shattered glass.
On certain vans and sport utility vehicles, the front windshield wiper motor armature shaft may break. During certain operating conditions, loss of front windshield wiping capability could occur, and the driver's vision could be obscured which could result in a crash.
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: 17
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Service Four Piece Oil Pan Gasket All Cummins Equipped Vehicles ONLY The replacement oil pan gasket can be a four piece gasket rather than a single piece gasket
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number
Headlights Fail To Illuminate, Or Illuminate And Then Turn Off (X45 Lifetime Warranty Extension) This bulletin is intended to serve as an aid in diagnosis…
The park lamps remain illuminated when both headlamps are on and then off, or both headlights fail to illuminate while park lamps remain illumnated after…
NHTSA defect investigations: 5
Engine Stall After Refueling
Loss of headlight illumination
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Front air bag crash sensor failure
Front air bag crash sensor failure
Neighbouring years
2005 Grand Caravan: 995 complaints, keep it · 2007 Grand Caravan: 182 complaints, keep it.
Every Dodge Grand Caravan year
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Other Dodge models: Dodge Avenger · Dodge Caliber · Dodge Caravan · Dodge Challenger · Dodge Charger · Dodge Dakota · Dodge Dart · Dodge Durango · 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 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan a bad year?
284 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Caravan years. At 53,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (61), air bags (54), body structure (36), engine (27), latches and locks (22).
How many recalls does the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 10V-338), Air bags (NHTSA 10V-008), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 07E104000), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 06V-067). 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.