Is the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan a bad year?
543 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Caravan years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan are in line with other Grand Caravan years. Electrical system and air bags stand 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 2009 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 85,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 333 (61%) | 64k–115k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 137 (25%) | 65k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 47 (9%) | 57k–92k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 23 (4%) | 60k–93k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (4%) | 40k–105k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 12 (2%) | 57k–114k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Stability control | 12 (2%) | 77k–150k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 10 (2%) | 31k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (2%) | 53k–105k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 8 (1%) | 40k–100k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Body structure | 7 (1%) | 40k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 64 (12%) | 23k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 36 (7%) | 35k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 20 (4%) | 27k–80k miles · mostly behind | — |
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 85,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 543 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Driving 45 MPH and vehicle shut off losing power steering and brakes. No check engine light. Pulled over and restarted.
The vehicle shutoff in the middle of an intersection after putting the vehicle in motion after a red light turned green.
Extreme toxic hazard caused by failed factory installed heater hose connectors. Full information available. 2000-2010 vans, possibly a large amount of different vehicle involved.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 85,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan: 7
These vehicles may have a loose or missing brand emblem in the center of the steering wheel. The loose emblem or the securing nuts for the emblem within the driver air bag module may become projectiles in the event of a driver air bag deployment. Projectiles as a result of driver air bag deployment in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail. If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Additionally, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking.
Over time and with use, the vehicle's rear axle may develop cracks which could lead to axle failure. Failure of the rear axle may increase the risk of a crash.
Some of the vehicles may have been built with an improperly routed wire harness that may have a condition where the lower sliding door hinge bracket can make contact and wear through the wire insulation. A short circuit could occur inside the sliding door, overheating the latch, possibly resulting in a fire.
The rear brake lines may have been improperly routed and not secured properly during the alteration. If not routed and secured properly, the brake lines could rub against the vehicle causing a brake fluid leak. A brake fluid leak could result in a loss of braking ability, possibly causing a crash.
Unused electrical connectors for the blind spot detection system may become corroded and could short circuit, which can cause a variety of conditions. If the fuse for this circuit does not blow, the connectors could overheat and potentially catch fire.
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: 28
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Sliding door will not latch in the full open position
Chrysler/dodge: radiator cap on about 276,000 grand caravan and town and country vehicles may experience engine coolant weep and/or a slow leak resulting…
Power steering return lines
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Air Bag Non-Deployment/Engine Stall
Neighbouring years
2008 Grand Caravan: 1,293 complaints, keep it · 2010 Grand Caravan: 869 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Dodge Grand Caravan year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · All Grand Caravan years side by side
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 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan a bad year?
543 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Caravan years. At 85,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (333), air bags (137), engine (47), steering (23), transmission and drivetrain (20).
How many recalls does the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 20V-396), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-047), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-373), Suspension (NHTSA 14V-055) and more. 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.