Is the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan a bad year?
529 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Caravan years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan are in line with other Grand Caravan years. Electrical system and fuel system 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 2011 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 | 332 (63%) | 64k–101k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 137 (26%) | 66k–111k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 97 (18%) | 67k–115k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 43 (8%) | 21k–109k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 27 (5%) | 32k–107k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Stability control | 26 (5%) | 60k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 19 (4%) | 53k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 18 (3%) | 40k–124k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 16 (3%) | 34k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 15 (3%) | 36k–86k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 15 (3%) | 65k–130k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 (1%) | 60k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Tires | 7 (1%) | 38k–64k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 5 (1%) | 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 85,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 529 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 17 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 17 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Apr 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Wont start . Fuel pump doesnt run at times , no fuel no start . At times it runs & stops on road . Verry dangerous in traffic .
I've had my van since october 2016, 60000 miles on odometer at time of purchase. January 29 and february 1, 2017 the car has completely shut off while driving.
The TIPM in our van has failed, it is a known and common issue for Chrysler and they refuse to acknowledge the issue or do anything to fix the issue.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 85,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan: 4
The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured. An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may unexpectedly deploy if the air bag wiring harness gets chafed within the steering wheel and short circuits. Unexpected deployment of the driver's frontal air bag increases the risk of a crash or driver injury.
The affected vehicles may experience overheating of the vent window switch in the driver's door armrest. An overheated switch may result in a vehicle fire.
Some of these vehicles may have been built with a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet. A missing or incorrectly installed rivet could compromise the ability of the steering column to support the occupant loads in the event of a frontal crash, decreasing the effectiveness of the frontal impact safety system.
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: 49
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Oil Pump Assembly If error code P06DD present on any Pentastar V6 application, please inspect oil pump for relief valve failure
MIL Illumination: P0300, P0302, P0304 or P0306 (X56 Warranty Extension)
Transmission torque converter plate is loose leading to a knocking or rattling noise from the transmission
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Neighbouring years
2010 Grand Caravan: 869 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2012 Grand Caravan: 584 complaints, keep it.
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 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan a bad year?
529 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 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (332), fuel system (137), engine (97), transmission and drivetrain (43), brakes (27).
How many recalls does the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Adaptive equipment (NHTSA 25V-876), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-376), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-234), Steering (NHTSA 11V-315). 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.