Is the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan a bad year?
584 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Caravan years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2012 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 2012 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 100,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 337 (58%) | 72k–132k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 74 (13%) | 90k–136k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 121 (21%) | 76k–131k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 48 (8%) | 54k–111k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 19 (3%) | 39k–114k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 18 (3%) | 48k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 18 (3%) | 56k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 14 (2%) | 83k–134k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Seats | 9 (2%) | 66k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 38 (7%) | 28k–59k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 24 (4%) | 37k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 13 (2%) | 12k–89k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 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 100,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 584 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 14 say the car was towed.
5 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Vehicle electrical and engine shutdown suddenly while driving 30MPH on the road. No power steering or brakes, had to pull over to the shoulder.
Very loud ticking noise from engine cylinder heads, causing engine hesitation and misfire. Fortunately I have not gotten stock on the road butbi feel is about to happend.
Bought car with an extended warrantee. Check engine light came on and codes show that mis-fires were happen in right side of engine.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 100,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan: 6
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 vehicles may be equipped with a right side liftgate pinch sensor that does not function properly. As a result, increased force may be required in order to stop the power liftgate during final closing stages. The power liftgate door may close on an appendage, increasing the risk of injury.
Some vehicles may be equipped with right rear hub and bearing assemblies that were not fully machined. This could result in a decrease in durability, which may lead to wheel separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
These engines may experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block. Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of 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: 54
Repair instructions Dodge sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Gear Ratio DTC's, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
Oil Pump Assembly If error code P06DD present on any Pentastar V6 application, please inspect oil pump for relief valve failure
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Neighbouring years
2011 Grand Caravan: 529 complaints, keep it · 2013 Grand Caravan: 472 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 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan a bad year?
584 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Grand Caravan years. At 100,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (337), fuel system (74), engine (121), transmission and drivetrain (48), body structure (19).
How many recalls does the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Adaptive equipment (NHTSA 25V-876), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-376), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-234), Equipment (NHTSA 12V-191) 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.