RoadVitals

2010 Dodge Caravan Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Oct 31, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 172 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 31, 2018

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT UNEXPECTEDLY, IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE STANDING STILL. FOG LIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS WORK BUT HEADLIGHTS DO NOT. IF THEY ARE WORKING AND YOU TURN ON THE BRIGHTS THEY GO OUT AND THEY GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES.

NHTSA ID
11144524
Incident
Oct 27, 2018
Mileage
75,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 3, 2018

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF EVER THING ELSE WAS FINE LUCKLY I HAD MY FOG LIGHTS ON BECAUSE IT WAS A DARK ROAD . I COULD NOT GET THE HIGH OR LOW BEAMS TO WORK SO DROVE HOME WITH JUST THE FOG LIGHTS .

NHTSA ID
11124085
Incident
Aug 31, 2018
Mileage
92,090 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 3, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEGAN TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID
10958368
Incident
Nov 2, 2016
Mileage
15,000 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 13, 2015

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN STORM WITH CRUISE CONTROL,WIPERS,LIGHTS,AND RADIO ON POWER TO CONTROLS WOULD TURN OFF. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND SYSTEMS CAME BACK ON AFTER TURNING OFF RADIO, LIGHTS FOR AWHILE.

NHTSA ID
10733757
Incident
Jun 6, 2015
Mileage
81,523 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2015

HELLO, I OWN A 2010 DODGE CARAVAN. SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2015 I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS LAS VEGAS FROM KINGMAN, AZ AT NIGHT WHEN SUDDENLY MY HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF. KEEP IN MIND I HAVE MY 3 KIDS WITH ME, AGES 8,9 AND 10. I TURNED BACK AROUND AFTER DRIVING OVER 40 MILES, USING ONLY MY FOG LIGHTS THAT PROVIDE 40-50 FEET OF VISIBILITY. I CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE HOME ALMOST IN THE DARK, MADE IT HOME AND GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM. LOOKS LIKE A TIPM ISSUE FROM WHAT I GATHERED. SO IN THE MORNING MY VEHICLE DOESN'T START. I CALLED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER, THEY AREN'T AWARE OF A RECALL ON THIS AND HAS NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE. ADDITIONALLY THEY WANT $110 TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. SO I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MARTIN SWANTY HYUNDAI TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FOR FREE, AND I SPENT $111 ON WHAT THEY SAID WAS A BAD POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTION. WELL, GOT IT HOME, THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED AGAIN. NEXT DAY, IT'S NIGHT TIME AGAIN AND GUESS WHAT, NO HEADLIGHTS AGAIN! LOOKS LIKE IT WASN'T THE BATTERY CONNECTION, STILL HAVING THE FAMOUS TIPM M.O. THIS IS CLEARLY NOT THE FIRST VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I SEE THIS IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT DODGE AND CHRYSLER ARE SWEEPING UNDER THE RUG. SO NOW I HAVE A FAMILY OF 5 (SOON TO BE 6) TO SUPPORT, AND DRIVE AROUND IN MY FAMILY VEHICLE WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AND THIS IS NOT A RECALL YET WITH DODGE? AND YOU WANT ME TO SPEND OVER $1000 TO GET IT FIXED JUST TO PUT ANOTHER FAULTY PART IN MY VAN AGAIN? I HAVE MY FAMILY TO FEED, NOT $1000 TO FEED INTO MY CAR THAT'S ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND PAID OFF. I WAS TOLD BY MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER TO CALL CHRYSLER AT 1-800-334-9200 AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE THAT SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT OFFER A COMPLEMENTARY DIAGNOSIS, I WOULD NEED TO PAY ANOTHER $110 TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT TO DIAGNOSE WHAT IS WRONG. I ASKED THEM IF THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10712211
Incident
Apr 19, 2015
Mileage
107,100 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 24, 2014

HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY GO OUT. DO NOT COME BACK FOR A FEW DAYS SOMETIME A MONTH. HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT SOMETIMES THEY JUST WONT COME ON WHEN TURNED ON. WHEN STUCK WITH OUT HEADLIGHTS HAVE TO DRIVE HOME WITH FOG LIGHTS. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10627844
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
78,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 16, 2014

HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON AFTER DARK. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS DO COME ON THEN GO OFF. VERY UNSAFE!! IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT TO FIX, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN REPEATEDLY. NOW WE HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A $700 FIX. UNSAT!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10610896
Incident
Mar 15, 2012
Mileage
31,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Feb 10, 2014

UPON STARTING THE DODGE CARAVAN SE 2010 I CLOSED BOTH POWER PASSENGER DOORS WITH MY CHILDREN IN SAFETY BELTS, UPON ENTERING THE DRIVERS SIDE MY CHILD ASKED ME TO TURN ON THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS SO THAT SHE COULD FIND SOMETHING THAT DROPPED ON THE FLOOR WITH THE DRIVERS DOOR OPENED, AND THE VEHICLE RUNNING I TURNED ON THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS ONLY TO HAVE BOTH POWER PASSENGER DOORS OPEN ON THEIR OWN. I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THIS ERROR A NUMBER OF TIMES UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS, AND AM UNABLE TO PIN POINT A CAUSE. THIS COULD BE A LARGE SAFETY DEFECT. WHAT IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ? THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE A MINOR PASSENGER TO BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. I ASK FOR A RECALL / INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563633
Incident
Feb 8, 2014
Mileage
51,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 19, 2013

ON 7/16/2013 IT WAS RAINING BUT NOT HARD AND I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS ON AND DROPPED OFF A PASSENGER AND AS I WENT INTO THE DRIVEWAY MY LIGHTS WERE SHINING ON THE GARAGE DOOR. AS SOON AS I GOT TO THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY WHICH HAD A SLIGHT UP GRADE THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF 2 TO 3 TIMES AND THEY WOULD NOT STAY ON AFTER THAT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS WHICH WAS DONE. THIS SEEMED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ALL DAY WEDNESDAY I DROVE THE VAN WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND THEY SEEMED TO WORK. HOWEVER ON THURSDAY WE TOOK A SMALL TRIP WHICH TOOK US 45 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. WHEN WE STARTED BACK ON THURSDAY NIGHT 7/18/13 THE LIGHTS FLASHED A FEW TIMES AND THEN WENT OUT. WE WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE HOME AND GOT TO A MOTEL THAT NIGHT. SO THE NEW LIGHTS APPARENTLY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, FURTHER, WE CHECKED THE OLD LIGHTS AND THEY ACTUALLY CHECKED OUT FINE. THE VAN IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE BOX THAT HOLDS ALL THE FUSES AND RELAYS. UPON CHECKING ON THE INTERNET WE DISCOVERED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. WE CONSIDER OURSELVES VERY LUCKY IN THAT IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS NO TELLING WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE HEADLIGHTS HAD FAILED AT THAT TIME. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE TURNED THE LIGHTS ON BEFORE MOVING AND SAW THE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING, THIS IS GOING TO BE A REPAIR JOB OF OVER $700.00 DOLLARS AND IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER YEARS AND MODELS I THINK THAT MAYBE THIS SITUATION WARRANTS FURTHER STUDY, AT PRESENT THE VAN IS BEING REPAIRED AND SHOULD BE BACK IN A FEW DAYS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THIS; FAILURE OF HEADLIGHTS. IF THIS PROBLEM WARRANTS A RECALL AT SOME POINT MAYBE I MIGHT RECEIVE A REFUND ON THIS REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10525835
Incident
Jul 16, 2013
Mileage
67,232 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 9, 2012

I HAVE A 2010 DODGE CARAVAN THE FIRST ISSUE WAS THE TRANSMISSIONS TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHO CHECKED IT AND SAID THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE COMPUTER DID AN UPGRADE CORRECTED SOME OF THE PROBLEM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT SHIFTING THE SECOND ISSUE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH I TOOK IT IN DUE TO A RECALL I RECEIVED BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED SO THE RECALL HAD NO BEEN DONE AFTER RECALL WAS COMPLETED NOW HAVING TROUBLE WITH HEAD LIGHTS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL SWITCH WAS CHANGED WHEN WE GOT IT BACK NOTICED THAT WHEN KEY WAS IN HEAD LIGHTS CAME ON THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE DRIVING ON AUTO HEAD LIGHTS ACCORDING TO PAPERWORK I HAVE SHORTLY THERE AFTER WHEN TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS THEY FLASH A COUPLE TIMES AND GO OFF UNABLE TO GET THEM TO COME BACK ON NOW THE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN EVER AND GO BACK OFF WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNLESS A KEN IS IN THE IGNITION AND THEN JUST FLASH ONCE AND GO BACK OFF TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO IN THEIR WORDS AFTER CHECKING THOUGHT THE TIP WAS BAD AND WANTED $900.00 WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT WOULD FIX IT I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS WHILE DOING RESEARCH TO TRY AND FIX MY PROBLEM ABOUT OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME FROM 1999 TO PRESENT IT APPEARS TO ME DODGE HAS A PROBLEM THEY ARE NOT FIXING MAYBE THEY NEED MORE BAIL OUT MONEY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10474413
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2011

WHEN DRIVING THERE IS NO NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW BEAMS- IF ANYTHING THE LOWS SEEM BRIGHTER- ALSO, I GET FLASHED A LOT BY ONCOMING DRIVERS WHEN MY LIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10441359
Incident
Oct 8, 2010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .