2012 Dodge Grand Caravan Powertrain (other) Problems

We purchased our 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan 1/2026. Only 85000 miles on it. After about a week or 2, when husband tried go start van to go to work early cold, morning, van wouldn't start easily. Sometimes he would wait up to a few hours and keep trying to start, eventually it would. But last 3 days, its gotten harder to start van.at all. Not cool. Why isn't this recalled, it seems ALOT of people have same issue..

NHTSA ID

11731166

Incident

Apr 10, 2026

After talking to others and researching and reading reports this seems to be another ghost problem: Driving around town this issue doesn't usually occur but, on a long drive and coming to a stop or near stop such as a traffic light and/or in traffic my van starts to die. Depending on how long I am going to be stopped or slowed down to a crawl I either have to keep one foot on the brake while accelerating or switch to neutral. When switched to neutral I have to keep a foot on the accelerator while switching back into drive. Sometimes turning the ignition off and back on helps, usually not. The danger is the risk of being rear ended or stalling when pulling into traffic.

NHTSA ID

11626583

Incident

Nov 9, 2024

I bought the car 2 weeks ago with 105k miles on it. The car has died approximately 20 times in the last 2 weeks while I am driving it. It is so insanely dangerous, you will be going down a busy street and the car completely dies without warning. There is no dash lights on, no warning. The power steering goes. It's an accident waiting to happen, it’s unacceptable. After spending 2k at the mechanic and still the same problem. They have now told me I need the TIPM replaced at the dealership. Which also affects the lights, which are erratic, they come on or come off when they want, along with the horn. It’s also pushes the motors into limp mode so it runs really hard over 20 miles an hour even while idle. The car will also die while in idle/park or when you shift gears. The car is basically an all day event to start and if you get it to stay on, if you are able to get it, don’t touch the key or it will automatically the car off. The TIPM system will also stay on, even while car is off causing your battery to drain.

NHTSA ID

11602041

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

Vehicle started having rough shifting., code for shift relay (P0760) . Relay was replaced .sometimes drives ok other times just goes into neutral when driving, even the shifter in on D position.

NHTSA ID

11551165

Incident

Sep 9, 2023

Sounds like a machine gun when trying to start. Have to turn key completely off to get the sound to stop. Not starting sometimes and cutting off when driving. Lost all power on a main highway including my brakes and power steering. Completely shut off. Also the back air AC doesn't work at times. Seems to not have enough power to roll down windows at times and you can only use one window at a time. Battery, alternator, and starter test fine. Replaced relays and still same problem. Throwing code for not reaching coolant temp. Replaced thermostat gasket still throwing code. No other codes or lights showing up. Heard of an ignition switch and power train recall but when I put my vin in it says there are none.

NHTSA ID

11485600

Incident

Sep 16, 2022

2012 caravan staling/dyng while driving, at take off from stops n issues starting with it just dying time after time over n over. Getting codes for low input power for the system n tcm plus misfire codes n O2 sensor code. Had new battery n both battery n alternator check out perfect. All new fuses n relays n CB1. Changed Oil, filter n housing n spark plugs twice, all new O2 sensors n new ignition coils. New starter. Got new key fob n ignition key as well. Still same issues with no starts, difficult starts, stalling n dying while driving months later

NHTSA ID

11467359

Incident

Jan 20, 2022

While driving 55 MPH on the highway all the lights on the dashboard began flashing and the vehicle lost ALL power - No power steering, no brakes, no engine, nothing. Luckily I was going uphill in the mountains without any traffic and was able to eventually stop. Had there been a vehicle behind me, the results could have been fatal. The vehicle was towed to a nearby trusted shop. They are saying it needs a whole new engine. The problem is, even with a replacement engine, this could happen again with a new/rebuilt Chrysler/Dodge engine. Keep reading please. In researching, I found that this is a known issue with this and other Chrysler/Dodge models. There was a previous Class Action Suit in California settled regarding this issue that required all plaintiffs to file before December 2018. Sadly, I did not purchase the vehicle until 2019 and this issue did not occur until 2021. I'm hoping there is some way to make Chrysler/Dodge accept responsibility for this through a recall or another class action suit as I have read many complaints online regarding this issue. How many people have to die before somebody does something about this?

NHTSA ID

11442472

Incident

Apr 30, 2021

COLD START ENGINE RATTLE FOR A FEW SECONDS.WHILE DRIVING VIBRATION IS FELT AT 1200 TO 1500 RPM

NHTSA ID

11387804

Incident

Dec 12, 2020

TOOK MY 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN TO THE TEMPE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALLS FIXED. SOON AFTER THEY DID THE RECALLS MY CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE OFF THE LOT THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD AND IT WOULD COST $806 TO FIX IT. SO I TOLD THEM LETS DO IT. I GET A CALL AN THE SAID ITS THE TIPM ! $1400 DOLLARS LATER MY CAR IS STILL RUNNING PRETTY ROUGH AND NOT GETTING POWER AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. SO I CALL THE DEALER AND THEY TOW IT IN TO TELL ME IT IS MY FUEL PUMP. SO $800 THEY SAID ITS FIXED AND I SHOULD HAVE NOTHING GOING WRONG. 3 DAYS LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND A CODE P0456 EVAC LEAK! SO I CALL THE DEALER AND LET THEM KNOW . I THEN PURCHASED A GAS CAP JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. LIGHT STAYED ON. SO I GET THE VAN TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD MY VAN ALLDAY TO SAY ITS MY GAS CAP . LET ME REMIND YOU I JUST PURCHASED ONE. SO THEY GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF AND NOW EVERYTIME I FILL THE TANK UP GAS FUMES ARE SOO STRONG IN THE VEHICLE AND IS RUNNING VERY POORLY. HONESTLY IM SCARED TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT . I JUST WANT MY VAN SAFE I HAVE KIDS . ITS MY ONLY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11341574

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

Mileage

146,097 mi

THE TIPM ON SOME MODEL VEHICLES HAS A RECALL BUT THEY ALL USE THE SAME TIPM. IT WAS SHUTTING DOWN ON THE ROADWAY DUE TO BAD FLUID PUMP RELAY

NHTSA ID

11331840

Incident

Feb 20, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

THIS IS THE FIRST IN A LONG LINE OF DODGE VANS THAT HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES. SO FAR THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 12 OF THESE VANS THAT HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED & THERE IS ANOTHER ONE HAVING ISSUES NOW.

NHTSA ID

11315984

Incident

Mar 2, 2018

Mileage

112,633 mi

ON 1/6/2020 I STARTED MY VAN AND NOTICED IT SPUTTERED A LITTLE DURING STARTUP. ON MY WAY HOME, I STOPPED AT A STORE TO PICKUP A FEW THINGS. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VAN AGAIN IT WOULD NOT START. I KNEW IT WASN'T THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STILL WORKED. WHILE WAITING FOR A FRIEND TO PICK ME UP, I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. DROVE IT ACROSS THE STREET TO O'REILLYS TO HAVE BATTERY TESTED, JUST IN CASE. HAD TO START IT AGAIN. WOULDN'T START AGAIN. WAITED A MINUTE. TRIED AGAIN, IT SPUTTERED, I GAVE IT SOME GAS AND IT STARTED. EMPLOYEE WHO WAS ASSISTING HEARD A WHISTLING NOISE. SUGGESTING A VACUUM LEAK. CALLED MY MECHANIC. SCHEDULED APPT FOR 1/8/2020. TRIED TO START IT THE MORNING ON 1/8/2020. WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC HAD IT TOWED TO SHOP. HIS DIAGNOSIS SHOWED TPIM MODULE HAD FAILED. HE SAID HE SPOKE TO PARTS REP AT THE LITHIA DODGE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE 14 VANS WITH SAME ISSUE WAITING FOR TPIM MODULES AND THE PART IS BACKORDERED FOR AT LEAST A MONTH. DODGE HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET. I HAVE FOUND BLOG POSTS DATING BACK TO 2014 WITH CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND DODGE IS NOT ACCOMMODATING OWNERS WITH ANYTHING. COST OF TPIM MODULE IS $994. LABOR IS $360. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY FLEX PLATE REPLACED THE WEEK PRIOR BECAUSE IT CRACKED. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DUE TO WEAK STEAL. SERVICE GUY AT DEALERSHIP, JASON SAID (ON 1/9/2020) SAID THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS PART TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR COST ME $789.95. I HAVE INCLUDED PHOTOS OF THE FLEX PLATE. I FEEL LIKE DODGE IS SIMPLY NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE MODELS FAILURES BECAUSE THEY MASS PRODUCED IT AND IF THEY HAD TO ISSUE RECALLS FOR THE FLEX PLATE AND TPIM MODULE, IT WOULD COST THE COMPANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IF NOT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. BUT THESE VANS CARRY PRECIOUS CARGO, OUR CHILDREN!!!

NHTSA ID

11298289

Incident

Jan 9, 2020

Mileage

108,616 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AFTER THE LATEST FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY FOB DID NOT COOPERATE WITH THE TRANSMITTER AND FAILED TO OPERATE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450,000.

NHTSA ID

11292001

Incident

Dec 9, 2019

Mileage

450,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DOGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND/OR OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH TWIN CITY DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (650 SAGAMORE PKWY S, LAFAYETTE, IN 47905, (765) 447-3191) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $800 AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11270283

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

NOTICE A NOISE THAT WAS SORT OF LIKE A GRINDING/GROANING NOISE WHEN IDLING AND IT WOULD GET WORSE IF I TURNED ON THE AC. THE SOUND WAS ALSO PRESENT AT LOWER RPMS BUT WOULD DISAPPEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE GOT UP TO SPEED. TURNS OUT THE FLEX PLATE IS BROKEN. THE NOISE HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER THE PAST MONTH AND AFTER VISITING MULTIPLE SHOPS TO BE TOLD, IT WAS A ROCK IN THE BRAKES, TO MAYBE TRANSMISSION WE FOUND A SHOP THAT IDENTIFIED THE ACTUAL ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11268942

Incident

Oct 11, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

THIS CAR HAVE 131000 MILES ON IT AND GIVES CODE P0304 WHICH SAYS CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE AND P0729 GEAR 6 INCORRECT RATIO WHICH LEADS TO 2 OR 3 GEAR DOWN SHIFT FROM 6 GEAR AT HWY SPEED AROUND OVER 50 MPH

NHTSA ID

11265518

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

Mileage

131,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON THE FREEWAY MY VAN SHIFT DOWN. ALL ELECTRONICS TURNED OFF, AND THE STEERING LOCKED. IT HAS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE APRIL 2019. *TR

NHTSA ID

11257814

Incident

Sep 23, 2019

Mileage

115,135 mi

I WAS DRIVING VAN TRYING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY WHEN CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AND VAN JUST WENT LIMP AS I MERGED WE ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND THANKFULLY WE DIDN'T! THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER AND DODGE 3.6 ENGINES I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2012 DODGE CARAVAN RT I SHOULD HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON IT, ALSO I TRIED TO GET EMISSIONS TO PASS INSPECTION AND I FAILED, THERE IS THIS P06DD CODE THAT IS AFFECTING THE VAN, I BRAND VAN TO MECHANIC AND OVER A WEEK LATER NEW OIL PUMP NEW OIL FILTER HOUSING ADAPTER AND OVER 1K IN PARTS AND LABOR AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST PERTAINING TO THAT P06DD CHECK ENGINE CODE! THAT CODE PUTS ENGINE IN LIMP MODE OR SAFE MODE, IT MAKE VAN VERY SLOW WITH OUT ANY POWER WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS TRYING TO GET ONTO HIGHWAYS WHEN YOU VAN WILL NOT ACCELERATE BECAUSE OF CODE! MECHANIC TRIED EVERYTHING EVEN WITH HELP FROM A CHRYSLER TECHNICIAN, ANDY THEY CAN'T GET RID OF THAT CODE P06DD LIKE I SAID OIL PUMP REPLACED OIL FILTER HOUSING REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SWITCHED REPLACED WIRES HARNESS COMPUTER REFLASHED, I DID RESEARCH AND I SEE PLENTY OF DODGE JEEP AND CHRYSLER WITH 3.6 HAS THIS ISSUE EVEN VEHICLES THAT COME OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP BRAND NEW HAS THIS ISSUE! IN MY CASE I'M 7GRAND INTO THIS USED VEHICLE AND I CAN'T EVEN REGISTER IT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE! I CAN'T EVEN SELL IT TRADE VEHICLE BECAUSE I CAN'T GET IT PASSED INSPECTION NOR DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT'S JUST FLAT OUT DANGEROUS, I DON'T WANNA INVEST IN NEW ENGINE BECAUSE I HEARD OF NIGHTMARES WHERE DODGE REPLACED ENGINE AND EVEN WITH NEW ENGINE THIS CODE P06DD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL EXIST? PLEASE HELP I HAVE A FAMILY OF 5 I CAN'T AFFORD OF JUST LOOSING 7K I PAID 5500 FOR VAN AND ABOUT 1500 IN REPAIRS SO FAR AND VAN IS STILL NOT WORKING PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP WITH THIS AND INVESTIGATE? THANKS JASON

NHTSA ID

11230139

Incident

Jun 7, 2019

Mileage

19,800 mi

MY CAR WAS IN FOR A RECALL 2 YEARS AGO WHERE MY CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH GEARS WHEN DRIVING. PRIOR I COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG UNTIL I FOUND THE RECALL OR CONCERN ON LINE. MY CAR IS NOW SHOWING THE SAME SIGNS AS BEFORE ALONG WITH STALLING WHEN I HIT THE BREAK AND MAKING A TICKING NOISE. HOW DO I GET THIS RESOLVED SINCE OBVIOUSLY IT IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE WITH THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS ON HIGHWAYS, CITY STREETS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11203053

Incident

Apr 22, 2019

Mileage

91,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING TODAY ON A BUSY STREET AT 40 MPH CAR JUST SHUT OFF. NO WARNING, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NOTHING. NO POWER STEERING, GAS, ETC. JUST STOPPED WORKING. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND TURN KEY OFF. CAR TURNED BACK ON AFTER. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THIS IS A BAD TIPM. THIS IS OUR FAMILY'S PRIMARY VEHICLE AND I AM LUCKY THAT NOTHING HAPPENED AND MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME TODAY HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH CAR NOT STARTING WHEN KEY TURNED. THIS IS STILL AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER SAID MOST LIKELY THE TIPM, BUT DIDNT WANT TO REPLACE WITHOUT KNOWING FOR SURE BECAUSE PART IS SO EXPENSIVE.

NHTSA ID

11181577

Incident

Feb 21, 2019

Mileage

92,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND THE GEAR LEVER WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR. WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION WAS PROPERLY IN GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION MADE AN ABNORMAL TREMBLING SOUND AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED JEEP DODGE AUTO ONTARIO (1202 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761, (909) 906-7097) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

11180299

Incident

Feb 13, 2019

Mileage

62,000 mi

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2012 STALLED IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT THE 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I TOOK IT OUT ON A COUNTRY BACK ROAD AND AGAIN IT STALLED IN MOTION WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SPEED LIMIT. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING, AND APPLY BRAKES BUT THE SPEDOMETER, GAS, AND ENGINE ALL DIED AS I WAS DRIVING IT AS IF THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. I AM DOUBTFUL THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE WORKING AND AM LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. FROM LOOKING IT UP I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH DODGE JEEPS AND VANS RELATED TO THE TIPM MODULE. IF I WAS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE BUYING THE CAR, I MIGHT HAVE RECONSIDERED, IT IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE COULD EASILY BE KILLED IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE SOMEONE IS DRIVING BEHIND YOU AND THE VAN JUST DIES.

NHTSA ID

11176075

Incident

Feb 10, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM CARMAX IN APRIL 2108. IT HAS HAD CONTINUED ROUGH TRANSMISSION ISSUES ESPECIALLY IN AND OUT OF 2ND AFTER MULTIPLE ADJUSTMENTS BY CARMAX AND CHRYSTLER/DODGE DEALERSHIP. IT JERKS ROUGHLY AND MAKES LOUD CLUNKING SOUNDS. I AM FEARFUL THIS VEHICLE IS BECOMING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NOT ONLY THAT BUT WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF WALKING AND TAKING THE BUS IN FEAR OF MY CAR BREAKING DOWN ON ME. THIS IS NOT A REPUTABLE VEHICLE. PLEASE NOBODY BUY THESE VANS!

NHTSA ID

11175918

Incident

Feb 9, 2019

Mileage

58,000 mi

VAN SHIFTS HARD AND LOUD WHEN GOING FROM PARK INTO REVERSE. VAN SHUDDERS IN REVERSE AT TIMES AS WELL. IT'S STILL UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY UNTIL APRIL 2019 AND I HAVE IT SCHEDULED FOR A SERVICE CALL AT FURY MOTORS IN SOUTH SAINT PAUL, MN ON DECEMBER 13TH FOR A SOLUTION.

NHTSA ID

11155164

Incident

Nov 26, 2018

Mileage

89,640 mi

WHILE IN MOTION AT LOW SPEED THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPS RUNNING. THE POWER STEERING SEIZES UP & I HAVE TO MANUALLY STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, WHEN I RESTART THE CAR. EACH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, FORTUNATELY NO ONE HAS BEEN BEHIND ME. THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE PURCHASED IT FROM SAID THAT IT WAS A CAM SHAFT PROBLEM. AFTER PAYING $1000+ IN REPAIRS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IT STILL CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.WE HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE & IT CONTINUES TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER THEN TOLD ME THAT IT IS ANOTHER CAM SHAFT & THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHICH ONE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NO LONGER GOES ON & IT DOES NOT STORE CODES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SEVERAL TIMES WE HAVE CONTACTED "CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARES" & THEY JUST TAKE DOWN OUR CONTACT INFO, REGISTER OUR PROBLEM & DO NOT FOLLOW UP. THIS IS A 2012 GRAND CARAVAN WITH APPROX. 92K+ MILES. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11133492

Incident

Sep 28, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi