2013 Dodge Grand Caravan Body & structure Problems

Over the time we have owned this vehicle the sliding side doors have stopped working & then started. Recently both doors lost power completely . I have read that this is a very common problem with these Vans but the doors when power is lost can not be opened at all from the inside making the passengers crawl out the windows, front doors, or back hatch. If this were a fire, wreck, or emergency this would be a death trap. When calling dealerships to attempt to find a fix or help we have been told time and time again that this is a common problem in these vans.

NHTSA ID

11476070

Incident

Jul 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary, the driver’s side sliding door independently opened without warning. The failure continued after the contact manually closed the sliding door. As the failure persisted, the door eventually failed to open electronically or manually. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11469523

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

Mileage

80,000 mi

POWER SLIDING DOOR FROZEN IN LOCKED POSITION. WILL NOT OPEN USING INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE, KEY FOB, CENTER CONTROL CONSLE SWITCH OR SIDE PILLAR SWITCH. MANUAL DOOR LOCK SLIDE IN INSIDE HANDLE NOT MOVING. COMPLETELY UNABLE TO USE DOOR TO ENTER OR EXIT VEHICLE. POTENTIAL FOR TRAPPING REAR PASSENGERS INSIDE VEHICLE IN CASE OF CRASH OR FIRE. GAS TANK COVER DOOR CLOSED SO IT IS NOT KEEPING THE LEFT SIDE DOOR FROM OPENING. CAR WAS PARKED WHEN PROBLEM APPEARED. NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO DOOR EITHER INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR.

NHTSA ID

11407516

Incident

Apr 11, 2021

Mileage

189,349 mi

THE SLIDING DOOR SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. IT IS LOCKED BUT WILL NOT UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL. WORKED FINE WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE BUT WOULDN'T OPEN WHEN TRYING TO EXIT.

NHTSA ID

11402628

Incident

Mar 3, 2021

Mileage

89,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE LOCKING MECHANISM SEEMS TO BE FROZEN AND I CANNOT OPEN IT USING THE KEY FOB, MANUALLY, OR WITH THE BUTTON IN THE DRIVER'S AREA. I CANNOT ACCESS MY CHILDREN FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR UNLESS I USE THE OTHER SIDE DOOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IF WE WERE IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT ANY REAR PASSENGER COULD GET TRAPPED INSIDE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A SAFETY RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11378572

Incident

Dec 8, 2020

Mileage

87,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR IS STUCK CLOSED AND IN THE LOCKED POSITION. I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOOR IN ANYWAY POSSIBLE NOT THE REMOTE, OVER HEAD BUTTON, DRIVER'S DOOR BUTTON OR MANUALLY WITH MY FINGER. I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN AND I FEEL THIS IS A COMPLETE SAFETY HAZZARD I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB FOR DIY INFO AND FOUND AT LEAST 60 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL WITH THE RISK OF CHILDREN BEING STUCK IN THE VEHICLE THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS FAULTY

NHTSA ID

11363873

Incident

Oct 5, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE WELDED AND REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11363261

Incident

Sep 8, 2020

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE WITH THE KEY FOB OR MANUALLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED DUE TO THE SENSOR BEING FRACTURED. THE CONTACT CALLED BUTTON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (1220 E BLVD ST, KOKOMO, IN 46902, (765) 360-4063) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11349172

Incident

Jul 26, 2020

Mileage

200,000 mi

REAR DRIVERS SLIDING DOOR BUZZES AND REMAINS IN A LOCKED POSITION. THIS HAPPENS WHEN USING THE FOB TOO. THE VAN AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS WHEN YOU REACH ABOUT 25 MPH. MOST OF THE TIME I GET A LOUD BUZZING FROM THAT DOOR WHEN IT DOES. SOMETIMES YOU CAN MANUALLY UNLOCK IT BUT MOST TIMES NOT. I HAVE READ MORE PEOPLE THAN ME ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH A RANGE OF YEARS FOR THE DODGE CARAVAN. I HAVE MY GRANDSON WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME AND THAT IS THE SEAT HE IS IN. MY CONCERN IS IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND THE DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED THEN WHAT? I TRULY THERE IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE GOING ON WITH THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ID

11327865

Incident

May 26, 2020

Mileage

87,500 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED MANUALLY OR ELECTRICALLY. THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK ELECTRICALLY OR MANUALLY, SO THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OPENING HANDLES CANNOT BE OPERATED. USING THE KEY FOB OR INTERIOR BUTTONS TO OPEN THE DOOR CAUSE A MESSAGE TO DISPLAY ON THE DASH INFORMATION AREA SAYING "UNLOCK DOOR TO OPERATE." THIS POSES A RISK IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND MY CHILDREN NEED TO EXIT OR BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER DOORS ARE BLOCKED OR DAMAGED DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STATIONARY. I HAVE NOT TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11319223

Incident

Mar 9, 2020

Mileage

148,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. IS CLOSED AND WILL NOT OPEN USING ANY MEANS. IT IS LOCKED SHUT. POWER LOCK, KEY FOB, AND INTERIOR LOCK MECHANISM WILL NOT OPEN DOOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS IN THE EVENT REAR PASSENGERS NEED TO EXIT VEHICLE. WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH ENGINE RUNNING OR OFF, PARKED, MOVING OR AT ANY TIME. THE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. NO CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11281212

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

Mileage

60,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS 61000 MILES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER AND TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK UP IS OUT ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO ON FRON TO HOOD THERE IS RUST DEPOSIT UNDER PAINT. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON SEVERAL DODGE GRAND CARAVANS IN SAME PLACE.

NHTSA ID

11242248

Incident

Aug 5, 2019

Mileage

61,000 mi

THE SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER OPENS. THE HANDLE MOVES BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO LATCH OR UNLATCH. DOOR INOPERABLE IN CLOSED POSITION. IT WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT A POWER DOOR, MANUAL ONLY. IT JUST WOULDN'T OPEN ONE DAY, WITHOUT WARNING, AROUND MAY 21, 2019. I HEAR OF MANY OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. PLEASE INITIATE A RECALL, AS THIS IS NOT ONLY AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY A SAFETY ISSUE FOR EXITING THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.

NHTSA ID

11221886

Incident

May 21, 2019

DRIVER'S REAR, MANUAL, SLIDING DOOR JUST STOPPED WORKING. IT WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT.

NHTSA ID

11206773

Incident

May 8, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. I HAVE FOUR SMALL CHILDREN AND I AM CONCERN THAT IF THEIR AN ACCIDENT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF THE AUTOMOBILE. *DT *TR

NHTSA ID

11180238

Incident

Jan 17, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR, THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A LOCAL UNKNOWN DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.

NHTSA ID

11076224

Incident

Mar 5, 2018

Mileage

199,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER GRANDSON CLOSED THE AUTOMATIC PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WHILE THE CONTACT WAS LEANING THROUGH THE DOOR. THE DOOR FAILED TO RETRACT AND STRUCK THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING TO THE LEFT FOREARM THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO MULLANE MOTORS INC (6200 S TRANSIT RD, LOCKPORT, NY 14094) WHO ADVISED HER TO CALL NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 07/13/17*LJ UPDATED 10/11/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10994940

Incident

Jun 7, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHEN OPENING THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR (EITHER WITH THE CAR KEY OR BY PULLING ON THE DOOR HANDLE), AFTER THE DOOR REACHES ITS FULLY OPEN POSITION, IT SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO CLOSE AGAIN. PRESSING THE DOOR OPENING SWITCH ON THE B PILLAR DOES NOT STOP THE DOOR FROM CLOSING. ONLY AN ADULT'S FORCE AGAINST THE DOOR STOPS IT FROM FULLY CLOSING. THIS CREATES AN EXTREME RISK OF INJURY TO CHILDREN WHO ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE USING THE REAR SEATS.

NHTSA ID

10776646

Incident

Sep 2, 2013

Mileage

500 mi

RECALL #P25 WAS ISSUED 06/011/2014, OVER 14 MONTHS LATER NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE & I SEE NO PROGRESS TOWARDS BEING DONE. CAN ANYONE GET CHRYSLER TO MAKE & SHIP PARTS REQUIRED TO GUARANTEE THAT THERE WILL BE NO FIRE IN DRIVERS DOOR? I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER & MY DEALER NUMERUS TIMES AND ALL I GET IS "WAIT".

NHTSA ID

10749529

Incident

Jun 11, 2014

HIT A DEER RIGHT BEFORE COLORADO BORDER IN NEBRASKA.

NHTSA ID

10722523

Incident

May 30, 2015

Mileage

27,977 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE REAR POWER SLIDING DOORS WERE OPENED BUT THE DOORS INDEPENDENTLY CLOSED. THE CONTACT WAS IN BETWEEN THE SLIDING DOOR WITHOUT THE LOCK BUTTON BEING ACTIVATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRUISE ON THE ARM THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 8/19/15*CN UPDATED 10/17/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10721890

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SPOILER PIECE ON TOP OF RENTAL VEHICLE FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10609400

Incident

Jun 7, 2014

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN ON THE CORNER OF FERRY AND EIGHTH IN NILES, MI GETTING READY TO TURN NORTHBOUND; A TRUCK WAS GOING SOUTHBOUND AND IT WAS BLIZZARD AND ICY CONDITIONS OUT, HE WAS GOING TO FAST AND WHEN I TURNED RIGHT, HE HIT ME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE SPUN MY VEHICLE AROUND TWICE AND ENDED UP HITTING BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT OF THE VAN TAKING THE WHOLE FRONT END OFF. NEITHER AIR BAGS WENT OFF AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS ALSO IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. HE WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH THAT I ENDED UP NORTHBOUND KITTY CORNER ACROSS THE ROAD AND HE ENDED UP IN A TELEPHONE POLE. BOTH OF HIS AIRBAGS WENT OFF IN HIS TRUCK UPON IMPACT. THE BUMPER, HEADLIGHTS, FRAME WAS BENT, THE HOOD, THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS SMASHED, (OVER $8000 OF DAMAGE), BUT NO AIRBAGS. I COULD FEEL THE IMPACT FROM THE CRASH AND ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE PHYSICAL THERAPY AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAD TO GO TO THE ER.. BOTH VEHICLES HAD TO BE TOWED. I HAD THE VAN FIXED AT A LICENSED SHOP, WHEN I CALLED AND ASKED DODGE WHY NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THEIR ARE SENSORS THAT GO OFF ON IMPACT AND MY BUMPER HAD TO BE REPLACED, THEY STATED, NO REPLY, BECAUSE I HAD NOT HAD IT DONE AT A DODGE DEALERSHIP. I AM STILL HAVING THERAPY FOR HIP AND BACK FROM IMPACT AND SETTLED WITH INSURANCE. I'M JUST WONDERING WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF ON IMPACT, OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING FASTER THAN WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE FOR CONDITIONS AND MORE THAN 25. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576957

Incident

Nov 27, 2013

Mileage

6,000 mi

THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AND HANGS LIMP TODAY. THE PROBLEM HAPPEND A COUPLE TIMES, BUT SEATBELT RETRACTED AND THEN I NOTIFIED DEALER IN LATE DECEMBER AFTER ANOTHER OCCURRANCE IN WHICH THAY DETERMINED THE SEATBELT WAS DEFECTIVE.BY NOT RETRACTING AND THEY ORDERED A REPLACEMENT SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT IS IN AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF GETTING TO SERVICE, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I EXPERIENCED A REAR COLLISION WHEN PARKED WITH DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT ON AND WISH I HAD A NON-DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT ON. I WILL ASK FOR THE SEAT BELT PART BACK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE IT. I NEED A BUMPER TOO BUT THEY CAN KEEP THAT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10560146

Incident

Jan 10, 2014

Mileage

7,701 mi

2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN PASSENGER SLIDING DOORS WILL RANDOMLY SHUT AFTER BEING OPENED AND REACHING THE FULL OPEN POSITION. VIDEO DEMONSTRATION WILL BE POSTED SOON ON YOUTUBE WITH THE PREVIOUS SENTENCE AS SEARCH TITLE. OCCURS WHEN ANY BUTTON IN THE CAR, REMOTE, OR MANUAL HANDLE IS USED TO ACTIVATE AUTOMATIC OPENING OF THE DOOR. SYMPTOMS HAVE OCCURRED IN MANY LOCATIONS AND AT ALL CAR GROUND SLOPE ANGLES. PROBLEM BEGAN AFTER THE RECALL POWERTRAIN SOFTWARE UPDATE. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER MANY TIMES AND SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN REPRODUCED AT DEALERSHIP. RE-TRAINING AN AFFECTED DOOR MAY REDUCE SYMPTOMS. A DOOR MODULE WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT REPAIR PROBLEMS. BECAUSE IT IS RANDOM PASSENGERS ARE UNSUSPECTING. MULTIPLE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITH DOORS CLOSING ON PASSENGERS WHO ENTER BEFORE THE DOOR HAS FINISHED OPENING. MULTIPLE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED OF UNBALANCED ADULTS PLACING BABIES INTO CHILD SEATS WHO HAVE LESS THEN ONE INCH CLEARANCE TO THEIR ARM WITH THE DOOR IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION AND HAVE NO TIME TO REACT. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE ADULT MAY LOSE HOLD OF THE BABY. A PARENT PLACING A CHILD IN A CARSEAT MAY HAVE THE DOOR SHUT ON THEIR TORSO. CHILDREN OR FRAIL ADULTS ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE MAY BE EJECTING INTO OR OUT OF THE CAR AND MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED DURING THE FALL. CHILDREN OR ADULTS ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE A BODY PART TRAPPED IN THE DOOR AND SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550962

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

26,000 mi