2015 Dodge Grand Caravan Electrical Problems

The passenger side sliding door is locked into place the power actuator has gone out. An entry way is locked putting people in danger, one way in one way out for 5 rear passengers. Multiple model years have a reoccurring issue.The failure of the sliding door lock actuator is so common that it prompted thousands of owner complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). While it never led to a formal safety recall, NHTSA did open a preliminary evaluation (PE21-016) In response, Chrysler (FCA/Stellantis) issued several Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), including TSB 23-017-20 and TSB 23-001-25, instructing dealers to replace the faulty actuator rather than the entire latch assembly. No warning signs of failure dealership is saying my vin doesn't count but I'm within 15 years of vehicles service and under 150000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11748543

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

Cracking front windshield (temporarily fixed by clear tape), broken window regulator motors on both passenger and driver sides stop lifting the glasses up and down, passenger side plastic window part (vertically snapped on the upper part of passenger door) fell off, engine light sometimes on and off with unknown detected problems.

NHTSA ID

11631326

Incident

Dec 15, 2024

Went to roll down the window on the drivers side panel and it started to smoke and short circuit. We removed the panel because we believed of could have caught fire. Problem has not been replicated due to dealership service department being closed. There were no warning lamps or messages and had occured randomly when using the panel.

NHTSA ID

11630828

Incident

Dec 15, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that whenever the passenger’s side sliding door was opened by the fob or from inside the vehicle, there was an abnormally loud clicking sound heard. The contact stated that while inspecting the door, the contact became aware that the door had failed to close securely. The contact released the child safety lock on the door enabling the door to be locked securely; however, the clicking sound remained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall or Warranty. The failure mileage was 149,992.

NHTSA ID

11598321

Incident

Jun 30, 2024

Mileage

149,992 mi

There are multiple whirring and clicking noises in the walls of the cargo area, mostly in passenger side. This happens when I lock/unlock the auto, and close the doors. I also hear what sounds like a moan coming from the dash, at least 2-3 times after I've closed and locked it, from the inside. I just purchased it used, with around 98k miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11520550

Incident

Apr 18, 2023

The driver side passenger sliding door lock actuator is frozen, keeping the door perpetually locked. The passenger sliding door actuator will not lock at all, so the passenger sliding door is perpetually unlocked. I've been told by an auto mechanic that the passenger side sliding door is in danger of permanently locking as well. If that's the case, passengers will have to enter by the front doors (or the back hatch, which is too inconvenient). In the case of an accident, I'm concerned that exiting the vehicle will be dangerous for backseat passengers. I understand that there's an extended warranty for the 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan lock actuators, but the extended warranty only includes those manufactured after May 1, 2015. My 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan was manufactured February 2015. My family budget is really tight, and the prospect of putting $1500 to $2000 down for repairs to these doors is cost prohibitive. The doors are available for inspection. The vehicle has been inspected by a local auto service center mechanic and the actuators were confirmed as the problem by the service center. There was no warning of failure of the actuators beforehand.

NHTSA ID

11497022

Incident

Jul 31, 2021

I was driving on the highway and the car just turned off. this happened a few times.

NHTSA ID

11493368

Incident

Oct 1, 2022

The car was Driving and the blind spot module on the driver's side in the rear bumper started to smoked, because of a short in the electrical from water damage

NHTSA ID

11479479

Incident

Aug 12, 2022

I am inquiring about the failure of my 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan Sliding Door Power Lock Actuator. My Drivers Side passenger sliding door recently became stuck, and could not be opened from the outside or inside. This is a massive safety hazard, and could possible result in death or injury. What if there was a fire or an accident and we had to get out. There is a service bulletin 23-036.21 that covers replacing the actuators for this very reason, but my vehicle is not listed. This is a problem. Now with the door in lock position, everytime the automatic or power door lock is used, there is a really loud buzzing sound. My worry is that the door will actually come unlocked, and open on its own as i am driving down the highway, so it is a little unnerving. I want to get this fixed for our safety, but i want to know if this will be covered under the service bulletin 23-036.21, per the NHTSA this seems to be affecting more than just the 2016 RT models, and while i love our vehicle, I am now worried for my families safety.

NHTSA ID

11472925

Incident

Jul 8, 2022

Buzzing in side door when unlocking

NHTSA ID

11470328

Incident

Jun 21, 2022

transmission went totally out, sliding door makes loud buzzing noise when unlocking and locking air bag light on dash wont go off

NHTSA ID

11458909

Incident

Oct 24, 2019

When drive over 60mph I smell burn from front hood. I took to Dodge dealership. They said oil leaking so paid $950 , 3 weeks later car broke down like can't go over 30mph, Aqcell won't go up , I took to dealership again , he said transmission I paid $4600( October) it used transmission. After change transmission drive was uncomfortable, not smoothly like before. I took dealership he said It because differen transmission, so need takes a while to get use to it. (Idk it true or not) And engine light on over 7 times and still burning smell if drive over 60mph. Dealership kepts 3 days but they said car is fine. Im like how heck fine? If I drive 60mph now I can smell burn . Feel very uncomfortable to drive i have 3 kids always with me but can't sell car with this conditions . Any advice appreciate

NHTSA ID

11449560

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

Passenger sliding door faulty actuator. Five months after purchasing the car the door started buzzing every time it is unlocked.

NHTSA ID

11443112

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

The passenger driver-side slide door is permanently lock and will not unlock. Door will not slide open at all. I believe the manufacture door lock actuator is the problem. The vehicle's ODM only have 36,000 miles on the it. Since the door can't be open, it is a safety issue for any passengers riding in the car. Safety issues that will put my two kids at risk since the passenger door can't be open when there is an emergency to exit the car. My two kids are the passengers in the van. As of now, I don't have the money necessary to take it to a mechanic to fix it. However, I search on the internet and found out a lot of other car owners with the same model Dodge Caravan are having the same issues with door being lock permanently. The problem just occurred without any warning. It happen about 2 months ago without any warning and the slide door will not slide open again. Please help us get the manufacturer to fix this problem. I saw today that NHTSA might be looking into this issue so that why I finally file this complain. You can email me with any questions at [XXX]. Thank you. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11425506

Incident

May 4, 2021

The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the back over prevention camera flickered on and off. Additionally, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that after shifting the vehicle into park and turning the ignition to the off position, the engine and electrical functions remained in operation. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was able diagnosed the failure as TIPM had dropped the signal causing the electrical failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximate mileage 99,000.

NHTSA ID

11420420

Incident

Jul 2, 2019

Mileage

99,000 mi

I JUST MADE THIS SAME REPORT BUT WITH MY SON'S DODGE 06 VIN NUMBER. IGNORE THAT REPORT!! FOR MY DODGE 2015 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HERE IS MY REPORT: PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED. LUCKILY NO INJURY. VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT COULD DO THAT! I'D LIKE THIS FIXED. ALSO, TWO LEAKS IN ENGINE. OIL LEAK/TRANSMISSION LEAK. IS THIS NORMAL? LEAKS ARE ONGOING. ANOTHER THING: NOTICING HEADLIGHTS GETTING SLIGHTLY DIMMER, THEN BRIGHTER, AT NIGHT AS IF SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM? THIS HAPPENS DURING DRIVING AND NOT DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11416720

Incident

Mar 4, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WAS CEASED IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11405075

Incident

Mar 24, 2021

Mileage

78,000 mi

DOORS MAKE A LOUD BUZZING SOUND WHEN LOCKING OR UNLOCKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. WAS ADVISED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT.

NHTSA ID

11400393

Incident

Mar 4, 2020

Mileage

85,000 mi

EVERY TIME THE DOORS ARE UNLOCKED THE VAN MAKES A WEIRD LOUD BUZZING NOISE.

NHTSA ID

11354750

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. BEFORE THE THE DOOR BECAME UNABLE TO OPEN A PERSISTENT SOUND WAS MADE WHEN THE POWER LOCKS WERE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED.

NHTSA ID

11344171

Incident

Aug 6, 2020

ONLY HEAT FROM PASSENGER VENTS WHEN AC IS TURNED ON IN THE SPRING. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328140

Incident

Jun 9, 2020

Mileage

31,000 mi

THE ELECTRIC CONTROLS ARE GOING HAYWIRE WHEN VAN IS TURNED ON NOTHING WILL FUNCTION THAN THE REAR DEFROSTER COMES ON NOTHING ELSE WORKS THEN THE AIR COMES ON AND COOL AIR ON DRIVERS SIDE HEAT ON PASSENGER SIDE THEN SOME COOL THEN HEAT AND I HAVE A LIGHTING BOLT SIMBLE ON THE DASH AND VAN WAS HIT HEAD ON WHILE PARK AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ID

11325881

Incident

Apr 22, 2020

Mileage

54,800 mi

VEHICLE, STATIONARY, CAR DOES NOT START ON THE FIRST TRY IF IT SITS FOR OVER 4 HOURS. CRANKS THEN STALLS, OR CRANKS OVER AND OVER UNTIL EVENTUALLY CATCHING. NEW: CAR BATTERY, BATTERY TENDER/CHARGER, NEW/UPGRADED SPARK PLUGS, NEW/UPGRADED IGNITION COILS. APPEARS TO BE TIPM FAILING. HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

NHTSA ID

11316629

Incident

Mar 6, 2020

Mileage

29,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TAKES TIME TO OPEN. 30 TO 45 SECONDS APPROXIMATELY TO OPEN. HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. AFRAID IT MAY STOP FUNCTIONING COMPLETELY. THE SLIDING DOORS (BOTH) OPEN ON THEIR OWN. HAVE FOUND SLIDING DOORS AND CARGO DOOR OPEN. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, SOME DAYS IT MAY NOT OCCUR, BUT AFRAID TO LEAVE CAR IN THE STREET. HAVE TRIED TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE BY LOCKING DOORS MANUALLY WITH DOOR LOCK ON DRIVER'S DOOR PANEL, HOWEVER IT IS STILL MALFUNCTIONING. THE ISSUES OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2019, HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE ON AND OFF.

NHTSA ID

11315978

Incident

Nov 20, 2019

Mileage

58,000 mi

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS DURING DECEMBER 3019 AND JANUARY 2020 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF, NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE IT HAPPENS OR AFTER. LOSE OF POWER AND LOSS OF BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON MAIN ROADS. THERE WAS A RECALL UP TO THE 2010 MODEL FOR THIS SAME REASON WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE IGNITION AND FOB AND TIPM. IT APPEARS DODGE HAS NOT CORRECTED THIS HAZARD. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN NOT DIAGNOSIS THE ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

11301385

Incident

Dec 8, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi