Dodge Grand Caravan Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 683 of the 6,922 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2020 Dodge Grand Caravan (9.9%) name the transmission, near the 12.6% median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2016, 2015 and 2008.
Transmission complaints
683
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2020 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
9.9%
of 6,922 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Dodge Grand Caravan transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008WORST | 68 | 5.3% | 3 | — | 0 |
| 2009 | 20 | 3.7% | 2 | — | 0 |
| 2010 | 54 | 5.2% | 6 | — | 4 |
| 2011 | 43 | 8.1% | 0 | — | 9 |
| 2012 | 48 | 8.2% | 0 | — | 7 |
| 2013 | 36 | 7.7% | 0 | — | 12 |
| 2014 | 18 | 5.1% | 0 | — | 8 |
| 2015WORST | 76 | 27.5% | 1 | 16V461000 | 14 |
| 2016WORST | 240 | 21.5% | 12 | 16V461000 | 9 |
| 2017 | 37 | 9.2% | 3 | — | 6 |
| 2018 | 22 | 8.4% | 0 | — | 6 |
| 2019 | 13 | 36.1% | 1 | — | 8 |
| 2020 | 8 | 50% | 3 | — | 4 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 683 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Dodge Grand Caravan years to avoid for the transmission
2016 Dodge Grand Caravan
240 transmission complaints (21.5% of the year's 1,118). Most often described: transmission repaired or replaced. Covered by transmission recall 16V461000.
2015 Dodge Grand Caravan
76 transmission complaints (27.5% of the year's 276). Most often described: transmission repaired or replaced. Covered by transmission recall 16V461000.
2008 Dodge Grand Caravan
68 transmission complaints (5.3% of the year's 1,290). Most often described: loss of power or limp mode.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Dodge Grand Caravan years to avoid.
Dodge Grand Caravan transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Dodge Grand Caravan model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 16V461000 · 2016-06-24 · 2015–2016 models
The transmission pump may seize causing a loss of hydraulic pressure.
Which transmission does the Dodge Grand Caravan use?
- Chrysler 62TE 6-speed — 2011–2020
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 240 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, 21.5% of all 1,118 complaints for that year. The most common description is "transmission repaired or replaced" (41 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 16V461000. 12 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 76 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan, 27.5% of all 276 complaints for that year. The most common description is "transmission repaired or replaced" (15 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 16V461000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 68 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, 5.3% of all 1,290 complaints for that year. The most common description is "loss of power or limp mode" (7 complaints). 3 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Dodge Grand Caravan years have the most transmission complaints?
2016 (240), 2015 (76) and 2008 (68), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Dodge Grand Caravan transmission problems?
In the 683 transmission complaints, owners most often describe transmission repaired or replaced (13.6%), jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (10.7%) and whining, grinding or humming noise (7.9%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Dodge Grand Caravan model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration