What 530 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan

The contact owned a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, turned off, and unoccupied, the front driver’s side of the vehicle near the driver’s door caught fire. The contact extinguished the fire. No fire or police report was filed. The front driver’s side of the vehicle was consumed by the fire. The contact believed the failure was due to an electrical malfunction located in the driver's door that caused the fire. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a salvage facility. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA ODI 11733269

My van caught fire. Randomly after not being driven for more than 15 hours. The investigator says it is believed to be the inverter in the back drivers side panel under the cup holders which short circuited and caught fire which engulfed my entire vehicle in a mater if 40 minutes while waiting for the fire department to arrive. The van is obviously a goner. Burnt to a crisp along with all of our DeWalt power tools batteries fishing poles tackle chainsaw and 4 brand new car seats that were just purchased with the last 2 months. Along with cracking all the windows on that side of my home due to the heat from the blaze...

NHTSA ODI 11527347

While driving my vehicle at highway speed (75mph), the driver's seat headrest, for lack of a more descriptive term, exploded and struck me in the back of my head. After the incident I stopped the vehicle and looked at the headrest. It appears to be spring loaded and something in the headrest failed causing it to spring forward for no reason. The headrest is now compressed and held in place with zip ties until I can find a replacement. I feel this is a safety issue due to the disorientation and headache that immediately followed the incident.

NHTSA ODI 11479815

The contact owned a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull off to the side of the road where she saw smoke emerging from the front of the vehicle. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact opened the hood to see the fire behind the engine. The fire department was contacted and was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The contact has not notified a local dealer. The vehicle has not been diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was relating the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11422184

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT WOULD NOT START AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. A BYSTANDER ASSISTED WITH JUMPSTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE AND, WITHIN SECONDS, FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED HER INSURANCE COMPANY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HER INSURANCE COVERAGE HAD EXPIRED. THE HOOD AND DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.*DT*DT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11270459

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND APPROPRIATELY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SORE ANKLE, WHICH WAS EXAMINED BY A MEDIC, BUT THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ODI 11255094

2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS BEING DRIVEN FROM LAS VEGAS TO LOMA LINDA CALIFORNIA DOWN SOUTH I-15 NEAR BARSTOW CALIFORNIA AT 70 MILES PER HOUR AROUND 2:30PM ON A MONDAY AFTERNOON APRIL 15,2019. HE WAS HIT IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SENT VEHICLE ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND OFF THE HIGHWAY DOWN AN EMBANKMENT INTO A FENCE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED! MANY OF THE WINDOWS WERE BROKEN OUT. WITH THE FORCE OF THE ROLLOVER CRASH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED IN. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ANYWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR WAS ALSO BROKEN AT THE DOOR FRAME. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIME AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11204552

FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THE TIRE PRESSURE GAUGES COME OFF AND ON RANDOMLY EVEN THOUGH THE PRESSURE IS CORRECT. SOMETIMES, MY VANS SLIDING DOORS WHEN THEY SHOULD BE OPENING, START CLOSING BEFORE THE DOOR IS EVEN OPEN COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT ANYONE HITTING THE BUTTON TO CLOSE (MY 3 YEAR OLD FINGERS WERE SMASHED IN THE DOOR DUE TO THIS. LUCKILY, XRAYS REVEALED NONE WERE BROKEN, BUT I AM LEFT WITH AN EXPENSIVE HOSPITAL BILL)). WHEN I GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, SOMETIMES IT FEELS AS THOUGH I'M BEING JERKED FORWARD BECAUSE THE SHIFT IS SO HARD. LASTLY, MY VAN STARTED NOT WANTING TO START IN THE MORNINGS. AFTER TESTING BATTERY AND REPLACING SPARK PLUGS, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. IT'S LIKE IT WANTS TO START BUT CAN'T GET GAS SO IT DIES. REPEATEDLY TRYING GOT IT TO START, BUT THEN IT QUIT. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO START ONE MORE TIME AND DROVE TO MECHANIC. THEY INFORMED ME IT'S A FAULTY TIPM MODULE, AND IT NOW WON'T EVEN CONTINUE TO RUN ONCE IT'S STARTED. SO THEY INFORMED ME THEY CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE ONLY A DEALERSHIP CAN REPROGRAM IT, AND THAT BECAUSE IT'S THE MODULE IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE EVEN IF I COULD GET IT TO START TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT CAN DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING IT LEADING TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. SO NOW I'LL HAVE TO PAY TO TOW IT. I JUST PURCHASED THE VAN 3 MONTHS AGO BECAUSE I NEEDED ROOM FOR MY 4TH CHILD AND WANTED A SAFE, RELIABLE VEHICLE. NOW I HAVE A CAR PAYMENT AND A VEHICLE WITH ONLY A LITTLE OVER 80,000 MILES THAT ISN'T RELIABLE AND IS SITTING BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR WHAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN PLACED IN THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN WITH GIVEN IT WAS DEFECTIVE BEFORE INSTALLATION. PLEASE HELP PEOPLE LIKE ME BY HOLDING THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE FOR FALSELY REPORTING A SAFE VEHICLE WHEN THEY KNEW IT HAD A DEFECTIVE PART THAT CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY A DEALERSHIP SINCE IT HAS TO BE PROGRAMMED.

NHTSA ODI 11164379

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A ROUNDABOUT AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. TWO OF MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE SECOND ROW SEATS. THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR WAS CRUSHED AND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED AND PROJECTED THROUGH THE VAN TO THE LEFT SIDE. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ON, SO THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A FAULT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 11163185

VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING LOSES POWER MOTOR SHUTDOWN DUE TO FUEL PUMP MODULE WILL NOT START ON TURN OF THE KEY TILL THE SECOND OR THIRD TRY LOSS OF STEERING AND BREAKS

NHTSA ODI 11118641

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND THE BRAKES SEIZED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER WAS SMOKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,703. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11103372

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11064665

FRIDAY MORNING (OCT 20, 2017) VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN MOMENTARILY, THEN IMMEDIATELY PARKED BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVED, STARTED, OR KEY CYCLED AFTER IT WAS PARKED. THEN ON TUESDAY (OCT 24, 2017) AROUND 8:18 AM, SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES WERE VISIBLE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LEFT SIDE. LEFT TIRE/BRAKES NOT INVOLVED. *DT 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 11040169

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V234000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE HEARD CLICKING AND POPPING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND NOTICED SMOKE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT AND ULTIMATELY STATED THAT CHRYSLER HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY WOULD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,550. *TT *JS

NHTSA ODI 10994447

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. THE INSPECTOR DID NOT FIND A DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INSPECTED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS A DEFECT IN THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10959579

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V234000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,499. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10852684

FUEL PUMP WOULDN'T DISENGAGE CAUSING ME TO KEEP TAKING OUT FUSE WHICH BURNED MY THUMBS. WON'T START AT ALL NOW. SHUT OFF TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON STREET ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS BOTH TIMES

NHTSA ODI 10787988

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE CLOSED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10744527

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, BURNING FUMES EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V234000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA ODI 10732066

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT A FIRE INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ODI 10723357

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH THE THIRD ROW REAR DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT BEGAN TO RETRACT AND FAILED TO UNBUCKLE. THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE FRACTURED IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE PASSENGER. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES ON THE ABDOMEN THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SENT A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI 10714054

LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2011 GRAND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE, AT 15 MPH. SHE CRASHED INTO HER NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10641013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR INTERIOR PANEL CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DOOR AND PANEL WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE INITIAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THE REAR DOOR MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ODI 10639279

AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM A 5 MILE TRIP, AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING, PULLED IN DRIVEWAY, TURNED OFF VEHICLE, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM BUTTON ON AC UNIT WHICH CONTROLS THE SPEED OF AIRFLOW FOR THE AC. THE SMOKE INCREASED, SMELLED OF CHEMICALS AND WAS CLEARLY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE BURNING THROUGH AC KNOB. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. DASH REMOVED. FIRE WAS RECREATED BY FIREMAN TWICE. AC FUSES WERE DISCONNECTED FROM BATTERY BY FIREMAN. VAN WAS TOWED BY AAA TO DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION/REPAIR. RENTAL CAR WAS PROVIDED BY DODGE AND COVERED FOR 5 DAYS. TODAY IS THE 5TH DAY AND DODGE IS STILL WORKING ON CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10618599

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A SHEET OF ICE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND CONTINUED SLIDING UNTIL IT WENT INTO A DITCH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 10562837