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

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 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

WHILE DODGE CARAVAN WAS PARK IN FRONT OF DEALERSHIP BANKSTON FORD MINI VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO ONE WAS IN VEHICLE AT THE TIME EXCEPT A PET. A PAGE OVER SPEAKER INFORMED ME THAT THE VAN WAS ON FIRE. BY THE TIME I REACHED THE SCENE "FLAMES" WERE COMING UP FROM THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. "THE LEFT HAND FRONT CORNER" . PERSONNEL FROM WITHIN THE DEALERSHIP RAN OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT FIRE OUT. DAMAGE REPORTED TO INSURANCE COMPANY . VEHICLE PURCHASE ON AUG 03,2012. INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AUG 22,2012 APPROX 1:00 THAT DAY.

NHTSA ODI 10474901

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT BURST INTO FLAMES. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED DURING THE FIRE THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WAS OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THE SATURDAY BEFORE THE FIRE, AS HIS DAUGHTER WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR BEGAN TO CLOSE ON HER. THE REST OF THE DAY, THE DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT WORK, BUT THE KEY REMOTE AD THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUTTON WOULD OPERATE THE DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS VEHICLE INSPECTED; HOWEVER, THE INSPECTOR DID NOT FIND A DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. UPDATED 01/17/12 *BF THE FIRE DEPT. OBSERVED THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF HEAT DAMAGE IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA WAS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE, BUT MOSTLY IN TACT. UPDATED 03/14/12

NHTSA ODI 10435472

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THEY RESET THE SYSTEM. LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED BEFORE STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAM SENSOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR THIRD ROW SEAT BELT SUDDENLY LOCKED WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. WHILE TRYING TO LOOSEN THE SEATBELT, IT ONLY CONTINUED TO TIGHTEN AROUND THE PASSENGER. THE SEAT BELT WAS EVENTUALLY CUT AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR BRUISES TO THE ABDOMEN AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHERE THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BELT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,200.

NHTSA ODI 10414706