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2012 Dodge Caravan
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
87 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 25, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (54% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#19 of 477Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Dodge Caravan ranks #19, scoring higher than 93% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA hasn’t published a crash-test rating for this model year. That’s common for lower-volume or older models. It doesn’t mean the car is unsafe, just that this program hasn’t tested it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Dodge Caravan, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (47) · Engine (19) · Fuel system (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Electrical system
54%47 complaints
“VAN STOPS ABRUPTLY. WILL DIE WHILE DRIVING, WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND AND VAN POWERS DOWN. WILL START BACK UP AS SOON AS ITS STOPS.”
Engine
22%19 complaints
“VAN STOPS ABRUPTLY. WILL DIE WHILE DRIVING, WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND AND VAN POWERS DOWN. WILL START BACK UP AS SOON AS ITS STOPS.”
Brakes
10%9 complaints · typically near 32k mi
“FAULTLY BRAKE CALIPAR - KEEP HANGING UP AND CAUSING TIRE TO GET HOT AND SMOKE COMES OUT VERY HOT.”
Fuel system
7%6 complaints
“THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SWITCH WON'T SHUT OFF. IT RUN DOEN BATTERY AND KILKS THE WHOLE VAN.”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 87 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 7 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Dodge before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Dodge CARAVAN beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Caravan model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Dodge Caravan against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.