2005 Dodge Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about power door locks that stop responding to the key fob, the interior switches, and the automatic locking feature, usually after the basic warranty has ended. Complaints also describe headlights that cut out intermittently and, less often, an air bag warning light traced to the front impact sensors. Reports cluster in the 40,000-100,000 mile range and come up in all seasons.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power door locks stop working (key fob and switches)

   • 207 complaints (39%)
   • median 68,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (169 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 9 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2022

   Owners describe the power locks suddenly no longer responding to the key fob, the interior door switches, or the automatic locking feature; in some cases the horn and lights still respond to the remote, giving a false signal that the doors locked. Many report that pulling a fuse or disconnecting the battery restores the locks briefly, then the problem returns. Several say a dealer attributed it to a body or lock control computer issue and quoted a software reflash or module replacement at the owner's expense. Commonly reported between roughly 35,000 and 100,000 miles, often after the warranty has expired.

   What to check: Test every lock function before buying: fob buttons, all interior switches, and the automatic lock as the van reaches driving speed. Ask whether the lock control module or body computer has ever been reprogrammed or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The power door locks stopped working in our families 2005 Dodge Caravan. Aftyer doing some research onlins I've found this has happened to other consumers whom own the same vehicle year make and model. This is not a problem that is fixed by just simply replacing a blown fuse but it seems that it is a computer problem. We have small children whom could open a door that is not locked.”

   NHTSA complaint #10258614, filed 2009-02, 47,000 miles

   “I have a 2005 Dodge Caravan I bought used from the dealer in 2005. In 2007 the driver side rear sliding door lock failed. I cannot lock the door with the auto lock system inside the van or on the key fob. I brought it to the dealer to look at and was told the door lock actuator failed. One year later the other rear sliding door lock failed. It is not covered under warranty. So I have been unable to fix the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10319135, filed 2010-03, 50,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights go out or fail to come on intermittently

   • 87 complaints (16%)
   • median 84,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (78 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2020

   Complaints describe headlights that fail to come on when the switch is turned, or that cut out while driving at night, sometimes with the parking lights staying lit and the high beams working only while the stalk is held. Owners point to the headlight or multifunction switch as the source, and some report dealers replaced the switch or mentioned a relay fault. A related bulletin covers park lamps staying on or headlamps not illuminating after the switch is used. Often reported between about 65,000 and 110,000 miles, with symptoms sometimes appearing intermittently for a year or more before failing completely.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Operate the headlight switch through several cycles, including the high-beam stalk, and confirm the headlamps come on and stay on. Ask whether the headlight or multifunction switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sometimes the headlights on our 2005 Dodge Caravan will not come on when we turn them on. It does not happen every time but it has caused us to have to wait to be able to drive. There has been one incident when we were driving home and the lights went out while we were driving. So far just playing with the switch has worked to get the lights to come back on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10347880, filed 2010-08, 70,000 miles

   “Went out to start van to go to work and headlights would not come on. Had to call in to work and miss a whole days work. First time it has happened. We have only one vehicle and the mechanic cannot check it out until a week from today. Need a vehicle to get to work or I will lose my job and I am the sole provider of the family of 4.”

   NHTSA complaint #10315221, filed 2010-03, 104,600 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on, front impact sensor faults

   • 51 complaints (10%)
   • median 61,992 mi at 4.7 yrs old (41 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2023

   Owners report the air bag warning light coming on and staying lit, sometimes after flickering for a period. Dealers and mechanics have diagnosed failed or corroded front impact sensors and connectors, and some owners report paying for replacement themselves after being told their vehicle was not included in the related recall. A few complaints describe the light being treated by a dealer as a recall item to wait on. Reported from low mileage (under 15,000) up to roughly 85,000 miles, with many in the 35,000-70,000 range.

   Recall 10V008000Recall 07V1920001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light comes on with the key and then goes out. Ask whether the front impact sensors or their wiring have been replaced, and confirm whether this vehicle's VIN was covered by the air bag sensor recalls.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our 2005 Dodge Caravan was involved in a crash. The front left side of the van hit a steel light pole mounted in concrete. The driver's side air bags deployed, but the passenger side did not. My daughter was sitting in the passenger seat and suffered a head injury/concussion.”

   NHTSA complaint #10274045, filed 2009-06, 86,000 miles

   “First it was the emergency flashers went on and couldn't get them to stop took it in to folsom lake Dodge to get it fixed it was still on factory warrant and they replaced the clock spring is what they told me. Then after that after the warrant was done the air bag light on the panel in front of the stirring wheel came on and wouldn't stay off it comes on most of the time and stays so I don't know if my air bags or on or off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10426530, filed 2011-09, 61,992 miles

Buying note. Check the door locks, headlight switch, and air bag warning light carefully on a test drive, since these are the most frequently reported problems, and ask for records of any fuel tank replacement under the extended warranty.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.