2006 Dodge Caravan Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around the power steering system — fluid leaks at the rack, squealing and hard steering — along with lighting glitches where headlamps cut out or stay on, and power sliding door lock failures. Many reports come in between roughly 20,000 and 90,000 miles, and several describe symptoms that came back after a first repair. Separately, some owners describe rough idle or stalling right after refueling.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering fluid leak and hard steering

   • 18 complaints (10%)
   • median 51,056 mi at 3.6 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2012

   Owners describe squealing or groaning when turning the wheel, low power steering fluid that keeps needing topping off, and fluid puddles under the van. Several say the dealer found the steering rack leaking at the boots or the pump leaking, and that steering became heavy or difficult. Some report the repair was repeated or the noise returned afterwards. Mostly reported between about 20,000 and 90,000 miles, often noticed first as a squeal on turns or a low fluid level.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the power steering fluid level and look for wetness at the rack boots and under the pump; ask whether the rack or pump has been replaced and whether a bleed procedure was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2006 Dodge grand Caravan with 42,000 miles on it. The rack-in-pinion power steering system is failing and leaking power steering fluid, causing a loss of power steering, which is a potential safety hazard. According to the chrysler dealer that is doing the repair, chrysler repaired 10,000 of these in february alone. They admit there is a manufacture defect in the 2005-2006 models of the Caravan. Chrysler is toying with the idea of providing assistance with the repair, which will cost me about $800.00. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10218487, filed 2008-02, 38,000 miles

   “I have a 2006 Dodge Caravan which has been modified into a braun entervan since I am a quadriplegic. In december of 2010, at about 21,500 miles the power steering started squealing. The power steering fluid was low, so we added some. After another 100 miles, the squealing noise returned, the fluid was low again, so I knew that there was a problem. It was taken in for service and an investigation of the power steering system revealed that the power steering fluid was leaking from the steering gear/rack n pinion unit. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10442096, filed 2012-01, 21,588 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and exterior lights cutting out or staying on

   • 13 complaints (8%)
   • median 74,500 mi at 6.0 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2020

   Complaints describe headlamps that turn off without warning while driving and come back after cycling or jiggling the switch, or that will not shut off with the knob in the off position. Some also mention parking lamps lighting up on their own while the van is parked, dimming or flickering dash and exterior lights, and occasionally a dead battery. Mechanics are sometimes unable to reproduce or diagnose it. Reported from very low mileage up to around 100,000 miles, and often described as intermittent.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the headlamp switch through all positions, including off, and check that parking lamps go dark when the van is off; a service bulletin describes the headlamp switch behavior, so ask whether any related work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2006 Dodge Caravan sxt 3.3l, 98000 miles driving at night, headlight going off I need to turn off and on headlight switch light go on and off, after 10 minutes all outside light are off, weary scary, it happening almost every day I mean night,, I look what is the problem, maybe headlight switch I going tomorrow and buy and see if is ok,, I own this van since 2010 with no light problem???”

   NHTSA complaint #10633820, filed 2014-09, 98,000 miles

   “Driving down the road at night headlamps suddenly without warning turn off. This has happened randomly several times since. Usually jiggling the headlight switch will turn them back on again. Have also noticed recently that the parking lights will suddenly come on then go off after a few minutes while care is parked and turned off. This is random.”

   NHTSA complaint #10553592, filed 2013-11, 89,000 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power sliding door and door lock failures

   • 18 complaints (10%)
   • median 57,305 mi at 4.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2019

   Owners report power sliding doors that stop partway, become heavy or impossible to move by hand, and door locks that will not lock or unlock with the fob or the switch. Some describe having to lock doors manually and the automatic locking at driving speed not working. Dealers reportedly replaced door motors in some cases without fully resolving the lock problem. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 100,000 miles, sometimes after a few years of regular power-door use.

   What to check: Operate both sliding doors and every lock with the fob, the dash switch and the manual handle; ask whether door motors or the door wire harness have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The sliding door latch malfunction where door comes open while driving the auto lock also malfunctioning. I'm a master mechanic and this isn't the first time I heard of this problem on these vehicles. Mopar needs to have these vehicles recalled before someone gets hurt or their pet falls out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11175972, filed 2019-02, 195,825 miles

   “On my 2006 Dodge Caravan, the side power door locks do not work. I have spoken to other owners and they have had the same problem. The problem happens after the warranty period expires. The locks operate occasionally..sometimes they would work, and sometimes not. I realized it wasn't working when my child tried to open the door before we left the driveway, and all the doors should have been locked. This is a potential serious safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10257969, filed 2009-02, 45,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Stalling or rough idle after refueling

   • 13 complaints (8%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 9.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2018

   Complaints describe the engine stalling shortly after filling the tank, often within a minute or two of leaving the station, and a rough idle that persists. Several also mention the fuel pump clicking off early and fuel spilling out during fill-ups, or a strong fuel smell from the engine compartment. One owner reports a replaced fuel pump assembly did not change the stalling. Reported from about 55,000 miles up to around 180,000 miles, and tied to fill-ups even when the tank is not topped off.

   What to check: Ask whether the van stalls or idles roughly after fueling, and check for fuel smell around the filler neck and engine bay; have the evaporative emissions system and fuel tank checked before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I fill the gas tank up, the van stalls after a couple of minutes of driving. At first, I thought that I had gotten some gas with water in it at the gas station. But then it happened again. Then I thought that maybe it had something to do with topping the tank off. So, I don't top it off anymore, but I am still having the same stalling problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10615810, filed 2014-07, 160,000 miles

   “Every time I put any amount of fuel in my tank of my 2006 Dodge Caravan sxt there is a very strong smell of gas coming from the engine compartment and after the van starts it will always stall out within a minute or two of starting up. It will stall idling in park as well as when in gear and starting out at slow speed and up to 25 miles per hour. It occurs more often when the fuel tank reaches the full mark. I have had the fuel pump assembly replaced which did not change the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11061273, filed 2018-01, 181,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on and non-deployment reports

   • 27 complaints (16%)
   • median 62,500 mi at 5.3 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2026

   Complaints describe the airbag warning light staying on continuously, with dealers telling owners a sensor or module has failed. Some owners report airbags not deploying in a collision, and a few mention the horn also not working. Several say they were told the vehicle was not covered by a recall. Reported from around 40,000 miles into the 100,000+ mile range, and some appear after a crash.

   Recall 10V0080003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light goes out after the bulb check on startup and that the horn works; ask whether the vehicle was ever checked under the airbag sensor campaign for states in the recall region.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I start engine everything is ok but air bag light stay on dashboard all the time and I hear 2 or 3 sounds after that no sound but airbag light is on all the time when engine is running. I see that 2006 Dodge Caravan have recall on air bag module, I did not receive any mail from chrysler regarding this recall .”

   NHTSA complaint #10693158, filed 2015-03, 100,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the related undisclosed recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11724090, filed 2026-03, 198,000 miles

Buying note. Check the power steering for leaks and noise, test every light switch position and both power sliding doors, and confirm the airbag light behaves normally on startup. Service records showing past steering rack or pump work are worth asking about.

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.