2008 Dodge Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe electrical-system trouble, ranging from random horn, wiper and light activation to the engine cutting out while driving; these reports span a wide mileage range and appear as often when parked as in motion. Brake wear at low mileage is also a common theme, and several owners describe tire pressure sensor valve stems breaking off.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Random horn, wipers, lights and locks; engine cutting out

   • 139 complaints (46%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (85 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2020

   Complaints describe the horn, windshield wipers and washer, headlights, door locks and interior gauges activating on their own, sometimes when the van is parked with the key out of the ignition. Owners also describe the engine shutting off without warning, often while turning or at highway speed, sometimes with the power steering going heavy. Several say the dealer pointed to the integrated power module or the wireless ignition node, and some mention a related recall but report parts were not available. Reported from under 15,000 up to about 190,000 miles, occurring in both cold and warm weather and both while driving and while parked.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the integrated power module and ignition-related recalls were completed and whether the module has been replaced. Before buying, test the wipers, horn, locks and lights with the engine off and check that the key releases freely from the ignition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “8/24 - the van was parked in a parking lot with my husband & son sitting in it. Another driver came to claim their nearby Dodge Caravan & beeped open his van, at that point our wipers started going full speed & the fluid shot up. It stopped for a minute then started going full strength again with the horn going non-stop, the lights all started flashing, & the doors all locked. The key fob was in the ignition but in the off position. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10537444, filed 2013-08, 50,000 miles

   “Driving 55 MPH the first time horn started blowing, lights flashing wipers front and rear running, washer fluid shooting out front and rear engine would not shut off for about 3 min. Second time it happened the car was not running and the lights started flashing and horn blowing with wipers running. Next time I was parked with motor running horn started, wipers front and back I unhooked the battery and it kept blowing mashed the remote crank and it killed the engine but would not crank back for about 1 hour. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10679960, filed 2015-01, 140,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Rear and front brakes wearing out early, calipers sticking

   • 59 complaints (20%)
   • median 25,500 mi at 2.3 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $815 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2019

   Owners describe grinding, squealing or a spongy pedal, with dealers or shops reporting worn pads and rotors and, in several cases, sticking or overheat-damaged rear calipers. Some were told the brakes were not covered under warranty at mileages many owners considered low. A few describe the brakes dragging or not releasing from the rotors, and one reports a soft pedal that persisted after replacing the master cylinder and booster. Often reported between roughly 16,000 and 60,000 miles, with some reports at higher mileage.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the rear pads, rotors and calipers inspected on a lift rather than relying on a road test alone, and ask for service records showing when pads and rotors were last replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear break components (pads, rotors, lr caliper) at 30k on 12/10/09. Front pads replaces on 1/14/10 at appx 31k: front pads and rotors on 4/2012 (3rd set) at 58k calipers not frozen: this vehicle year was the first year of the 4.0 l engine. Already engine no longer an option: later model years (2010 and later) have larger callipers and pads. I truly believe this vehicle was redesigned and offered without consideration to the brake system components. The vehicle was so new that my owner manual doesn't reference the 4.0 liter engine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10455958, filed 2012-04, 30,700 miles

   “Spongy brake pedal goes almost to the floor to stop the vehicle. I replaced master cylinder, same problem, replaced power booster, same problem. This is a major design flaw with this vehicle with major complaints across the country and nothing has been done to date by hntsa to make chrysler Dodge fix this major safety issue with all Dodge grand caravans.”

   NHTSA complaint #10983185, filed 2017-05, 123,000 miles
3. 3
   Tires

   Tire pressure sensor valve stems breaking off

   • 12 complaints (4%)
   • median 36,097 mi at 3.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2017

   Complaints describe the valve stems attached to the tire pressure monitoring sensors cracking or snapping off, in some cases while driving or while simply touching the stem, which deflates the tire quickly. Owners say shops told them this was a familiar failure on these vans, and that replacements were sometimes on back order, leaving a warning light on. Mostly reported between roughly 28,000 and 40,000 miles.

   What to check: Check the condition of all four valve stems and ask whether the sensors or stems have been replaced; confirm the tire pressure warning light works and is not simply left illuminated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The TPMS stems have broken off the wheels on my car while driving tire went flat and I happened to be parking at the time so thank god I was not on the highway at the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10360811, filed 2010-10, 33,000 miles

   “I have a 2008 Dodge Caravan and just touched the tire valve stem. The top of the cap came off and the tire deflated in less than 8 seconds. I called the dealer and they said it's not covered. I asked the repair shop and they said the tire pressure monitoring sensor stems on the chrysler/Dodge commonly break off and they have had many. It's a common problem. On the Dodge/chrysler forums this happens many time. It ended up costing me 82 and I had to take the tire off. Just by brushing the stem it cracked off is a major safety concern. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10303428, filed 2010-01, 28,300 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stalling or surging without warning

   • 53 complaints (18%)
   • median 100,500 mi at 7.0 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2023

   Owners report the engine cutting out at speed or when coming to a stop, sometimes restarting on its own and sometimes not, and in a few cases an intermittent surge in engine speed while stopped with the brake applied. Complaints describe dealers being unable to reproduce the problem, and one owner reports an ignition switch replacement under warranty. Reported from around 14,000 up to about 168,000 miles, at city and highway speeds.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch or wireless ignition node has been replaced and whether any stored codes were checked. A long test drive including stops and turns may help reveal an intermittent stall.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This has been a continuing problem since I bought car, car just dies while you are driving and you have nothing but until you get car stopped. Then it will restart and drive fine. It happens at all speeds but mostly on the interstates. The dealer did replace the ignition switch while under warranty but not until I went thru 3rd tier myself. It has started again and the dealer can not duplicate it so they return it with nothing done. I even let them keep it 3 days while they put it through their email 3rd tier system. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10579124, filed 2014-04, 2,500 miles

   “The engine in our 2008 Dodge mini van will intermittently surge when at a stop with your foot on the brake or when in park. This has continued to plague us for 3 years now with the latest incident occurring sept. 7th, 2014.”

   NHTSA complaint #10631990, filed 2014-09, 109,806 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights flickering or going out

   • 19 complaints (6%)
   • median 96,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2022

   Owners describe headlights flickering and then staying off intermittently, sometimes working and sometimes not, with shops and dealers saying the bulbs are fine and pointing to the wiring or electrical system. Some report being quoted for a repair without a guarantee that the problem would stop. Reported from about 38,000 up to around 120,000 miles, in all weather and both day and night driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the headlights on high and low beam, wiggle-test the wiring and connectors, and ask whether any connector or wiring repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Head lights flickered several times and then stayed off. This has continued intermittently since november. Sometimes the headlights stay on, sometimes they don't. 8/1/2014-headlights don't work at all. I have taken to a Dodge dealer in december who told me it would cost $700 but couldn't guarantee it wouldn,t continue to happen. I have taken it to 2 private garages who have told me the same thing. It's not the bulbs. They believe it is a problem in the electrical system.”

   NHTSA complaint #10626040, filed 2014-08, 38,000 miles

   “Many issues, appear to be related to the tipm. Headlights intermittently stop working, as do the windshield wipers(various times, when driving/when starting the car). Car horn beeps when driver door is opened. Air conditioner/heater intermittently stops working (when driving), will usually come back on after pulling over and restarting the car. Very dangerous in the winter.”

   NHTSA complaint #11022550, filed 2017-09, 120,000 miles

Buying note. These vans draw repeated electrical complaints that affect lights, wipers and engine operation, so a careful electrical check and a review of completed recalls matter more than cosmetics. Also budget for brake work and inspect the tire sensor valve stems, since owners often report both at relatively low mileage.

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.