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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2012 Dodge Caravan Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
3about this part
Share
3%of 87 total for the year
Median mileage
3,154miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Dodge Caravan, 3% of the 87 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 3,154 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“The vehicle had been pulled out of the garage put in park, turned off but did have the key left in it. This was intended to only take a moment while we moved a lawn tractor into the garage ahead of the parking spot for the minivan. While we were busy moving the lawn tractor the minivan rolled about 30 yards away from where it had been parked. It settled on some rocks resulting in damage to the underside of the vehicle. The concerning part of this incident was that the van was still in park and turned off when it landed on the rocks. …”

NHTSA complaint #10465871, filed 2012-07, 3,154 miles

“The problem is autonomous acceleration. When my car is moving slowly at idle speed while I'm pulling into or out of a parking space or my home garage and I apply pressure to the steering wheel to guide the car, the engine RPM speed surges by about 400 rpms causing the car to suddenly accelerate forward or backward, depending on the gear selection. This has caused a number of near accidents, including nearly striking children at an elementary school when I was picking up my granddaughter. I reported the problem to the local Dodge dealer, but the dealer found no problem after checking the car. …”

NHTSA complaint #10499466, filed 2013-02, 127 miles

“The problem with my 2012 Dodge Caravan is driving along easily on city streets because with this problem it cant be put on the interstate, when getting ready to go up a hill and it goes out of gear, the RPM hand goes as far as it can go, sometimes easing of the gas the RPM hand will go down to 1 and the transmission will knock, check engine like will come on and it'll go back into gear, but sometime you'll have to pull over and put it in park and turn it off and start all over again, just for it to do the same exact then, and remind you, you can't go over 50mph if 50. …”

NHTSA complaint #10820691, filed 2016-01, 113,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2015626%
2014210%
201327%
201233%
201156%
2010148%
200922%
2008114%
2007911%
2006138%
2005132%
200446%
20032211%
20022711%
2001197%
20008618%
19999617%
199810316%
199713319%
199618513%
19959319%
199411117%
199310111%
199211012%
1991579%
19907527%
19894825%
198844%
1987710%
198612%
1985612%
1984317%

Other parts of the 2012 Dodge Caravan

Electrical system
47 complaintsEngine
19 complaintsBrakes
9 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Dodge Caravan

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology