2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about electrical gremlins that show up as flickering or failing headlights and dash lights, and about airbag warning lights tied to the clock spring and horn/cruise controls. Transmission and steering complaints also come up, generally in the 30,000-80,000 mile range, and many describe parts replaced or quoted after dealers could not duplicate the symptom.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and dash lights flicker or go out

   • 64 complaints (21%)
   • median 74,125 mi at 6.3 yrs old (50 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2015

   Complaints describe headlights that flicker, cut out, or stop working one at a time, sometimes with only one side lit and the high beams lighting the other. Some owners have replaced bulbs and even the front control module and say the problem returns. Others report all exterior and interior lights flickering together, or headlights going dark while driving at highway speed. Several dealers could not duplicate the failure or found no fault codes. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 175,000 miles, with many clustered in the 50,000-90,000 range.

   Recall 04V531000

   What to check: With the engine running, switch headlights, high beams, parking lights and hazards on and off and walk around the van to confirm every lamp lights and holds steady. Ask whether the front control module or light switch has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan that is having a problem with the headlights. When the lights are on, only the left light comes on, when you put the highbeams on only the right light will light. We have replaced the bulbs, but this has not taken care of the problem. I have done some research and several people have complained about the same issue, is seems as if it has something to do with the front module.”

   NHTSA complaint #10252721, filed 2008-12, 176,000 miles

   “I have a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan that has a problem with the headlights flickering and go off while the minivan is moving. I noticed you are investigating this same matter with chrysler and that many others are having the same problem. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.”

   NHTSA complaint #10118328, filed 2005-04, 52,350 miles
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power window regulators and windows that stop working

   • 20 complaints (7%)
   • median 57,861 mi at 4.1 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2009

   Owners report front windows that move slowly, go down but not back up, or quit entirely, sometimes needing help by hand to close. Several describe the regulator being replaced and the same window failing again later, sometimes after rain. Complaints also mention a rear wiper that stopped mid-window and a rear heater hose that rotted through and leaked coolant. Reported from about 35,000 to 145,000 miles, in several cases within the first couple of years of ownership.

   What to check: Cycle every power window up and down several times with the engine running and watch for slow or stalling movement. Ask how many regulators have been replaced and check the carpet and rear heater lines for coolant leaks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear windshield wiper failed. Cannot see out of the rear window of my vehicle when driving in the rain, or when salt builds up during the winter. The wiper blade is stuck in the middle of the window, obstructing my view.”

   NHTSA complaint #10159267, filed 2006-06, 70,000 miles

   “Iam the owner of a 2001 Grand Caravan sport and from day one the power windows driver and passenger acting up.they will go down but I cannot bring them up again immediately,I'll have to wait for a while and then come up a few inches , and wait again, it takes 5 minutes to roll up a power window.the first time chrysler repair the solenoids under warranty, a year later the same windows start acting up again to the point that I have to pull the window up with my hands and somebody else pushing the button at the same time, a process that takes at …”

   NHTSA complaint #10063748, filed 2004-03, 57,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag light on; horn and cruise control stop working

   • 44 complaints (15%)
   • median 77,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2016

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on or coming on intermittently, often while turning the wheel. In several accounts the horn, steering-wheel radio buttons and cruise control quit around the same time, and mechanics point to the clock spring. Complaints say dealers quoted roughly $200-250 for the repair and told owners this model year was not covered by a recall that applied to nearby model years. Reported from low mileage up to about 129,000 miles, with many between 30,000 and 90,000.

   What to check: Turn the key to run and confirm the airbag light goes out, then test the horn and cruise control. If the light stays on or the wheel controls are dead, ask whether the clock spring has been replaced and get a quote before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “First my airbag light came on. Then my controls for my radio on my steering wheel quit working. Then my horn quit working. Then my cruise control quit working. This happened in about a 2 month time. I have been told by a couple of mechanics that there is a recall out for this problem. It seems to have a recall for other Dodge vehicles but not my model. Why?”

   NHTSA complaint #10256202, filed 2009-01, 99,000 miles

   “I have 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan. The clockspring went bad. There are recall on many vehicle on previous year. The dealer told me that 2001 is not on the recall list and it will cost around $250 to repair it. It has been known the clockspring was a problem they might tried to fix the problem in 2001 model but it is not perfect. 2001 should be in the recall list.....”

   NHTSA complaint #10355685, filed 2010-09, 82,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Rack and pinion steering failure and noise

   • 22 complaints (7%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 3.6 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2012

   Complaints describe grinding or clunking noises from the front end, and difficulty or near-lockup of the steering wheel during low-speed turns; several owners had the rack and pinion replaced. Others report front-end noise that shops first misdiagnosed as sway bar bushings or tie rods. One owner said a dealer told them many of these racks were on back order. Mostly reported between about 6,000 and 55,000 miles, often during low-speed turning.

   What to check: Drive slowly in a parking lot making full left and right turns and listen for grinding or popping, then check the power steering fluid level and look for leaks at the rack boots. Ask whether the rack or steering pump has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan es that has on 3 separate occasions had grinding noises coming from the left front tire area prior to the steering wheel locking up when making low speed turns. On the first incident the power steering was so tight I had to fight to turn left onto my street. Fortunately there was no one behind or in front of me because the car kept going straight even when the road didn't. I was able to stop before I hit the curb. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10013629, filed 2003-03, 44,716 miles

   “Front end road noise that two mechanical shops attempted to repair by replacing sway bar bushings in one shop and a tie arm in the second shop ended up not correcting the problem. Further investigation determined it was the rack and pinion. Clerk at the dealership indicated they had a thousand on order, no exaggeration. He informed me that they all go on the chrysler minivans. My van is a 2001 Grand Caravan sport with 42000 miles. Manufacturer will not do anything to assist. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10043532, filed 2003-10, 41,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission failure and rough shifting

   • 23 complaints (8%)
   • median 56,700 mi at 3.6 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2007

   Complaints describe rough or delayed shifting, jerking, and in some cases sudden loss of drive or the front wheels locking briefly at speed. Owners report the transmission pump, torque converter or front pump failing and needing a rebuild or replacement unit, often at mileages well under 60,000. Several say the dealer had checked the transmission earlier and found it normal, and that requests for help with repair costs were declined. Mostly reported between about 10,000 and 60,000 miles.

   What to check: Test drive from cold through several upshifts and downshifts, including a rolling stop-and-go sequence, and check the transmission fluid for color and smell. Ask for service records and whether the transmission has been rebuilt or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife was driving normally less than .2 miles from the house. The speed limit is 40 MPH. The roads were dry. My wife heard and explosion and pulled off the road believing that she had a blow out. The car stalled. Not knowing what the problem was, all the tires were inflated, she returned home. By the time she returned to the house there was no transmission fluid in the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10091141, filed 2004-09, 80,000 miles

   “At about 32,000 miles I had taken my van in for an oil change and asked the Dodge dealer to look at the transmission. It had been shifting rough occasionally, and they looked at it, and said it was fine. Last week I was driving down the 10 freeway at about 70 MPH when the transmission seized for about 2-3 seconds, the van's front wheels locked up, and the van slid sideways, then the transmission broke loose, and I was able to regain control and get the van to the slow lane and proceed to exit. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10104217, filed 2004-12, 37,500 miles

Buying note. On this model year, check the lighting, airbag warning light, steering, and transmission behavior carefully on a test drive, since those are what owners write about most. Service records showing recent work on the clock spring, rack, transmission or window regulators are worth asking for.

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.