2006 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the power steering making noise or losing assist, the airbag warning light staying on, and the power sliding doors failing to open, close or lock. Many reports come in between roughly 40,000 and 80,000 miles, and several describe problems that returned after an initial repair. Stalling shortly after refueling and headlights that go out while driving also appear repeatedly.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering noise, leaks and loss of assist

   • 46 complaints (16%)
   • median 49,628 mi at 4.2 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2019

   Complaints describe a loud whining or humming from the steering that is present cold or warm and often worse when turning. Some owners report power steering fluid loss and repeated fluid, reservoir, pump or line replacements, with the noise returning afterward. Others say a shop diagnosed the rack and pinion as the source, and a few describe the assist dropping out suddenly, including after driving through standing water. Most reports fall between about 20,000 and 85,000 miles, with several under 55,000.

   What to check: Ask for service records on the power steering pump, rack and lines, and listen for whining while turning the wheel at idle and while driving. Check the fluid level and look for leaks around the reservoir and rack.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Steering system makes a loud humming noise all of the time. Vehicle has 51000 miles on it, and my mechanic told me the rack and pinion has to be replaced. I asked how he could tell without looking, and he told me that this is well known problem, with these vehicles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10294155, filed 2009-12, 51,000 miles

   “I got up and went out to start the van and noticed a awful whining sound I took it to a garage and they told me that it was the rack and pinion I told them I just bought this van.they told me to take it back to the dealer and find out if there is a recall on it. He said this is a known problem for this van and the part is probably on back order. So my question is if it known for this problem why would a dealer sell me this van knowing I have a family of six. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10268719, filed 2009-05, 49,628 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on (front sensor)

   • 53 complaints (19%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (48 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2023

   Owners report the airbag light coming on and staying on, sometimes intermittently when turning or hitting a bump. Several complaints say a shop or dealer traced it to a front crash sensor, connector corrosion or the wiring leading to the sensor, and some note the repair was paid for because their vehicle was not included in the related campaign. One owner describes a frontal impact in which the airbags did not deploy. Commonly reported from about 38,000 to 80,000 miles, with a few at much higher mileage.

   Recall 10V0080001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check that the airbag light comes on at start-up and then goes out. Ask whether the front crash sensor campaign (10V008000) applies to the vehicle's VIN and whether it was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan sxt, red airbag light on the dash board and the dealer stated it was corroded terminals in connectors, needs right sensor and connector replaced. The vehicle has 38,706 miles on it. I see a new NHTSA action rq09003. The cost of fixing this was $114.34 and I want it back. No old parts are available since I didn't think of it when I got it fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10279831, filed 2009-08, 38,706 miles

   “Car airbag light came on at about 68,000 miles once and then at 78,000 it came on and stays on all the time. This is my second 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan and that one did the same thing. Had to get rid of it because of rust at 192,000 miles. Whenever I start up and drive, it is constantly on now. Never goes out.”

   NHTSA complaint #11088625, filed 2018-04, 76,400 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights go out or fail to turn on

   • 23 complaints (8%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2021

   Complaints describe headlights that do not come on when switched, or that go out while driving and can be brought back by cycling the switch. Some owners link it to the headlamp switch assembly, and a few mention a warranty extension on that part while saying their vehicle was not covered. Turn signal and wiper stalk faults are also mentioned. Mostly reported from about 42,000 to 150,000 miles, sometimes in rain or snow.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the headlights, parking lights and turn signals with the switch in each position, and ask whether the headlamp switch assembly has been replaced under the related warranty extension.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am having a intermittent issue with my headlights, they are shuting off while driving and although crysler has a lifetime warranty on the head light swithch for this exact issue my vehicle VIN is not included in this warranty. This is dangerous and should be a recall as people could be in danger of crashing if this happens and they are unable to see.”

   NHTSA complaint #10811691, filed 2015-12, 150,000 miles

   “Intermittent headlight failure on 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. Upon turning on headlights, they occasionally don't work. They intermittently fail completely while driving without notice or provocation resulting in a very dangerous situation. There are numerous complaints of this well known problem concerning other years of these vehicles on internet forums. There are no known reasons for the problem. I've asked my mechanic and a Dodge dealer and they both say it's a well known problem without any answers.”

   NHTSA complaint #10374057, filed 2011-01, 50,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Power sliding doors fail to open, close or lock

   • 38 complaints (13%)
   • median 59,271 mi at 5.0 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2019

   Complaints describe the rear power sliding doors stopping partway, reopening instead of closing, or cycling repeatedly without latching. Some owners say the doors stop responding to the power button, remote or lock switch and must be operated by hand, and a few report a door stuck shut so passengers had to exit through another door. Repeated dealer visits and warranty repairs are mentioned, with the problem coming back. Mostly reported between about 24,000 and 65,000 miles; a few at much higher mileage.

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors several times with the power switches, the remote and the door handles, and check that they latch fully and that the door-open indicator matches the actual door position.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan with only 48,000 miles on it. The power sliding doors have stopped operating properly. The doors will close about eight inches and then open back up without closing all the way. Tonight the door has opened and will not close manually or electrically. So my van is in my drive way with the door wide open and will be there all night until I figure it out tomorrow. Many people that I know with these vans have the same problem after a few years of owning them. Something has to be done. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10339178, filed 2010-06, 48,212 miles

   “My 2006 Grand Caravan does not consistently allow the sliding power door on both sides close more than 1/2 or 3/4 of the way. Additionally, if it does close it will intermittently will not cycle fully to fully secure the door. As a result the power mechanism which seals the door will cycle over and over until someone manually opens the door and then pulls it shut.”

   NHTSA complaint #10368000, filed 2010-11, 74,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Stall or surge shortly after refueling

   • 31 complaints (11%)
   • median 105,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners describe the engine stalling or surging within minutes of filling the tank, even when not topping off past the pump shut-off, then restarting and running normally until the next fill. Several note the loss of power steering and power brakes during the stall, and some say a shop pointed to a sensor in the fuel tank or the tank itself. A related report describes the fuel nozzle repeatedly shutting off and fuel spitting out during filling. Reported from about 50,000 to 220,000 miles, often right after a fill-up.

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle has stalled after refueling, and if possible drive it shortly after a fill-up during a test drive. Have the fuel tank, evap system and related sensors checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Filled fuel tank right off i24 in tn. Car stalled on entrance ramp to highway. Drifted to side and engine restarted quickly. This now happens almost every time the tank is filled. Around town I can cope by not filling the tank, but very inconvenient and very dangerous on trips especially on highways. We are not talking about overfilling the tank, but just filling to point when pump shuts off. When engine stalls, not only is there an immediate loss of momentum, the power steering system quits, but the brakes become useless. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10649932, filed 2014-10, 95,213 miles

   “Over the last several weeks my 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan with a 3.8 liter engine will stall out several times after refueling. It will restart & stall several times before the problem seems to rectify itself. All power assisted steering is lost and the vehicle becomes difficult to steer safely. Power braking is also affected. There have been a couple of occasions where I have been turning into traffic and had the vehicle stall. One time I was unable to complete the turn and stay in my lane. On one occasion I breached the lane to my left. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10659985, filed 2014-11, 220,000 miles

Buying note. Check the steering for noise and leaks, the airbag light, the sliding doors and the headlights on any test drive, and ask for records of prior repairs. Since many of these reports fall in the 40,000 to 80,000 mile range, condition and service history matter more than mileage alone.

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.