2007 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year concentrate on the engine stalling or sputtering right after the tank is filled to full, which many owners describe as happening on nearly every fill-up. Other recurring themes in the sample are transmissions that slip into a neutral-like state, intermittent stalling or power loss traced to electrical and sensor problems, air bag indicators and non-deployment, and sliding-door and interior lighting faults. Reports span a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 150,000.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Stalling or sputtering right after refueling

   • 45 complaints (25%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2020

   Owners describe the engine misfiring, hesitating or dying within a minute or two of leaving the gas station, most often after filling the tank completely and pulling into traffic. Several say restarting is needed, sometimes repeatedly, and that the problem clears once some fuel is used. Some complaints mention a diagnosis of a failed vapor/liquid separator valve, fuel level sensor or the fuel tank itself, while others say a dealer recommended replacing the tank. Reported across a wide mileage range from roughly 38,000 to 150,000 miles, usually immediately after a full fill-up.

   What to check: Drive the van immediately after a full fill-up, including a short stop-and-go stretch, and ask whether the fuel tank, vapor/liquid separator valve or fuel level sensor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Whever I fill up the gas tank, the car starts to stall and jerks and stops all the way. It displays engine light and goes into cruise mode. I have to turn it off n back on and still jerks until the fuel is little empty. When I don't fill it full then it doesn't do this”

   NHTSA complaint #11298613, filed 2020-01, 115,000 miles

   “Several times following a fill up, the van has stalled out, usually just a few hundred feet from the pumps. Unfortunately, this usually as we are pulling into traffic. From what I've read online, the only fix to this problem is to replace the entire gas tank system.”

   NHTSA complaint #10653783, filed 2014-11, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips into neutral or will not engage

   • 19 complaints (10%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2020

   Complaints describe the van dropping out of drive into a neutral-like state while moving, with the engine revving and no acceleration until it pops back in or the vehicle is restarted. Others report that pressing the accelerator at a stop produces engine revs but no movement until the selector is cycled through park. One owner says a dealer replaced the transmission under warranty after repeated visits, and another describes a shifter that moved out of park without the brake applied. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 78,000 miles, with some owners noting the neutral-drop occurs in cold weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive from cold, including stops and restarts in traffic, and confirm whether the transmission has been serviced or replaced; also check that the shifter will not leave park without the brake pedal.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had the 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan since 2007. This winter, when temperatures are around 33 and below, it slips out of drive in to a neutral state. The gear on the dash does not move so it appears to still be in drive. On several occasions while driving my children to school, it goes neutral while the vehicle is still moving. It slows down and I can brake but the acceleration will not work. Suddenly it will pop back into drive. This all happens with both of my hands on the steering wheel. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10393085, filed 2011-03, 45,000 miles

   “My 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan was parked in the driveway and my 4 yr old was able to shift the van out of park into neutral without depressing the brake or starting the vehicle. The van coasted down the driveway, across the street and came to rest in the neighbor's yard all the while with my 4 yr old in the driver's seat. I would estimate the vehicle was traveling up to 10mph down the sloped driveway. No injury or damage luckily occurred. Subsequently, the Dodge dealership states the shift interlock solenoid failed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10453082, filed 2012-03, 78,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Intermittent stalling and power loss from electrical faults

   • 32 complaints (18%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2020

   Owners report the engine cutting out with no warning, gauges dropping to zero and loss of power steering, sometimes restarting normally afterward. Some complaints point to crank and cam sensor codes, a failed crankshaft position sensor, or ignition switch behavior, and a few note the vehicle was not covered by an electrical system recall. Others describe headlights that shut off or fail to turn on while driving despite new bulbs and checked fuses. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 130,000 miles, with some incidents at highway speed and on hot days.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether crank/cam sensors or the ignition switch have been replaced, and check that all exterior lights work and stay on during a test drive, including at night if possible.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The headlights intermittently shutoff or will not turn on while driving. I have replaced the bulbs, checked for a loose connections, and checked the fuses many times. This is okay during the day, however I live out in the country 15 minutes from the nearest town. I cannot drive at night without headlights or with the possibility that they will shutoff while driving. This is extremely dangerous. I have been lucky so far that nothing serious has happened but this is a problem that must be fixed! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10359884, filed 2010-10, 62,000 miles

   “I have a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan. While not a GM vehicle, I have experience the same issue with the ignition as has been reported on the GM vehicles. I have had seven incidents. The issues involves vehicle losing all power. All gauges will drop to zero and steering will be lost. I have had to switch the vehicle over to neutral and pull over to the side of the road. Upon shutting off the vehicle and restarting, the vehicle starts fine. After hearing about the GM recall, I took all excess keys off of my key chain. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10576073, filed 2014-03, 112,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Sliding doors, locks and interior lights failing

   • 31 complaints (17%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2020

   Owners report power sliding doors that stick open or stop working intermittently, power locks that quit on the rear sliding doors, and interior reading lights whose housings melt or burn around the bulb. Complaints describe dealers declining to act when the fault could not be reproduced, or quoting a replacement assembly at the owner's cost. Reported from around 13,000 to 91,000 miles, with door faults often intermittent.

   What to check: Operate both sliding doors and their locks several times, and inspect the interior light housings for melting or discoloration.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The interior in the front of the vehicle went out. When I took it out to replace it, and it was melted on one side. That happened to me with the other side of the front interior lights, around 2011 and when I went to the dealership I was told I would have to buy the whole assembly at a cost of about $150.00 I think. I asked then if there had been a recall on this and was told no. I asked what would cause the light to melt and he said he did not know. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10661990, filed 2014-12, 86,538 miles

   “My daughter got her thumb in the way of the power sliding door of our Dodge Grand Caravan and the door shut completely on her thumb. I thought the door was supposed to open back up if there was something in the way of it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10228240, filed 2008-05, 14,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Air bag warning lights and air bags not deploying

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2017

   Complaints describe the air bag warning indicator flashing or staying lit, with diagnoses of an occupant restraint module or seat sensor failure; in one case the warning returned after a module replacement. Other owners report that air bags did not deploy in a collision, and one says a collision shop found the air bag sensors disconnected and corroded. Reported from about 65,000 to 134,000 miles, in collisions as well as during ordinary driving.

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light comes on with the key and then goes out, and ask for any records of restraint module or seat sensor repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On or about december 2017, a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan was traveling nb on the interstate and was hit from the rear by a larger vehicle. Both the driver and front passenger were wearing their seat belts and traveling 50-55 MPH. After being impacted from the rear, the vehicle spun 360 degrees. After the spin, the van was impacted directly head on, in the front, on the passenger side, by a 4 door sedan. The air bags failed to deploy and both the driver and passenger seat belts failed to lock the occupants to their seats. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11056329, filed 2017-12, 134,121 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the driver and passenger air bag indicators flashed on and off. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10905794, filed 2016-09, 110,000 miles

Buying note. Confirm the post-refuel stalling symptom on a test drive right after filling the tank, and check transmission, electrical and air bag service history. Many of these complaints involve older, higher-mileage vans, so records of prior repairs matter more than the 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.