2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe intermittent electrical faults — stalling, erratic wipers, lights and door locks, and keys that stick or fail to start the van. Many complaints mention the wireless ignition node recall and long waits for parts; a second large group describes premature brake wear, and a third concerns airbag warning lights tied to moisture near the airbag control module.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Intermittent stalling and electrical glitches

   • 828 complaints (64%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (457 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $790 (median of 22 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Complaints describe the van quitting without warning at low speeds, at stop signs or while turning, sometimes with all dash lights coming on, and restarting after a short wait. Owners also report wipers running on their own, flickering headlights, inoperative door locks and windows, speedometers dropping to zero, and instruments chiming or flashing. Several say a mechanic identified the ignition wireless node or the power distribution module (TIPM) as the source, and some dealers replaced starters or batteries without resolving it, while others waited long periods for backordered recall parts. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 25,000 to 180,000 miles, and often described as random — at rest, in traffic or at highway speed.

   Recall 14V373000Recall 10V2350002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the wireless ignition node recall (14V373000) was completed and if the TIPM or ignition module has been replaced. During a test drive, check that wipers, lights, horn and door locks behave correctly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The tipm goes out quite frequently in these. My van electrical system goes nuts on me, my headlights flash while I'm driving down the road, and it will just off while driving. When it shuts off I have no way to warn other vehicles because none of the lights work. I'm afraid I'm going to get into an accident because of this and it's a very costly fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #11394303, filed 2021-02, 55,000 miles

   “The van will did while I'm driving, very randomly. It also does when putting it in gear, also randomly. It doesn't happen every day or every time I drive. It happens in the middle of making a turn so I lose power steering. It's been happening for months now and is getting worse. I don't do much highway driving but it happens on city streets in stop and go traffic”

   NHTSA complaint #11302779, filed 2020-01, 151,500 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Premature brake pad and rotor wear

   • 224 complaints (17%)
   • median 27,800 mi at 2.7 yrs old (205 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $500 (median of 21 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2019

   Owners describe front and rear pads and rotors wearing out far earlier than expected, sometimes within 12,000 to 20,000 miles, with rotors resurfaced or replaced repeatedly. Several mention rear calipers seizing or not releasing so the pads drag, and some say the dealer called the brakes normal wear items or noted parts backordered because the problem is widespread. A few owners also report vibration or chatter through the brake pedal. Mostly reported at low mileage — many under 40,000 miles, some within the first 15,000 miles.

   Recall 09V351000

   What to check: Have a mechanic measure pad and rotor thickness and check that the rear calipers release freely. Ask for brake service records and whether the front brake warranty extension work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We purchase our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan new on 12/22/2008. We have had to get our front pads replaced and front rotors resurfaced at 20,306 miles and chrysler sent out a front brake limited warranty extension so we received a refund back minus the 50.00 deductible for this repair. However now we've had problems with our rear calipers & rear brakes which we would like to have our repair refunded or a recall done on this matter. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10371602, filed 2010-12, 35,827 miles

   “2008 Dodge Grand Caravan brake problems that are costing a fortune to repair. Constantly having to replace brake pads, rotors and now calipers on a van with 67,000 miles on it. Everytime I take my van in for service, I am told that the brakes have to be repaired immediately because the vehicle isn't safe to drive. I have three small children and safety is my number one concern, but I can not afford to keep putting money into this vehicle that is less than 2 years old. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10292267, filed 2009-11, 67,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Key sticks or van will not crank

   • 80 complaints (6%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (71 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners report the key not turning fully to off or not coming out of the ignition, and other times turning the key with only a click and no start, requiring several attempts or jiggling. Some say the vans start if shifted into neutral, and a few mention a cracked plastic key fob. Dealers replaced starters or batteries in some cases without fixing it. Reported from very low mileage up to about 130,000 miles, often recurring daily.

   Recall 14V373000

   What to check: Start the van several times cold and warm and confirm the key turns freely and releases. Ask whether the ignition switch or wireless node has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Was stuck with no way to start vehicle because plastic fob key was cracked and wouldn't start van. There's a recall on the plastic ignition module but parts are not yet available and this recall is from june 2014. The ignition switch has moved a few times while I was driving from on to acc. Causing hard brakes and steering. Luckily it was at low speeds and no traffic around. Called dealer to see if there's a way to start with metal door key and I was told no. Also dealer wants to charge me to fix even though there's a recall out on it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10649547, filed 2014-10, 133,122 miles

   “When the vehicle is turned off, the key gets stuck in the ignition. This happens at least once a day, and sometimes it happens every time the vehicle is turned off. The key will not turn all the way to the off position and has to be moved around and tried several times before it will turn and come out.”

   NHTSA complaint #10689978, filed 2015-02, 90,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light after moisture near module

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the airbag warning light staying on, in some cases after water from the air conditioning drain reached the occupant restraint control module. Some owners say they were told their van was not included in the related recall despite the symptom, while others note the airbag system stopped working normally alongside door lock problems. Generally reported at higher mileage, roughly 55,000 to 130,000 miles.

   Recall 11V394000Recall 10V611000Recall 16V0470002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm the airbag recalls for this model year were performed and check that the airbag light goes out after startup. Look for damp carpet or water stains near the passenger-side footwell and under the dash.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Has there been any airbag clock sensor recalls? When I am driving and make a turn the esp/bas light comes on and the anti-lock brakes activate. The system resets and comes on again each time I am driving and make a turn. Codes c1219,c123f,c123b,c2200,c123c are active and stored on computer of vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11302969, filed 2020-01, 155,500 miles

   “Electric door locks and air bag system have stopped functioning normally. When you first start driving, the electric door locks are supposed to lock at 15 MPH. Sometimes they will not lock until you are going 30 MPH or 45 MPH. Note that all three speeds are multiples of 15. After the doors eventually lock themselves, all of the door locks in the vehicle will unlock without warning as you are driving. This can happen at any speed - 20 MPH, 70 MPH, whatever. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11311727, filed 2020-02, 86,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Sliding door stuck or opening unexpectedly

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the power sliding door sticking shut or locked, unresponsive to the fob, overhead buttons or manual handles, and in other cases opening or stopping halfway on its own. One owner noted broken wires in the sliding track harness, and a recall for a wire harness near the door hinge is mentioned in the vehicle history. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 160,000 miles.

   Recall 10V235000

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors with the fob, the overhead switch and the handles, and inspect the wiring in the door track for chafing. Confirm the sliding door harness recall (10V235000) was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on the thruway with my family the van stalled twice without warning, although it would restart immediately and luckily there wasn't so much traffic. Have been having issues with dashboard lights(emergency brake, esp/bas, ABS & traction) coming on every time I turn on the van and start driving. The sliding doors either open by themselves or don't want to close, I have to repeatedly push the buttons to get it to close and also at times the door stops halfway and starts clicking. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10643976, filed 2014-10, 92,800 miles

   “Passenger side rear sliding door locks and will not unlock with key fob or unlock button on both front doors. It also will not open with a pull on the inside door handle. You have to manually unlock it on that door before it will open. I think this would cause a issue if I ever need to get my kids out in a hurry! Also this van has 30000 miles on it and it uses approximately 1-1/2 quart of oil every 1000 miles. Its not showing any sighs of leaking anywhere in the engine or under the van and not leaving any puddles anywhere. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10588154, filed 2014-05, 28,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the open recalls for this model year — particularly the ignition node and sliding door harness campaigns — were completed, and have the brakes and airbag warning light inspected before purchase. Service records showing whether the ignition module or power distribution module has already been replaced 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.