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Dodge Grand CaravanModel year report

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

Compared with other Dodge Grand Caravan years

Typical for this model

41/100 0.8× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
530filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
80,000miles, 381 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.6L 6-cyl · flex-fuel FWD · 17 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan most often report stalling, intermittent no-start conditions, and erratic electrical behavior, frequently traced by shops to the fuel pump relay inside the TIPM (total integrated power module). Complaints cluster in the 60,000-150,000 mile range, and a separate recurring theme involves power sliding doors that stick locked, sometimes trapping passengers in the rear.

  1. Electrical system

    Stalls, no-start and fuel pump relay / TIPM problems

    • 297 complaints (56%)
    • median 84,100 mi at 6.1 yrs old (241 state mileage)
    • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,022 (median of 58 quotes)
    • filed 2011–2024

    Complaints describe intermittent no-crank/no-start conditions, engines that crank repeatedly without firing, and vans that shut off while driving, sometimes at highway speed. Several owners say a shop traced the problem to the fuel pump relay inside the TIPM and that replacing the whole module or installing a bypass was needed; others report fuel pumps replaced first without resolving the issue. Some describe the fuel pump continuing to run after the key is removed and draining the battery. Reported across a wide mileage span, with many complaints between roughly 60,000 and 160,000 miles, and some appearing with no warning during normal driving.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the TIPM has been replaced or a fuel pump relay bypass installed, and request repair receipts. Check that the fuel pump stops running after the key is removed and that the van restarts reliably when warm.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My Grand Caravan has issues starting, it just cranks and does not start. I had a Dodge mechanic check it out and he found it had the common issue of a bad fuel pump relay in the tipm. This same issue exists in the durango of the same year and it has a recal, why tfk aren't the caravans included. It's the same fix installing an external relay bypassing the one on the tipm.”

    NHTSA complaint #10810180, filed 2015-12, 58,000 miles

    “Tipm - total integrated power module failure. Car intermittently won't start, keeps the fuel pump on draining the battery, radio won't work, air conditioning. I replaced the battery the first time it drained it thinking the battery went bad. Cost me 3 times in towing charges. Felt like it was stalling while driving a few times. Can only be repaired at the dealer's and they say it is over $1,500 to repair.”

    NHTSA complaint #11387944, filed 2021-01, 50,000 miles
  2. Electrical system

    Van shuts off while driving / electrical supply faults

    • 314 complaints (59%)
    • median 81,301 mi at 6.2 yrs old (212 state mileage)
    • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 47 quotes)
    • filed 2011–2026

    Owners describe the van losing power and dying on the road, with dash lights flashing, power steering dropping out, or wipers, windows, locks and horn operating on their own. In several cases the battery warning light came on and the alternator was found burned out; in others the dealer replaced batteries, alternators or the PCM before the TIPM was identified. Some report the fault could not be reproduced at the dealership. Often reported between about 50,000 and 150,000 miles, with events occurring at both city and highway speeds.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Have the charging system and battery load-tested and ask for any history of alternator, battery or TIPM replacement. Note whether dash gauges, wipers or door locks behave erratically on a test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving on the road at about 30 MPH going straight (with my wife/kids) and the car just turned off completely. There was no electrical, no propulsion, power steering went out. The electrical blinked on and off a couple times like it was trying to come back on but I had to pull over (luckily we were on a rural road) and turn the car off and back on.”

    NHTSA complaint #11414748, filed 2021-05, 110,000 miles

    “The van simply shuts off while driving. I was on a 6 lane highway going 40 MPH and the engine shutdown. All electrical including the dash quit working. I was able to pull over and restart the car. Several miles down the road it happened again.”

    NHTSA complaint #10894199, filed 2016-08, 100,410 miles
  3. Engine

    Engine misfire, oil filter housing leaks and lifter noise

    Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe a persistent misfire code that remains after plugs, coils and injectors are replaced, and oil leaks traced to a cracked engine oil filter housing, which one shop described as a frequent repair. Others report a ticking or grinding engine noise and, in one case, a mechanic attributing loss of compression to a lifter. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 200,000 miles.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Look for oil residue or puddles under the front of the engine near the filter housing, listen for ticking at start-up, and ask whether misfire codes or the oil filter adapter have been addressed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “For the past year or so we have had check engine light on and off and have had it checked at Dodge dealerships and private mechanics. The code they kept coming up was a general code of misfire so Dodge convinced us to get the spark plugs fixed and to do fuel cleaner to our fuel tank because it was probably that . After the fixes were made as a result of what Dodge told us to do, the same problems continued to occur. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10898898, filed 2016-08, 93,000 miles

    “Found a puddle of oil in my driveway, took to mechanic, informed me the engine oil filter housing was broken, and he had 10 of these recently. Also told me when he contacted dealer for parts, they said this is a common occurrence, thats why they keep a lot in stock.”

    NHTSA complaint #11302748, filed 2020-01, 100,000 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Power sliding doors stuck locked or inoperative

    • 44 complaints (8%)
    • median 83,500 mi at 7.1 yrs old (36 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2011–2023

    Complaints describe one or both power sliding doors failing to unlock or open by the interior button, key fob or manually, and actuators that buzz loudly then stick. In some cases the rear door would not open at all with passengers inside, requiring them to climb through the front. Owners report paying for actuator replacement at body shops. Mostly reported between roughly 85,000 and 150,000 miles.

    What to check: Cycle both sliding doors several times with the button, fob and manual handle, and confirm the child locks and interior releases work. Ask whether either door actuator has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Driver's side sliding door will not unlock manually, with button, or with key fob. I have tried unlocking the door while driving, in park, and when turned off. I have tried unlocking the door manually and the lock is stuck in the locked position.”

    NHTSA complaint #11301712, filed 2020-01, 146,000 miles

    “Both sliding doors were working fine, then one day the driver's sliding door just froze--can't open it electronically or manually. The lock is stuck in the locked position and the power door lock switch won't move that door's lock to the 'unlock' position. When you try to move the lock/unlock button/lever on that sliding door, it's stuck in the locked position--even with a bunch of force I can't move the lever to the unlocked position--I feel like I'm going to break the lever if I force it too much.”

    NHTSA complaint #11331608, filed 2020-06, 128,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection with a scan for stored codes and a check of the TIPM and sliding door operation is worthwhile on this model year, and receipts showing past electrical or relay work help show what has already been addressed. Price in the possibility of electrical diagnosis and repair, since these complaints commonly involve dealer-level module work.

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.

NHTSA recorded 530 consumer complaints for the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. 381 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 17 a fire, 17 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 86 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 11 Dodge Grand Caravan model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 41 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Steering (15), Vehicle speed control (15), Tires (7), Exterior lighting (6), Engine cooling (5), Seat belts (5), Latches, locks and linkages (4), Seats (3), Suspension (3), Wheels (3), Equipment (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “When driving, the van will start shaking and shut down. This has happened while in park too. Also, when van won't start, we open up the fuse box and sometimes just by putting your hand on the fuse box the electrical system will start-up then we can cycle the van on. This has happened while parked outside the bank and while at a red light in traffic.”

NHTSA complaint #11210417, filed 2019-05, 120,000 miles

Fuel system: “The tipm in our van has failed, it is a known and common issue for chrysler and they refuse to acknowledge the issue or do anything to fix the issue. It causes multiple electrical system failures and ultimately renders the engine useless at random times when the relay fails. My car will no longer start due to the failure of this part, and the known issues with it.”

NHTSA complaint #11120123, filed 2018-08, 110,000 miles

Engine: “The horn honks and the doors lock whenever they feel like it. Scared it will lock my kids in the vehicle. It started on its own last night. We had to unhook battery of fear it would start again. The tipm is causing the vehicle to do random things it wouldnt normally do. Like shut off while operating with no notice or just not start.”

NHTSA complaint #11170714, filed 2019-01, 95,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I had complaints of transmission problems since I bought the van. It has no power going in reverse, and it would hard shift from a stop. I took it in twice before the clutch broke. I had to have the transmission rebuilt because that is what they suggested. You need to look into transmission problems in this van.”

NHTSA complaint #10946460, filed 2017-01, 113,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 381 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 54,653 and 104,000 miles.

6%0–103%10–2512%25–5022%50–7527%75–10022%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (381 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 80,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’12’14119’16’18’20’22’24’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Grand Caravan · VAN FWDnot rated———4 · 16.4% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Grand Caravan FWD3.6L 6-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic172520$3,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 86 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 86 bulletins →

Other model years of the Dodge Grand Caravan

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20202040,5001420—Rising
201924550,226442032 · FewerRising
201827153,000442028 · FewerStable
201741463,103342028 · FewerFalling
20161,00265,965642071 · MoreFalling
201528170,000442018 · FewerFalling
201435962,000542055 · TypicalFalling
201347286,065442051 · TypicalFalling
201258492,000642049 · TypicalFalling
201153080,0004—2041 · TypicalFalling
201087075,0006—1982 · MoreFalling
200954475,0007——66 · MoreFalling
20081,29370,1858——93 · MoreFalling
200718271,7252——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200628460,0223——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200599565,0005——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200411683,0001——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200321949,0002——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200229048,0005——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200129862,0003——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200044279,8905——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
199943287,4353——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199855990,2004——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1997583102,0005——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19961,15799,6759——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
1995108126,2021——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1994199120,0004——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1993289136,9727——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
1992255161,5006——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1991129154,0336——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199055173,1780——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198924145,8960———Stable
198810126,0000———Not enough data

All Dodge Grand Caravan model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan?

Owners of the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan most often report stalling, intermittent no-start conditions, and erratic electrical behavior, frequently traced by shops to the fuel pump relay inside the TIPM (total integrated power module). The issues reported most often: Stalls, no-start and fuel pump relay / TIPM problems; Van shuts off while driving / electrical supply faults; Engine misfire, oil filter housing leaks and lifter noise.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan have?

NHTSA recorded 530 consumer complaints for the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 332 complaints (63% of the total), followed by fuel system with 137.

Has the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan (Grand Caravan, 3.6L 6-cyl · flex-fuel) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan reported?

Among the 381 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,000 miles and the middle half falls between 54,653 and 104,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.