2012 Dodge Grand Caravan Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 1%of 584 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 115,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan, 1% of the 584 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 115,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Van won't start. No noise at all when I turn the key. The symptom is just like trying to start a car with an automatic transmission while the car is in drive, or there's no sound at all (the van has always been q inin park). Everything else powers up, radio, wipers, lights etc. The battery is new and the alternator is good. Dealership installed a new tipm and the car started for 1 week and died again. I'll never buy an american made vehicle again. Owned the van for 1 month and problem has happened 5 or 6 times previous to the last two times when the van wouldn't start at all.”
NHTSA complaint #11388212, filed 2021-01, 129,728 miles“Major problems with t.I.p. Module while driving at night the interior and head lights start to flicker and eventually go completely out. I have 5 kids and have been almost hit head on when this happens because it happens without warning. I have had to sit beside the road for hours waiting on my lights to come back on and sometimes they never have. This is a life threatening emergency and Dodge wont listen to me. This is extremely dangerous and it is getting to the point the car is undrivable. I was told it would be $1,400 to repair module and that is why they will not do anything about it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11218740, filed 2019-06, 115,000 miles“Major problems with t.I.p. Module while driving at night the interior and head lights start to flicker and eventually go completely out. I have 5 kids and have been almost hit head on when this happens because it happens without warning. I have had to sit beside the road for hours waiting on my lights to come back on and sometimes they never have. This is a life threatening emergency and Dodge wont listen to me. This is extremely dangerous and it is getting to the point the car is undrivable. I was told it would be $1,400 to repair module and that is why they will not do anything about it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11218741, filed 2019-06, 115,000 miles“While driving along the highway at night, I turned off the high beams because of an approaching car. The multifunction switch instantly failed; I was unable to activate the high beams again, my directional signals did not work and the windshield wipers began to wipe incessantly. I consider this to be a safety-related defect, because I could not signal my intentions to other drivers, nor could I use the high beams to improve visibility. On a two-year-old van with only 89,000 miles, this failure seems premature.”
NHTSA complaint #10653625, filed 2014-11, 89,000 miles“Tried to leave babysitter after 5 minute pickup and van wouldn't start. No power for anything like battery. Charge did not help. Slight click when you turn over key similar to starter but not as loud. Read all reviews for others and with tipm failure and their combined issues sounds like tipm. No power, won't start, shifts rough.”
NHTSA complaint #10781894, filed 2015-10, 17,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10221067Dec 15, 2014MIL Illumination: P0300, P0302, P0304 or P0306 (X56 Warranty Extension) This bulletin involves checking for excessive cylinder leakage and replacing the cylinder head if…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 5% |
| 2019 | 3 | 1% |
| 2016 | 3 | 0% |
| 2014 | 3 | 1% |
| 2013 | 5 | 1% |
| 2012 | 7 | 1% |
| 2011 | 6 | 1% |
| 2010 | 46 | 5% |
| 2009 | 3 | 1% |
| 2008 | 48 | 4% |
| 2007 | 11 | 6% |
| 2006 | 28 | 10% |
| 2005 | 150 | 15% |
| 2004 | 4 | 3% |
| 2003 | 15 | 7% |
| 2002 | 21 | 7% |
| 2001 | 48 | 16% |
| 2000 | 11 | 2% |
| 1999 | 13 | 3% |
| 1998 | 12 | 2% |
| 1997 | 20 | 3% |
| 1996 | 24 | 2% |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% |
| 1994 | 1 | 1% |
| 1993 | 2 | 1% |
| 1992 | 1 | 0% |
| 1991 | 5 | 4% |
| 1990 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan
337 complaintsEngine
119 complaintsFuel system
74 complaintsOther or unknown
60 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
48 complaintsBrakes
38 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaintsAir bags
18 complaintsElectronic stability control
18 complaintsSteering
14 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology