2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan most often write about the front active head restraints, which in many reports deploy or come apart with no impact, and about a plastic engine oil filter housing that cracks and lets oil escape. Electrical complaints are the largest group overall and cluster around the van shutting off or stalling while driving, while power sliding door latch and actuator failures and intermittent airbag warning lights round out the common themes. Reports span a wide mileage range, with many arriving between roughly 60,000 and 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Seats

   Active head restraint deploys or breaks apart

   • 64 complaints (18%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (39 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the front head restraint popping open or deploying with a loud bang when there was no collision, sometimes while the van was parked and switched off and sometimes while driving. Several say the head restraint struck the driver or passenger, or that the seat became uncomfortable and would not go back together because the plastic retaining parts had broken. Complaints describe contacting the dealer or manufacturer and, in several cases, being told the repair would be at the owner's expense. Reported across a wide range, from roughly 54,000 to over 120,000 miles, in parked and driving situations alike.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Sit in both front seats and press the head restraint to see whether it still locks and holds position; look for cracked plastic at the base of the headrest. Ask whether either front head restraint has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While parked overnight in on street parking in phoenix az, the passenger side front seat headrest deployed without any reason. My van was not struck or hit with or by anything. The Dodge dealership refuses to replace or repair it at no charge. I would like to have the headrest repaired if possible or replaced if repair is not probable. Thank you”

   NHTSA complaint #11351801, filed 2020-08, 101,835 miles

   “I was driving down the road between 45-50 MPH when something hit me really hard in the back of my head. I pulled over and saw that my headrest had popped apart. When I looked this up I saw that it is a known problem and part of the headrest restraint system. I was not in an accident, rear ended or hit in any way and the road was a smooth road.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353234, filed 2020-09, 86,774 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 52 complaints (14%)
   • median 55,660 mi at 5.1 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the van losing power, stalling or shutting off without warning while driving or while decelerating to a stop, sometimes with loss of power steering and power brakes. Some owners had the ignition switch or keys replaced, others were told the cause might be a module, and several report the engine cut off again after repair. A few mention the key fob sticking in the ignition. Reported from about 35,000 to over 175,000 miles, with many in the 60,000 to 100,000 mile range and often at lower speeds or while slowing.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, keys or any electrical modules were replaced, and whether the van has ever cut out or needed a restart. Have a mechanic read stored fault codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Last night I was coming home and the car turned off by itself while I was waiting for the traffic light to change so I placed it in park and started it again it's running but I'm not sure what happened and concerns me because this our family.(my kids were in too).”

   NHTSA complaint #11354546, filed 2020-09, 62,000 miles

   “February 2020: van turned itself off while city driving about 25mph and restarted after coasting to curb. March 2020 van failed to start at home, starter motor working but engine wouldn't start. Mechanic replaced fuel pump and fuel pump relay after many days and great difficulty obtaining parts. June 2020 van engine wouldn't start, as before, and was towed to mechanic.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327779, filed 2020-06, 65,678 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Power sliding door fails to latch or opens

   • 23 complaints (6%)
   • median 82,500 mi at 6.3 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2025

   Owners describe power sliding doors that buzz loudly, fail to latch securely or refuse to open, occasionally showing a door-ajar message while driving. Some say the vehicle would not lock as intended or that the door had to be held shut with a strap, and dealers reportedly diagnosed a faulty door actuator or latch. Reported from roughly 67,000 to 235,000 miles, on both passenger and driver side doors.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors through open and close several times with the remote and the handles, and listen for buzzing or repeated failed latch attempts. Confirm the door-ajar warning stays off once closed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear passenger sliding door makes a loud buzzing sound and sometimes refuses to close. I have seen many complaints for the caravans and chrysler town and country minivans with the same issue. The buzzing sound sounds like an air compressor running. The doors look as though it latches but comes back unmatched. I'm reading that this would be the lock actuator. I always double check that the door is closed but I'm afraid I will be in a hurry and the door will come open while my children are riding in the back.”

   NHTSA complaint #11320256, filed 2020-04, 111,000 miles

   “Drivers side sliding door completely shut. Won't open remotely nor manually. I've read too many complaints on this matter . Manufacture should take responsibility and do a recall for free repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #11322219, filed 2020-04, 67,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light stays on

   • 42 complaints (12%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (33 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners report the airbag or SRS warning light staying on, or switching on and off with bumps, braking, turning or seat adjustment. In some complaints a mechanic traced it to airbag wiring and rewired or recommended replacing the harness, with one owner told by a dealer that the harness was being redesigned. Typically reported between about 64,000 and 147,000 miles, often intermittently and tied to movement over bumps or seat adjustment.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag light goes out after the bulb-check at startup, and rock the front seats while watching the dash to see whether the light flickers. Ask whether the airbag wiring or clock spring has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Airbag light is on have never been in a car accident and it's not snowing where I'm at there's no reason it should be on and when I move the seat back and forth the light will go off or on when adjusting the seat. And the car could be stationary or moving when I adjust the seat for the light to go on.”

   NHTSA complaint #11361023, filed 2020-09, 91,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the SRS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic rewired of the air bag wiring harness, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic a second time, and the mechanic stated that the wiring harness needed to be replaced and advised the contact to reach out to the local dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11519878, filed 2023-05, 80,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Cracked plastic oil filter housing leaks oil

   • 15 complaints (4%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2023

   Owners report finding oil on the ground or a sudden drop in oil level, with a mechanic identifying a cracked plastic oil filter housing or oil filter adapter as the source. In several complaints the vehicle was repaired at an independent shop rather than a dealer, and owners say the manufacturer or dealer offered no assistance. Mostly reported between about 78,000 and 130,000 miles, often noticed after the van was parked.

   8 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check for oil residue or staining on the underside near the oil filter area and ask whether the oil filter adapter or housing has been replaced. Watch the oil level between changes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact noticed oil on the floor of the garage. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the oil filter cooler housing fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11320656, filed 2020-04, 115,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan sxt. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle, the contact noticed that there was oil on the ground where the vehicle was moved from. The contact stated while driving the oil level decreased unexpectedly. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic for repairs. The manufacturer was notified of this failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000”

   NHTSA complaint #11306749, filed 2020-02, 78,000 miles

Buying note. Check both front head restraints and the airbag warning light closely, and look for oil leaks around the filter housing, since those are the symptoms owners of this model year report most. Ask for service records and have a mechanic read stored fault codes, especially if the van has ever stalled.

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.