2019 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Grand Caravan most often describe power sliding door lock and actuator problems, transmission trouble (hard shifting, slipping, loss of drive, sometimes requiring replacement), and electrical glitches such as dash and accessory behavior. Engine complaints cluster around cylinder misfires on the 3.6 V6 at moderate mileage, and the front headrests are reported to deploy without a crash. Many complaints come in between roughly 30,000 and 100,000 miles, mixing early failures with wear-related ones.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Power sliding door will not lock or open

   • 90 complaints (37%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 11 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report that one or both power sliding doors stop locking, unlock on their own, or fail to open from the key fob, the overhead button or the handle. Several describe a buzzing or clicking noise from the door before it quits, and dealers commonly diagnose a failed lock actuator or locking mechanism. Some were told the repair was not covered, while others later received a warranty extension notice for the sliding door power locks. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 125,000 miles, with many under 60,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors through lock, unlock, remote and overhead-button operation and listen for buzzing or clicking. Ask whether the sliding door power lock warranty extension (XV1) has been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Passenger side sliding door no longer locks without locking it by hand. My children can open the door while we are driving because it doesn't lock unless I reach over and lock it by hand. I have to unlocked it as well by hand to get the kids out. To use that door, I have to unlock the front door, reach back and unlock the door.”

   NHTSA complaint #11390742, filed 2021-01, 50,000 miles

   “The passenger sliding door no longer locks. The locking mechanism is stuck in the unlock position. The vehicle cannot be secured 😫. Before the lock stopped working it made a buzzing sound a couple of times and stopped working. I just realized this when my daughter opened the door without me opening the driver's door first. It was stationary the first time then the second time it buzzed the van was jn motion on a city street.”

   NHTSA complaint #11377852, filed 2020-12, 39,500 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, hard shifting, loss of drive

   • 46 complaints (19%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,158 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe the van jerking or bucking, hesitating when the accelerator is pressed, downshifting on its own, revving high or slipping into neutral while driving. Some owners were told the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced, and a few report repeated replacements with the problem returning. Others mention low or missing transmission fluid and a failed internal pump or rear seal. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 140,000 miles, with a few at much lower mileage.

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed and from a stop, watching for hesitation, harsh shifts or rev flare; check transmission fluid level and color, and ask for any transmission service or replacement records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During the course of driving van skips/slips then will start decreasing speed but then will pick back up. This happens on city streets or highways it does not matter. Started in july to present.”

   NHTSA complaint #11321203, filed 2020-04, 4 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle shifted into neutral and stalled. The RPM increased to HIGH. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormal whistling noise detected. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11583264, filed 2024-04, 75,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical glitches: dash, wipers, battery warnings

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report intermittent electrical faults such as windshield wipers running on their own, turn signals or backup camera failing, gauges dropping, seat belt reminders not recognizing occupants, and occasional loss of power steering and braking assist that clears after a restart. Some dealers could not duplicate the faults; a service bulletin covers charging or battery warning lamps related to the battery sensor. Scattered across the range, from under 10,000 miles to over 130,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all gauges, wipers, signals and the backup camera work, ask about any battery or charging warning repairs, and confirm whether battery sensor or PCM software updates were performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Second time my van has lost electrical and brakes. Today I was in the drive thru, curving around the building to the left, slight hill at turn. Again, gas gauge goes to empty, this time half of the dashboard is on, no brakes. Was able to turn van off and restart. Towed again to the dealership. This is a major safety malfunction and life threatening!”

   NHTSA complaint #11351506, filed 2020-08, 35,000 miles

   “7/21/2020 - driving through a left turn on a main road and lost all electric- steering, brakes, dashboard. Coasted to the left turn lane. Applied pressure to brakes, but was still rolling. Had to throw it into park to stop an accident from happening. Turned van off and restarted van. Drove to the gas station across the street and had it towed. I had five children in my van, this major safety malfunction could have killed all of us. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11342717, filed 2020-08, 34,500 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Cylinder misfire and rough running (3.6 V6)

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a check engine light with a misfire code, usually on cylinder 2, along with rough idle, vibration at highway speed and poor acceleration. Reported repairs include spark plugs, coils, injectors, and in some cases cam, rocker and lifter work or a cylinder head; several say the misfire returned after repair. Some owners report being told by dealers that no known problem exists or that fuel quality was the cause. Often reported between about 40,000 and 105,000 miles.

   What to check: Have a scan tool check for stored misfire codes and pending codes, and listen for rough idle; ask whether plugs, coils or a cylinder head have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. 3.6 pentastar engine. 60k miles. For over a year it has rough idle and engine vibration at hwy speed. Misfire on cylinder #2 does not go away. Always returns. Have replaced coils, plugs twice and injectors. #2 cylinder misfire still throws engine light. Went to and called Dodge dealer several times about problem. They claim there are no known issues, problems or recalls. They keep trying to tell me it's bad fuel and I should use higher grade fuel. I've done that as well and the misfire on #2 cylinder is always there. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11373136, filed 2020-11, 49,000 miles

   “P0302 causing a cylinder 2 misfire. Seems like a very common problem for this van. Still under warranty. Happens when idling in drive in a drive through or stopped at a red light. Code keeps coming back. This needs to be a recal and hold chrysler accountable my van is only 2 years old. With 40k on it”

   NHTSA complaint #11397042, filed 2021-02, 40,169 miles
5. 5
   Seats

   Front headrests deploy without a crash

   • 19 complaints (8%)
   • median 69,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the front seat headrest deploying outward on its own while parked or driving at low speed, sometimes striking the occupant. Dealers diagnosed a failed headrest restraint needing replacement, and one owner said a headrest sensor failure kept the airbag warning light on. Some owners were told the repair was not covered by warranty. Reported from about 48,000 to 139,000 miles in the sample.

   Recall 19V759000

   What to check: Inspect both front headrests for cracked plastic or a loose feel and check that the airbag warning light goes out after start-up. Recall 19V759000 concerns second- and third-row seat striker welds, a separate matter.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan I was parked in my driveway and my headrest deployed and hit me in the back of the head,I called my Dodge dealer and was informed its not cover under warranty. The vehicle never been in a accident, I dont understand how these headrests are still being allowed to be installed. Looking at it you can tell the plastic that holds the pin failed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415442, filed 2021-05, 48,525 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger's side headrest unexpectedly detached. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the passenger seat headrest restraint had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,249.”

   NHTSA complaint #11695219, filed 2025-10, 121,249 miles

Buying note. Check the sliding doors, transmission behavior and misfire history carefully on a test drive, and ask for service records showing whether door lock, battery sensor or PCM updates were applied. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for stored codes is worthwhile given the electrical and engine complaints.

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.