2018 Dodge Caravan problems

Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

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Common 2018 Dodge Caravan problems

The 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan has some common problems that owners have reported. One of the most widespread issues is the A/C system not blowing cold air, which is often caused by a leak in one of the A/C lines. This problem is particularly prevalent in the first 10,000 miles of ownership and can be fixed by repairing the leaking line and recharging the system with refrigerant, costing around $250.

Another issue that has been reported is rust forming on the hood of the vehicle. This problem is typically caused by paint that has been left outdoors and not properly cared for, leading to deterioration over time. The only way to address this issue is by repainting the affected areas, which can cost around $1,000 per panel.

In addition to these issues, some owners have reported transmission surging while going uphill, which can be caused by the transmission downshifting to get more power to the road. If the surging is excessive, it may be necessary to have the transmission reprogrammed, which can cost around $100.

There have also been reports of a cracked torque converter in the transmission, which can cause slipping and issues with gear shifting. Dodge has manufactured a repair kit to fix the fracture, but if the vehicle did not receive these repairs, it may be at risk for an expensive repair bill.

Furthermore, the stock headlights on the Dodge Grand Caravan have been reported to be noticeably dimmer than a standard vehicle headlight, with some consumers even complaining that they were nearly useless. To remedy this, new, higher wattage bulbs and a replacement of the regulator chip that was the cause of the recall may be necessary.

Finally, there have been reports of electrical issues with the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan, including power locks that regularly fail and stalling that can occur at highway speeds, which can be incredibly dangerous. This could be due to a faulty voltage regulator chip, and 24-hour roadside assistance is available for one year with Endurance Elite Benefits, which come standard with the purchase of every Endurance protection plan.

What problems does a 2018 Dodge Caravan have?

The 2018 Grand Caravan was also recalled for a bad gasket in the fuel tank that causes leaking and a faulty regulator chip that produced a number of reported electrical problems. These two issues combined have the potential to start a fire when the ignition engages.

What is the most common problem with the Dodge Caravan?

Some of the top Dodge Grand Caravan problems include shifting issues, a faulty Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM), and engine troubles.

How many miles will a 2018 Dodge Caravan last?

How Long Will the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan Last? A well-maintained 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan can last around 200,000 miles, which is about 100,000 miles less than the top-rated Toyota Sienna.

Are there any recalls on the 2018 Dodge Caravan?

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

What problems does a 2018 Dodge Caravan have?

What is the most common problem with the Dodge Caravan?

Some of the top Dodge Grand Caravan problems include shifting issues, a faulty Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM), and engine troubles.

How many miles will a 2018 Dodge Caravan last?

How Long Will the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan Last? A well-maintained 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan can last around 200,000 miles, which is about 100,000 miles less than the top-rated Toyota Sienna.

Is the Dodge Caravan reliable?

The Dodge Grand Caravan Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 2nd out of 8 for minivans. The average annual repair cost is $673 which means it has average ownership costs. The severity of repairs is average and the frequency of those issues is low, so major repairs are uncommon for the Grand Caravan.

2018 Dodge Caravan car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Dodge Caravan problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Structure problems
Latches/locks/linkages problems
Electrical system problems
Service brakes problems
Power train problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2018 Dodge Caravan vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2018 Dodge Caravan complaints

The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Dodge Caravan.

2022-03-23

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2022-03-15
Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Summary: The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated while getting into the vehicle, the passenger’s side sliding door would not open. The door was unable to unlock completely. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. The VIN was not available.

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2021-03-12

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2021-03-06
VIN: 2C4RDGBG5JR
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE
Summary: DRIVERS SLIDING DOOR WON'T OPEN. IT'S STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION WHICH MAKES IT A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. DOOR WORKED ONE EVENING BUT NEXT DAY WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR & IT WOULDN'T OPEN. PRESSING THE KEY FOB UNLOCK & THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DRIVERS DOOR DOESN'T DO ANYTHING. NO NOISE OR ANYTHING WHEN PRESSING UNLOCK BUTTON. FROM ALL THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE, IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE & SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

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2019-09-10

STRUCTURE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2019-09-10
Components: STRUCTURE
Summary: 2018 DODGE CARAVAN. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN GAS PEDAL AND THE SPACE BETWEEN STEERING COLUMN IS TOO WIDE AND MAY TRAP A FINGER MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER VEHICLE. *LD *JS

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2019-05-28

SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2019-05-24
Number Of Injuries: 1
Crash: 1
VIN: 2C4RDGCG8JR
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Summary: MY WIFE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR. SHE CALLED ME AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE POLICE HAD BEEN CALLED. I ARRIVED AT THE SCENE SHORTLY AFTER THE POLICE. MY WIFE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP ACCORDING TO HER. SHE WAS NOT DISTRACTED AND FELT LIKE THE VAN SHE WAS DRIVING HAD AMPLE ROOM TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING UP AN INCLINE ON A HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE VEHICLE MY WIFE HAD THE WRECK IN IS A RENTAL VEHICLE, HOWEVER; SHE HAD DRIVEN IT FOR THREE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE ACCIDENT. THE UNFAMILIARITY OF THE RENTAL COULD HAVE HAD A PART TO PLAY IN THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER; THE STOP WAS ON AN INCLINE AND IT SEEMS TO ME THE INCLINE WOULD HAVE HELPED WITH THE STOP AND SOMEWHAT COUNTERACTED SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CAR. MY WIFE SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SWELLING IN THE ANKLES, KNEES AND WRISTS AS WELL AS SOME NECK INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. I AM NOT AWARE OF THE INJURIES OF THE OTHER PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT TO REDIRECT BLAME OF THE ACCIDENT TO THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THESE VANS HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BRAKING DISTANCE FALLING OUTSIDE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS. A FLAW IN THE BRAKING MAY NOT HAVE CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT BUT, FROM A LOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, GIVEN THE FACTS MY WIFE'S REPORT OF THE INCIDENT AND READING THE RECALL DETAILS FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL VAN, IT IS A DEFINITE POSSIBILITY. MY HOPE IS THAT THE WRECK WAS NOT THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING FLAW AND THAT THE DRIVERS OF THESE VANS ARE SAFE WITH NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. THANK YOU

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2019-04-12

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2019-04-09
Number Of Injuries: 1
Crash: 1
Components: POWER TRAIN
Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, IT SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED AWAY ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT ANKLE, TWO TORN LIGAMENTS, PAIN IN THE LEFT LEG AND BACK, AND BRUISES ON THE TORSO AND RIGHT LEG. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AIRPORT AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD BE NOTIFIED TO SEND SOMEONE TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,600.

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2018 Dodge Caravan problems:

The 2018-2020 Dodge Caravan. What's wrong with it? : r ...

https://www.reddit.com/r/whatcarshouldIbuy/comments/t2vxff/the_20182020_dodge_caravan_whats_wrong_with_it/

Feb 27, 2022 ... Dodge was never all that well known for it's reliability, or Chrysler as a company for that matter, although there are obviously some exceptions ...

Unreliable Vehicles To Avoid: 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan ...

https://www.endurancewarranty.com/learning-center/make-model/unreliable-vehicles-to-avoid-2018-dodge-grand-caravan/

Feb 12, 2024 ... One of the most common consumer complaints with the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan is a cracked torque converter in the transmission. This can cause ...

2018 Dodge Grand Caravan Review, Problems, Reliability, Value ...

https://www.vehiclehistory.com/report/dodge/grand-caravan/2018

Jan 11, 2023 ... Terrible city mileage and the transmission has problems deciding what gear to be in so it is constantly fluctuating wasting gas and burning up ...

2018 Dodge Grand Caravan Reliability - Consumer Reports

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/dodge/grand-caravan/2018/reliability/

Owner Reported Trouble Spots · Transmission Major · Electrical Accessories · Exhaust · Climate System · Engine Major · Engine Electrical · Transmission Minor.