DODGE CARAVAN · model year

2011 DODGE CARAVAN

112 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2011DODGECARAVAN carries 112 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 CARAVAN is electrical system with 53 filings, followed by engine (14) and fuel/propulsion system (12). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2011 CARAVAN, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

112
Complaints
1
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

112 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM53
ENGINE14
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM12
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)6
POWER TRAIN5
SERVICE BRAKES5
STEERING3
AIR BAGS3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
TIRES1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT1

Recent Complaints

20210825FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

The contact owns a 2011 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up without warning. Her father inspected under the hood and discovered that the wiring within the fuse box was melting due to the fuel pump relay. The contact went to an independent mechanic where she purchased jump wire cables and fuses. Her father repaired the vehicle and the vehicle resumed normal driving operation. Recently, while her son was stopped at a stop light, the vehicle began shaking and shut-off without warning. Her son was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure returned soon after start-up. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the replacement wires had started melting. Despite the failure, the contact's son was able to drive the vehicle home where it remained. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

20190305FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL PUMP RELAY FAULTY RESULTING IN HESITATION STALLING WHILE IN MOTION OR INABILITY IT START WHILE STATIONARY.

20190209UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NOT STARTING , STALLS, THEY SAID THE TIPM 1500.00 REPAIR. SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 87,000

20181214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SLIDING DOORS WILL OPEN AUTOMATICALLY AS I'M DRIVING. HEATER STAYS STUCK ON ON. WHILE DRIVING THE VAN WILL SHUT OFF. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN I HAVE 4 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VAN WITH ME.

20180808ENGINE

WHILE COMING TO A RED LIGHT THE ENGINE JUST STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS.

Mileage: 99,158

20180808FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE COMING TO A RED LIGHT THE ENGINE JUST STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS.

Mileage: 99,158

20180711ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE TIPN IS BAD. WE HAVE SEVERAL DODGE CARAVANS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

20180619SERVICE BRAKES

I BOUGHT THIS MINIVAN IN 2011. I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH SO IT CURRENTLY HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT. NONETHELESS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS 4 TIMES (MAYBE 5) SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. I JUST HAD THEM REPLACED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER, AND YET 7 MONTHS LATER, I HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. I HAVE ONLY PUT SOME 3,000 MILES ON IT SINCE THE LAST REPLACEMENT. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG. THE BRAKES BEGAN SQUEAKING AND VERY QUICKLY (LIKE A DAY OR TWO WITHOUT MY HARDLY DRIVING IT) TO THE ROTORS BEING GONE AS MY PEDALS ARE VIBRATING. I KNOW OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS HERE AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NOT TO MENTION, INCREDIBLY COSTLY TO KEEP UP WITH THESE COSTS THAT I CANNOT AFFORD.

Mileage: 35,000

20180605SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO OPERATING, THE ABS AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COVERT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (8107 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758, (512) 371-6863), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 280,000

20180605ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO OPERATING, THE ABS AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COVERT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (8107 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758, (512) 371-6863), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 280,000

20180517ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REAR A/C EVAPORATOR IS BAD, NEEDING REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS 57000 MILES.

20180517UNKNOWN OR OTHER

REAR A/C EVAPORATOR IS BAD, NEEDING REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS 57000 MILES.

20180123ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR 2 HOURS, WHEN RETURNING HOME AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, I HEARD WHIRLING NOISES COMING FROM MY FUEL TANK. UPON MOVING THE VEHICLE, 30 MINUTES LATER, THE VAN EXPERIENCED A ROUGH START. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. AFTER JUMPING OFF THE VEHICLE, IT RAN SMOOTHLY BUT I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

Mileage: 35

20171228ENGINE

THE VAN IS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING UP IT'S LIKE THE STARTER IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL AND MY THERMOMETER JUST WENT OUT ONE DAY MY VAN WOULD NOT WORK. I GOT HOME FROM WORK WENT IN THE HOUSE CAM E BACK OUT TO GO TO OTHER STORE AND THE REMOTE WOULDN'T WORK THE VEHICLE I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK SO MESSED AROUND WITH THE FUSE BOX AND AND AFTER I DONE THAT IT STARTED RIGHT UP I ALSO HAD TO BYPASS THE TIPM SO THAT THE VAN WOULD START PROPERLY AND NOT MAKE MY STARTER STICK

20171228FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE VAN IS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING UP IT'S LIKE THE STARTER IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL AND MY THERMOMETER JUST WENT OUT ONE DAY MY VAN WOULD NOT WORK. I GOT HOME FROM WORK WENT IN THE HOUSE CAM E BACK OUT TO GO TO OTHER STORE AND THE REMOTE WOULDN'T WORK THE VEHICLE I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK SO MESSED AROUND WITH THE FUSE BOX AND AND AFTER I DONE THAT IT STARTED RIGHT UP I ALSO HAD TO BYPASS THE TIPM SO THAT THE VAN WOULD START PROPERLY AND NOT MAKE MY STARTER STICK

20171228POWER TRAIN

THE VAN IS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING UP IT'S LIKE THE STARTER IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL AND MY THERMOMETER JUST WENT OUT ONE DAY MY VAN WOULD NOT WORK. I GOT HOME FROM WORK WENT IN THE HOUSE CAM E BACK OUT TO GO TO OTHER STORE AND THE REMOTE WOULDN'T WORK THE VEHICLE I REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK SO MESSED AROUND WITH THE FUSE BOX AND AND AFTER I DONE THAT IT STARTED RIGHT UP I ALSO HAD TO BYPASS THE TIPM SO THAT THE VAN WOULD START PROPERLY AND NOT MAKE MY STARTER STICK

20171209VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE SPEED CONTROL FAILED TO TURN OFF WHEN THE CANCEL BUTTON WAS PRESSED. THE SPEED CONTROL WAS TURNED ON AND THE INDICATOR/LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING. AS I APPROACHED A STOPLIGHT AT ABOUT 60 MPH, I PRESSED THE CANCEL BUTTON BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. AT THIS TIME I SAW THAT THE CRUISE INDICATOR WAS NOT SHOWING. I PRESSED THE CANCEL SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE CRUISE WAS STILL ENGAGED. I THEN TAPPED THE BRAKE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED. FROM THIS TIME ON WHEN I TRIED THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD SOMETIMES TURN ON AND SOMETIMES NOT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH. PROBLEM I SEE IS THAT THE CRUISE WAS ENGAGED, WITHOUT ANY INDICATOR LIGHT, AND WOULD NOT CANCEL.

Mileage: 40,500

20171208ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (GARDEN CITY JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE RAM, 283 N. FRANKLIN STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE WIN MODULE AND POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WERE DETERMINED TO BE THE FAILED COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IT WAS THEN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIPM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT UPDATED 8/16/18*JB

Mileage: 92,000

20171208POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (GARDEN CITY JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE RAM, 283 N. FRANKLIN STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE THE WIN MODULE AND POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WERE DETERMINED TO BE THE FAILED COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IT WAS THEN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIPM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT UPDATED 8/16/18*JB

Mileage: 92,000

20171004ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY VECHILE WAS NOT TURNING WE TRIED TO TURN IT ON SEVERAL TIME AND IT GIVES US A CLICKING SOUND AND THEN A FUEL SENSOR INDICATED . WHICH IT HAS GAS I DON'T KNOW WHAT WRONG WITH IT.

Compare 2011DODGECARAVAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2011 DODGE CARAVAN have?
The 2011 DODGE CARAVAN has 112 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 DODGE CARAVAN?
The most-complained component for the 2011 DODGE CARAVAN is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 53 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2011 DODGE CARAVAN safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.