DODGE CARAVAN · model year

2013 DODGE CARAVAN

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

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013DODGECARAVAN carries 34 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 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 2013 CARAVAN is electrical system with 15 filings, followed by unknown or other (5) and vehicle speed control (2). 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 2013 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.

34
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

34 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 SYSTEM15
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ENGINE2
POWER TRAIN2
AIR BAGS2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1

Recent Complaints

20190516POWER TRAIN

FOOT GAS PEDAL IS LOCKED IN ONE SPEED.AT ENGINE RPM OF 1200. RPM DROPS TO 500 WHEN STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL. I .HAD TO PULL OVER AND HAVE IT TOWED.. NO RESPONSE USING GAS PEDAL.

Mileage: 890,000

20190329STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR SEIZED AND REMAINED STUCK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR, "UNLOCK DOOR TO OPEN" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED, BUT THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER THIS WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 48,000

20190326FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE HOWEVER 4 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A WEEK PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN CAUTIOUSLY TO A NEARBY ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WHERE ANTI-COOLANT WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MORE MILES AND POWERED OFF AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE BEING OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 8-9 HOURS, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND DRIVEN WHERE IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AGAIN. THE THERMOSTAT INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS HOT AND THERE WAS SMOKE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND EXHAUST PIPE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ODOR ENTERING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT MADE IT TO THEIR RESIDENCE AND LIFTED THE HOOD. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS RED FLUID ALL

Mileage: 78,000

20190319AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I'M NOT SURE IF MY AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THIS MANUFACTURER BUT LAST WEEK THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT POPPED ON AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS LATELY I'M WORRIED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING INTERESTING HE MAIL ABOUT A RECALL BUT I AM WORRIED THAT THIS MAY DEPLOY AT ANY MOMENT

20190319ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL I'M NOT SURE IF MY AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THIS MANUFACTURER BUT LAST WEEK THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT POPPED ON AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS LATELY I'M WORRIED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING INTERESTING HE MAIL ABOUT A RECALL BUT I AM WORRIED THAT THIS MAY DEPLOY AT ANY MOMENT

20190217ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE FUEL RELAY FAILED AND THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE IT IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUSE CIRCUIT BOARD ( TIPMS ) , AS IT IS SOLDERED INTO THE BOARD , SO INSTEAD OF COSTING $8 FOR A RELAY IT WILL COST $1500 TO $2000 ACCORDING TO DEALER QUOTES

Mileage: 72,000

20181213UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE ENGINE STOPS ABRUPTLY, RANDOMLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY DURING DRIVING, SOMETIMES ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS. THE COMPONENT THAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN AND HAS BEEN TROUBLESHOOTED BY CHRYSLER DODGE MECHANICS.THE PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE DRIVER LOSES CONTROL OF STEERING, BRAKING, ACCELERATION, AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DURING EVERY OCCURRENCE OF THIS FAILURE.

Mileage: 167,000

20180624CrashAIR BAGS

THIS PAST FRIDAY THE 22ND I WAS INVOLVE IN A ACCIDENT, IT WAS A BIG IMPACT FRONT DRIVER FENDER ,NONE OF THE AIR BAG WORKS ,MY WIFE GOT HURT IN THE HEAD ,NECK AND LEFT HAND WE WAS LEAVING GAS STATION GETTING TO THE ROAND WHEN CAR STRUCK MI MINIVAN...

Mileage: 1

20170917POWER TRAIN

WHILE IN MOTION THE TRANSMISSION GIVES A GRINDING NOISE. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DID A $1600 REPAIR, WHEN THE TRANS SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, AND A $500 REPAIR, NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN.

Mileage: 61,000

20170525ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES, 3 WHEN TURNING RIGHT, IT JUST STALLS, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ONCE I PUT IT INTO PARK AND RESTART IT, IT GOES JUST FINE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS AS IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION AND DRIVING.

Mileage: 50,000

20170220ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

RIDING ON A HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 55-65MPH, THE ETC (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, FLASHED AND BEEPED. THE LIGHT WAS A RED LIGHTENING BOLT WITH LINES ON EITHER SIDE. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME, I WAS CRUISING AND OUT OF NO WHERE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THESE LIGHTS CAME ON. I REALIZED THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING, I HAD LOST POWER. I COASTED INTO THE NEXT DRIVE WHICH WAS A CHURCH. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT. I HAVE GONE ABOUT 100 MILES SINCE THAT HAPPENED AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. THE TCS (TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR) LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ETC LIGHT, WHICH IS A YELLOW LIGHT WITH A CAR AND ZIGZAG LINES UNDER THE CAR. UPON RESTART BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT. I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN UNDER MORE DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

Mileage: 64,000

20170220ENGINE

RIDING ON A HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 55-65MPH, THE ETC (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, FLASHED AND BEEPED. THE LIGHT WAS A RED LIGHTENING BOLT WITH LINES ON EITHER SIDE. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND ME, I WAS CRUISING AND OUT OF NO WHERE FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THESE LIGHTS CAME ON. I REALIZED THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING, I HAD LOST POWER. I COASTED INTO THE NEXT DRIVE WHICH WAS A CHURCH. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT. I HAVE GONE ABOUT 100 MILES SINCE THAT HAPPENED AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. THE TCS (TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR) LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ETC LIGHT, WHICH IS A YELLOW LIGHT WITH A CAR AND ZIGZAG LINES UNDER THE CAR. UPON RESTART BOTH LIGHTS WENT OUT. I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN UNDER MORE DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

Mileage: 64,000

20161128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TIPM TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE WENT OUT. THE VAN IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. WE KEEP IN MAINTAINED. IT IS A SHAME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED AS WE ARE STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE VEHICLE. WE WERE OUT OF TOWN AND HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO OUR TOWN TO BE PUT IN THE SHOP.

Mileage: 67,000

20160728UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY AIR CONDITIONING WENT ON THE CAR. MY MECHANIC STATED WHEN TRYING TO GET THE PARTS THAT 300 KITS FOR THIS CAR WERE SOLD IN ONE WEEK. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FIX THE CAR AS I HAD TO WAIT TWO DAYS FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN. HE STATED THAT THE PIPES WERE CHEAPLY MADE CAUSING THEM TO FUSE TO THE EVAPORATOR. IT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO TAKE APART. ALSO, 15,000 CARS IN THE PAST YEAR HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS? I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER AND AM GETTING NO WHERE. I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WITH ALL THE CARS AND KITS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST YEAR.

20160510UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE FLOOR MADE OF THIN PLASTIC COVER THE COMPARTMENT HIDE THE SEATS BROKEN IF YOU STEP INSIDE MADE A A HOLE RIGHT MEDILE SEAT , DOOR SAFTY LOCKER IT LOCKED DOWN AFTER YOU DRIVE ?? MOST DODGE CARAVAN I TRIED. SINCE 1996 THE TRANSMITION UNTILE NOW STOP SHIFTTING. CONTROL BY THE COMPUTER IT. START MOSTLY AFTER 50 K MILE

20160411STRUCTURE:BODY

MANUALLY OPERATED SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK MAKING THE DOOR UNABLE TO BE OPENED. HOWEVER DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE DOOR WILL OPEN ON ITS OWN. ONLY THE SAFETY LATCH KEEPS THE DOOR FROM OPENING ALL THE WAY. I CALLED DETROIT (800-423-6343 REP KAREN) AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. SHE HAD ME CALL THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AS THE CAR IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, REPAIRS MAY OR MAY NOT BE COVERED.

Mileage: 35,423

20160226UNKNOWN OR OTHER

RECALL ON REAR QUARTER VENT WINDOW SWITCH. RECALL SAYS 30 MINUTE JOB, BUT ALL OF THE DEALERS IN MY AREA SAY WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT FOR ONE WEEK. WAY TOO LONG FOR 30 MINUTE JOB. DODGE WON'T SEND ME THE SWITCH GOT 2ND RECALL NOTICE TODAY.

20160225ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE REAR QUARTER VENT WINDOW SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE MAY OVERHEAT IF EXPOSED TO LIQUID MOISTURE.

20151116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V234000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20151109EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE TAIL LIGHTS ARE RANDOMLY WORKING AND NOT WORKING ON BOTH SIDES. ONE MINUTE BOTH THE BRAKE AND TURN LIGHT WORKS, THE NEXT ONE OR ANOTHER OR BOTH DON'T WORK. THEY ARE LED MODULES THAT REQUIRE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY BE REPLACED. THE VAN ONLY HAS 49,700 MILES ON IT. TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY AND THE WIRE HARNESS COSTS $700 PLUS LABOR EACH SIDE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP (NOT DODGE) CONFIRMED THAT IT IS THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND NOT A COMPUTER MODULE OR SWITCH. THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AND THE REVERSE LAMPS WORK PERFECTLY. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU HAVE YOUR RUNNING LIGHTS ON OR IF THEY ARE OFF. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THEY ARE NOT WORKING. EVEN THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR ON THE DASH WILL BE BLINKING NORMALLY THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BLINK FAST (INDICATING LIGHT NOT WORKING) THEN GO RIGHT BACK TO BLINKING AT NORMAL SPEED. THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS ARE ACTUALLY BLINKING AND INDICATING CORRECTLY WHEN THE TURN/BRAKE LIGHT IS WORKING AND WHEN IT IS NOT BUT THERE IS NO WARNING. THEN THERE ARE TIME

Mileage: 49,700

Compare 2013DODGECARAVAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 DODGE CARAVAN have?
The 2013 DODGE CARAVAN has 34 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 DODGE CARAVAN?
The most-complained component for the 2013 DODGE CARAVAN is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 15 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2013 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.