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2012 Dodge Caravan problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Dodge Caravan has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 87owner complaints
- 3crash reports
- 3fire reports
- 4injuries reported
The most complained-about Dodge Caravan year on file: 87 complaints, against an average of 18 for the other 4 model years.
Every Dodge Caravan model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Dodge Caravan?
The components named most often in the 87 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2012 Dodge Caravan owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 87 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2012 Dodge Caravan been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2012 Dodge Caravan as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
What do 2012 Dodge Caravan owners report?
12 of the 87 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
VAN STOPS ABRUPTLY. WILL DIE WHILE DRIVING, WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND AND VAN POWERS DOWN. WILL START BACK UP AS SOON AS ITS STOPS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO KENDALL DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (13355 SW 137TH AVE, MIAMI, FL 33186, (786) 231-2120). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND THEY REPAIRED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND REPLACED THE KEY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL WITH THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THEY JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN ABLE TO START. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED. THE CONTACT HAD TO GET A NEW KEY MADE. THE LOCKSMITH THAT MADE THE NEW KEY JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WENT TO WORK, WHEN THEY LEFT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THEY HOOKED THE BATTERY UP TO A BATTERY CHARGER AND…
2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STOPS RUNNING SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST WEEK THE VEHICLE WILL JUST CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. SO FAR THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. ON A LEAST ONE OCCASION I NOTICED THAT I BUMPED THE KEY. MAYBE AN IGNITION PROBLEM? THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING.
FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF WITH NO KEY IN IGNITION. THIS IS CAUSING BATTERY DRAIN AND HARD STARTS AFTER JUMPING BATTERY. CAR ALSO IS STALLING AT TIMES WHILE IN MOTION. I HAVE SEEN A RECALL FOR OTHER MALES AND MODELS OF SAME YEAR FROM MOPAR VEHICLES, SUCH AS DURANGO. IT SEEMS TO BE FUEL PUMP RELAY IN TIPM.
VAN HAD ENGINE STALL WHILE GOING DOWN HIGHWAY. LOST ALL POWER DUE TO THIS..WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 45 SO WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND GET TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. WAS IN THE RURAL AREA SO TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT...DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER WAS IN VAN WITH ME ...THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC IF I HAD BEEN ON INTERSTATE OR ON BUSY HIGHWAY...WAS TOLD BY MACHANIC THAT FUEL RELAY TIPM GONE OUT
MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE VAN SHUT OFF IT HOWEVER RESTART RIGHT AWAY.THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND COULD PUT HER LIFE IN DANGER IF SOMEONE HAD RUN INTO HER VAN BACK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EACH TIME WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER CASSENS & SONS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP AT (618) 656-6070 (3333 IL-159, GLEN CARBON, IL 62034) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,184. *TT
ON INTERSTATE AT 65 & WHILE ACCELERATING TO PASS SLOWER CAR MY ACCELERATOR STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. BRAKED TO CONTROL SPEED AND AFTER SHORT WHILE PEDAL UNSTUCK AND NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY BUT, ALTHOUGH GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK TO FLOOR, THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO ABOUT 60. EXITED HIGHWAY TO SERVICE AREA WITH PEDAL STILL STUCK AT FT & SHUT DOWN. CAR WOULDN'T RESTART WITH PEDAL AT FT. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE PEDAL "POPPED" BACK AND RESTARTED WITH NORMAL OPERATION THEREAFTER. I EACH INSTANCE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS PROBABLY ON AND A LARGE RED SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE ANNUNCIATOR…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, A 2004 HONDA ACCORD CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SLIDING DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OVERHEAD AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT WERE DEFLATED. IN ADDITION, THE OTHER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT ALL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE UPPER RIGHT TORSO AND HIP THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE 2004 HONDA ACCORD SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE…
THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2012 DODGE CARAVAN IS DRIVING ALONG EASILY ON CITY STREETS BECAUSE WITH THIS PROBLEM IT CANT BE PUT ON THE INTERSTATE, WHEN GETTING READY TO GO UP A HILL AND IT GOES OUT OF GEAR, THE RPM HAND GOES AS FAR AS IT CAN GO, SOMETIMES EASING OF THE GAS THE RPM HAND WILL GO DOWN TO 1 AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL KNOCK, CHECK ENGINE LIKE WILL COME ON AND IT'LL GO BACK INTO GEAR, BUT SOMETIME YOU'LL HAVE TO PULL OVER AND PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN IT OFF AND START ALL OVER AGAIN, JUST FOR IT TO DO THE SAME EXACT THEN, AND REMIND YOU, YOU CAN'T GO OVER 50MPH IF 50. I'VE HAD THE TRANSMISSION…
I HAVE A DODGE CARAVAN 2012 AND TAKING IT IN FOR SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES. WHEN IT WAS SENT TO THE DALLAS DODGE IN DALLAS, GA THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH CAR KILLING TWO BRAND NEW BATTERIES. BROUGHT A THIRD ONE AND FINALLY CALL TO HAVE IT PICKED UP SO THEY COULD CHECK IT.HE THEN CALLED ME AND SAID IT WAS THE DRIVER SEAT WIRING SYSTEMS AND TO FIX IT WOULD BY $500.00. I ADVISED HIM IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE AND IT WOULD BE WORKING PROPERLY GO AHEAD.I PICKED UP MY CAR AND GOT IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SO I HAD IT SENT BACK TO THEM AND THEY CHECK IT AGAIN AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING…
2012 Dodge Caravan: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Dodge Caravan reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 87 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Dodge Caravan; the most common categories were electrical system (47, 54%), engine (19, 21.8%), service brakes (9, 10.3%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 3 complaints mention a crash, 3 mention a fire, 4 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Dodge Caravan?
Across 87 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (54% of complaints), engine (21.8% of complaints), service brakes (10.3% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (6.9% of complaints), air bags (4.6% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Dodge Caravan have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2012 Dodge Caravan. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2012 Dodge Caravan stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
14 of the 87 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Dodge Caravan (16.1%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge caravan. while driving 15 mph, the vehicle stalled and was towed to kendall dodge chrysler jeep ram (13355 sw 137th ave, miami, fl 33186, (786) 231-2120)." (NHTSA complaint 11210624, May 2019). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why do the power windows stop working on my 2012 Dodge Caravan?
6 of the 87 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Dodge Caravan (6.9%) describe power window or window regulator failures. One owner wrote: "Ok. i've only had this vehicle for 2 1/2 year and i've found after a year, it was hard to keep gas in the vehicle even though i filled it up at times, it would still go out , the doors have gotten jammed, the windows stuck because of heat, last year the seat…" (NHTSA complaint 11113995, July 2018). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Dodge Caravan?
4 of the 87 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Dodge Caravan (4.6%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. One owner wrote: "My van showed the battery light i went to get the battery checked out. the test came back bad battery. i bought a new one everything checked good. the next day the check engine light, air bag light, abs light and battery light lit up." (NHTSA complaint 10934504, December 2016). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why won't my 2012 Dodge Caravan start?
3 of the 87 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Dodge Caravan (3.4%) describe the car failing to start. One owner wrote: ""takata recall" fuel pump relay .... problem: car will not start leaving me strainted....... tipm problem this is a common problem for dodge and should be a dealers recall" (NHTSA complaint 11088449, April 2018). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Caravan
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only.