general problems of the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan - part 1

While driving, the vehicle will periodically shut down/lose all power. This appears to occur when a slight bump in the road occurs. The loss of power to the vehicle is obviously a significant safety issue. We have been able to restart it when switching to neutral and turning the key; however, this obviously isn't a safe solution while traveling down the highway with no power to the vehicle. This has occurred multiple times at varying speeds (30-70 mph) over the last few years - I am reporting it now as I was assuming/anticipating there would be a recall on this safety issue.

While driving around 30mph, the van completely shut down. With nowhere to pull over on the right, and to avoid an accident, I turned left onto a side road. I quickly realized I had no power steering or brakes. I had 2 children in the vehicle and school had just let out. Luckily there was no accident. With no brakes, I just coasted until I came to a stop on the side of the road. I wasn’t able to move the shifter into park. After a few minutes, everything came back to life. I was able to shift to park, start it up and drive away. No warning lights came on. No check engine light. This situation could have become really bad, really quick.

The key fob is loose in the ignition and the car stalls out when I'm driving even on the freeway cause it losses conection and it happens every time I drive it.

The car shuts off while driving no matter the speed!!! the vehicle also pops out of gear when it shuts off. You have to use the emergency release button to change the gear to put it in park to try to start it again, which usually takes a little while to get it started. The safety hazard could be fatal to the driver and whomever may rear-end the vehicle due it shutting off and loosing power steering and the brakes. This vehicle is currently at the dealership for the second time. They say that they cannot find the problem. I looked online for fixes and found hundreds of complaints of the same issue for this same vehicle with no fix due to everyone being told they cannot find the problem. This could be fatal!.

The driver and passenger side slide door when turn the child safety lock on the door can still be opened by children by the door button beside the door.

Can just does every month or so. Starts again in about 30 minutes.

The driver's side sliding door left door actuator/left door latch failed and the door wouldn't close causing a major safety hazard.

Rear door won't engage or open seems to be electrical, then once figured out. The vehicle wldnt run, had a new battery put in, then it acted like the fuel pump, but the fuel pump kicks in the alternator was replaced as the fuel pump a year ago. Then we bypassed the regulator and now thr is nothing in the entire van works intact when u try put the charger on it, which the battery indicator says fully charged the whole fuel box vibrates and shakes. But thr is absolutely no power inside the vehicle thr is definitely without a doughty something wrong with the vehicles entire fusebox. This is very odd and not normal the entire brain of this vehicle is a problem. I have had a problem with this lemon since I bought it I have had it sitting more then driving spent more money on it then I. Able to use it something is definitely wrong with this vehicle.

Sounds like a machine gun when trying to start. Have to turn key completely off to get the sound to stop. Not starting sometimes and cutting off when driving. Lost all power on a main highway including my brakes and power steering. Completely shut off. Also the back air ac doesn't work at times. Seems to not have enough power to roll down windows at times and you can only use one window at a time. Battery, alternator, and starter test fine. Replaced relays and still same problem. Throwing code for not reaching coolant temp. Replaced thermostat gasket still throwing code. No other codes or lights showing up. Heard of an ignition switch and power train recall but when I put my VIN in it says there are none.

I was driving on a side street fortunately instead of the interstate each of the times that the car died! all of the dash lights came on and it just stopped running. I called for service and the tow driver checked the battery and it was fine, but but would not start or jump. Had it towed to the mechanic. A new battery was put on and it ran for a couple of days then died again. It would not jump so towed back to mechanic. Mechanic said they charged the battery, got it started said they ran diagnostics finding no issues. The next day it died again and would not jump. It is back at the mechanic's with them trying to figure this out. In my own research, I found this site and the repeated problems just like this. If I had been on the interstate, any kind of busy traffic it could have been tragic! I don't know why this persistent Dodge problem has not been recalled and fixed! I'm concerned that when we get the part replaced it will have the same problem. I don't want anyone to have a dangerous car. I'm stuck with this vehicle that is not safe even when fixed or don't fix it and trash it. Either way I have to buy another car. The sad thing is that until this repeated problem, I loved the car.

Both sliding door locks have stopped working. Drivers side door is stuck in the locked position. Passenger can be locked/unlocked manually. I see online that years 2013-2017 are trying to get a recall and I’d like 2012 to be included.

When driving the car will randomly shut off losing power. When trying to start it randomly it will turn on then shut back off. When it turns off as I’m driving it’s always under 50mph but I lose steering. Very scary.

My Dodge Grand Caravan is having ignition issues and will randomly die while driving or just sitting. It has happened on the highway going 70mph. It is very dangerous as I lose all power until I would flip the ignition off and then back on. I have looked and found the recall on other vans but it is not listed under my VIN. What do I do to get this fixed before I am in am accident.

Engine shuts off while driving down expressway and randomly just shuts off. Very dangerous and someone is going to get killed. Dodge/Chrysler needs to do sometime about this.

The tipm failed, this has been confirmed with a mechanic. It is available for inspection. The car's fuel pump keeps running even when the car is turned off which drains the battery. I am concerned that it may cause a fire and burn my house down. This is a known problem with these vehicles and certain VIN numbers are recalled. I was told my VIN number is not on recall. With this being a know problem, all VIN's should be on recall. This makes your car unusable and if the car cuts off in traffic, a real safety concern.

It refuses to start. Light comes on the dash for the throttle body and when fuses were tested it was found that the tipms power cuts out. Which led to a research and found online that a recall on that exact issue/part was for certain 2011-2012 models. I called my local Dodge dealership and was told that my van didn't fall under that recall because it was VIN specific. If my 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan is having those issues, why is it not under the recall. This car is my main transportation for myself and my family. I have 5 school aged kids that rely on this vehicle for transportation everyday. I need this to be taken care of as soon as possible, please.

Van randomly does not start/dies. Battery has been replaced fixed issue for a day or two then started doing the same thing. Has been to a local mechanic could not find anything on computer. Took to Chrysler dealership replaced key fob and reprogrammed wcm tested ok. Brought it home, next day issue had returned. I did some research online and seems to be a recurring problem in these vehicles. Usually the tipm. Says there was a recall but that had been omitted. This could be a very serious/hazardous problem and should be considered again for the recall. Obviously defective if so many have had the same problem. I believe the NHTSA should reconsider this recall before someone is seriously injured in an accident due the the vehicle stalling out.

Stalls while driving, no warning or medication such s a sound or smell. Can sit with engine off for a few minutes and starts up again. Stalls at random times, inconsistently. May go weeks before happens again happens in city, on highways, etc.

My van cut off in the driveway, thankfully I was parked and will not turn over or crank back up. We had just gotten home,, we could have been on the interstate!!! there is a red light blinking light under the neutral. I am reading hundreds of complaints of the same problem and this should be recalled. My van is a handicap accessible van for my daughter and thankfully we were not driving down the highway when this happened. We had just gotten home from celebrating her birthday and had her, my 82 year old granny, my wife and myself. We could have been killed. This is dangerous. I had it looked at and it is giving a code u1197 that's a security code. This needs to be recalled immediately!!! there are too many complaints.

While driving after taking a left turn, in the middle of driving the steering locked up and the rpms went down and stopped driving. The dashboard was still lit normally. Turned car off and would not restart.

While driving my van, I attempted to turn left on a city street, when everything shut down on me. All of my dashboard lit up like a christmas tree. I had no steering, no brakes, it was frightening! I did have headlights, flashers, I couldn't access the side doors to ge my cane out. My back gate wouldn't open either so I could get my rollerator and walk to the business I was attempting to get to. I had to have my van towed and was told it's my electrical system and that many people have had the same issue. I would like to bring my awareness to this issue, for if I was on 95, my main highway and this happened, I would be dead along with my son. Attached is the dashboard, but the center bottom red light was flashing on and off. I'm told it's my security system light.

A month ago we noticed the passenger side heating/cooling is defective from front to back of van. The entire passenger side will only blow hot air despite the settings. Drivers side will blow air cold or hot appropriately based on setting. Upon researching this, I have found hundreds of complaints of the same thing occurring over the past 6 years with the 2011 and 2012 Dodge caravans. I am not sure why this is not a recall!!!!.

At about 93000 miles the left rear sliding door stop unlocking and locking it was stuck closed. From everything I've heard this is common and Dodge knows about it. The cost to replace is $1200 each sliding door. If you do a google search it's very common and Dodge doesn't want to recall these cars. .

My key fobik is only sometimes starting the van which was already concerning, then while driving the van just turned off. I've been researching and apparently many of the years prior to 2012 have already been recalled for the exact same issue and the 2012 has the same ignition lock cylinder.

Hi ever since I purchased this vehicle it has been making this noice. Every time I took it to a dealer it said this was normal. Now after 8 years and over 100000 miles it has become worst. Recently when I accelerate, vehicle does not shift rpm and instead it accelerates rpm but vehicle doesn�t. I have to park turn off vehicle and start ignition where it seems to reset and problem goes away but only for a short time. Can you please assist? I reside in pr.

My vehicle will randomly stall without any warning nor any dash lights such as check engine or battery displaying. My local Dodge dealership checked the vehicle out with a odb and could not diagnose the issue. This issue will happen while driving and it appears many other people are having a similar issue according to online research. This has been ongoing issue for a few months and we are unable to drive it nor resolve the issue since we (nor Dodge mechanics) know what is wrong.

While driving the van it randomly shuts off completely.

Faulty timp causing issue with fuel pump module/relay. Faulty start and unable to turn on vehicle. This happened approximately 4 times in a parked position within a 24 hour period before vehicle was no longer drivable. Intermittent check engine light within the previous 3 weeks prior. Vehicle was inspected by a certified dealership to diagnose the issue.

I went to unlock my vehicle to get something from inside. I noticed that the lights were very dim and after placing the key fob into the ignition, the fob was locked in place. After about 15 minutes, I was able to release it from the ignition. I have tried resetting the battery among other things and nothing has helped.

While driving on the highway my van lost all power and shut off. No steering, nothing. We pulled over on a ramp putting our children's lives and our own in danger, to walk home. The tipm seems to be the problem. The van will not restart, will not crank, and is currently sitting while I see all of the recall attempts for tipms.

Car sometimes won't start. . When it does start it totally shuts down. We can be idling, driving slowly, quickly, or in reverse. Literally just shuts down. No warning nothing! loss of all power. Sometimes will start back up other times needs to be towed. Death trap! already lost one family member to faulty parts!.

Opened drivers side sliding passenger door, placed my bag inside and closed it normally. Drove 3 minutes down the road and when I parked, I went to retrieve my bag, but the door would not open. Couldnt move the lock. It's like the locking mechanism got stuck. Cannot open the door. Worried about my children in the chance there's an emergency and I won't be able to get to them because I can only access from the passenger side of the van. Everyone has to load up from one side of the van. An infant car seat is also in the van.

Vehicle will either not start or takes 6-12 times to start, not a battery issue. Also power door will randomly not open. Trunk will no longer open with the press of the button on the key. I've seen the not starting as an issue with many other people.

Trouble starting, then starts runs great, then ramdomly dies ! very dangerous!!! hardto feel safe when you have no idea when this will happen. Currantly at dealer trying figure out . . . . . I can no longer take my grandchildren in his van, for fear of being killed !.

Locks have failed on both sliding doors. The passenger side failed about a year ago but failed in the unlock position so the door is still usable. The driver said failed about 1 month ago in the locked position. There is no way to open the door to access to fix. This is a huge safety issue as what if this failed with my kids in the back and they couldn't get out of the vehicle in a fire or other emergency. I have researched this and it is a long known issue with both Dodge and Chrysler vans. Why isn't this a recall? do people need to die in order for this to actually be recognized as a serious safety concern?.