VehicleVerdict

2005 Dodge Grand Caravan problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,341 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.7 times the median Grand Caravan year — the 2005 model ranks #3 of 37 Grand Caravan years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 49 injuries in total across these filings.

Latches & Locks leads the complaint categories with 339 reports (25% of the total).

1,341

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

7

Investigations

33

Crash-involved

10

Fires reported

49

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2005 compare to other Grand Caravan years?

See all Grand Caravan years to avoid →

What are the most common 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Latches & Locks33925%
Electrical System26720%
Lighting16312%
Airbags1078%
Steering786%
Body & Structure705%
Fuel System655%
Engine494%
Brakes463%
Visibility & Wipers312%
Other302%
Transmission242%
Suspension242%
Speed Control171%
Tires & Wheels101%
Seat Belts81%
Seats71%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)50%
Child Seat10%

Does the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

10V271000OtherJune 15, 2010 · 13 units

Defect

ALL IN ONE MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2008 CONVERSION VANS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.

Consequence

THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY BE INJURED IF THE SEAT BASE PIN WERE TO BREAK.

Remedy

ALL IN ONE MOBILITY WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALL IN ONE MOBILITY AT 1-503-255-5005.

10V261000SeatsJune 14, 2010 · 2 units

Defect

ARIZONA MOBILITY PRODUCTS (AMP) IS RECALLING ONE 2005 AND ONE 2007 CONVERSION VANS BUILT ON DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.

Consequence

THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY BE INJURED IF THE SEAT BASE PIN WERE TO BREAK.

Remedy

AMP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 10, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMP AT 1-602-385-5988.

10V008000AirbagsJanuary 11, 2010 · 308,950 units

Defect

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 DODGE CARAVAN, GRAND CARAVAN AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, ALASKA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND ALLOW WATER TO ENTER INTO THE SENSOR. THIS CAN CAUSE THE SENSOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND ILLUMINATE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THESE SENSORS WERE ADDED TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES.

Consequence

IF THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER IS IMMEDIATELY ALERTED BY ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE PROMPTLY SERVICED. UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS REPAIRED, THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE ENHANCED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy

CHRYSLER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS WITH A NEW DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

07E104000Visibility & WipersDecember 11, 2007 · 1,657 units

Defect

CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.

Remedy

SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.

06V067000Visibility & WipersMarch 8, 2006 · 268,800 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN VANS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ARMATURE SHAFT MAY BREAK.

Consequence

DURING CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, LOSS OF FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPING CAPABILITY COULD OCCUR, AND THE DRIVER'S VISION COULD BE OBSCURED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2006, TO DODGE DURANGO OWNERS. MINIVAN OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

04V047000Seat BeltsFebruary 3, 2004 · 3,200 units

Defect

AFTER PERFORMING THE NCAP TEST, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITHOUT THE AVAILABLE "STOW 'N GO" SEATING OPTION, THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED.

Consequence

AS A RESULT, THE SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS, WHICH CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES AND ANY SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE STAKE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

MY 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS 77000 MILES ON IT. LAST WEEK I FOUND OUT THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCKS DOES NOT WORK. BY DOING AN ONLINE SEARCH IT SEAMS LIKE A LARGE NUMBER OF DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS NOT EASY TO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Latches & Locks · August 27, 2008

LIGHTS OFF DURING OPERATION.... OFF AT TURN ON AND NOW WILL NOT COME ON NO MATTER WHAT I DO.... TOLD BY SEVERAL THEY ARE HAVING SAME TROUBLE... REAL SAFETY ISSUE THE FIRST TIME AS IT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN DARK ROAD. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · January 14, 2011 · crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHEN THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAILLIGHT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · November 28, 2010 · fire

I WRECKED MY 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN INTO A HILL SIDE AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE POLE IN TWO. MY AIR BAG SYSTEM DID NOT DEPLOY. I DID OVER $6000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VAN BUT NO AIR BAGS. I HAVE HAD THE VAN SERVICED TWICE IN THE PAST FOR THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT COMING…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · October 27, 2006 · crash

NEARLY EVERY TIME THE WE FILL THE TANK FULL OF FUEL THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AFTER LEAVING THE STATION. TYPICALLY IT WILL HAPPEN MID TURN WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE STATION OR ELSE WITHIN A BLOCK OF LEAVING. WHEN IT HAPPENS THE STEERING STOPS WORKING NORMALLY. WE HAVE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE TO NEUTRAL AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · July 15, 2010

2005 Dodge Grand Caravan — common questions

Is the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,341 complaints put the 2005 model at #3 of 37 Grand Caravan years. It is one of the Grand Caravan years to avoid.

What are the most common 2005 Grand Caravan problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are latches & locks (339 complaints), electrical system (267 complaints), lighting (163 complaints).

Does the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 7 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Dodge Grand Caravan years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Grand Caravan years to avoid are 2008, 1996, 2005, 2010, 2016, 1997, 2011, 2012, 2009, 1998, 2013, 1999, 2000, 1993, 1991. The cleanest record among Grand Caravan years belongs to 1986.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.