2016 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems

Notable Issues

The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan has 500 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls, with electrical and transmission issues dominating owner reports. Based on 500 real NHTSA owner complaints, with Electrical Faults the most reported area.

20157 years2017

Before you buy

This 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan has 500 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Electrical Faults.

A model-year pattern isn't the car in front of you. Check this exact VIN for accidents, open recalls, odometer rollback, and salvage titles.

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500
Complaints
10
Crashes
2
Fires
6
Injuries
β€”
Fatalities
6
Recalls

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan Fuel Economy

βœ“ EPA Official Data

EPA-rated fuel economy across 2 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.

17
MPG City
17–17 range
25
MPG Hwy
25–25 range
20
MPG Combined
20–20 range
445
g COβ‚‚/mile
Regular Gasoline
⚠️Costs $4,500 more than avg vehicle over 5 years

Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 2 trims analysed.

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan Safety Ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Program

Official crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.

Overall

4/5

16.4% rollover risk

Frontal Crash

4/5

Side Crash

5/5

Rollover

4/5

16.4% probability

βœ“Stability Control: Standardβ—‹Forward Collision Warning: Noβ—‹Lane Departure Warning: No

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.

Quick Answer

DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 2016 has 500 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls. Electrical faults (136) and transmission issues (133) are the top concerns. Only 10 crash-related complaints were reported. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan β€” key reliability facts
Make
Dodge
Model
Grand Caravan
Model year
2016
NHTSA owner complaints
500
Crash-related complaints
10
Safety recall campaigns
6
Top reported component
Electrical Faults
Reliability signal
Notable Issues
EPA MPG combined
20
EPA MPG city / highway
17 / 25
Fuel type
Regular Gasoline
NHTSA overall safety rating
4/5 stars
NHTSA frontal crash rating
4/5 stars
NHTSA side crash rating
5/5 stars
NHTSA rollover rating
4/5 stars
Electronic stability control
Standard

Common problems

Most common 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan problems

Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.

#1
136
complaints

Electrical Faults

#2
133
complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Crash-related:1
#3
118
complaints

Uncategorized Issues

Crash-related:1
Fires:1

Complaint patterns center on Electrical Faults, Transmission / Drivetrain, Uncategorized Issues. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.

Buyer verdict

Should you buy a used 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan?

The 2016 Grand Caravan carries significant risk due to widespread electrical and transmission complaints. Buyers should proceed with caution and prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

Electrical and transmission issues can lead to costly repairs and unexpected breakdowns, directly impacting ownership experience and resale value.

May Suit

Budget-conscious buyers who can handle potential repairs and have access to a trusted mechanic may consider this year.

May Want to Avoid

Buyers seeking a reliable family vehicle with minimal maintenance should avoid the 2016 Grand Caravan.

Pre-purchase

What to check before buying a used 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan

Inspection Focus

  • Check for electrical system warning lights and battery condition.
  • Test transmission for smooth shifting and any hesitation.
  • Inspect sliding doors and body panels for proper operation and alignment.

Before You Close the Deal

  • Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system for faults.
  • Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
  • Request service records for transmission and drivetrain repairs.
  • Test drive to check for transmission shifting issues.

Check the exact car

Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.

Before buying a used 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.

AI verdict

What the complaint data suggests

Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan shows a high volume of owner complaints concentrated in electrical faults (136) and transmission/drivetrain problems (133). With 6 recalls and only 10 crash-related complaints, the data suggests reliability concerns rather than safety defects. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.

Year context: Compared to other model years, 2016 has a high complaint count, but data for surrounding years is not provided for direct comparison.

Recall context: Six recalls indicate multiple known safety issues that must be verified as repaired before purchase.

Key Findings
  • Electrical faults account for 136 complaints, the highest of any component.
  • Transmission/drivetrain issues total 133 complaints, nearly matching electrical problems.
  • There are 6 recalls and 10 crash-related complaints among 500 total complaints.
Top Concerns
  • Electrical faults (136 complaints) including wiring, modules, and battery issues.
  • Transmission/drivetrain (133 complaints) including shifting problems and failures.
  • Structural problems (71 complaints) such as sliding door and body panel issues.
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect. Data covers only one model year (2016), limiting trend analysis across years.

Full breakdown

All 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints by category

Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Electrical Faults136β€”β€”β€”
Transmission / Drivetrain1331β€”β€”
Uncategorized Issues11811β€”
Structural Problems711β€”β€”
Engine Problems58β€”2β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System20β€”1β€”
Seat-Related Issues19β€”β€”β€”
Airbag Malfunctions165β€”β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures14β€”β€”β€”
Door Lock Issues9β€”β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration8β€”β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues41β€”β€”
Suspension Failures3β€”β€”β€”
Tire Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Steering Defects3β€”β€”β€”
Brake System3β€”β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB31β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper22β€”β€”
Traction Control System1β€”β€”β€”
Wheel Issues11β€”β€”
Back Over Prevention1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

In their words

Real owner complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

Showing 400 most recent complaints of 500 total. View all on NHTSA

Door Lock IssuesJun 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the passenger's sliding door had failed to lock as intended, and the driver's side sliding door had failed to open as intended. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repair…

Electrical FaultsMay 29, 2026

It was dark, wife and I were driving, suddenly the begin dash began to go blank, more like a flicker. As I kept driving the flickering began to be more often and more pronounce. At some point we were worried that we won’t be able make it home. Almost approaching home the all t…

Electrical FaultsMay 26, 2026

The driver's window was left unrolled last night and it rained. When I got in the car, the electrical window control for the driver's window wouldn't roll up. But the others appeared to work normally. This was annoying, but it didn't stop my from driving to work. About half an ho…

Transmission / DrivetrainMay 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the vehicle experienced hard shifting while changing gears with no warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle experienced high engine revving and increased RPMs u…

Door Lock IssuesApr 1, 2026

The contact’s father owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the rear sliding doors unexpectedly opened while the vehicle was parked and idling, or while driving at various speeds. The driver pulled over to the side of the road and manually closed the door. The c…

Transmission / DrivetrainMar 25, 2026

1) At D/S Stow and Go seat malfunctioned and was repaired by CarMax Service Center Jan 2023 - 2) Around 97,000 so - Engine started ticking on or about JUL/SEP 2023, enstate Lloyds Automotive in Spokane Valley replaced out engine due to manufacture defect in Oct 2023. 3) At 103,67…

Structural ProblemsMar 16, 2026

The driverside manually operated sliding door will not open. If person's riding in the rear or middle seats they would only have on egress door in an emergency situation. This vehicle has not been involved in any type of wreck and there were/are no warning lights. This happened a…

Transmission / DrivetrainMar 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact wa…

Electrical FaultsFeb 12, 2026

The slider doors and back/trunk hatch have many electrical malfunctions. -Driver-side sliding door: After we press the button to open the door, the door often begins closing on our kids as soon as it has fully opened. When I press the button to open it again, it will sta…

Structural ProblemsFeb 5, 2026

The front door panel that sits between the front window and back sliding door flew off the vehicle while driving down the road. This happened on both the driver and passenger side at different times/days. The drivers side was fixed by the dealer (eide) under warranty prior to the…

Transmission / DrivetrainJan 16, 2026

See Attached Documents: 1.) NHTSA- Questions Answered 2.) Service 2016 Dodge Grand caravan Note: The Dodge Dealership is not compliying with the mandated repairs. The diagnostic summary provided by [XXX] on December 17, 2025, significantly mischaracterizes my complaints and omi…

Transmission / DrivetrainJan 14, 2026

Vehicle only has 93,000 miles and has been well maintained. I was was working and the transmission pump failed. It kicked out of gear going 55mph down a road. Could have caused me to have a major accident. Why are these not part of the 2015-2016 transmission recall?

Electrical FaultsJan 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that on several occasions, while inserting the key into the ignition, the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that duri…

Door Lock IssuesDec 30, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that there was an unusually loud buzzing sound coming from the front driver's side door. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the key was in the ig…

Electrical FaultsDec 23, 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was approximately 116,000. The contact stated that a month after the ve…

Engine ProblemsDec 16, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the contact's husband smelled an abnormal burning odor coming from the front of the vehicle. Upon inspection, both the contact and her husband noticed that there was an oil leak. The vehicl…

Transmission / DrivetrainDec 15, 2025

The transmission failed- according to the NTSB there was a recall for 2016 Dodge Caravans for auto transmission pump failures. I was told my vin # didn't match the recalled Vin numbers yet that's what failed on my vehicle costing about 4 thousand for repair work.

Transmission / DrivetrainDec 7, 2025

Driving down Hwy 95 South without warning my transmission went out going at about 65 mph 5 hours from home.

Electrical FaultsDec 6, 2025

My 2016 dodge grand caravan has all of a sudden lost power on half the fuse box making it so the key (fob) says iuyts A bad key a total of 3 times so far as well as this time will not turn over at all, also the last time I went to put fuel in it half the gas was on the ground due…

Seat Belt IssuesNov 13, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that soon after purchasing the vehicle, it was discovered that the second-row passenger’s side seat belt failed to latch as needed. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were …

Page 1 of 20

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan.

Safety recalls

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls

6 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. Six recalls indicate multiple known safety issues that must be verified as repaired before purchase. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.

Safety recall

EQUIPMENT

#17V824000EQUIPMENT21/12/2017
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

#16V461000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION24/06/2016
Safety recall

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

#16V300000SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY16/05/2016
Safety recall

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

#15V595000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH24/09/2015
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

#20V278000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY15/05/2020
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:

#25V876000EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:17/12/2025

Across model years

Compare Dodge Grand Caravan model years

Compared to other model years, 2016 has a high complaint count, but data for surrounding years is not provided for direct comparison.

Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

Questions

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan buying FAQ

Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.

Is the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?β–Ύ

Notable Issues. NHTSA currently shows 500 owner complaints, 10 crash-related complaints, and 6 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2016 Grand Caravan carries significant risk due to widespread electrical and transmission complaints. Buyers should proceed with caution and prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan?β–Ύ

#1: Electrical Faults (136 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (133 complaints). #3: Uncategorized Issues (118 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan?β–Ύ

Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, NHTSA complaints include 10 crash-related reports and 2 fire reports out of 500 total complaints. 6 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes. 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. A major recall area is EQUIPMENT. Six recalls indicate multiple known safety issues that must be verified as repaired before purchase. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.

Should I buy a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan?β–Ύ

The 2016 Grand Caravan carries significant risk due to widespread electrical and transmission complaints. Buyers should proceed with caution and prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection. Electrical and transmission issues can lead to costly repairs and unexpected breakdowns, directly impacting ownership experience and resale value. Pay extra attention to Electrical Faults during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Dodge Grand Caravan reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Owner Reliability Rating

Rate the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan based on your ownership experience.

Add your rating:

Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.

Before you buy

Check the exact vehicle history before you buy

Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.