2009 Dodge Caravan Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Dodge Caravan has 118 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 67, ranking 5th worst out of 13 model years, with a Caution verdict. Electrical system issues dominate at 61% of complaints, with median failure mileage of 85,000 miles.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 67/100
- #5 of 13 Caravan years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 118
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Electrical System
Top 2009 Dodge Caravan problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System72 (61%)
- Airbags26 (22%)
- Engine21 (18%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (13%)
- Brakes14 (12%)
- Steering8 (7%)
- Other6 (5%)
- Structure & Body2 (2%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (2%)
- Fuel System1 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Rear brake calipers stick and overheat, sometimes producing smoke and a grinding sound at highway speeds.
- Airbags failed to deploy in moderate-speed side and frontal impacts, including a deer collision at 40 mph.
- The engine hose and tube assembly caught fire, reportedly after coolant overheated and degraded a plastic part.
- The vehicle stalled at low speed and crashed, with owners reporting sudden loss of power while driving.
- Steering felt unstable over bumps and potholes, accompanied by unusually fast tire wear.
- A tire pressure valve stem broke shortly after new tires were installed, causing sudden air loss.
2009 Dodge Caravan recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 10V164000Apr 23, 2010Suspension, Wheels & Tires834 vehicles
Suspension:rear
The braun corporation is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 chrysler town & country and dodge caravan mobility conversions which were altered by braun between january 21, 2009 and march 19, 2010. During conversion, the chassis was raised and the floor was lowered to accommodate wheelchair accessibility features. In raising the chassis, the rear spring hats come into closer proximity to the rear tires. In rough or aggressive driving situations the tires may intermittently contact the rear spring hats.
Risk: Contact between the tire spring hat may wear a hole in the tire over time. This may result in loss of vehicle control in the event of tire pressure loss increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Braun will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on june 4, 2010. Owners may contact braun toll-free at 1-800-488-0359.
- NHTSA 10V148000Apr 13, 2010Fuel System843 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap
The braun corporation is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 chrysler town & country and dodge caravan commercial entervans which were altered by braun between january 21, 2009 and march 19, 2010. During conversion, the chassis was raised and the floor was lowered to accommodate wheelchair accessibility features. In raising the chassis, the fuel fill pipe comes into closer proximity to the left rear tire. In rough or aggressive driving situations, the tire may intermittently contact the fuel fill pipe.
Risk: Contact between the tire and fuel fill pipe may wear a hole in one or the other components over time. This may result in loss of vehicle control in the event of tire pressure loss, or a vehicle fire in the event the fuel pipe is compromised.
Remedy: Braun will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on june 4, 2010. Owners may contact braun toll-free at 1-800-488-0359.
2009 compared with other Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Dodge Caravan reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Caravan carries a complaint index of 67 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst among 13 model years of the Caravan.
- What are the main problems with the 2009 Dodge Caravan?
- NHTSA complaints show the Electrical System as the top problem area, making up 61% of complaints, followed by Airbags at 22% and Engine issues at 18%.
- Does the 2009 Dodge Caravan have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2009 Caravan, both tied to aftermarket Braun mobility and commercial entervan conversions, covering suspension/wheels/tires and fuel system components.
- At what mileage do 2009 Dodge Caravan problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 75,000 miles overall, with Electrical System and Airbag complaints centered around 85,000 miles and Brakes around 37,918 miles.
- How does the 2009 Caravan compare to other years?
- The 2009 model's complaint index of 67 is lower than 2005 (100), 2008 (92), and 2010 (83), but worse than later years like 2014, which has the lowest index at 17.