YearToAvoid

2012 Dodge Caravan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#2 most-complained of 8 Caravan years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Dodge Caravan has 87 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 86, ranking it the 2nd worst of 8 model years tracked, earning an Avoid verdict. Electrical System issues dominate at 54% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 69,000.

Complaints
87
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 3
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2012 Dodge Caravan problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System47 (54%)
  2. Engine21 (24%)
  3. Brakes11 (13%)
  4. Other8 (9%)
  5. Fuel System6 (7%)
  6. Structure & Body5 (6%)
  7. Airbags4 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (5%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain3 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Battery drains repeatedly and fuses blow for seat controls and wipers before the alternator fails and headlights dim.
  • A driver-side switchbox controlling windows, door locks, and mirrors caught fire while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light.
  • Brake calipers hang up, overheating the tire and producing smoke while driving.
  • Overhead and side airbags fail to deploy fully or fail to deploy at all during side-impact crashes.
  • Front passenger tire loses air pressure with a low-air warning light illuminating on the instrument panel.
  • Sliding doors rock abnormally when opened manually, requiring a software update at the dealer.
2012 Dodge Caravan complaints: complaints filed per month9Jul 2012Feb 2014Sep 2014May 2015Nov 2015Jul 2016Mar 2018Nov 2018
113 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Jan 2021; peak Jan 2015 (9).

2012 Dodge Caravan recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 compared with other Caravan years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid1001722—
2011Caution71780—
2012Avoid86870—
2013Caution57300—
2014Good29200—

All Dodge Caravan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Dodge Caravan reliable?
NHTSA data shows 87 complaints and a Complaint Index of 86 for the 2012 Caravan, ranking it 2nd worst among 8 model years with an Avoid verdict.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Dodge Caravan?
Electrical System issues are the top problem area, accounting for 54% of complaints (47 of 87), with a median failure mileage of 69,000.
Are there recalls on the 2012 Dodge Caravan?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2012 Dodge Caravan, though owner complaints still show a relatively high Complaint Index of 86.
How does the 2012 Caravan compare to other years?
The 2012 model's Complaint Index of 86 is worse than the 2013 (57), 2014 (29), and 2015 (43) model years, but better than the 2010 model year, which has an index of 100.
Did the 2012 Dodge Caravan have airbag deployment problems?
Owner reports describe crashes where overhead airbags deployed but deflated, and other airbags failed to deploy at all, with a median mileage of 51,006 for Airbags complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.