YearToAvoid

2009 Dodge Grand Caravan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

80/100

#4 most-complained of 16 Grand Caravan years

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

The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan has 543 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 80 out of 100 — #4 highest of 16 Grand Caravan model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is electrical system (334 complaints, 62% of the total). Complaints report 11 crashes, 6 fires, and 8 injuries.

Complaints
543
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
11 / 6
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan problems

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

  1. Electrical System334 (62%)
  2. Airbags137 (25%)
  3. Brakes75 (14%)
  4. Engine58 (11%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires54 (10%)
  6. Other29 (5%)
  7. Steering22 (4%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain20 (4%)
  9. Fuel System12 (2%)
  10. Structure & Body11 (2%)
2009 Dodge Grand Caravan complaints: complaints filed per quarter1102009 Q22011 Q22013 Q12014 Q42016 Q32018 Q32020 Q32023 Q4
766 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2015 Q3 (110).

2009 Dodge Grand Caravan recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V396000Jul 7, 2020Airbags925,239 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan and 2007-2011 Dodge Nitro vehicles. These vehicles may have a loose or missing brand emblem in the center of the steering wheel. The loose emblem or the securing nuts for the emblem within the driver air bag module may become projectiles in the event of a driver air bag deployment.

    Risk: Projectiles as a result of driver air bag deployment in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag cover with a redesigned cover, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W09.

  2. NHTSA 16V047000Jan 29, 2016Airbags110,482 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    FCA US LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2009 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured December 31, 2007, to August 31, 2008, 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured June 18, 2007, to August 31, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail.

    Risk: If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Additionally, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S07.

  3. NHTSA 14V373000Jun 26, 2014Airbags722,705 vehicles

    Air bags

    This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured June 29, 2007, to June 17, 2010, and 2008-2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured January 26, 2007, to June 17, 2010. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R03. Note: This is an expansion of recall 11V-139.

See all 7 recalls for the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan →

2009 compared with other Grand Caravan years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Good71822—
2008Avoid1001,2928—
2009Avoid805437—
2010Avoid87869619
2011Caution60530420

All Dodge Grand Caravan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan ranks #4 of 16 among Grand Caravan model years (Complaint Index 80/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 543 complaints and 7 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (334 complaints), airbags (137 complaints), and brakes (75 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 75,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan, most recently reported 2020, covering airbags, suspension, wheels & tires, electrical system, and brakes.

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.