2013 Dodge Grand Caravan: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
469 NHTSA owner complaints · 4 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The fifth-generation Grand Caravan ran from 2008 to 2020 with few changes, and its record is steady — transmission and electrical complaints at a moderate level, scoring in the 70s and 80s — apart from the 2016 model year, which carries 1,155 complaints for reasons the record attributes mainly to the six-speed transmission and the air-conditioning system. The 2017–2020 years are among the cheapest reliable people-carriers on the site. 2013 specifically: a year the record favours — 469 complaints, score 72/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used minivans compared: Odyssey, Sienna, Pacifica, Grand Caravan and Town and Country, including 2013 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 469 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 36.08
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The Active Head Restraint on the front passenger side headrest failed. The headrest thrust forward at a high velocity, injuring the occupant of the seat. The car was stationary at the time of the incident.
While driving down the road the van just shut down in the middle of the road as other cars are going by honking the horn and coming close to hitting us with children in the van and no way to get off the road without the engine running. We gave contacted dodge in dallas GA they confirmed a recall for the issue but proceed to say thus VIN is not included. I pray we don't stall while trying to turn into somewhere and …
After turning the key on, van started and then turned off. Van was restarted and drove normally for awhile. While driving. the van turned off with no notification or warning lights. This almost caused a DEADLY accident. The fault is with the ignition box. Other model years were recalled for the same reason. Dodge failed to make any changes to their known problem with the ignition or recall model year 2013.…
Recalls: 4 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 13V291000 | Air Bags | Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured June 11, 2013, through June 12, 2013. The occupant restraint control module (ORC) has incorrect software installed which may adversely affect air bag deployments in collisions. |
| 13V283000 | Electrical System | Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, and RAM C/V Tradesman vehicles manufactured May 10, 2012, through June 7, 2013. A software error may result in the opposite side airbags deploying from the collision point (a left side impact would deploy the right side airbags and vice versa). |
| 14V234000 | Electrical System | Chrysler Group, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, through October 31, 2013. The affected vehicles may experience overheating of the vent window switch in the driver's door armrest. |
| 25V876000 | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility:Wheelchair Restraints/Securement:Latch/Anchor: | Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a minivan of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 20 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $3,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System254 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine70 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other58 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Seats44 complaints · typical job: Seat frame, track or occupancy-sensor repair (2.5 h labour + parts)$500–$1,200
- Fuel/Propulsion System38 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Power Train36 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Dodge Grand Caravan years
Dodge Grand Caravan years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (254 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 72/100, computed from 469 NHTSA complaints and 4 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan's most common problem?
254 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan cost to run per year?
About $6,135 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $30,675 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/07/2013. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other minivans of about the same age.
What will a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 469 complaints, 4 recalls on record
- 469 NHTSA complaints on record (36.1/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (34.5/yr)
- 4 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems