2016 Dodge Grand Caravan: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
1,156 NHTSA owner complaints · 6 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. 2016 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 1,156 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used minivans compared: Odyssey, Sienna, Pacifica, Grand Caravan and Town and Country, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 1,156 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 115.6
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
Passenger seat headrest popped open and hit the passenger in the head. She said it hurt, but didn't seem severely injured. Plastic inside headrest had broken away from a metal bar. It doesn't seem to be repairable.
The transmission on this vehicle has started to make a whining noise from the transmission which is consistent with the symptoms of a failing transmission pump cover under recall S44. If this were to fail while driving it can lead to a serious or fatal accident. I have not yet taken the vehicle in to be serviced as I am trying to work with the manufacturer first. There were no indicators prior to the noise coming fr…
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light remaining illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
Recalls: 6 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 20V278000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | Vantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage) is recalling certain Vantage-modified 2016-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles. The fuel pump gasket may deteriorate, allowing fuel to leak. |
| 16V300000 | Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles manufactured March 16, 2016, to March 17, 2016. The nuts on the third row seatbacks were incorrectly torqued and may become loose. |
| 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… |
| 17V824000 | Equipment | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling various Dodge, Chrysler, and RAM vehicles equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. |
| 16V461000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to April 18, 2016, 2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2015, to January 29, 2016, and 2016 RAM ProMaster vehicles manufactured August 15, 2016, to April 15, 2016. The transmission pump may seize… |
| 15V595000 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured August 19, 2015 to August 27, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that attach the hood striker may loosen and, as a result, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving. |
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 · EPA range 280 mi
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 System354 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other266 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train249 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Structure233 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Engine98 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Exterior Lighting56 complaints · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$1,380
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 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (354 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 38/100, computed from 1,156 NHTSA complaints and 6 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan's most common problem?
354 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 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 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan cost to run per year?
About $7,366 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $36,830 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 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 15/05/2020. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other minivans of about the same age.
What will a 2016 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 — 1,156 complaints, 6 recalls on record
- 1156 NHTSA complaints on record (115.6/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (34.5/yr)
- 6 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems