Problems · by component
2013 Dodge Grand Caravan structure problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan cite structure, 6% of all 471 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
6% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Over the time we have owned this vehicle the sliding side doors have stopped working & then started. Recently both doors lost power completely . I have read that this is a very common problem with these Vans but the doors when power is lost can not be opened at all from the inside making the passengers crawl out the windows, front doors, or back hatch. If this were a fire, wreck, or emergency this would be a death trap. When calling dealerships to attempt to find a fix or help we have been told time and time again that this is a common problem in these vans.”
“The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary, the driver’s side sliding door independently opened without warning. The failure continued after the contact manually closed the sliding door. As the failure persisted, the door eventually failed to open electronically or manually. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.”
“POWER SLIDING DOOR FROZEN IN LOCKED POSITION. WILL NOT OPEN USING INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE, KEY FOB, CENTER CONTROL CONSLE SWITCH OR SIDE PILLAR SWITCH. MANUAL DOOR LOCK SLIDE IN INSIDE HANDLE NOT MOVING. COMPLETELY UNABLE TO USE DOOR TO ENTER OR EXIT VEHICLE. POTENTIAL FOR TRAPPING REAR PASSENGERS INSIDE VEHICLE IN CASE OF CRASH OR FIRE. GAS TANK COVER DOOR CLOSED SO IT IS NOT KEEPING THE LEFT SIDE DOOR FROM OPENING. CAR WAS PARKED WHEN PROBLEM APPEARED. NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO DOOR EITHER INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR.”
“THE SLIDING DOOR SUDDENLY QUIT WORKING. IT IS LOCKED BUT WILL NOT UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL. WORKED FINE WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE BUT WOULDN'T OPEN WHEN TRYING TO EXIT.”
“DRIVER'S SIDE REAR PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THE LOCKING MECHANISM SEEMS TO BE FROZEN AND I CANNOT OPEN IT USING THE KEY FOB, MANUALLY, OR WITH THE BUTTON IN THE DRIVER'S AREA. I CANNOT ACCESS MY CHILDREN FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR UNLESS I USE THE OTHER SIDE DOOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IF WE WERE IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT ANY REAR PASSENGER COULD GET TRAPPED INSIDE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A SAFETY RECALL.”
“THE DRIVER'S SIDE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR IS STUCK CLOSED AND IN THE LOCKED POSITION. I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOOR IN ANYWAY POSSIBLE NOT THE REMOTE, OVER HEAD BUTTON, DRIVER'S DOOR BUTTON OR MANUALLY WITH MY FINGER. I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN AND I FEEL THIS IS A COMPLETE SAFETY HAZZARD I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB FOR DIY INFO AND FOUND AT LEAST 60 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL WITH THE RISK OF CHILDREN BEING STUCK IN THE VEHICLE THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS FAULTY”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.