2017 Dodge Grand Caravan structure problems

“The rear power slide doors are opening on their own with vehicle in motion. The power switch on the roof is off. We have 5 children. No warming lamps or issues this is a known issues will caravans”

“I purchased the vehicle on 9/15/2025 at approximately 103,900 miles. Around 10/6/25 at approximately 103,982 miles the driver side sliding door actuator has failed causing the door to get stuck in the lock position and creating a safety hazard. I reached out to Dodge today and spoke with a representative by the name of Lynn and they've declined to repair.”

“The driver's side sliding door on this minivan became stuck shut. I had to remove my disabled son through the open window. Not being able to remove him quickly in an emergency because the door has become sealed shut is unacceptable. I cannot believe there is no manual override. I was able to solve this issue by forcing the unlock lever while pressing 'unlock' on the keyfob. However, the main reason I write this complaint, numerous people on various forums report an actuator shorting out in their doors causing this issue, meaning they cannot open the door, by any means, without this actuator being repaired. I cannot for the life of me believe that a system was engineered to not have a simple manual override on a car door. This is beyond me how this got cleared by any sort of regulatory body. If that actuator gets cooked in a fire, I guess the occupants of the car will too.”

“Vehicle: 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan Component/System: Sliding door lock actuator Is the part available for inspection upon request? Yes Description of the Issue: The sliding door lock actuator failed, causing the door to remain locked at all times. The door cannot be opened manually or using the power door controls. This renders the door completely inoperable. Safety Risk: This is a significant safety hazard. In the event of an emergency, passengers—especially children seated in the rear—cannot exit the vehicle through this door. It severely limits evacuation routes and could result in injury or death if occupants are trapped during an accident or fire. Has the issue been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center? Not yet. Issue is ongoing and appointment is pending. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages, or symptoms before the failure? No warning lamps or messages appeared. The door simply stopped responding to manual or power lock/unlock commands. When did the issue occur? June 2025. The door has remained inoperable since. Assessment: Based on consumer…”

“Beginning at about 75,000 miles (1st lock actuator), my lock actuators seized and rendered the backseat passenger doors unusable. The second lock actuator on the passenger side followed at about 95,000 miles. This is extremely unsafe, because if I have my children as passengers, they must climb in through the back hatch of the minivan. In addition, passengers cannot exit the vehicle from their seats in case of a wreck. Dodge has issued an extended warranty recently, but I am not eligible because my vehicle is now over 100,000 miles. (It was under 100,000 miles at the time of malfunction, but there was no extended warranty or recall at the time.) This common issue with the Dodge Grand Caravan is extremely unsafe, and all defective lock actuators should be replaced/repaired as part of a recall. A warranty that excludes certain users is unsafe.”

“We found a warranty extension for Dodge Caravan Driver and Passenger Sliding Door Power Lock Actuators, but when I searched for our VIN, it is not included, but we are having the same problem. All of a sudden, our driver side sliding door was stuck shut, and would not open manually or with the key fob. I found a workaround from an online forum to hold the manual lock to open position, while pressing the unlock button either on the driver door or the key fob. Since then, when the sliding door shuts and wouldn't open, this is what we do. And then shortly after that, we noticed a loud buzzing sound coming from the same door when accelerating and the automatic lock activates.”