2018 Dodge Grand Caravan Safety Report
2018 Dodge Grand Caravan Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (259) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 6 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Electrical System | Compare electrical system issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan with 15 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2016 | Check the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan before buying across this generation. |
Dodge Grand Caravan Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Dodge Grand Caravan years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan | 27 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan | 396 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan | 15 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan | 1111 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan | 271 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2018 Dodge Grand Caravan Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Electrical System
43 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Dodge onlyStructure
41 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure issues Dodge onlyUnknown Or Other
35 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Dodge onlyEngine
20 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Dodge onlyElectrical System,Unknown Or Other
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other issues Dodge onlyLatches/Locks/Linkages
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Latches/Locks/Linkages issues Dodge onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
Reliability Score
The 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan receives a reliability score of 65 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System The electrical system has been identified as a common issue, with reports of voltage regulator malfunctioning and dimming lights. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Service brakes have been reported to have issues with hydraulic foundation components, specifically the disc caliper. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages Issues with latches, locks, and linkages have been reported, particularly with the sliding doors not opening. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Headrest Airbag A headrest airbag deployed without any explanation, though this is a less frequent issue. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan:
Issues with the electrical system, including voltage regulator malfunction and dimming lights.
Problems with the hydraulic foundation components, specifically the disc caliper.
Issues with latches, locks, and linkages, particularly with the sliding doors not opening.
A headrest airbag deployed without any explanation.
Recall Details for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan by NHTSA:
Summary: 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 year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
Consequence: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Vantage will notify owners, and will provide parts and reimbursement to owners for repair facilities to replace the fuel tank gasket, free of charge. The recall began May 19, 2020. Owners may contact Vantage customer service at 1-800-488-9082.
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x vehicles, 2017-2018 Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles and 2018-2019 Jeep Cherokee and 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid vehicles. The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall o...
Consequence: A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began October 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U87.
Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
•vehicle stalls when slowing down in traffic and cut off on freeway •happens while driving at low speed •vehicle restarts immediately after stalling •0–10 mph (coming to stop) •slowing from traffic speed •check engine light appeared •code P0128 was detected Vehicle stalled while driving and could have caused a crash if it happened in heavier traffic.” •I reported the issue to the dealership I boug...
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and came to a stop in the middle of traffic. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a misfire and the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign: 18V524000 (Electrical Sy...
Am smells as if wires are burning and vehicle turns off whilst driving causing me to nearly hit a pole in one instance. Car will shut off also whilst parked or when reversing to park. Emergency Brake light come on at random times during driving as well. Or the seatbelt light will come on whilst seatbelt is engaged.
My sliding back doors do not open with the key fob AND they do not open using the handles on the INSIDE or OUTSIDE of the van. I was researching how to fix this, and this seems to be a pretty common issue. How has this put safety at risk - if there is an emergency, how do those people in the back seat get out? This is a HUGE issue! There are no other known failures with the vehicle - it has no...
The headrest airbag on the driver's side was deployed without any explanation.
I am reporting an issue involving a Dodge recall repair and an improper charge related to that recall. My Dodge vehicle was serviced for a sliding door actuator recall. During the repair, the dealer informed me that the “sliding door applique” must be removed to access the actuator and that it cannot be reused once removed. They then charged me over $531.99 for the applique, even though the repai...
When I’m driving, especially when I come to a stop or when I try to accelerate from a stop, the car kind of chokes or hesitates. It feels like it’s about to stall, but it doesn’t fully turn off. It keeps doing this off and on when I stop or try to go again. It's very scary and dangerous.
Passenger side sliding door can't be unlocked manually or by the fob, will not open by the handle inside or out. Passengers are unable to exit vehicle through passenger sliding door.
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver's side headrest had deployed without impact. The local dealer was not contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 59,600.
Voltage regulator malfunctioning inside ECM and having lights dim and electrical components bog down
Our driver side back sliding door door has seized and will not open. This looks to be a common issue with the grand caravan. The lock is stuck in an in between state and will not open automatically or manually. This is a safety hazard for back passengers.
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-70 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly slowed down and then abruptly stopped. The contact stated that it felt as if a part had fallen from the bottom of the vehicle. While attempting to drive off, the vehicle hesitated. While at a YIELD sign, the vehicle shut off and was restarted. The driver's side door...
Driving down hi way and headrest came apart.
Driver side door is not locking or unlocking with KEYFOB.
The lock mechanism on the passenger side sliding door has failed. It is stuck in the locked position. This is a known defect that has recurred in this vehicle for years. The door is not able to be unlocked which is a safety concern if the vehicle needs to be exited or accessed in an emergency. The sliding door lock had been making a loud buzzing noise upon locking and unlocking for weeks but only ...
Driver's side sliding door stays locked and will not open it also prevents me to lock the passenger side sliding door
I had recently decided to rotate my wheels and and I had gotten done I noticed that after a little while after I get down the road my speedometer, cruise control, abs, traction control stopped working and my parking brake light also came on now I do know the only thing that I done differently was kept my hub cap pieces off of the vehicle
Driver side sliding door locked. Fails to get unlocked. Tried unlocking with Key Fob, manually unlocking. Nothing works and this door now fails to get unlocked and open. Passenger side middle row bucket seat fails to fold down and get under the floor.
Went to open up driver side sliding door and it would not slide back. It is stuck due to the locking actuator. This can be dangerous. I have kids in my van and the door not sliding back can present different dangerous issues for different scenarios. The 2016-2017 dodge grand caravan I believe has a recall on this issue but not the 20q8, and I dont know why.
As is a known issue in Dodge Caravans - the sliding door components have failed resulting in a safety hazard. One of the doors will not open sometimes which is a serious concern in the case of an emergency.
Showing 20 of 259 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Seats
Opened 2019-09-09 · Closed 2026-02-25
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19014 on September 9, 2019, to investigate 128 consumer complaints alleging that the Active Head Rest (AHR) inadvertently deployed without the occurrence of a crash or other rear impact event in model year (MY) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.When ODI opened the investigation, ODI was aware of thirteen alleged injuries.A small number of Early Warning Reports identified driver and/or passenger front seat AHR inadvertent deploy...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
Has the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN been recalled?
Yes, the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN have?
The 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN has 259 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 6 involved crashes. 11 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
The 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN involve electrical system (43 complaints), structure (41 complaints), unknown or other (35 complaints). Other affected components include engine, electrical system,unknown or other, latches/locks/linkages.
How many crash reports does the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN have?
There are 6 crash reports associated with the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN out of 259 total complaints (2.3% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN have?
There are no fire reports for the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
11 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 259 complaints, 4 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
The components with the most failures on the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN are: 1. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (43 complaints), 2. STRUCTURE (41 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (35 complaints), 4. ENGINE (20 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER (16 complaints). ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is the single most-reported problem area with 43 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
Be cautious of electrical system issues and service brake problems. Check for recalls and ensure proper maintenance. The 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN has 259 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
The 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN receives a reliability score of 65/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 259 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 6 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Electrical System and Service Brakes.
What are the known issues with the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN?
Known issues with the 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN include: Electrical System, Service Brakes, Latches/Locks/Linkages, Headrest Airbag. These are based on patterns found across 259 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common electrical system issues in the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan?
Common issues include voltage regulator malfunction and dimming lights.
Are there any known issues with the service brakes?
Yes, there are reports of problems with the hydraulic foundation components, specifically the disc caliper.
What should I do if I experience issues with my sliding doors not opening?
Check for recalls and consult a mechanic to address the latches, locks, or linkages.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of electrical system issues and service brake problems. Check for recalls and ensure proper maintenance.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The data includes 259 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 6 reported crashes, 11 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-14