How Long Do Dodge Grand Caravans Last? (Read This First!)

The Dodge Grand Caravan is the long-wheelbase version of the Dodge Caravan, a minivan designed and manufactured by Chrysler from 1984 up until 2020.

The Grand Caravan entered the range in 1987 and continued until its last model in the 2020 model year.

It was ultimately replaced by the Chrysler Voyager, but the name lives on in Canada, where the vehicle is sold as the Chrysler Grand Caravan.

This article answers the question “How Long Do Dodge Grand Caravans Last?”…

How Long Do Dodge Grand Caravans Last?

There are many examples of Dodge Grand Caravans living beyond 200,000 miles, with some going even beyond 300,000 miles. The most likely major repair needed along the way is a new transmission. Besides that, regular maintenance and good driving habits.

Is The Dodge Grand Caravan Reliable?

The Dodge Grand Caravan has a very good reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, which is above the average score in the minivan category of 3.5. It also does well in ratings such as repair cost, repair frequency, and the probability that necessary repairs will be severe.

The average annual cost of maintenance is $673, which is only very slightly above the average of $647 for minivans, and an overall average of $652 for vehicles in general.

This means that conducting all necessary maintenance on the Dodge Grand Caravan each year is very affordable, which is also part of what helps to extend its life.

In terms of frequency of required unscheduled visits to an auto shop and the likelihood of a repair on the Dodge Grand Caravan being severe, it wins to its competitors.

Does The Grand Caravan Last Longer Than Its Competitors?

According to its overall reliability ratings, it seems more than likely that the Dodge Grand Caravan can last longer than many of its competitors.

With stronger reliability ratings from its competitors such as Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, and VW, there’s nothing stopping the Dodge Grand Caravan from being a longer-lasting van than many of its competitors as long as it is well-maintained.

There are certain model years that have overall been declared as problematic, however, and these include the 2005, 2008, and 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan models, with the 2011 model particularly criticized.

Common issues with these model years included wearing brakes, problematic key fobs, A/C, and heater having issues, the powertrain control module, fuel pump relay, misfiring engine cylinders (2011 model especially), and more.

What Typically Breaks First In A Grand Caravan?

The first component of the Grand Caravan to suffer unduly is the brakes.

Many have said that especially in earlier models of the current fifth-generation (starting in the model year 2008-2009).

After that, another component that seems to be susceptible to early damage is the ignition switch.

Faulty or damaged ignition switches have led to the engine in the Dodge Grand Caravan having issues with stalling.

The third most common thing to break first is the air conditioning or heater unit, especially on models from 2011 to 2014.

The main issue seems to be the HVAC system always blowing cold air regardless of the actual temperature settings.

How Long Does The Gearbox Last?

Typically, the transmission can last for quite a long time, especially in the newer models.

There were previously some problems in earlier models with the shifting pattern of the automatic gearbox, but modern units are said to last from 130,000 to 180,000 miles.

Older models can accept high-quality replacement transmission units, however, and these will also last for well over 130,000 miles when installed correctly.

Provided that all the other factory flaws that may have existed with each previous model year have been addressed, there’s nothing stopping a new Grand Caravan transmission from reaching 180,000 miles in service life.

What Are The Biggest Common Problems In A Caravan?

  • Premature brake wear
  • Engine stalling
  • Hard gear changes
  • Transmission failure
  • Faulty air conditioning
  • Powertrain Control Module (2011-2014)
  • Total Integrated Power Module (2011-2014)

Brake wear is generally attributed to the questionable quality of OEM brakes on earlier models, and can generally be fixed with a better set of new brakes installed.

Engine stalling is attributed generally to either faulty ignition switches or to a failure of the total integrated power module (TIPM).

The latter also occurred on the Dodge Durango and was the subject of a recall, but the Grand Caravan was not recalled for this reason.

Other technical problems in the Grand Caravan have been addressed via technical service bulletins and software updates.

These solved problems with the powertrain control model and HVAC systems.

What Is The Highest Mileage Recorded In A Grand Caravan?

Many Dodge Grand Caravans have exceeded the 200,000-mile mark, as we can see publicly shared on many forums and other platforms.

There is even a “Dodge 200,000 Mile Club” plate you can get to display on your vehicle if you get there.

A few users had claimed to exceed 300,000 and 400,000 miles when well maintained.

What Is The Best Year To Buy A Used One?

Before we recommend which years to buy, we know from many reports and reviews that 2005, 2008, and 2011 Dodge Grand Caravans, in particular, are the ones to avoid.

When you look at current mileage, depreciation, and reliability all together, the optimum model year to favor a used purchase would be 2018.

First of all the 2018 model year comes in three different trims: SE, SE Plus, and SXT.

You’re far more likely to get a low-mileage model.

Typical mileage on a 3-year-old 2018 model is between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, with a greater likelihood of hitting the low end or even lower when you opt for a 2018 model.

In 2021, the 2018 model is 3 years old and therefore has been through the most serious parts of its depreciation overall. It will retain about 61 percent of its original value after 3 years.

The average price to buy a 2018 model in 2021 is about $19,000, with a price range from $17,000 to $22,400.

Looking purely at depreciation, the ideal model year to buy would be 2015.

Between years 6 and 10 of its life, the Grand Caravan only depreciates about 10 percent. In years 1 to 6, it will depreciate 60 percent altogether.

How Much Is A New Grand Caravan?

The MSRP for a 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan (last available model year) is $27,530 for the base SE model. The SE Plus starts at $30,330, and the top-level SXT starts at $32,995.

After upgrading the SXT model with various additions like black wheels and additional driver packages, the price will go up to about $35,000.

Availability of new models is increasingly limited, and the following states already have registration and availability limitations: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

How Much Does It Depreciate?

The table below shows the amount of dollar depreciation and retained residual value in the Dodge Grand Caravan after each year of ownership up to 8 years.

Years OldDepreciationResidual Value (%)Resale Value ($)
15,46581.9924,877
28,35072.4821,992
311,77061.2118,572
414,03953.7316,303
516,26946.3814,073
618,00240.6712,340
718,07540.4312,267
819,19136.7511,151