2008 Dodge Grand Caravan: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 13, 2026 · Airbags, Steering · 180,000 miles · OK · fire

The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that a dealer recently serviced under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V396000 (Air Bags, Steering). The contact stated that the dealer replaced the airbag module components located underneath the center console; however, the connected wiring was not replaced. Later, while the unoccupied vehicle was parked in a casino parking lot, the casino staff informed the contact that the vehicle was on fire. The fire department arrived, extinguished the flames, and filed an official report. The incident: the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence, where a secondary inspection indicated that the fire originated underneath the center console, where the recall repair had been performed. Both the manufacturer and dealer were notified of the failure, and the dealer provided documentation of the completed recall services. The failure mileage was 180,000.

Filed Jul 7, 2018 · 125,000 miles · MI · fire

I drove my van to town and back, no more than a 10 mile trip. Parked it in the usual spot. Two hours later, while my husband was in the shower and I was in my bedroom scratching off lottery tickets when the neighbor was yelling about our van being on fire. I looked outside and sure enough my van was engulfed in flames! Nothing is left of it but a metal frame. We thought it was going to burn our home down. Weird thing is, years ago my supervisor's 2003 caravan was sitting in the parking lot for 7 years when it caught on fire and caught the car next to it on fire and burnt both down! It's too bad because I actually loved my van!

Filed Nov 25, 2016 · Body, Electrical · 138,000 miles · SC · fire

On friday, 10/28/2016, I was traveling on flat rock rd. In starr sc coming home from work. I crossed over railroad tracks and the rear passenger door started trying to open on its own. The door made a loud noise and the door light on the dash lit up. I pulled over. The door continued trying to open until I opened the hood and disconnected the battery cable. When I checked the door, it would not open and was smoking. I noticed smoke coming from the bottom back corner of the door on the outside. I saw a flame inside. I had nothing to extinguish the fire with so I flagged down a passing motorist who thankfully had a jug of water. By this time, the door and trim under it were actually burning. I extinguished the fire and found the fuse for the door and pulled it. Later I found out that the vehicle had a recall for this and that the recall work was supposedly performed. I contacted chrysler and they sent an inspector. Recieved a letter today denying responsibility. I have a partally burned vehicle whose doors won't open (presenting a safety hazard because I have children and they could not get out if this happened again). I am terribly afraid to drive the vehicle anywhere now because of this.

Filed Sep 30, 2014 · Brakes · 67,500 miles · VA

As I was driving on the highway, the rear brake calipers on either side became stuck. I stopped at a traffic light, and smoke was coming from the rear wheels. The caliper stuck to the brake pads on both rear wheels and became burned on. The vehicle requires new brake pads, rotors, calipers, and caliper brackets to be installed. This is a huge fire hazard. I am lucky that nothing caught on fire under the vehicle.

Filed Jun 28, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 99,876 miles · IL

Vehicle started accelerating unintentionally with engine going to high RPM. Driver was driving at 45 MPH as vehicle randomly took off. Vehicle reached close to 85 MPH with the brake pedal pressed to the floor. Driver avoided a near collision with another vehicle. Driver turned the ignition off in order to stop the vehicle. Vehicle had two people inside during the incident and two witnesses following the vehicle behind, in another car. Witnesses described seeing the dodge caravan take off suddenly beyond the legal speed limit, with smoke pouring out from the brakes and the brake lights on. Driver described that he felt the throttle pedal physically stuck and the vehicle's RPM increasing, even while pressing and pumping on the brake pedal. After this incident and doing some research, we have found numerous complains online with similar situations. The dodge caravan, in this incident, does not have any aftermarket floor mats as dodge claims to be the cause of unintentional acceleration in similar occurrences that have been reported to dodge. The driver, passenger, and the witness are willing to make a statement, if necessary.

Filed Aug 6, 2013 · Visibility · 75,024 miles · MI

2008 dodge grand caravan v6 3.8l engine, 75k miles, vehicle has rear AC/heater blower option. The y heater hose, dealer part 4677603ak, in the engine compartment start leaking coolant at the rubber hose connection & the y pvc, coolant was dripping on the exhaust shield back of the engine close to the double wall. At that time I have been in slow traffic for at least 30 min when I noticed a burning smell coming from engine compartment. I shut off the engine, but coolant was still keep dripping for a while, had the hood open and tried to vent out engine compartment preventing a fire under the hood. Home I replaced the bad heater hose with a new one purchased from napa auto parts, part no 16599.

Filed Jul 9, 2013 · Electrical · 122,000 miles · MI

Report receipt date: june 03, 2010 the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v235000 component(s): electrical system my vehicle doesn't have the code so its not included in thisrecall...not right.all my wires have ripped apart and half my electrical no longer works..you should be responsible for this no question about it..I can smell burning wires...you need to include this..refuse to buy another dodge this company doesn't back up their problems occurring with factory made issues...I will not pay out of pocket that you should be liable for......

Filed Oct 8, 2012 · Engine · 67,000 miles · WI

I bought a 2008 dodge grand caravan xlt on february 3 of 2012 from a local dealer in milwaukee, wi. On that time the mileage of the car was approximately 60000 miles. Two months after I have the car we saw the oil change light coming out on the screen which was unusual for us we took the car to the dealer and they fixed the light. Two months after I saw the engine light on the screen, we took the car to the dealer and they keep the car for 3 days while they made a repair that cost me $850.0, I made this payment because I trust them when they told me that was going to be the only repair. Weeks after I was on the high way with my whole family and I say smoke coming from the engine and we perceived a strong burn smell, the mileage on that time was approximately 67,000, we just made it to arrive to the dealer service and they found a very low coolant level which means that the overheating was related to the coolant line. Next day I took the car to the service, the car was there for 7 days after I was told that the car needs an engine change which I can't afford to pay. The dealer contacted the manufacturer but all I received from them were 8 oil changes. I received and offer to have another car but the trade value for my car is very low compared to the original price I paid and the new monthly payment is out of my possibilities. I'm driving this car taking the risk for my family with the winter coming. After reading the complaints on the federal safety agency I was able to see that I'm not the first owner of a 2008 grand caravan with a potential problem of overheating and fire on my car. I need assistance with this case. Thanks.

Filed Sep 4, 2012 · Engine · 118,000 miles · OH · fire

We are a used car dealership that recently bought a 2008 dodge grand caravan with 118,000 miles on it. A customer was driving the vehicle when the incident occurred. After the vehicle was driven approximately 5 miles and placed in their garage, the customer noticed some smoke/steam coming from the vents. The customer assumed it was associated with the air conditioning and went into the house only to return a moment later to check on the van and at that time noticed a massive amount of smoke coming from the vehicle. The customer quickly backed the van out of the garage, turned it off and called the fire department. By the time the fire department made the brief trip to the customers' house, the van was completely burnt. There is some damage to the siding on the house as well. Luckily no one was injured and the customer was able to get the van out of the garage. Everything is completely burnt in the van-even the glass curled and melted because of the heat. Chrysler has been made aware of the issue.

Filed Jul 16, 2012 · Brakes · 57,000 miles · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge grand caravan. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle began to shake as the contact was depressing the brake pedal. The contact noticed the brakes would hesitate to respond and there was also a burning smell present. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician replaced the front brakes, the hubs, the wheel bearings and the tie rod. After the repairs the contact noticed that the rear brakes would hesitate to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics. The mechanic advised the contact that the brake pads and rotors would have to be replaced due to excessive corrosion and pitting. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 57,000.

Filed Jul 6, 2012 · Electrical, Tires · 54,800 miles · TX

The tipm module (totally integrated power module) is defective, and intermittently draws the battery down. After keeping the van for several days, our local dealership (bluebonnet motors) in new braunfels, tx, determined that the battery is fine, but the problem is with the tipm. The manufacturer has no units available for replacement at this time (several hundred are on backorder, and none scheduled for production). Chrysler has not offered to cover this under recall, and we are told it is not covered under our extended warranty. After researching on the internet we read many other people have tipm problems, including: wipers starting by themselves; windshield sprayers spraying without warning; horn will start honking out of control: lights flashing uncontrollably (all of these while driving); and even one unit that caught fire. Our dealership has indicated that the system indicates that at least six vehicles have been flagged as completely unusable. We feel that we are driving a rolling time bomb, with the potential to either leave us stranded, or cause hazardous driving distractions at any time, or both.

Filed Aug 12, 2011 · Brakes · 27,025 miles · NY

2008 dodge caravan purchased in august 2008. Rear brakes rubbing causing squealing, a burning smell and very hot rims. Dealer replaced both rear brakes in august 2009 at about 11,000 miles. Same thing occurred in 2011. Dealer refused to do anything on price and wanted $401. They claimed corrosion was the problem. Car now has 27,000 miles. Rear brakes only lasted 16,000 miles. There is a defect. Everybody knows that. Somebody is going to die. Rims will heat up and cause a tire to blow. Just a matter to time.