2012 Dodge Grand Caravan: sudden loss of power

Filed Nov 16, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · MN

While driving, the vehicle will periodically shut down/lose all power. This appears to occur when a slight bump in the road occurs. The loss of power to the vehicle is obviously a significant safety issue. We have been able to restart it when switching to neutral and turning the key; however, this obviously isn't a safe solution while traveling down the highway with no power to the vehicle. This has occurred multiple times at varying speeds (30-70 mph) over the last few years - I am reporting it now as I was assuming/anticipating there would be a recall on this safety issue.

Filed Oct 16, 2023 · Electrical · OH

The van has COMPLETELY lost power on multiple occasions WHILE driving. Everything shuts down: engine, dash, everything. No error codes, so mechanic can’t pinpoint. Very dangerous. Someone is going to die.

Filed Oct 12, 2023 · Electrical · TX

The fuel relay switch is faulty and causing fuel pump to stay on draining the battery. This is a known problem and has been recalled on several other models. It causes my vehicle to continue to lose power due to electrical surge.

Filed Jan 20, 2023 · Engine, Steering · CA

When driving the car will randomly shut off losing power. When trying to start it randomly it will turn on then shut back off. When it turns off as I’m driving it’s always under 50MPH but I lose steering. Very scary.

Filed Sep 21, 2022 · Fuel system, Transmission · TN

Sounds like a machine gun when trying to start. Have to turn key completely off to get the sound to stop. Not starting sometimes and cutting off when driving. Lost all power on a main highway including my brakes and power steering. Completely shut off. Also the back air AC doesn't work at times. Seems to not have enough power to roll down windows at times and you can only use one window at a time. Battery, alternator, and starter test fine. Replaced relays and still same problem. Throwing code for not reaching coolant temp. Replaced thermostat gasket still throwing code. No other codes or lights showing up. Heard of an ignition switch and power train recall but when I put my vin in it says there are none.

Filed Jul 16, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · MO

The TIPM has a built in fuel relay switch which fails sometimes won't allow vehicle to start other times it and stall while driving twice in one trip my vehicle stalled on the highway loss of all power and engine completely shuts off with no power steering or brake assist very scary and wreckless was very fortunate to have avoid multiple accidents the is already a recall associated with this issue on the Dodge Durango and Jeep Cherokee but for some reason the Doge Grand Caravan was left off and it posses a huge safety risk for the people and families that are driving them!

Filed Jun 15, 2022 · Electrical · IN

My Dodge Grand caravan is having ignition issues and will randomly die while driving or just sitting. It has happened on the highway going 70mph. It is very dangerous as I lose all power until I would flip the ignition off and then back on. I have looked and found the recall on other vans but it is not listed under my VIN. What do I do to get this fixed before I am in am accident.

Filed Dec 2, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · NC

While driving 55 MPH on the highway all the lights on the dashboard began flashing and the vehicle lost ALL power - No power steering, no brakes, no engine, nothing. Luckily I was going uphill in the mountains without any traffic and was able to eventually stop. Had there been a vehicle behind me, the results could have been fatal. The vehicle was towed to a nearby trusted shop. They are saying it needs a whole new engine. The problem is, even with a replacement engine, this could happen again with a new/rebuilt Chrysler/Dodge engine. Keep reading please. In researching, I found that this is a known issue with this and other Chrysler/Dodge models. There was a previous Class Action Suit in California settled regarding this issue that required all plaintiffs to file before December 2018. Sadly, I did not purchase the vehicle until 2019 and this issue did not occur until 2021. I'm hoping there is some way to make Chrysler/Dodge accept responsibility for this through a recall or another class action suit as I have read many complaints online regarding this issue. How many people have to die before somebody does something about this?

Filed Jul 20, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · OH

My wife and I have a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan, my wife drives the car on a daily basis school runs, etc with our 4 kids. While driving the kids to school and stopped at a red light the vehicle suddenly with no warning lost all power and shutdown. My wife said she was able to restart it again right away, then just before she got home the car suddenly and again no warning shut down everything no power whatsoever she was unable to remove the key from the ignition. After attaching a battery pack we were able to get it restarted and drive home Thankfully no one was behind her at the time as it would most definetly have resulted in a crash. Since then this has occured several more times sometimes it will be a day or couple days but it will always just die with no warning, My wife refuses to drive the car now as both she and I are afraid for the kids and her safety. I have checked and fixed various items including a new battery,alternator and ASD relay all of which did not fix the issue. I see dodge has issued recalls for the ignition switch on previous years. I believe Dodge needs to look at the 2012 and fix whatever this issue is as I have saw numerous people experiencing the same issue. I am a father supporting my wife and 4 kids and cannot afford a bottomless pit of maybe its this/that. Dodge needs to step up it could be the difference of saving someones life.

Filed Apr 16, 2021 · Brakes, Engine · 140,000 miles · WA

While driving, the vehicle shuts off randomly. At that time we lose power breaks and power steering. My wife and children were almost in a collision due to this. It has happened 2 times now and has no problem restarting after coming to a stop and putting the vehicle back into park.

Filed Mar 12, 2021 · Engine · 100,000 miles · NY

Driving at highway speeds engine shuts down and lose power to brakes and steering its happened three times so far almost caused an accident

Filed Oct 21, 2020 · 96,000 miles · PA

Car sometimes won't start..when it does start it totally shuts down. We can be idling, driving slowly, quickly, or in reverse. Literally just shuts down. No warning nothing! Loss of all power. Sometimes will start back up other times needs to be towed. Death trap! Already lost one family member to faulty parts!