2012 Dodge Grand Caravan: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Nov 20, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · AL

On my Grand Caravan the engine randomly dies when my headlights are on bright. I haven't been able to find the problem. I have read where others are having the same problem but not sure they have associated the problem to the high beam lights. Last year when the dealership supposedly did the T33 recall it stopped doing it for two months then started happening again. It only happens with my high beams. The dangers are that, unable to use my high beams, I may not see wildlife running out into the road on dark highways until it is too late. Also, if this happens in traffic, especially in turns or curves, there is temporary loss in propulsion, power steering, power brakes, etc. I believe this to be a widespread problem that most haven't associated with the headlights. When it happens all of the dash lights come on as if the ignition was just turned on. I guess one more danger is that a driver, unaware of what is happening, may try accelerating when the engine has died which could cause sudden acceleration when the engine power restores.

Filed Mar 19, 2021 · Electrical, Steering · 120,000 miles · PA

While driving my van, I attempted to turn left on a city street, when everything shut down on me. All of my dashboard lit up like a christmas tree. I had no steering, no brakes, it was frightening! I did have headlights, flashers, I couldn't access the side doors to ge my cane out. My back gate wouldn't open either so I could get my rollerator and walk to the business I was attempting to get to. I had to have my van towed and was told it's my electrical system and that many people have had the same issue. I would like to bring my awareness to this issue, for if I was on 95, my main highway and this happened, I would be dead along with my son. Attached is the dashboard, but the center bottom red light was flashing on and off. I'm told it's my security system light

Filed Nov 5, 2020 · Lights · 125,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that while driving at night, the hi-beam headlights were activated and the interior lighting became inoperable but independently flashed on. The failure was intermittent. The contact called harper jeep ram chrysler dodge (3033 alcoa hwy, alcoa, tn 37701, (865) 970-7423) where the failure was acknowledged however, there was no assistance provided. The contact was quoted an estimate of $1,250 for the repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 125,000.

Filed Jun 9, 2019 · Lights · 115,000 miles · NC · crash · 3 injuries

Major problems with t.I.p. Module while driving at night the interior and head lights start to flicker and eventually go completely out. I have 5 kids and have been almost hit head on when this happens because it happens without warning. I have had to sit beside the road for hours waiting on my lights to come back on and sometimes they never have. This is a life threatening emergency and dodge wont listen to me. This is extremely dangerous and it is getting to the point the car is undrivable. I was told it would be $1,400 to repair module and that is why they will not do anything about it. See also odi 11218741

Filed Jun 9, 2019 · Lights · 115,000 miles · NC · crash · 3 injuries

Major problems with t.I.p. Module while driving at night the interior and head lights start to flicker and eventually go completely out. I have 5 kids and have been almost hit head on when this happens because it happens without warning. I have had to sit beside the road for hours waiting on my lights to come back on and sometimes they never have. This is a life threatening emergency and dodge wont listen to me. This is extremely dangerous and it is getting to the point the car is undrivable. I was told it would be $1,400 to repair module and that is why they will not do anything about it. See also 112108740

Filed Apr 14, 2019 · Electrical · 39,000 miles · MD

Whenever I turn on the high beams the vehicle has electrical problems. It is like when the vehicle is initially turned on and it goes through a electrical diagnostics test . The indicator lights/sounds flash on the dashboard. As soon as I turn the high beams off again the vehicle works properly. There doesn't seem to affect the control of the vehicle, but when this happens I immediately turn the high beams off because I do not know if the electrical problem will affect the steering and or braking. So any true impact is not known. It has been happening for over a year now. I just don't use my high-beams for fear of having an accident. The issue can be replicated (still happens today).

Filed Jul 5, 2016 · Electrical · 45,000 miles · TX

Bought this van used in january 2016. We had it towed to the shop within a week of purchasing. The dash lights and headlights were flickering while driving. When braking the instrument panel, radio/navigation system and dvd player would shut down and restart itself. They eventually said there was a short in the transmission causing the vehicle to become stuck in 4th gear. It was fine for a month or so, but started doing the same things again. This time the alternator was replaced. Again it was fine for a short time. We let the problem continue without taking it to the shop until it started dying. At first it was only dying when stopped at a traffic light or stop sign. Once I was not able to immediately restart. Then it started dying while driving down the road. Both times were instances of deceleration. The dealership said it was recording events of low voltage. After having it for a week, they told us there was a malfunction within the new alternator and put a new one in. The day after we picked it up it started shutting the electronics down again. Clearly the alternator did not solve the problem. We also had the alternator tested on our own the first time this happened in january as we thought that could be the problem and the alternator tested fine.

Filed Dec 1, 2015 · Electrical · 65,000 miles · TX

3 instances of engine electrical issues, suspect power control module box. First instance about 2 years ago, pulling into driveway, and headlights and dashboard begin to flicker uncontrollably. I pulled negative battery cable, re-connected after a couple of minutes, and all normality returns. 2nd issue, some year ago or less, car shuts down in middle of highway, luckily, right next to a parking lot and red light. As engine shut down, I suspected this issue once again. I used momentum to turn into parking lot. (just rolled in.) wife asked me what I was doing, didn't explain until I was able to secure into parking lot and stop vehicle. Once again, pulled off cable on battery, and was able to re-set computer glitch. Third issue event. Was parked in parking lot, couldn't get key control to open door. Used emergency key to open door, once again, pulled off battery cable and re-set computer. There is a problem with this computer without a doubt.

Filed Jul 15, 2015 · Engine · 36,022 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge grand caravan. While at a stop sign, the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the headlights flickered and the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver side cylinder head needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,022.

Filed Nov 20, 2014 · Electrical, Transmission · 11,720 miles · MO

Documented several times since 2013, this van has had problems with the following: speedometer does not read, gauges do not read, windshield wipers turn on, all warning lights read, headlights do not work, A/C does not work; then all turn off randomly and intermittently turn back on and off again. In may 2014, the van had transmission issues where it would not shift out of low gear and driver had to twice shift into neutral and back into drive to shift properly. 6 repair attempts were made on the van beginning in may 2013 and ending in july 2013 with no success on repairs. The van was still under warranty so repair was free of charge. Replacement of the tipm was twice attempted but failed because of the faulty 2012 tipms. This van is used by rsvp, a federally funded nationwide non-profit, to transport senior volunteers to their work sites. This van has the potential to put people into a dangerous crash and needs chrysler to repair the tipms immediately.

Filed Nov 8, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 89,000 miles · SC

While driving along the highway at night, I turned off the high beams because of an approaching car. The multifunction switch instantly failed; I was unable to activate the high beams again, my directional signals did not work and the windshield wipers began to wipe incessantly. I consider this to be a safety-related defect, because I could not signal my intentions to other drivers, nor could I use the high beams to improve visibility. On a two-year-old van with only 89,000 miles, this failure seems premature.

Filed Jun 26, 2014 · Electrical · 40,356 miles · MA

One night I was driving with my 4 young children in the van on a back road to go home. All of a sudden all of my dash lights came on, my radio shut off and my headlights went out. That last about 25 secs. Then my van stalled. I was scared to have them in the van with me on a back road with no headlights first then a stalled van. I was able to pull off to the side, waited 10 mins and started it back up again. The next day I had the van running in park it stalled. I started it back up ok, until I put it in reverse. It stalled again after all the dash lights came on then back off. I started back up and it seemed ok. I stopped at a red lights, same thing happened. It stalled after all dash lights went on and off and radio shut down. I have had this van since 3/23/14 and it started 6/25/14. I called the dealer ship and explained the problem to them. They said that since it was 3 days passed the warranty it will be my responsibility. I was like really. I don't know what to do know. I just got the vehicle 93 days ago so only made 3 payments and now have to probably do expensive work on it. The dodge dealer was not helpful and rude about it. So now I have this vehicle I still have to pay on for 6 years and after only 3 months of owning I have major issues and a very big safety issue because I have kids in the van.