2013 Dodge Grand Caravan: multiple warning lights

Filed Jan 9, 2022 · Electrical · MI

December 21, 2021 - Crank, no start was the first issued. Had the battery tested and was told that it was dead and the battery was replaced. Random lights on the dashboard started coming on - (lightning bolt symbol and check engine light). Crank no start continued - throttle body and gasket needed to be cleaned/replaced. All spark plugs needed to be replaced (full tune-up). The thermostat blew and had to be replaced. The accelerator sensor intermittently failed then the whole gas pedal assembly had to be replaced. Crank, no start still occurred. Every few times could get the car to start but then stalled randomly - while driving even. The battery was drained completely during the day while the car was parked and all lights were off. Freezing temperatures outside with a car that couldn't start, or get jumped (with a battery that was only 2 weeks old). The van was then inspected again by a service center. Was told by the center that the TIPM was bad and causing all of these electrical failures/problems. TIPM is now being replaced. Now without a car in the winter (with 2 kids) for 3 weeks while trying to diagnose and wait for parts/repairs, and down over $2600 in repairs.

Filed Apr 25, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · 110,000 miles · AE

This vehicle has the same problem regarding the wireless ignition module (wim) problems as the 2008 - 2012 of same models. My wife was driving this car with all four of our children while we are here in germany (active duty us air force) 2017 and the engine died with no warning/indicators. I was not in the vehicle so I though maybe she hit the ignition and it cut out. At that point we swapped vehicles and I have been using this car as my primary vehicle for driving back and forth to work 2017 - 2021. I am a aircraft mechanic with over 23 years of maintenance experience on multiple different airframes. I have personally witnessed the engine cutting out while driving no less than 20 times since (4/25/2021). I have been able to put the van in neutral and immediately restart the engine (while I am driving and this happens). This happens at slow speeds (residential area with children playing in streets, high speeds (while on the autobahn), during turns (driving on hilly curved roads luckily I haven't exited the roadway yet!), braking (at stop lights), while parallel parking; power brakes stop operating, power steering stops operating, gas pedal stops responding to input - all due to the engine that stops operating. What I believe now due to the wireless ignition module going from on position to accy a malfunction with in the wim. It's like someone just killed the engine, but all lights, radio, everything else electrical still operates perfectly. Mileage 135,000 miles there are no indicators that the engine has ceased to operate except that the rpms are at 0 (even at idle rpms should be around 1,000 rpms). No other indicator light illuminates. Connected obd2, no codes, I even drive with a blue driver attached and when it has happened there are no codes recorded. These cars are hazards on the roads and it is shameful dodge will not admit their mistake!

Filed Nov 13, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 102,201 miles · OH

1st time june 2020: while driving on highway, suddenly warning lights started going on and off and on, van lost electrical power, shutting down all lights, windows, etc. Engine would not switch gears. Luckily, made it off the highway before the engine died. Towed to mechanic, could not find an issue after it was jump started. They tested it for 5 straight days. 2nd time october 2020 pulled van out of garage to driveway, turned it off to load and put grandchildren in car seats. Van would not restart, towed, replaced battery. 3rd time 11/7/2020 while driving on suburban busy road at night, suddenly various warning lights came on and off and on, wipers turned on by themselves, then all electrical power went out. I guided van into the nearest parking lot as the engine died and would not restart. Aaa came again, jumped the car, and while we discussed what to do, the car shut itself off again. Towed, mechanic replaced alternator. I have been very lucky not to be hit by another vehicle in two of these three instances. Current mileage: 102,201 I can provide repair shop bills and proof of the 3 times vehicle was towed in last 6 months!

Filed Nov 13, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 98,000 miles · OH

1st time june 2020: while driving on highway, suddenly warning lights started going on and off and on, van lost electrical power, shutting down all lights, windows, etc. Engine would not switch gears. Luckily, made it off the highway before the engine died. Towed to mechanic, could not find an issue after it was jump started. They tested it for 5 straight days. Could not drive the vehicle at a highway speed once this started happening, it would not accelerate or switch gears, top speed was 35 MPH. Not sure of precise date off the top of my head, but it was july 2020. Exact date can be verified from mechanic and aaa towing info.

Filed Feb 13, 2020 · 92,000 miles · CO

When I was driving my car and coming to a stop the engine would suddenly shut off. All lights would remain on but my power steering would go away and the RPM's would drop to 0. When I would try to start it after pulling over (manually cranking the steering wheel) the car would turn over, start, and then shut off immediately. Then randomly, usually after 15 minutes, the car would start up like normal and stay on without incident. This happened twice within 5 minutes of each incident.

Filed Sep 14, 2017 · Engine, Steering · 80,500 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized and the engine stalled. All the warning lights illuminated for a second before the failure. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was back to normal. The vehicle was taken to the nielsen dodge chrysler jeep ram dealer located at 175 nj-10, east hanover, nj 07936; (973) 884-2100 where the dealer could not diagnose the failure. The vehicle was driven back to the contact's residence. The contact stated that when the vehicle was in the drive gear at the contact's drive way the engine stalled. All the warning lights illuminated for a second prior to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted at 800‑992‑1997 and was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer asked the contact to take the vehicle to another dealer. A case number 32337129 was provided. The vehicle was towed to the dealer precision chrysler jeep dodge ram located at 1341 nj-23, butler, nj 07405; (973) 838-6808 where the vehicle was tested and the failure did not recur. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 80,500.

Filed May 5, 2016 · Electrical · 68,000 miles · NY

Our 2013 dodge grand caravan alternator and pcs failed at 68000 miles. The failure occurred while driving with my wife and 4 children in the car. Multiple dashboard lights came on and the the vehicle engine was racing but the transmission would not engage. The only reason there was not a crash was that they were traveling downhill and did not need to accelerate as the vehicle was not able to. Luckily they were able to pull the car over without incident. Dodge has recalled this alternator in over 900,000 vehicles on 4 other models with the 3.6 liter engine but has not in the grand caravan for some reason. I contacted dodge and they were unwilling to help in any way to repair my vehicle to make it operable and safe again. This repair was quoted form my local dodge dealer to cost over $750.

Filed Apr 16, 2015 · Electrical · 31,000 miles · OH

Battery warning light came on dash and car hesitated while driving down the street. After about a minute car ABS light and all lights on dash came on and car died in middle of street. Car would not restart had to get a jump from another car and it started and was driven home and parked every since. This really scared my wife because she could have easily been hit by a car in her rear.