2013 Dodge Grand Caravan: check engine light

Filed Jan 13, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · 199,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jolted and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Upon further inspection, the contact became aware of excessive white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the transmission and catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.

Filed Jan 8, 2026 · Engine · 163,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who replaced the motor mounts and transmission. Five months later, the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle began driving roughly. The PCM update was completed by another local dealer, but the failure recurred. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The transmission was shifting through the gears erratically. The vehicle was not drivable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The coil packs and spark plugs were replaced at an independent mechanic. Several days later the RPM was fluctuating, and the vehicle lost motive power while driving up an incline. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was due to the torque converter failing. The local dealer was previously contacted, but no longer accepting calls. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated there were no codes retrieved. The dealer informed the contact that there was no warranty coverage for the issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000.

Filed Jun 17, 2024 · Engine, Seats · 143,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front driver's seat headrest deployed independently without impact. The check engine and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was received. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

Filed Jun 6, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · CO

Driving down the road at aproximately 40 mph and van shuts down. I turned on the hazard lights, coasted to the side of the road, put the van in park, turned the key to the off position waited about 30 seconds then turned key to on and the van starts up and seems to run fine. This is the second time in two days this has happened. No warning, no check engine lights. Very dangerous when driving at any speed when suddenly your vehicle turns itself off. Will contact my mechanic today to see if he has info on this problem. While doing research I have found that this is a problem that has been reported for many years and has been investigated. Wondering why they have not issued a recall for this????

Filed May 30, 2023 · CA

A gear part was found within the Transmission when the transmission pan was removed. The Vehicle did not give any warning signs or any faulty messages of the part that was broken. The car dealer then proceeded to flush the transmission which caused the transmission to fail completely. This is due to the fact that there was not a transmission fault error displayed on the panel to indicate a problem or concern. The dealer also stated that after flushing the transmission, the service technician test drove it and confirmed that it was shifting correctly. When I paid and drove it off the lot, the car buckled, stopped in the middle of traffic, and I was unable to drive it at that moment, and was not able to reverse. This caused a safety issue that was unnecessary not only for me but other drivers on the road. After pushing it to the side of the road, I managed to re-start it several times, and managed to take it to a professional Transmission service center called Miramar Transmission and they determined that there was a problem, and the engine light should have come on indicating that there was a problem. The dealer that did not help but actually helped to exacerbate the problem (Pedder in Poway, CA) should not have flushed it with the knowledge that a gear was the known culprit or defect. It is a known fact to NEVER FLUSH a transmission with known internal issues.

Filed May 26, 2023 · Engine · 15,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at 60-65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the dealer; however, no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.

Filed May 19, 2023 · Electrical · 167,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, a lanyard and other objects struck the key and the ABS and check engine warning lights briefly illuminated and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over, turn off and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic twice; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the wireless ignition node module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the federal safety agency Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 167,000.

Filed Dec 28, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · NC

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle was violently shaking. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to her destination. The contact also stated while driving 70 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle started to stall while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway and then had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The transmission was repaired by an independent mechanic. The contact wrote a letter to the manufacturer but had not received a response. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Filed Dec 28, 2022 · Engine · 125,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while exiting a parking lot the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle was able to operate normally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the spark plugs were replaced. On another occasion the failure reoccurred, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic again and the mechanic stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 125,000.

Filed May 24, 2022 · Engine · IL

Engine misfire, check engine light P0306, P0304, P0302 due to left side head needing replacement.

Filed Jan 23, 2022 · Fuel system · VT

While driving down the highway the engine shut off. The electrical continued but all power was lost. I had to pull off on the left side of the road to avoid being hit by vehicles who immediately began passing me on the right. After stopping and putting my emergency lights on the vehicle struggled to restart. after a minute it started up and I was able to continue down the road. No check engine light came on. The van simply just shut the engine off while driving.

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.