CarBrief

NHTSA has 81 owner complaints on file for the 2007 Caravan/Grand Caravan[1], and its year table shows no recalls for this model year[2]. In the complaints we read, owners describe stalling after a fill-up, engine oil leaks and transmission trouble[3][4][5].

81owner complaints[1]
18–20MPG combined (EPA)[6]

Reported problems

Of the 81 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 injuries and 1 a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one system.

System Complaints
Engine[4] 17
Fuel/propulsion system[3] 13
Brakes[7] 10
Electrical system[8] 9
Power train[5] 9
Air bags[9] 8
Steering[10] 8
Structure[11] 6

We read a small sample of the complaint texts for four of these groups. Here is what owners describe.

Electrical and brake complaints show up earlier in the odometer than engine and fuel ones. Their median failure mileage is 45,000 for electrical[8] and 46,117 for brakes[7].

Steering has 1 crash and 1 fire among its 8 complaints[10]. Air bags have 2 crashes and 1 injury among 8[9]. Structure has 2 injuries among 6[11]. We did not read samples for those three groups.

Recalls

NHTSA's table of complaints and recalls by model year lists 0 recalls for the 2007 model year[2]. That is a count of recalls on file for this model year. It does not mean owners have had no problems, as the complaints above show.

Fuel economy

The EPA lists three engines for the Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD[6][12][13]. All are Automatic 4-spd, front-wheel drive and use regular gas[6][12][13].

Engine City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
2.4L 4-cyl[6] 17 / 24 / 20 $3,350
3.3L 6-cyl[12] 17 / 24 / 20 $3,350
3.8L 6-cyl[13] 16 / 23 / 18 $3,700

The 3.8L costs $350 more per year than the other two by the EPA's estimate. The EPA's annual cost uses its current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the van was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings list the 4 DR FWD version of this van as not rated[14]. That means there is no star score to compare.

Engine and size

The EPA lists 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl and 3.8L 6-cyl engines for this model year[6][12][13]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, converted to inches and pounds, and can differ slightly from US vans.

Version Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
Caravan FWD base/SXT[15] 189 in 79 in 69 in 113 in 3,922 lb
Grand Caravan[16] 200 in 79 in 69 in 119 in 3,840 lb
Grand Caravan SXT[17] 200 in 79 in 69 in 119 in 4,325 lb

The Grand Caravan is 11 inches longer than the Caravan, with a 6-inch longer wheelbase[15][16].

How 2007 compares with other years

1995: 489 complaints, 1 recalls19951996: 1,403 complaints, 9 recalls19961997: 714 complaints, 7 recalls19971998: 629 complaints, 5 recalls19981999: 555 complaints, 5 recalls19992000: 470 complaints, 4 recalls20002001: 257 complaints, 3 recalls20012002: 245 complaints, 4 recalls20022003: 195 complaints, 3 recalls20032004: 65 complaints, 1 recalls20042005: 537 complaints, 4 recalls20052006: 173 complaints, 2 recalls20062007: 81 complaints, 0 recalls8120072008: 302 complaints, 2 recalls20082009: 118 complaints, 2 recalls2009
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Caravan/Grand Caravan model year. The 2007 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19954891
19961,4039
19977147
19986295
19995555
20004704
20012573
20022454
20031953
2004651
20055374
20061732
2007810
20083022
20091182

NHTSA lists 15 model years for this van, from 1995 to 2009[2]. The 2007 year has 81 complaints and 0 recalls[2].

Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many vans were sold, so treat them as a rough guide.

Should you buy a used 2007 Caravan/Grand Caravan?

On NHTSA's counts, this is one of the quieter years for the model, with 81 complaints and no recalls[2]. The complaints we read still show patterns worth checking. Owners describe stalling after a fill-up[3], oil seal leaks[4] and transmission trouble[5]. Ask whether any of these have shown up on the van you are looking at, and ask what was done about them. NHTSA lists the 4 DR FWD version as not rated for safety[14], so there is no star score to lean on, and fuel economy is 18 to 20 MPG combined depending on the engine[6][12][13].

Frequently asked questions

What problems do owners report for the 2007 Dodge Caravan?
Engine has the largest complaint count at 17, followed by fuel/propulsion at 13 and brakes at 10[4][3][7]. In the samples we read, owners describe stalling after refueling, engine oil seal leaks and transmission trouble[4][3][5].
Does the 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan have any recalls?
NHTSA's year table lists 0 recalls for the 2007 model year[2].
What MPG does the 2007 Dodge Caravan get?
The EPA rates the 2.4L 4-cyl and 3.3L 6-cyl at 20 MPG combined[6][12] and the 3.8L 6-cyl at 18 MPG combined[13].
Is the 2007 Dodge Caravan a good year?
It has 81 complaints and 0 recalls, which is the second-lowest complaint count and the lowest recall count of the 15 listed years[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales.
How long is a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The Canadian-market spec is 200 inches long on a 119 inch wheelbase[16]. The Caravan is 189 inches long[15].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 81 owner complaints on file for the 2007 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan (4 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 3 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. 13 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 96,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  4. 17 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 99,640). NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 9 complaints name the power train component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,156). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. EPA rating for Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  7. 10 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 46,117). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 9 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 8 complaints name the air bags component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 88,002). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 8 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 55,312). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 6 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. EPA rating for Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  13. EPA rating for Caravan/Grand Caravan 2WD, 3.8L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  15. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CARAVAN FWD BASE/SXT: length 189 in, width 79 in, height 69 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 3,922 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  16. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GRAND CARAVAN: length 200 in, width 79 in, height 69 in, wheelbase 119 in, curb weight 3,840 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  17. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GRAND CARAVAN SXT: length 200 in, width 79 in, height 69 in, wheelbase 119 in, curb weight 4,325 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.