CarBrief

Owners filed 118 complaints with NHTSA for the 2009 Caravan/Grand Caravan[1]. The electrical system is the biggest group, with 72[2].

118owner complaints[1]
2recalls[3]
18–20MPG combined (EPA)[4]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 118 owner complaints for this model year[1]. Three mention a crash, three a fire and two an injury. None report a death[1]. These are unverified reports, and one complaint can name several systems.

System Complaints Median mileage at failure
Electrical system[2] 72 85,000
Air bags[5] 26 not listed
Engine[6] 19 90,000
Brakes[7] 11 37,859
Wheels[8] 9 72,500
Steering[9] 8 85,000
Tires[10] 8 52,692

Electrical. This is the largest group by a wide margin. One crash and one injury sit in it[2]. In the sample of complaints we read, owners describe the engine shutting off while driving, sometimes with power steering and brakes becoming hard to use. Others describe key and ignition trouble and a van that sometimes will not start[2].

Engine. The group has one fire report[6]. In the sample we read, owners describe stalling or shutting off while driving. Several say the shop could not find a cause or the problem came back[6].

Air bags. Two crashes and one injury are in this group[5]. In the sample we read, 10 of the 12 texts come from owners who got a recall notice and wrote that the repair part was not available[5]. One text describes an air bag that did not deploy in a deer strike[5].

Brakes. Two fires are in this group[7]. Owners in the sample describe rear brakes that overheat, smoke, stick or wear fast. Others describe the vehicle shutting off with steering and brakes affected[7].

Wheels, steering and tires have 8 or 9 complaints each, with no crashes, fires or injuries[8][9][10]. We do not treat them as common problems.

Recalls

NHTSA data lists two recalls for this model year. Both cover only vans altered by The Braun Corporation for wheelchair access.

If you are looking at a converted van, ask the seller for proof that the Braun repair was done.

Fuel economy

EPA lists three versions of this van.

Engine City / highway / combined MPG EPA annual fuel cost
3.8L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular[13] 16 / 23 / 18 $3,700
4.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular[4] 17 / 25 / 20 $3,350
3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85[14] 17 / 24 / 19 $3,550

All three are front-wheel drive[13][4][14]. EPA bases the annual cost on its current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the van was new.

Engine and size

The engines listed by EPA are 3.8L, 4.0L and 3.3L six-cylinders[13][4][14]. Size numbers below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

Variant Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
Grand Caravan Value Pkg/SE[15] 202 in 77 in 69 in 121 in 4,321 lb
Grand Caravan SXT[16] 202 in 77 in 69 in 121 in 4,493 lb

How 2009 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 recalls20072008: 302 complaints, 2 recalls20082009: 118 complaints, 2 recalls1182009
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Caravan/Grand Caravan model year. The 2009 is highlighted[3].
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 of the Caravan/Grand Caravan, 1995 to 2009[3]. At 118 complaints, 2009 has the third-lowest count[3]. Only 2004 (65) and 2007 (81) are lower[3]. 2008 has 302 and 2005 has 537[3].

Recalls are a different picture. 2009 has 2, the same as 2006 and 2008[3]. 2007 has none, and 1995 and 2004 have 1 each[3].

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

Should you buy a used 2009 Caravan/Grand Caravan?

The complaint count is the third-lowest of 15 model years[3]. The weak spot in the reports is electrical, with 72 complaints[2]. In the sample we read, owners describe the engine shutting off while driving, so ask for a long test drive and any repair records for ignition, key and electrical work[2]. Check the brakes too, since owners describe rear brake trouble[7]. If the van is a wheelchair conversion, confirm the Braun recall repair was done[11][12].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan?
The electrical system has the most complaints, 72 of 118 on file[1][2]. In a sample we read, owners describe engine shutoffs while driving and key trouble[2].
Does the 2009 Dodge Caravan have recalls?
NHTSA data lists two, 10V164 and 10V148. Both cover only vans altered by Braun for wheelchair access, and Braun repairs them free[11][12].
What gas mileage does a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan get?
EPA combined ratings are 18 mpg for the 3.8L, 20 for the 4.0L and 19 for the 3.3L[13][4][14].
Is the 2009 Dodge Caravan reliable compared with other years?
It has the third-lowest complaint count of 15 model years, 118[3]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 118 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan (3 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 72 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 85,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Caravan/Grand Caravan FWD, 4.0L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. 26 complaints name the air bags component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 19 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 11 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 37,859). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 9 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 72,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 8 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 85,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 8 complaints name the tires component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 52,692). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. Recall 10V164, filed April 23, 2010: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
  12. Recall 10V148, filed April 13, 2010: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe And Cap. NHTSA recall database
  13. EPA rating for Caravan/Grand Caravan FWD, 3.8L 6-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for Caravan/Grand Caravan FWD, 3.3L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GRAND CARAVAN 4DR VAN FWD CANADA VALUE PKG/SE: length 202 in, width 77 in, height 69 in, wheelbase 121 in, curb weight 4,321 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  16. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, GRAND CARAVAN 4DR VAN FWD SXT: length 202 in, width 77 in, height 69 in, wheelbase 121 in, curb weight 4,493 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.