Dodge Grand Caravan VIN Number Check

Run a free NHTSA vPIC decode on a Dodge Grand Caravan VIN to confirm the model year and engine, then see which of the 85 NHTSA recall campaigns for 1990–2020 cover that year.

VIN prefix2C42D41B42D8

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Dodge Grand Caravan

About the Dodge Grand Caravan

Dodge sold the Grand Caravan in the US for model years 1990–2020, across five generations. The Gen 1 came first (1990); Gen 2 (1991–1995), Gen 3 (1996–2000), Gen 4 (2001–2007) followed, and the Gen 5 took over for 2008–2020. Across those years NHTSA lists 85 vehicle recall campaigns and 23,524 owner complaints. The 1996 has the most complaints of any model year (2,558). EPA rates the Gen 1 at 18–22 mpg combined, while the Gen 5 gets 18–20 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years1990–2020

GenerationsGen 1 · Gen 2 · Gen 3 · Gen 4 · Gen 5

NHTSA recall campaigns85

Owner complaints23,524 at NHTSA

Dodge Grand Caravan photographed at a US vehicle auction — Auction lot photo, for illustration

Generations

Dodge Grand Caravan generations

Five generations since the 1990 model year. The Gen 5 (2008–2020) has both the most owner complaints and the most recall campaigns (32).

5 / 5

Gen 5

2008–20205th generation

Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

1990199520002005201020152020

2008–2020· Generation 5 of 5

Gen 5 · 5th generation

EPA classMinivan

EPA combined mpg18–20

NHTSA recalls32

Engines (EPA)

3.3 L 6-cyl · 2008–2010
3.8 L 6-cyl · 2008–2010
4.0 L 6-cyl · 2008–2010
3.6 L 6-cyl · 2011–2020

Drive & transmission (EPA)

FWD
automatic (2008–2020)

Known issues to check

Electrical system (3,866)Engine and cooling (1,061)Air bags (892)6 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 7,711 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · Gen 52C4RDGCG?GR······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, built in Windsor, Ontario

Check a Grand Caravan VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Grand Caravan model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 85 campaigns on file for Grand Caravan model years 1990–2020, and the 1992 and 2008 show up in the most (10 each). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

Pick a row

What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Dodge Grand Caravan owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Complaints peak with the 1996 (2,558 of 23,524). Tap any bar or generation.

23,524NHTSA complaints, 1990–2020

1,096mention a crash

503mention a fire

1,238injuries reported

Owner complaints by model yearGen 5: 7,711 complaints · most for the 2008 (1,594)

Top complaint areas · Gen 5

Mentions in 7,711 complaints, 2008–2020.

Electrical system3,866

Engine and cooling1,061

Air bags892

Powertrain (transmission, driveline)735

Brakes595

Structure and body542

Crashes 169Fires 117Injuries 223

2008–2020 (Gen 5)

NHTSA data summary

Electrical system owns this generation. Its 3,866 mentions are more than twice the next area, engine and cooling (1,061). Its first model year, the 2008, drew more complaints than any other (1,594 of 7,711).

What Grand Caravan owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2008–2020 (5th generation)

Electrical faults dominate NHTSA complaints for the 2008, and CarComplaints ranks premature brake wear first for 2008, followed by transmission failure and a faulty TIPM, the power module that can make the horn, wipers and other items act up. On the 2016, sliding doors are the main theme, with owners describing doors that will not lock, will not open or open on their own. Recalls cover a steering wheel emblem that can come loose in the driver air bag on 2008–2010 vans and an ignition switch on 2008–2010 vans that a jolt can knock out of the run position, turning off the engine. [1] [2] [3]

What to check before buying

Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the air bag emblem recall on 2008–2010 vans and the ignition switch recall on 2008–2010 vans.
Ask for brake, transmission and TIPM repair records.
Test both power sliding doors several times, check that the horn, wipers and lights work normally and watch for rough shifts on the drive.

Sources (3) and method

Sources:

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Grand Caravan complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Electric Grand Caravan versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

23,524complaints, 1990–2020

1,096mention a crash

503mention a fire

1,238injuries reported

32complaints report a death

Most complaints: 1996 (2,558), 2008 (1,594), 2005 (1,533)

1996 · 2,558 complaints

Crashes 88 · fires 89 · injuries 108 · complaints reporting a death 2

Air bags462

Electrical system410

Fuel system401

Power train393

Engine and engine cooling392

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Grand Caravan CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 155 Grand Caravan versions for model years 1990–2020 (gas, electric and natural gas). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 404 g/mi (1995). Electric versions have none at the tailpipe. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Gen 11990

18–22 mpg · CO₂ 404–494 g/mi

Gen 21991–1995

16–22 mpg · 17 MPGe natural gas · CO₂ 404–555 g/mi

Gen 31996–2000

16–20 mpg · 35 MPGe electric · CO₂ 0–555 g/mi

Gen 42001–2007

17–21 mpg · CO₂ 423–523 g/mi

Gen 52008–2020

18–20 mpg · CO₂ 444–494 g/mi

Model year2019

20combined MPG

445CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)

$3,350EPA yearly fuel cost

3/10Smog rating

1 = worst · 10 = cleanest

4/10Greenhouse gas rating

Federal Tier 3 Transitional Bin 110Emission standard

Cleanest gas version of 2019: Grand Caravan · Auto 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L — 20 MPG · 445 g/mi

Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year

GasElectricNatural gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Grand Caravan vs Honda Odyssey vs Toyota Sienna

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 1996–2000. NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns for the Grand Caravan, against 12 for the Honda Odyssey and 2 for the Toyota Sienna. Pick a range to compare.

Dodge Grand CaravanGen 5

Model years 2008–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns: 32
NHTSA owner complaints: 7,711
EPA combined mpg: 18–20
Engines (EPA): 6-cyl 3.3–4.0 L
Drive (EPA): FWD
NHTSA crash rating: 4★ overall (2020)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 3,866
Engine and cooling 1,061
Air bags 892

Honda Odyssey

Model years 2008–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns: 41
NHTSA owner complaints: 4,906
EPA combined mpg: 18–22
Engines (EPA): 6-cyl 3.5 L
Drive (EPA): FWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2020)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Forward collision avoidance 1,054
Electrical system 953
Engine and cooling 897

Toyota Sienna

Model years 2008–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns: 42
NHTSA owner complaints: 2,632
EPA combined mpg: 18–22
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.7 L · 6-cyl 3.5 L
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2020)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Structure and body 715
Air bags 393
Electrical system 319

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Dodge Grand Caravan VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Grand Caravan

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Dark grey Dodge Grand Caravan (fifth generation) minivan, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The Grand Caravan's VIN sits on a plate at the driver's side windshield. Door jamb sticker and a B-pillar label between the sliding door and the front door are secondary reference points. The Gen 5 generation starts with the 2008 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (8 for 2008) shows which side of that line a car falls on.

Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge

The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.

FAQ

Common Dodge Grand Caravan VIN questions

Which Dodge Grand Caravan model years have the most owner complaints?

The 1996 leads with 2,558, ahead of the 2008 (1,594) and 2005 (1,533). Those first two alone make up 18% of the 23,524 Grand Caravan complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Dodge Grand Caravan had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 85 vehicle campaigns for model years 1990–2020, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, Gen 5 leads with 32. Then come the Gen 3 (21), Gen 2 (17), Gen 4 (14) and Gen 1 (3), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Dodge Grand Caravan recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 89V-237, 00V-268, 95V-236, 96V-006, 99V-216, 03V-094, 04V-531, 02V-274 and 7 more. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which Grand Caravan generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the Gen 1 is 1990 and the Gen 2 1991–1995. Gen 3 spans 1996–2000, Gen 4 2001–2007 and Gen 5 2008–2020. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (8 is 2008).

What fuel economy does the Dodge Grand Caravan get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2008–2020 Gen 5 at 18–20 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 18–22 mpg for the 1990 Gen 1 (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Dodge Grand Caravan compare with the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna on recalls?

For 2008–2020 models the Grand Caravan has 32 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Honda Odyssey has 41, the Toyota Sienna 42. Complaints run 7,711, 4,906 and 2,632 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

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Dodge Grand Caravan VIN Number Check

About the Dodge Grand Caravan

Dodge Grand Caravan generations