Wrench.Pro

2020 Dodge Grand Caravan Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering . Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Transmission failure requiring replacement.” Dodge uses Stellantis' Oil Change Indicator — it watches engine load and duty cycle and messages when to change oil, capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months. Know your engine: the 3.6L Pentastar V6 goes 100,000 miles on plugs, while HEMI V8s carry sixteen plugs (two per cylinder) on a roughly 30,000-mile interval — that's a real cost difference at the service counter. HEMI models with MDS cylinder deactivation are especially sensitive to overdue oil.

Save this car as:

1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR RESTRAINTS/SECUREMENT:LATCH/ANCHOR:

Campaign #25V876000 · Dec 17, 2025

Issue: Rollx Vans (Rollx) is recalling certain GMC Yukon, Sierra, Chevrolet Express 2500, Ford Transit, E-250, Toyota Sienna, Sienna Hybrid, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Voyager, Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Ram Promaster vehicles equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.

Risk: An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Rollx will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 5, 2026. Owners may contact Rollx's customer service at 1-800-956-6668.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan.

Reported to NHTSA

Transmission failure requiring replacement

POWER TRAIN

5 NHTSA complaints · 2024-02 → 2026-06

“I reported transmission issues to the dealership at 59,500 miles in March 2023 on my 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan. After inspection I was told that there was no problems found. On December 26th, 2023 at about 76000 miles my transmission catastrophically failed and required”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11573342
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered, and the transmission failed to properly shift intermittently. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11657357
“The automatic transmission failed while driving, causing a loss of propulsion and leaving the vehicle stranded. This created a safety hazard because the vehicle could no longer accelerate or move out of traffic. This is the fourth Chrysler/Dodge vehicle I have owned that has”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11747319

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Power transfer unit rollback while parked

POWER TRAIN

2 NHTSA complaints · 2024-01 → 2025-02

“On [XXX] after filling van with gas I entered and started my van. I noticed the gas cap was open so I put the van in park, took my foot off the brake, took off my seat belt, opened the door and exited leaving the door open. After a couple minutes while I was putting the gas cap”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11569084
“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle and leaving the fuel station, it was noticed through the side view mirror that the fuel door was still open and was forgotten to be closed after refueling. The contact came to a stop”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11643466

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Key fob electrical malfunction affecting doors and start

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2 NHTSA complaints · 2022-05 → 2022-10

“The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that after securing her infant child inside the vehicle, his wife started the vehicle and then exited the vehicle. After closing the door, it was discovered that all the doors had erroneously locked causing the child to”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11463036
“Vehicle was locked and off in the garage, which is underneath my home. Transmission was in park and the emergency brake was set. I was in the room directly above the garage. The key was in my front pants pocket and I inadvertently pressed some combination of the buttons on the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11487398

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

2 NHTSA complaints · 2020-05 → 2021-04

“TL* THE CONTACT STATED HE RENTED A 2020 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE DEER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11324523
“TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2020 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ANOTHER PERSON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11414337

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag and seat belt sensor warning malfunction

AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2022-10 → 2024-07

“I AM GETTING A CODE FOR THE THORAX SQUIB SENSOR. THE DEALERSHIP STATES I NEED A DRIVER-SIDE SEAT WIRE HARNESS. WE WERE PUT AT RISK BY THE INTERMITTENT CONNECTION OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR. AS THE LINE BECAME FRAYED AND WIRES BROKE. THE AIRBAGS SYSTEM WAS COMPROMISED CAUSING THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11508938
“While driving and all seat belts buckled the seat belt and air bag indicator chimes”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11604816

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change when the indicator says so — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L: 0W-20. HEMI 5.7L: 5W-20 (0W-40 for 6.4L SRT). MDS-equipped HEMIs punish stretched oil intervals with lifter and cam wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles. Charger/Challenger R/T and Scat Pack: staggered-width setups can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads and rotors at every oil change. Heavy Durangos used for towing and hard-driven Chargers both run through rear pads faster than the front-pad-first rule of thumb suggests.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 30,000 mi

HEMI 5.7L: sixteen plugs roughly every 30,000 miles — check your year's manual. Pentastar 3.6L (Charger/Challenger V6, Durango V6, Journey, Grand Caravan): 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Grand Caravan/Journey (62TE): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles in family duty. Charger/Challenger/Durango with the TorqueFlite 8-speed: no published normal interval, but specialists recommend service around 60,000-100,000 miles — sooner with towing.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

RWD Charger/Challenger and AWD Durango: replace rear diff fluid around 60,000 miles, sooner with towing or drag-strip duty. Limited-slip units need the friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. HEMIs pull serious airflow — a clogged filter costs measurable power before it throws a code.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles, replace on cracking or glazing. On the HEMI, a shredded belt can take the cooling drive with it mid-drive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles where equipped (behind the glovebox on most models). Some earlier Journeys and Avengers shipped without one — check before buying a filter.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant is scheduled for 10 years / 150,000 miles; shops commonly refresh by 100,000. OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing chemistries gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Big-audio Chargers and tow-package Durangos lean on the battery hard; weak batteries surface as gremlins in the electronics before they fail to crank.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

10 crashes 1990–2024

How the 10 occupant deaths break down

7

driver deaths

3

passenger deaths

10

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2020 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

5

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan reflects Dodge's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

Check another vehicle →