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2018 Dodge Grand Caravan problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
22%
56 of 270 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 22% of relevant complaints.

Better than 84% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 56 of 270 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 23% and the 2019 scores 44%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
56
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
270
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
8 crashes · 14 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM92 · 34%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER65 · 24%
STRUCTURE59 · 22%
ENGINE34 · 13%
POWER TRAIN23 · 9%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES15 · 6%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2018 compares with other Dodge Grand Caravan years

Of the 10 Dodge Grand Caravan years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the best on engine and transmission share (22%). The worst is the 2015 (44%). By volume, the 2018 drew 270 complaints (56 drivetrain), against 414 for the 2017 and 46 for the 2019.

Dodge Grand Caravan years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTE02/09/2026
Am smells as if wires are burning and vehicle turns off whilst driving causing me to nearly hit a pole in one instance. Car will shut off also whilst parked or when reversing to park. Emergency Brake light come on at random times during driving as well. Or the seatbelt light will come on whilst seatbelt is engaged.

One of 56 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2018 Dodge Grand Caravan fuel system recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly20V278000 · May 2020

Vantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage) is recalling certain Vantage-modified 2016-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles. The fuel pump gasket may deteriorate, allowing fuel to leak.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Vantage will notify owners, and will provide parts and reimbursement to owners for repair facilities to replace the fuel tank gasket, free of charge. The recall began May 19, 2020. Owners may contact Vantage customer…

3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
equipment adaptive/mobility: wheelchair restraints/securement: latch/anchor: 25V876000 · Dec 2025
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,…
electrical system: wiring: front underhood18V524000 · Aug 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Jeep Renegade, Compass and Grand Cherokee, RAM 1500 and Promaster, Fiat 500x, Dodge Journey, Challenger, Charger and Durango and Chrysler 300x…
service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper18V523000 · Aug 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan

Does the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 56 of 270 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (22%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan is electrical system: 92 of 270 complaints (34%) name it, followed by structure (59) and engine (34). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 22% of the relevant total.

Is the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 22% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 84% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Dodge Grand Caravan years we score, it ranks best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 20V278000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Dodge Grand Caravan years are better?

The 2018 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Dodge Grand Caravan years we track (22%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/dodge-grand-caravan

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.