2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Structure Problems

Passenger side sliding door can't be unlocked manually or by the fob, will not open by the handle inside or out. Passengers are unable to exit vehicle through passenger sliding door.

Our driver side back sliding door door has seized and will not open. This looks to be a common issue with the grand caravan. The lock is stuck in an in between state and will not open automatically or manually. This is a safety hazard for back passengers.

Driver side door is not locking or unlocking with KEYFOB.

Driver's side sliding door stays locked and will not open it also prevents me to lock the passenger side sliding door

Driver side sliding door locked. Fails to get unlocked. Tried unlocking with Key Fob, manually unlocking. Nothing works and this door now fails to get unlocked and open. Passenger side middle row bucket seat fails to fold down and get under the floor.

Left/drivers side automatic door actuator failed, door would not open and actuator had to be replaced. Mechanic notes available upon request. Safety risk as door could not be accessed for evacuating the vehicle in the event of an emergency. Notification was issued from the manufacturer that this has been a concern in this model, but manufacturer did not replace it. The vehicle was independently inspected before replacing, and replacing the actuator remedied the issue. There were no warning signs or symptoms prior to failure.

Right sliding door does not lock when lock button is pushed and will swing open during driving and can be opened when parked while the lock system is still in place. Also the door when manually closed has trapped an arm and does not stop closing. Also have bubbles on front hood from unknown cause. Door problem started several weeks ago and was looked at then and also today at the dealer.

The left sliding door of the van has an issue which started immediately after my last service more than a year ago (Around april 12, 2023) at Glendale CA Dodge. Initially the door wouldnt unlock and lock. I reported it to them but got no response. I had to manually unlock and lock to make it work and fixed the issue. Since then, it makes a lod buzzing noise whenever it's locked and unlocked. So, the issue now it just the loud buzzing noise and it's been that way since. I searched online and found forums with other users with the same problem who reported their issues here at NHTSA too. So, I'm reporting mine. Thank you.

The passenger sliding door on the driver's side is stuck in the lock position and cannot unlock the door. Other doors need to be utilized to exit the vehicle and this poses a safety concern. I read many forums where this seems to be an issue with Dodge Caravans and should be a recall as it is known to be faulty. Contacted dealership and they want to charge over $600 to fix but this should be covered by Dodge and should be recalled as this poses a safety concern.

I had the same door lock actuator failure (door is stuck locked and can't be opened) that was flagged for Caravans through model year 2017 (the model year before). [XXX] Since little changed about these vehicles from 2017 to 2018, I'm guessing that might've just been an issue of insufficient data, so I wanted to document this failure that still may be occurring in later model years. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Passenger sliding door makes a noise when unlocking door. Sometimes it will not lock at all. When we searched issue is states actuator has gone bad and needs to be replaced.

Right side sliding door actuator fails to lock and unlock. Manual and automatic commands fail to lock and unlock the door. No inspection necessary. No warning is issued.

The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated the passenger’s side sliding door failed to open properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the passenger’s side sliding door actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated on July 1, 2023, the driver’s sliding door also experienced the failure and failed to open properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,500.

Mileage: 72,500

Drivers side sliding door will not open. I am an automotive technician and i aware of the previous investigation into this issue that resulted in extended coverage on previous model 2015-2017 year Grand caravans and Town and countrys, but mnow im here with a 2018 Grand caravan, same defect,same part, not covered.This is a common safety issue and this specail coverage needs to be extended to cover up to 2020 model years as they all have the same common defect with inoperable door latches.

driver's side back door is stuck in the closed position. Unable to open from outside, unable to open via key fob and unable to open from roof panel. The lock appears to be in between the lock and unlock position. From my understanding its the actuator that needs to be replaced. This door has not been used near as often as the passenger back door and it has no issues. I see online where lots of people with different year models having this same issue. Some have recvd a letter of recall however I have not.

Both sliding doors on my dodge caravan stop locking/unlocking. The driver side door stopped working while in the locked position and the door will not unlock from inside or outside of the vehicle. This is a safety hazard, especially while having kids in the back and the door will not open at all. I have read online that this is a common issue, but is not a recall. This should be a recall since the door just stopped working. What happens when both stop working in a vehicle and the person has no way to get people out of the back, especially if it is used as a handicapped vehicle.

In June 2022 the driver's side sliding door became stuck in the locked position. It was difficult to get my young children in/out of the vehicle safely. I took the van to the dealership where I was charged over $900 to have the actuator replaced (See attached). From doing research online, I see that there is a known issue with this specific part for vehicles produced in 2015-2017 and an extended warranty was given to those vehicles because it was found to be unsafe. (NO. D-21-15 see attached) Unfortunately, my vehicle was produced in November 2017 and the extended warranty only covers vehicles up to January 2017. From my understanding, this part is not supposed to break or have to be replaced. The problem with this piece of the vehicle is clearly still an issue with vehicles produced after January 2017. As of Sunday, March 26, 2023 I am now having the same issue AGAIN with the other passenger side sliding door and will need the actuator replaced.

Rear passenger door is stuck in the lock position due to a faulty Lock Actuator. Huge. safety. risk and a known issue.

The trim located on the driver’s side door (next to the window, on the side of the window closest to the rear of the vehicle) came off while we were driving 70 mph down a highway. It hit near the window of the passenger door (on the driver’s side, where a child was seated), causing damage to our vehicle, and then continued to fly, thankfully not hitting any vehicles behind us. I report it because we have family who also have this same type of van and the exact same trim came off of the exact same spot. And I have seen multiple, multiple of the same type of vans since with the same exact missing trim. This is a safety risk to everyone else on the road, and it was a safety risk for my own family when it came off and barely missed a window.

Both of my sliding door actuators are seized and won't unlock/lock. Currently, my driver side sliding door is stuck in the lock position. This is a safety hazard because if my car were in an accident and my kids needed to exit the vehicle, this door not opening would be an issue. Also, my passenger side sliding door also doesn't lock. This is an issue because anyone could enter my vehicle without me knowing and either steal the vehicle or could try to harm my wife or kids by waiting inside without them knowing. I have tried to discuss this with the dealership and with Dodge, but they are unwilling to inspect the vehicle without a fee. I currently don't have enough money to get my vehicle inspected or to get the repair done. I have looked online and I do see that this issue has occurred with the same model for years 2013-2017. I have also read online of other vehicle owners having a similar problem.

The sliding door on the driver's side is locked closed and it cannot be unlocked or opened. The sliding door on the passenger's side can be opened and closed, but cannot be locked. As such, that door can be opened when the van is driven. The door locking failures occurred without any warning. According to the mechanic, both failures were due to worn door latches, which can be repaired/replaced for more $1,300 each in parts and labor. The van was purchased used more than 5 months ago with an odometer reading of 61,380 miles. The odometer read 71,173 miles when the van was dropped off today to have the door latches fixed. A request was made for all replaced components and parts to be retained for inspection, if warranted at a later date.

Passenger door lock actuator stuck in the unlock position. When manually locked, actuator began buzzing when unlocking using electric methods. The van will not always unlock the doors via key fob since this has happened. I have small kids, and in the event of an emergency, it is important to be able to reliable unlock the rear doors if vehicle evacuation were necessary. I am in the processes of ordering a replacement actuator and will self install, but will keep the original on hand if the need arrises for it to be inspected. The vehicle has not been looked at by anybody other than myself as I do my own mechanic work.

Left side passenger door stuck and will not open. Minivan was manufactured 12-2017 according to door sticker information.

The sliding rear passenger door (on the driver’s side) will not open. It happened without warning; after some internet research, it appears that is a frequently occurring issue with models of Dodge Grand Caravans. I’m the event of an emergency the side door panel would be difficult to escape. I have yet to take it a repairman for evaluation.

2018 Dodge Caravan (52,000 miles) Rear sliding passenger door will not open under any circumstances. Door is in locked position and cannot be opened manually from the outside or inside of vehicle. Door will not open electrically with the key fob or the overhead console button. Door actuator is frozen in the locked position. If passenger in rear seat on passenger side had to get out of vehicle in an emergency they would have to exit using another door. It is my understanding that Chrysler is aware of potential safety issues with this situation occurring and I have seen several class action lawsuits regarding this online.

The sliding door will not unlock and can not be opened from the interior or exterior. There is an extended warranty covering 2015 through 2017 Dodge Grand Caravans but it does not cover 2018 or newer models even though it is the same design.

Sliding side door on drivers side is locked and unable to get in or out of door. Carry 4 grand children in back and they could not be removed from side door in an emergency. Cannot unlock by key fob or manually. Vehicle has 46000 miles on it

The drivers side sliding door has stopped working and is stuck in the locked position. It won’t unlock and will not open manually. From what I can tell it’s a problem with the actuator in the door. It is available for inspection. This could endanger my passengers if I’m hit on the passenger side and my passengers can not get out. I have yet to go to the dealer since I found out it’s a lot of money to repair. The door did click and sometimes paused during closing it leading up to its failure.

The passenger side sliding door on my 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan has had multiple lock/unlocking, automatic sliding, and door-ajar issues. I have had to have the automatic locks replaced on the door, but now the automatic sliding door won't close all the way when pushed, and even though it's ajar the van doesn't sense it and notify the driver with the warning light. I took the van to Billy Craft Chrysler on 1/27/22. They identified the issue as the door latch/actuator failing internally. Because it is failing, it cannot identify if the door is open or closed. I have four children that ride in the back and several times have driven with them, thinking the door is closed only to hear air once I start driving. It is a serious safety concern that the warning light doesn't come on when the door is ajar. Also, when the button is pushed to close the door, it now is unable to close the door completely. Thank you for your time in addressing this safety issue.

The left side sliding door will not open at all. Tried to unlock manually will not open have to use other side for kids to get out of van. I did some online research saying the the lock actuator on sliding door seized. To me this is major safety hazard. If anything should be able to open manually but cannot even with key fob will not open. Theo locking switch does not move at all stuck in middle.

Drivers door lock latch motor failed, door would not lock. Replaced latch assembly. 3 months later, drivers rear slider door latch jammed, and would not open. Awaiting parts. Passengers rear slider door occasionally buzzes.

About 2 weeks ago, the power rear driver door stoped working, it is stuck in the lock position and can not be opened by hand from the outside or the inside, by remote or with the button in overhead console the car. This is a safety issue as we need to be able to open it up when a passenger (in this instance our kid) needs to get out. After some research online, I found out that this is a known issue but dodge decided to do just nothing. Safety first...... This needs to be an immediate recall!

Neither of my rear passenger doors will open. The driver's side quit 2&1/2 months months after I bought the vehicle in 2019 at around 44000 miles. The passenger side quit at around 60,000 miles in 2021. The doors just suddenly stopped working without any indication there was something wrong. They will not open electronically or manually. The only way to access the rear of the van is through the cargo gate. It is a very expensive fix and very dangerous if we were in an accident to be able to get passengers out along with being extremely inconvenient. I have seen multiple reports of this online. I do not know why there is not a recall on the part that is malfunctioning so quickly with regular use.

The hoods paint is bubbling up - I contacted customer care at Dodge they told me to contact you

My sliding door does not open. I am worried that in the event of an accident the safety of the passengers (my children) in the backseat will be compromised.

The driver's side passenger door suddenly locked and cannot be unlocked. This is a serious safety issue, as passengers can not exit that way in an emergency. We've gone online to see if there was an easy fix and there we found hundreds of owners with the same problem.

PASSENGER DOOR, ONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE, IS STUCK ON LOCK POSITION. I CAN'T OPEN MANUALLY OR KEY FAB TO DO ANY FUNCTIONS AS A DOOR. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY NOISE, JUST WON'T OPEN.

Mileage: 60,000

THE LEFT SIDE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS AND STICKS IN THE LOCK POSITION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET IT HAS BEEN CLEAR THAT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH DODGE GRAND CARAVANS. IF I WOULD NEED TO GET MY BABY OUT QUICKLY FROM THIS SIDE OF THE VAN, THE LOCK MALFUNCTIONS AND THIS IS A HIGH SAFETY PROBLEM.

Mileage: 60,000

DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR STUCK ON LOCK POSITION CAN'T MANUALLY DOOR BUTTON ON DRIVER'S DOOR ALSO WON'T RESPOND AND FOB UNLOCKS OTHER DOORS EXCEPT THAT ONE. DOOR IS CLOSED AND LOCKED AND I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO GAIN ACCESS TO THEM OR TO SAFELY GET THEM OUT OF VAN IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE IN VANS FROM OTHER YEARS AND NEVER RECALLED.

Mileage: 81,690

SMALL OVERLAP VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DRIVER UNRESTRAINED. FRONT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER FATALITY.

Mileage: 75,000

2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SLIDE DOOR STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION WILL NOT RELEASE TO OPEN. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKED, NOW IT WILL NOT UNLOCK AND UNABLE TO OPEN FOR NORMAL USE OR INCASE OF AN EMERGENCY. , PER DEALER THIS IS ONGOING PROBLEM AND ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $ 1100.00.

Mileage: 42,000

DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NO LONGER OPEN.

Mileage: 68,000

PASSENGER SIDE, REAR SLIDING DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED. THE DOOR IS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND CANNOT BE UNLOCKED REMOTELY OR MANUALLY. THIS CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED.

Mileage: 58,000

MY DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR HAS BEEN STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION. IT WAS WORKING FINE AND THEN NOTHING. SYSTEM SAYS TO UNLOCK TO OPERATE WHILE PARKED WHETHER THE CAR IS STARTED OR NOT. EVERY DOOR UNLOCKS EXCEPT THIS ONE. DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW WITH LESS THAN 70 K MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 66,000

THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT LOCK, OR UNLOCK, WITH EITHER THE FOB OR WITH THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR. I NEED TO TAKE THE PHYSICAL KEY OUT OF THE FOB AND MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR TO GET INSIDE. ONCE INSIDE THE VAN, I NEED TO REMEMBER TO MANUALLY LOCK THE MY DOOR, BECAUSE IT WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK LIKE THE REST OF THE DOORS. ONCE I EXIT THE VAN, I NEED TO PUSH THE LOCK DOWN BECAUSE THE FOB WILL NOT LOCK IT. IT ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES.

Mileage: 65,000

PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR NOT LOCKING/UNLOCKING WHEN THE KEY FOB LOCKS/UNLOCKS THE OTHER DOORS. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, RUNNING OR TURNED OFF IN PARK.

Mileage: 50,000

DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR STOPPED UNLOCKING AND WONT OPEN

Mileage: 45,000

THE SLIDING DOOR WILL OPEN COMPLETELY THEN START CLOSING ONCE OPEN. THE UP TOP BUTTON IS SET TO OFF SO THE OPEN/ CLOSE BUTTON BY THE DOOR WOULD NOT WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL DATES UP TO NOW. THE DOOR DOESN'T LOCK OR UN LOCK USING THE KEY FOB OR IN CAR LOCK BUTTON.

Mileage: 47,000

REAR RIGHT SLIDING DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR BUZZING WHEN UNLOCKING DOOR.

Mileage: 48,000

DRIVER SIDE SLIDE DOOR STUCK ON LOCK. *TR

Mileage: 51,791

SLIDING DOOR LOCKS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE NOT WORKING DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR IS IN LOCKED POSITION AND WILL NOT OPEN WITH KEY FOB, MANUAL LOCK PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT LOCK WITH KEY FOB, HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK DOOR. *TR

Mileage: 30,500

DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK/OPEN. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND USED THE POWER BUTTON OVER VISOR TO OPEN THE DOOR AND UNLOAD CHILDREN. USED POWER BUTTON AT THE DOOR TO CLOSE THE DOOR AFTER UNLOADING CHILDREN. CAME OUT TO VAN TO GO HOME AND DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE HAD AROUND 42,000 MILES AND I HAD ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 3 MONTHS. I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALER. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VANS MODELS 2014 AND LATER. THE REPAIR COST IS ABOUT $1100 FOR A FAULTY LOCK MECHANISM.I HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO FORCE THE DOOR TO UNLOCK AND IT WILL NOT UNLOCK AND CAN NOT BE OPENED WHICH LIMITS ACCESS TO THE BACK ON THE VAN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE.

Mileage: 42,000

MY DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR STOPPED WORKING. I BOUGHT MY VAN FROM A DEALER AT THE END OF JULY 2019 WITH AROUND 40,000 MILES ON IT. IN THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER 2019 (AROUND 45,000 MILES) THE DOOR STOPPED WORKING. I USED THE KEY FOB BUTTON TO OPEN THE DOOR AND PUT MY GRANDSON IN HIS CARSEAT. I USED THE DOOR POWER BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR. WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION, I USED THE POWER BUTTON ON THE ROOF DASH TO OPEN THE DOOR, I GOT MY GRANDSON OUT AND USED THE DOOR POWER BUTTON THO CLOSE THE DOOR. EVERYTHING WORKED AS USUAL. WHEN WE CAME OUT, I TRIED TO USE THE KEY FOB BUTTON TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE LIGHTS BLINKED, BUT THE DOOR DID NOT OPEN. I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. WHEN I GOT HOME I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, BUT IT WILL NOT UNLOCK. THE BUTTON WILL MOVE SOME MANUALLY BUT WILL NOT UNLOCK. I TRIED CALLING THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I CALLED DODGE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT A RECALL AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING TO HELP ME. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND SAW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND MOST OF THE VEHICLES WERE FAIRLY NEW LIKE MINE. THEY SUGGESTED COMING HERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO TRY AND GET A RECALL ON THESE DOORS.

Mileage: 45,000

REAR PASSENGER DOORS OFTEN DON'T UNLOCK OR OPEN. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS TURNED OFF. INSIDE UNLOCK BUTTON PRESSED TWICE, REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOESN'T UNLOCK. WHEN KEY FOB IS USED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOESN'T UNLOCK. WHEN CAR IS TURNED ON AND THE INSIDE UNLOCK BUTTON IS PRESSED, REAR PASSENGER DOORS DON'T UNLOCK.

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2018 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR WAS BEING CLOSED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT'S SON'S HAND WAS CRUSHED FROM STOPPING TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR SENSOR FAILED TO DETECT HIS SON BETWEEN THE DOOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR CONTINUED TO LATCH. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE DOOR MANUALLY FROM THE OUTSIDE LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO CONTINUE TO CLOSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,400.

Mileage: 35,400

SLIDING DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE SUDDENLY LOCKED AND CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, MANUALLY FROM LATCH OR UNLOCK BUTTONS, OR FROM KEY FOB. IN AN EMERGENCY, A PASSENGER COULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS APPROX. 12000 MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 12,000

HAVE HAD THE BRAND NEW VAN FOR ONLY 2 WEEKS AND LIFTGATE (BACK HATCH) ON VAN DOES NOT OPEN. I HAVE A BASE MODEL SO I HAVE TO OPEN IT MANUALLY...TRIED EVERYTHING ...NOTHING WILL OPEN IT. TAKING IT TO DEALERSHIP THIS WEEKEND. HOPEFULLY THEY CAN'T OPEN IT.

Mileage: 1,400