Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission and electrical. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2020 Dodge Grand Caravan: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/4
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2020's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | FWD | 20 mpg |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Transmission failure and shifting
59,500–91,715 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The transmission fails outright in several reports. Drivers describe shuddering, intermittent failure to shift, and holding one gear before the van suddenly lunges forward. Warning lights don't always come on. Failures cluster between about 59,500 and 91,715 miles and usually end in a full transmission replacement. Two crash reports with injuries involve a van rolling away after the driver shifted into Park and stepped out with the parking brake off. Both drivers were hurt trying to stop it. A separate report describes a cylinder 2 misfire at 70k miles, traced to low engine compression.
The airbag and seat belt warning lights flicker on and off when the driver's seat moves back and forth. The cause is a frayed driver-side seat wire harness that sets a thorax squib sensor code and can leave the airbag system unable to work properly. A separate report describes the engine starting in a closed garage after key fob buttons were pressed by accident in a pocket. The van was locked and parked at the time, and someone had to go down to it to shut the engine off.
Excerpts from complaints Grand Caravan owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Cylinder #2 misfire which mechanic says is an engine compression issue and will require the engine to be taken apart to be fixed. Mechanic says it makes no sense for a vehicle of this age and only 70k miles. I understand that this has been a consistent issue with all Dodge Caravans.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
The transmission failed at just under 60k miles. Our air bag sensor light is now coming on and not sure why. I don’t have the money to continue to repair this vehicle plus make payments. We also have had issues with the front bolts on the driver side continuing to loosen.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2024
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 key and the vehicle started. I had to go downstairs into the garage, unlock the vehicle, insert the key and turn off the engine.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2022
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 has the fewest owner complaints of the 3 Grand Caravan years we cover, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the 13th model year of the Grand Caravan's fifth generation (2008–2023).
It includes the 2011 update.
What changed for 2011
Recall repairs are free at any Dodge dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Dodge Grand Caravan, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
