"Sliding Door Lock(s) Inoperable Warranty Extension X98 The customer may describe one or more of the following: ● Either one or both of the sliding door locks do not function. ● The door lock(s) emit a loud buzzing noise during lock/unlock operation and do not lock/unlock the door. NOTE: The doors can still be manually locked or unlocked. This bulletin involves replacing either one or both of the sliding door lock actuators (as required)."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Dodge Grand Caravan body problems
severe 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 18 body complaints filed for the 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Warranty Bulletin D-22-17 - 2017 - 2023 (Current) Chrysler Pacifica (RU) and 2013 - 2016 Chrysler Town & Country/ 2013 - 2020 Dodge Caravan (RT) - Corrosion - Complete Hood Panel Warranty Claim Simplification (Rev. B)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FCA Caribbean Warranty Bulletin ID-22-23 - 2017 - 2023 (Current) Chrysler Pacifica (RU) and 2013 - 2016 Chrysler Town & Country/ 2013 - 2020 Dodge Caravan (RT) - Corrosion - Complete Hood Panel Warranty Claim Simplification (Rev. B)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Warranty Bulletin D-22-17 - 2017-2023 (Current) Chrysler Pacifica (RU) and 2013-2016 Chrysler Town & Country/ 2013-2020 Dodge Caravan (RT) - Corrosion Complete Hood Panel Warranty Claim Simplification (Rev. A)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FCA Caribbean Warranty Bulletin ID-22-23 - 2017-2023 (Current) Chrysler Pacifica (RU) and 2013-2016 Chrysler Town & Country/ 2013-2020 Dodge Caravan (RT) - Corrosion Complete Hood Panel Warranty Claim Simplification (Rev. A)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint is sliding door lock mechanisms freezing in locked or unlocked position, rendering doors completely inoperable. Owners cannot unlock doors via key fob, interior button, or manual lever—one had to force a stuck lever fearing breakage. This happens on both passenger and driver-side doors at various mileages, from as early as 16K miles. One owner replaced the passenger door under warranty, then the driver door failed a year later and was quoted $1,468 for repair. Many owners note online research shows this is a widespread, common problem.
A related failure is the power actuator itself producing a buzzing noise for weeks before the door freezes completely shut. Owners recognize this noise as a warning sign of imminent failure.
Separately, sliding doors have opened unintentionally while the vehicle is parked with the engine running—in one case, when the front door was being closed, the passenger slider opened on a busy interstate during rush hour, allowing three dogs to escape into traffic. A dealership technician mentioned another customer had the rear hatch open while driving.
Additional issues include a new vehicle with rust and chipping paint already visible on the body panel, a trim clip that broke on delivery, an auto-closing door that crushed a passenger's arm on day one, a door latch cable that frayed, and a trim strip that detached on the highway. One owner reported side impact airbags failing to deploy during a 20 mph side collision.
Same Dodge Grand Caravan body reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Sliding door lock mechanism failure
Passenger or driver sliding door lock becomes stuck in locked or unlocked position, preventing electronic unlock via key fob, dashboard switch, or manual lever operation. Door cannot be opened electronically or manually.
When: No consistent mileage pattern; incidents reported from 16K to 132K miles; some occur after routine closing or overnight parking
Symptoms owners cite: Lock lever stuck and immovable despite force; Door lock switch unresponsive to unlock commands from fob or interior buttons; Door cannot open electronically or manually; Lock stuck in either locked or unlocked position
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cited $1,468 cost for driver-side door repair; dealership replaced passenger-side door under warranty at 16K miles; replacement of lock actuator/mechanism appears to be repair method
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls mentioned; dealership performed warranty repairs when under coverage; beyond warranty period, customers charged for repair
Sliding door actuator noise and failure
Power sliding door actuator produces buzzing or loud noise before door freezes shut or becomes inoperable. Indicates actuator degradation preceding total failure.
When: Buzzing noise observed for weeks before freezing; one failure at 27K miles (second door), another unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Buzzing or loud noise from actuator when locks engaged or door operated; Door freezes shut after noise period; Door becomes completely inoperable electronically
Repairs/costs cited: Owner noted this is described online as common problem on these vehicles; specific repair costs not documented in these narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls; owners report researching online and finding this is widely reported common problem
Unintended sliding door opening during vehicle operation
Sliding doors open spontaneously while vehicle is parked with engine running, or open unintentionally when front door is being closed. Occurs on both passenger and driver-side doors.
When: While parked in park with engine running; one incident during rush hour on interstate; another about a month later
Symptoms owners cite: Door opens when front door is being closed; Door opens spontaneously while parked with engine running; Rear hatch door opening while vehicle being driven (reported by another customer to dealership)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced key fob, suggesting possible fob malfunction; advised use of rear child safety locks from top buttons
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated no recalls exist; technician requested visibility of problem occurrence for proper diagnosis; suggested child safety lock workaround
Side impact airbag non-deployment
Side impact airbags failed to deploy during driver-side door collision impact estimated at 20 mph. Industry standards indicate deployment should occur at 8–18 mph impact threshold.
When: During side-impact collision with estimated 20 mph vehicle impact
Symptoms owners cite: Side airbags did not deploy on impact; Entire driver-side affected from wheels to bumpers
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle undergoing repair at dealership; airbag deployment not confirmed as intentional design or sensor failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler assigned independent investigator before repairs; owner not present at inspection and denied copy of report; outcome unknown
Door trim clip failure and rust
Driver-side lower door trim piece breaks at clip attachment point, causing trim to pop out. Rust and paint chipping visible on van body behind trim on brand-new vehicle.
When: Discovered immediately after vehicle purchase on new 2015 model (April 2015)
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side bottom trim popped out; Clip holding trim piece is broken; Rust and paint chipping on body panel behind trim on new vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership ordered replacement trim part; service manager indicated this was not first occurrence of this issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No formal recall; dealership aware of repeated issue; trim replacement performed
Auto-closing door crushing injury
Driver-side auto-closing door malfunctions by closing on passenger's arm with excessive force, pinching arm on both sides and leaving bruising. Door hesitated to reopen and continued closing on trapped arm.
When: Day of vehicle purchase (April 18, 2015); new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Door closed on arm with force causing bruising on both sides; Door hesitated to reopen; Door continued to close despite arm trapped inside
Repairs/costs cited: Service manager unaware of sensitivity settings for auto-closing mechanism; stated would investigate to prevent future injuries
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No sensitivity adjustment mentioned in owner documentation; dealership explored potential adjustment
Interior door latch cable fraying
Driver-side interior door latch cable frays, causing door latch malfunction and failure to properly close door.
When: No mileage or timing specified
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not properly close
Repairs/costs cited: Door latch cable replacement performed
Door trim strip detachment
Trim strip running across center of driver door separates and detaches while vehicle is being driven on highway.
When: While driving on highway; no mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Trim strip separates from door
Excessive door operation noise
Doors produce extremely startling, loud noise every time vehicle is exited or door opened. Nature and origin of noise not detailed.
When: During normal door operation
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely loud, startling noise upon door exit or opening
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The passenger sliding door is stuck in the locked position out of nowhere. It cannot be unlocked with the buttons on the door, manually, or with the key fob. It was parked in the driveway overnight, the next morning I went to load up my kids, and it wouldn't work.
Had body trouble with your 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 27,000 and 124,000 miles, with the median around 52,120. A quarter of owners report trouble before 27,000; a quarter make it past 124,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Dodge/Grand Caravan.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.