Suspected engine coolant leak.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Dodge Grand Caravan engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan have filed 37 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 63,111 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
37
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Grand Caravan | 26 |
| 2014 Grand Caravan | 50 |
| 2015 Grand Caravan | 22 |
| 2016 Grand Caravan | 40 |
| 2017 Grand Caravan (this page) | 37 |
| 2018 Grand Caravan | 22 |
| 2019 Grand Caravan | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 37 engine complaints filed for the 2017 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
Owners have filed 37 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 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 engine 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.
Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗wiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA). For any other MY review and follow instructions from the latest STAR Online S1809000007 available on Dealer Connect. Also, consider the following: 1) Remove OFA 2) Replace only the oil inlet O-ring and gaskets (seals kit in SOL above). 3) Re-install the OFA. For 2023MY and beyond use black O-ring. For 2022MY and prior use red O-ring. Note: When replacing OFA, it may be necessary to transfer the Oil Temp/Pressure Sensor from the old OFA to the new OFA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 Dodge Grand Caravans describe two main engine problems. The first is cylinder misfire, predominantly in cylinder #2 but also reported in cylinders #4 and #6. Symptoms include check engine lights (often code P0302 or P0306), rough idling, stalling during normal driving or on hills, hesitation during acceleration—especially on highway ramps—and loss of engine power. Some owners report these symptoms appear intermittently; others say the check engine light returns immediately after reset. Spark plug and coil replacements don't fix the underlying issue. Owners and mechanics attribute the root cause to warped or defective cylinder heads, tracing the problem back to a faulty casting mold. One owner reported the same issue recurred five months after cylinder head replacement at the dealer.
The second major failure is the plastic oil cooler/oil filter housing assembly. It cracks and leaks, allowing oil to spray onto the exhaust manifold (creating fire hazard risk), the transmission, and driveways. This typically occurs under 100,000 miles. Part availability has been severely constrained—owners report 14,000–15,000+ units on back order nationwide with no estimated delivery dates.
A third less-common failure involves sudden engine stall with complete loss of power steering and brakes, sometimes happening repeatedly on city streets and highways without triggering diagnostic codes. One owner reported the flex plate loosening, creating loud rattling and risk of starter damage.
Repair costs range from $800 (oil filter housing) to $5,000+ (cylinder head or engine rebuild). Warranty coverage is inconsistent; Chrysler has extended cylinder head warranties to 10 years/150,000 miles on 2012 models but denies claims on 2017 models when service was performed outside dealerships.
Same Dodge Grand Caravan engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Cylinder head warping and misfire (primarily cylinder #2)
The cylinder head develops a warp or crack due to a faulty casting mold, preventing proper compression. This triggers misfire and check engine light codes (P0302 for cylinder #2). Owners report rough idle, stalling, hesitation on acceleration, and loss of power on highway ramps. Initial misdiagnosis as spark plug or coil failure is common. Root cause is manufacturing defect in the casting process.
When: Typically 60,000–95,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light (code P0302, P0306, etc.); Rough idling; Stalling during normal driving; Hesitation on acceleration; Loss of engine power on highway ramps; Engine shaking or jerking; Difficulty maintaining highway speeds; Cannot use remote starter while light is on
Codes mentioned: P0302, P0306, Misfire codes
Repairs/costs cited: Cylinder head replacement or engine rebuild. Repair costs $2,500–$5,000+. One owner reported misfire recurred 5 months after dealer cylinder head replacement at 97,000 miles (original repair at 91,205 miles). Some dealers advise complete engine replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler extended warranty on cylinder heads for 2012 models to 10 years/150,000 miles; no recall issued for 2017 models. Earlier model years (2011–2013) had a recall for the same issue, but 2017 owners report their VINs are excluded. Chrysler denies reimbursement when service is performed outside dealerships.
Plastic oil cooler/oil filter housing cracking and leaking
The plastic oil cooler assembly mounted on the intake manifold cracks (especially at the base or top), allowing pressurized oil to leak. Oil sprays onto the exhaust manifold (fire hazard), transmission, and surrounding engine components. The part is sealed to aluminum with bolts and rubber O-rings; design is inherently fragile. Over 14,000–15,000 units on back order with no estimated delivery.
When: 60,000–81,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leaking from engine bay; Oil visible on garage floor or driveway; Burning oil smell in cabin or outside; Low oil pressure warning light; Oil spraying onto exhaust (fire risk); Oil pooling on transmission
Repairs/costs cited: Oil cooler/oil filter housing assembly replacement costs $800+. Part availability is severely constrained nationwide; dealers unable to procure parts. Some owners advised to top up oil frequently and monitor (short-term workaround). One owner spent $1,000+ in oil purchases while waiting for part availability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued. Dealers acknowledge design flaw (plastic housing on top of hot motor) and acknowledge parts shortage, but Chrysler/Dodge refuses to issue recall. Manufacturer denies reimbursement when VIN not included in related recall.
Sudden engine stall with loss of power steering and brakes
Engine loses power completely while driving, causing simultaneous loss of power steering and brake assist. No check engine light illuminates before or during event. Vehicle can be restarted but may stall again shortly after. Hazard: loss of steering and braking creates collision risk.
When: Mileage not consistently reported; one instance at 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine stall while driving; Loss of power steering; Loss of brake power assist; Vehicle jerks intermittently; No warning lights before stall
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in narratives provided. One owner reported radiator replacement at another shop did not resolve the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not notified or was contacted but no assistance offered. Dealer stated VIN not included in recall. No diagnosis or repair completed.
Flex plate loosening and rattling
The flex plate comes loose, creating loud rattling. If not repaired, plate can break loose completely, causing starter to fail or fall out. Owners and dealers report this is well-known and common on 2017 models.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Loud rattling noise from engine; Flex plate audibly loose
Repairs/costs cited: Repair cost estimated at 'a couple thousand' (mechanic quoted). Requires tightening or replacement.
Oil change-related over-torque damage to oil filter housing
Oil filter housing cracks or fails after an oil change when the filter is over-tightened. Owners and Dodge personnel report the plastic part is inherently fragile and susceptible to over-tightening during routine service. Dodge personnel acknowledge this should trigger a recall due to defective design, but company refuses.
When: Occurs following oil change service
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak after oil change; Cracked oil filter housing
Repairs/costs cited: Housing replacement. Part is frequently back-ordered; demand exceeds supply.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge personnel acknowledge the part is defective and should be recalled but Chrysler/Dodge refuses to issue recall. No assistance offered.
Synthesized from 37 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I have 2017 Dodge Caravan, I loves this van I recently went to the shop to do routine repairs. Also get the engine light checked, the mechanic stated I need a tune up. A few days later after getting the tune up check engine light came back on, and van begin to ride rough and shake. The van was struggling to keep up with city speed limit and engine light came back on so I took the van back to the…
2017 Grand Caravan - check engine light came on at about 90000 miles. Confirmed that it is a cylinder 2 misfire. Repair shop indicates that the cylinder needs to be re-machined (or the entire engine replaced) and also indicated that the cylinder 2 issue is well-known with the Chrysler/Dodge engines and was part of a recall for earlier models. Estimated repair cost is $4K - $5K.
My engine has begun the "Pentastar tick", which is surprisingly well-known, but not recalled. This is a serious safety issue because it can cause engine failure, which would cause an accident. Dodge has known about this problem for years, but refuses to fix it. I cannot afford to replace the engine and my van is sitting at the dealership, as of today. Please make them fix this! Why is there not a…
While entering freeway onramp engine power reduced and vehicle following had to swerve to avoid collision. Believe engine output lessened by cylinder 2 misfire issue common with Dodge engines creating failures and loss of compression and reduced power with sporadic loss of acceleration when needed.
Had engine trouble with your 2017 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 engine problem on the 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 37 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 49,000 and 81,000 miles, with the median around 63,111. A quarter of owners report trouble before 49,000; a quarter make it past 81,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2017/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.