"Sliding Door Lock(s) Inoperable Warranty Extension XV1 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 ↗2018 Dodge Grand Caravan body problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan have filed 45 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 50,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
45
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Grand Caravan | 13 |
| 2015 Grand Caravan | 18 |
| 2016 Grand Caravan | 177 |
| 2017 Grand Caravan | 70 |
| 2018 Grand Caravan (this page) | 45 |
| 2019 Grand Caravan | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 45 body complaints filed for the 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 45 body 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.
Among the 11 model years of Dodge Grand Caravan in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
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 across these 44 reports is sliding door lock/unlock failure on both driver and passenger sides. Doors freeze in the locked position starting as early as 12,000 miles and as late as 72,500 miles, typically between 44,000 and 60,000 miles. The door latch actuator seizes or fails, leaving the door unable to unlock via key fob, interior button, overhead switch, or manual pull. Owners cannot access rear seats in emergencies, creating a serious safety liability—especially for families with young children or wheelchair users.
Several owners report actuators stuck in mid-position between lock and unlock, refusing to budge. A few describe the lock toggling between positions before full failure. One owner documented both doors failing—driver side stuck locked, passenger side refusing to lock—rendering the van unsafe and unavailable.
A secondary issue: some doors won't close completely or slam shut automatically after opening, while the door-ajar warning light ignores it. One owner's latch failed internally, preventing the system from sensing door position.
Repair costs run $600 to $1,300 per door from dealerships. Dodge covered 2015–January 2017 models under extended warranty (NO. D-21-15) but explicitly excluded 2018 and newer, despite owners noting identical parts and failure modes.
One report documents trim detaching from the driver's side door at 70 mph, becoming an airborne projectile. Minor issues include hood paint bubbling and a liftgate that won't open on a new van.
Same Dodge Grand Caravan body reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Sliding door actuator lock/unlock failure
Door latch/actuator freezes or seizes in locked position, preventing the door from unlocking via key fob, overhead button, manual lock toggle, or manual pull. Many instances involve actuators stuck mid-position. Door cannot be opened from inside or outside the vehicle.
When: Occurs between 12,000 and 72,500 miles. Owners report failures as early as 44,000-45,000 miles and as late as 72,500 miles. Can happen on both driver and passenger sides.
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not unlock with key fob; Door will not unlock with manual lock button or toggle; Door will not open manually from inside or outside; Lock toggle moves partially or becomes stuck in mid-position; Door may unlock successfully but then refuse to lock (or vice versa); Audible buzzing or grinding noise from actuator when attempting to unlock; Door opening button does not respond; door does not respond to overhead console button
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report actuator replacement costing $900–$1,300+ (parts and labor combined). One owner cited over $900 for a single actuator replacement; another quoted $600 for dealership repair; another reported $1,300 per door latch replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge issued extended coverage (NO. D-21-15) for 2015–January 2017 model years. Extended coverage does not apply to vehicles manufactured after January 2017. Dealerships reportedly refuse to inspect without a fee or assist out-of-warranty customers.
Sliding door fails to close completely or auto-closes when opened
Door either will not close fully when pushed (stops partway, leaving door ajar), or closes automatically after being manually opened. Door-ajar warning light does not illuminate when door is ajar, creating a hidden safety defect.
When: Owners report this occurring while in normal use; one case noted door had click and paused during closing in the lead-up to failure.
Symptoms owners cite: Door will not close all the way when pushed; remains slightly ajar; Door automatically closes back after being pushed open; Door-ajar warning light does not activate even though door is open; Vehicle does not sense or notify driver that door is ajar
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports latch/actuator failing internally, diagnosed at dealership on 1/27/22. No specific repair cost cited for this failure mode alone.
Sliding door will not lock when lock button is pressed
Door will not engage lock mechanism when lock button is pressed via key fob or interior switch. Door can open while vehicle is parked or even while driving. Creates unintended security and safety risk (door swinging open or unauthorized access).
When: Failures reported across the mileage range; one owner reports it started several weeks before reporting.
Symptoms owners cite: Key fob lock command does not lock door; Interior lock button does not lock door; Door swings open while vehicle is being driven; Door can be opened from outside while parked without unlocking; Door does not lock when overhead console button is pressed
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair costs cited for lock-failure-only cases.
Window trim detaches from door frame at highway speed
Trim piece on driver's side door (adjacent to rear side window) detaches while vehicle is traveling at highway speed. Trim becomes airborne projectile, striking nearby vehicle windows or flying into traffic.
When: Occurs during highway driving at 70 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Trim piece separates from driver's side door frame near rear window; Trim becomes projectile hazard; Impact damage to vehicle windows or nearby vehicles possible
Repairs/costs cited: No repair costs cited. Owner notes the same trim comes off the same spot on multiple vans of the same model owned by family members.
Hood paint bubbling
Paint on hood bubbles up from unknown cause. Separate cosmetic defect noted in complaints.
When: Not specified in narrative.
Symptoms owners cite: Bubbles visible on hood paint surface
Liftgate will not open
Back hatch (liftgate) on base model van (manual operation only) does not open via any method. Occurs on new van within first two weeks of ownership.
When: Within 2 weeks of purchase on new vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Liftgate will not open manually; All attempted opening methods fail
Repairs/costs cited: Owner scheduled dealership visit; outcome not reported.
Synthesized from 45 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
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…
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.
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…
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.
Had body trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 45 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 45,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 45,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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/2018/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.