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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the minivan segment

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan vs 2016 Toyota Sienna

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2016 Toyota Sienna clearly comes out ahead on reliability data

Two trucks built for the same buyer, and the data tells a clear story. The 2016 Toyota Sienna edges the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan on reliability scoring (3.8 versus 3.2) with meaningful gaps in complaint volume and severity. Real differences, not noise.

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan

3.2/5
Reliability score
959 complaints
2 recalls (0 critical)
$12,200 repair exposure
vs
More reliable

2016 Toyota Sienna

3.8/5
Reliability score
75 complaints
2 recalls (0 critical)
$8,150 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

If I'm picking between these two head-to-head, I'm taking the 2016 Toyota Sienna. Reliability score's a solid 3.8 versus 3.2 on the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, and the complaint counts back it up — 75 versus 959. That's not noise, that's a real gap between rivals built for the same buyer.

If you lean 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, know what you're getting into on electrical and powertrain. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2016 Toyota Sienna sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2016 Toyota Sienna? Watch the seatbelts and wheels. The 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 1.5x higher on the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. That's the number to keep in mind when you're pricing the deal — a $2,000 difference in purchase price disappears the first time you're staring at a transmission rebuild.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2016 Dodge Grand Caravan
2016 Toyota Sienna
electrical
297 reports
moderate · ~$850
9 reports
severe · ~$850
powertrain
205 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
3 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
body
169 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
21 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
engine
40 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
No reports
airbags
18 reports
severe · ~$1,100
4 reports
severe · ~$1,100
steering
11 reports
moderate · ~$700
4 reports
severe · ~$700
seatbelts
5 reports
severe · ~$500
6 reports
severe · ~$500
cruise control
9 reports
severe · ~$600
No reports
wheels
No reports
4 reports
moderate · ~$400
lighting
No reports
3 reports
moderate · ~$250

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan or the 2016 Toyota Sienna?

Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2016 Toyota Sienna comes out ahead with a reliability score of 3.8 versus 3.2. The margin is clear, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.

What goes wrong more often on the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan?

Compared to the 2016 Toyota Sienna, the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan sees more reported issues in electrical and powertrain. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2016 Toyota Sienna?

Compared to the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, the 2016 Toyota Sienna has more complaints in seatbelts and wheels. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

Both vehicles have 2 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $12,200 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan on NHTSA · 2016 Toyota Sienna on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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