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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the minivan segment

2020 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2020 Dodge Grand Caravan clearly comes out ahead on reliability data

Two trucks built for the same buyer, and the data tells a clear story. The 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan edges the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica on reliability scoring (4.3 versus 3.8) with meaningful gaps in complaint volume and severity. Real differences, not noise.

2020 Chrysler Pacifica

3.8/5
Reliability score
160 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$9,950 repair exposure
vs
More reliable

2020 Dodge Grand Caravan

4.3/5
Reliability score
15 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$2,500 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

If I'm picking between these two head-to-head, I'm taking the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan. Reliability score's a solid 4.3 versus 3.8 on the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica, and the complaint counts back it up — 15 versus 160. That's not noise, that's a real gap between rivals built for the same buyer.

If you lean 2020 Chrysler Pacifica, know what you're getting into on electrical and powertrain. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 4.0x higher on the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica. 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
2020 Chrysler Pacifica
2020 Dodge Grand Caravan
electrical
44 reports
moderate · ~$850
No reports
powertrain
36 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
7 reports
severe · ~$2,500
steering
30 reports
severe · ~$700
No reports
engine
17 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
No reports
visibility
5 reports
moderate · ~$350
No reports
airbags
4 reports
severe · ~$1,100
No reports
brakes
3 reports
severe · ~$450
No reports
suspension
3 reports
moderate · ~$900
No reports

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica or the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan?

Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan comes out ahead with a reliability score of 4.3 versus 3.8. 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 2020 Chrysler Pacifica?

Compared to the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan, the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica 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 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan?

On the categories we tracked, the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2020 Chrysler Pacifica. The two are running close.

Which has more recalls?

Both vehicles have 0 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 $9,950 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: 2020 Chrysler Pacifica on NHTSA · 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan 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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