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Even though no official recalls have been issued, Dodge Grand Caravan door lock problems and similar complaints about Chrysler Town & Country minivans are burning up the information superhighway. Consumers say their sliding doors either won’t lock or they become stuck in the locked position. Some consumers have had the sliding doors on both sides of their vehicle become stuck. Still others say the two front doors fail to latch or unlatch properly.
Won’t the Warranty Cover This Door Locking Problem?
In most complaints that appear online, the vehicles are out of warranty, but some have as little as 20,000 miles on them.
Are Dodge Grand Caravan Door Lock Problems Seen Only in Certain Model Years?
No recalls have been issued, so it’s difficult to know how long the door locks have been failing, but one person with a 2001 Dodge Caravan said the automatic doors began to lock and unlock by themselves every thirty seconds one day. Many online complaints are regarding the 2005 through 2017 models.
Why Are These Door Locks Failing to Latch or Getting Stuck in the Locked Position?
According to RepairPal.com, the door lock actuator is an electric motor that controls the locking and unlocking of the doors. The vehicle’s computer receives a signal to lock or unlock the door from a key fob or from a button on the door. The door lock actuator is a mechanical part that RepairPal says when used frequently, can wear out and need replacing.
How Can I Tell if the Door Lock Actuator is Starting to Fail?
Sometimes the interior lights stay on when the door is shut or the security system will malfunction if your model’s door switch incorporates these other systems. The actuator’s motor may emit a groaning or grinding noise that indicates it’s on its way out. If the door lock actuators cycle continuously, causing the doors to lock and unlock all day long without prompting, this action may drain the battery.
If the Door is Stuck in the Locked Position, Can’t I Just Manually Unlock it?
Surprisingly, in most cases, no. One online customer wrote CarGurus.com about his experience with 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan door lock problems. He said with only 40,000 miles on the vehicle, the driver’s sliding door froze, and he’s unable to open it manually or electronically.
He said, “I feel like I’m going to break the lever if I force it too much. So the door is basically unusable right now.”
How Much Does it Cost to Fix the Door Lock Actuator?
According to one woman who wrote to CarGurus.com, a dealership charged her more than $1,100 to replace the locking actuator on her 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. She said the actuator on the passenger side sliding door had started to make a buzzing noise, so she wanted it fixed before it became a locking/unlocking problem.
She said less than two months later, the driver’s side sliding door is stuck in the locked position, and will not open at all, and it failed without any foretelling noises.
“The mechanic at the dealership even admitted that it was a well-known issue with the Caravans around the 2015-2018 models!” she wrote.
She said she refuses to pay more than $1,100 again to the dealership, and planned to file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to see if there can be a recall issued.
The NHTSA says it investigates all complaints, but its review and investigation process may take a long time.
If the Door Lock Actuator is Replaced Once, Will it Last for the Remaining Life of the Vehicle?
It’s difficult to say because each person uses a vehicle differently. If the door is open and shut a dozen times a day, the parts that make the door open and close will obtain more wear and tear than if the doors are only opened twice a day or even less often.
One consumer wrote to CarComplaints.com and said the right sliding door of their 2016 Town & Country underwent replacement of the door lock actuator at a Chrysler dealership in December 2017. By August 2019, that same door stopped locking at all. The owner expressed concern the door may open while being driven down the road, and also is not happy the vehicle must be left unlocked in parking lots when shopping, going to movies, etc.
Does the Locking Issue Usually Only Affect One Door?
The issue may affect one or both doors. In one case, a Town & Country with 65,000 miles had the driver’s side sliding door lock shut. The owner wrote to Car Complaints that the problem used to happen to the passenger’s side sliding door, but somehow, the problem worked itself out and the door started to work again. The owner said he took it to the dealership where he was told they could not find anything wrong with the passenger’s side sliding door that kept randomly sticking shut. The owner said he’s now concerned that in the event of an accident, they could be trapped if the driver’s side sliding door was the only one that was accessible, but it was stuck in the locked position.
Join a Free Chrysler/Dodge Minivan Door Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you owned or leased a Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Caravan from model years 2015 to 2019 and the door latch remote locking mechanism failed, you may qualify to join this Chrysler and Dodge class action lawsuit investigation to recover any out-of-pocket repair costs you have incurred.
This article is not legal advice. It is presented
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96 thoughts onHave You Experienced Dodge Grand Caravan Door Lock Problems?
I have a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan. Everything working fine until this morning…drivers side sliding door won’t open. Unable to get my 90 year old parents in and out of van. Can’t imagine if this happened if they were in the van and couldn’t get them out. A very major safety issue.
Same issue here, I have 3 kids and this is hazard
I have a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. For the past two years the Driver’s side sliding door does not open locked or unlocked. Recently, the door indicator light on the instrument panel always is indicated and beeps when starting from a stop. This week My car is now stuck in park with the indicator light showing that the vehicle is in reverse. The car will not start or run, and the shifter is stuck in park, and cannot move. The indicator lights PRND no longer show up anymore.
Have a 2018 Dodge Grand caravan SXT. 65,000 miles only drive on weekends so there isnt any over use of doors. Driver side door wont lock. Have to lock manually with key. What kind of primative stuff is this? Opening doors with a key. Do you know how annoyd i am right now. Where is the recall on this issue. Dealer wont do anything unless you pay to look at it and then tell you the computer says there is nothing wrong with it. Then they hit you with a service fee of over 200$. what kind of BS! is this. They want us to buy American made but its a crap product and then they wont fix it. OH, but let me guess they will fix it when someone gets hurt or dies.
I have Dodge grand caravan 2016. It just has 45,000 mileage. Passenger side door does not lock. I am so surprised, i am not the only one who has same problem.
Have Grant caravan 2016 vrew model from last week see door won’t open by remote so try manually but won’t open lock just jam or stuck can not 7se this door anymore if somthing happen to car its safety issue with kids how to get them out my right side passenger side door jam now…. Going to see what dealerahip will say on this tomorrow…
We have a 2017 dodge grand caravan my driver slider door is stuck in the lock position can not get it to unlock the passenger slider door is stuck in Unlocked and will not Lock, Dodge really needs to issue a recall on the doors This is not only a safety hazard but it is a security hazard as well. I worry about someone getting into my van and taking it while i am shopping.
I bought a used 2017 Dodge grand caravan from VanDevere. We are elderly and had no reason to check the slider doors to see if they locked. Took our first trip and learned the one slider won’t lock. Bought it from VanDevere because they supposedly do a thorough going over. Couldn’t afford their additional $6,000 in added warrantees. Was told bring it in first quoted after arrival it would be $150.00 to diagnose after me fusing it dropped to $115.00 then to zero. When asked if this was a safety issue was told no. I want to know why??? In this day a door that doesn’t lock is a major issue. They just called offering to split cost of fixing it roughly $450.00. Is there a class action? If so count me in and give me details please#
Have a 2010 Dodge Caravan that the driver’s side passenger sliding door will not unlock, either electronically or manually. This is a safety hazard. Contacted FCA and Transport Canada.
Have a 2012 Caravan and passenger door just swung open while driving. After that it won’t shut so I have it tied with rope. The weird thing is while driving it will randomly lock when I pull on it but become unlocked again at some point. Also when open I can’t even lock the rest of the doors.
2015 Caravan. Door keeps locking and unlocking.
I have a 2012 dodge grand caravan that the passenger side door will not lock with any of the remotes or the buttons inside the van and can not lock manually as if its jammed so its not just the newer ones from 2015 +
I Have a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The passenger side door is stuck in the opposite of what most of you are experiencing. Its stuck in the unlock mode. I cant lock it at all. I got a feeling the other door is trying to go out too. Yeah Dodge shouldve been done recall on this issue. They know better than that. Yes a recall and a complaint to the highway department is valid. 6-11-21