8.9

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
67,300 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (7 reports)
2006 Dodge Caravan engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 Dodge Caravan:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2006 Dodge Caravan Owner Comments

problem #7

May 052013

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine suddenly shuts off. The is very intermittent and any other time the engine runs fine.

This 1st happened when I was making a u-turn. When this happens, the steering goes manual and the vehicle becomes very hard to control. I was able to break a little better than steer. I ended up going a little onto the side walk before I could stop and re-start the engine. This was so disturbing I went directly to the mechanic.

So far, the mechanic has changed plugs, wires, and noticed a problem with the ignition switch leaving some lights on in the dash board. They replaced that as well.

Unfortunately, this did not fix the problem. This weekend we were 4 hours away from home just arriving at the hotel driving our 2 year old son when it stalled suddenly again. This time I was not in the middle of a turn. It did put unduly stress on the whole family as we all discussed the problem. I drove very cautiously with both feet on the petals, keeping an eye on the RPMs checking for a stall, and leave both hands on the wheel basically almost 100 percent of the time in-case it happened during a turn.

Today was a very bad day for this mechanic as I had to tell him that this hunt and peek game of fix something and see if it worked was not acceptable. I'm off to find a mechanic who has a real affinity for diagnostics.

On another note, I was able to actually circumvent it by driving with two feet and very quickly giving it gas to prevent stalling.

NOTE to Self: Always insist on a complete diagnosis or decline service... Encourage mechanics to do a complete diagonalize. Find car companies liable for less than production quality features.

This could be the problem:

http://autoforum.classifieds1000.com/Dodge-Grand_Caravan/archive/Car_stalls_for_no_apperant_reason

"""Ok after a lot of work my mechanic who dedicated a lot of his personal time to my stalling 99 grand w/ 3.8l. he found that for a microsecond the MAP sensor would short out and cause a spike telling the computer the gas pedal basically had let off shutting off the need for fuel and since your foot is going down and there is an ample supply of air and no fuel the engine dies. I believe the MAP sensor is downstream of the EGR gasses as mine looked dirty and should be changed at least at 50k miles just as a pecaution of prventitive mainenance. Dave used a recording box to record the MAP signal and when the engine died he played it back and found the spike. Engines are I believe much more complicated than they need to be. Another problem, through research, is that these caravans have a problem with the flywheel cracking and if the crank sensor and the cam sensor are a little out of time then it will also cause a stalling issue. Mine was the Map sensor. I now have the gauge problem where they go off and on which may be a bad solder joint on the back of the inst. cluster."""

- James C., Deerfield Beach, FL, US

problem #6

Oct 082011

Caravan 4 Cly

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

I've got a 2006 Dodge Caravan w Cali emissions. The dials sweep and the power cuts in and out frequently. Sometimes happens at 30 mph but more frequently when idling at a stop or going 10 mph. Started also dying after 3 months. Worsened to every time it was driven. We checked all apparent grounds, replaced upstream and downstream O sensors. Mechanics were able to reproduce repeatedly but then suddenly not. This went on for several months- dying in intersections but restarting immediately. In May we took it on a 11 hour trip (it happened on the way there) but then didn't happen for 4 months. NO problems at all. Did not have any service done before the trip. The issue restarted with a vengeance after 4 months. Dying and then not restarting for several minutes. Hazard light flicker but don't function, all electrical out - fiddling with the signal lights and pumping the break seems to get it to resolve more quickly. At this time the engine light also come on - for a time. I checked the oil and did add a little. It sat for a couple of days before I could take it in - the engine light was off at that point. The dying for several minutes without hazard lights has me over the edge --- it's a hazard. I strongly believe its cali-emissions related but we're over here in DC - no one does anything w cali emissions but avoid them.

- koaxfrax, Washington, DC, US

problem #5

Apr 152010

Caravan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles

My 2006 Dodge Caravan shut off yesterday with no warning! Thank goodness I was in a parking lot and not on the highway with my three kids! I tried to search for the possible problem on the internet and saw that others with Dodge Caravans have had the same problem! Has anyone out there been able to fix this problem?

- Vanessa S., Willards, MD, US

problem #4

Dec 312009

Caravan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

while exiting the freeway at 70 mph the engine died, I coasted off the feeder and aimed for a safe spot, nope. Would not start!! Was stranded with traffic going toward me at 50-70 mph, on the phone with roadside assistance looking in the vanity mirror as cars came straight at us, waiting until the last moment to change lanes when I got hit, dialed 911 with my 9 yr old daughter screaming in the backseat from the impact noise, her 9th birthday ruined by 7pm. After impact a nice man stopped to help move the van up, he had to put serious effort into getting the van into neutral, while we were waiting for the police the electrical sizzled and we were left with no hazards , I will never drive a dodge again, our other work truck a 2007 ram did the same thing but did restart , that got shared after we got hit , Never again

- Ernestina G., Houston, TX, US

problem #3

Jul 012009

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

I have a 2006 Dodge Caravan; It too shut down on me while going down the hwy at 70mph and all three of my children were in the van. Thank the Lord that no one was hurt. This was the first time that my van had ever done this but was not the last; this van had shut down on me a couple more times. I took the van to a local shop, but never found out anything. I was told that it could be the heat of the South Texas weather, but I thought cars were made to withstand all weather.

Then it started having electrical issues; like the light would go on and off in the middle of the night, really at any time with no keys in it, the wipers would come on when I didn't need them to or would not come on in the rain were I needed it the most, the dome light would come on while driving home at night, or while taking my kids to school the dome light would come on and not go off.

I no longer can drive the van, because it started fire Christmas morning while my husband was driving, we were getting ready to go out of Town.

If you have had the same issues please respond with a complaint.

- Paula T., La Vernia, TX, US

problem #2

Jul 012009

Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

I have a 2006 Dodge Caravan; It too shut down on me while going down the hwy at 70mph and all three of my children were in the van. Thank the Lord that no one was hurt. This was the first time that my van had ever done this but was not the last; this van had shut down on me a couple more times. I took the van to a local shop, but never found out anything. I was told that it could be the heat of the South Texas weather, but I thought cars were made to withstand all weather.

Then it started having electrical issues; like the light would go on and off in the middle of the night, really at any time with no keys in it, the wipers would come on when I didn't need them to or would not come on in the rain were I needed it the most, the dome light would come on while driving home at night, or while taking my kids to school the dome light would come on and not go off.

I no longer can drive the van, because it started fire Christmas morning while my husband was driving, we were getting ready to go out of Town.

If you have had the same issues please respond with a complaint.

- Paula T., La Vernia, TX, US

problem #1

Oct 152009

Caravan SXT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Not for sure if it is the engine yet! But our van TOTALLY shut off today and we rear-ended a Charger. Our brakes would not work because the van shut off. NOW we have a van not working and an accident! I am pregnant and royally pissed off.

- armyfamily253, Fort Lewis, WA, US

Not what you are looking for?