2016 Dodge Grand Caravan · symptom sheet
Sliding door won't open, close or latch
- 394owner reports
- 60,000median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 1, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
681 of the 1,000 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 394 of those describe sliding door failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Grand Caravan.
Tick what matches of 394 reports
Sliding door failure on other Grand Caravan years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014.
What this problem usually is
Owners in this group describe a minivan or van sliding door that won't open, won't close all the way, or won't unlock, usually with a buzz or a grind from inside the door. A smaller share say the door kept closing on a hand or a child.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the door lock actuator (91 reports), the latch (21 reports) and the sliding door motor (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
Please refer to Rollx's recall report for specific model year information. The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured.
A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf.
In the affected vehicles, the bolts that attach the hood striker may loosen and, as a result, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving.
All 6 recalls on the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Grand Caravan
Sliding doors inoperative. Closed jul 22, 2022.
Totally integrated power module failure. Closed jul 24, 2015.
Loss of headlight illumination. Closed nov 29, 2012.
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
Loss of headlight illumination. Closed sep 13, 2011.
Headlight malfunction. Closed may 2, 2006.
Headlight malfunction. Closed jun 1, 2005.
Power liftgate latch. Closed apr 7, 2005, led to recall 05V-134.
Power liftgate latch. Closed nov 22, 2004.
Speaker fire in the rear of the vehicle. Closed nov 5, 2004, led to recall 04V-531.
Air bag clockspring. Closed nov 22, 2002, led to recall 02V-293.
Rear liftgate support. Open, led to recall 97V-079.
Air bag circuit/windshield wiper motor. Closed mar 17, 1998.
Liftgate latches. Closed oct 25, 1995.
What owners paid
41 of the 394 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $900 to $1,300.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 45,000 and 75,000 miles, from the 263 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Sliding Door Lock(s) Inoperable Warranty Extension X98 The customer may describe one or more of the following: ● Either one or both of the sliding door locks do not function.
What owners wrote
“Both sliding doors will not unlock. Passengers have to exit either through the front passenger door, through the rear hatch or climb out the sliding door windows. This is a safety issue in an emergency. The driver side sliding door had the problem several months ago. The passenger side sliding door developed the problem today.”
Filed Aug 3, 2021
“I have 2 issues related with the sliding doors. The first one is: Driver sliding door does not open I canât use the remote control to unlock. I canât open the door manually from inside or outside. The second one is the passenger sliding door does not lock manuallly or with the remote control I have more than 2 years with this problem”
Filed Jul 29, 2021
“My left sliding door won't open or unlock. My right sliding door is making a loud buzzing sound when the power lock unlocks/locks. The vehicle is currently at a dealership for these problems.”
Filed Jul 19, 2021
“Passenger side rear sliding door is locked, as it has been reported in CASE number 11424331. this could cause serious problem in case of fire or accident, delaying back seat passengers exiting the car.”
Filed Jul 14, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 394 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Doors, latches or locks fail 108 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 71 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 51 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 42 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 32 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 30 reports