2018 Dodge Grand Caravan · symptom sheet
Sliding door won't open, close or latch
- 112owner reports
- 56,000median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 21, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
195 of the 270 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 112 of those describe sliding door failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Grand Caravan.
Tick what matches of 112 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 (36 reports) and the latch (10 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2018 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.
The powertrain control module may be equipped with a voltage regulator chip in the circuit board that may fail, causing a stall or a no start condition.
All 4 recalls on the 2018 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.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
What owners paid
15 of the 112 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $531 to $1,300.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 45,000 and 66,000 miles, from the 45 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2018 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 XV1 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
“Sliding side door on drivers side is locked and unable to get in or out of door. Carry 4 grand children in back and they could not be removed from side door in an emergency. Cannot unlock by key fob or manually. Vehicle has 46000 miles on it”
Filed Apr 20, 2022 · 46,000 miles
“Both sliding doors will not open manually or with the key fob. The lock is permanently stuck in place. I was told it was due to a bad actuator. When you google this issue there are 1000âs of other people that have this same issue. This is a huge safety concern as if I were in an accident all of my rear passengers wouldnât be able to get out of the car. Meaning my children would be STUCK. this is so unsafe.”
Filed Jan 25, 2022
“Driver side sliding door is stuck in the locked position. It will not unlock manually nor with the key fob. It is a safety hazard for any passengers in my car since the door cannot be opened.”
Filed Dec 27, 2021
“Passenger sliding door will not unlock from the inside or outside, will not open manually or electronically. This is a problem if I have to get my child out of the vehicle and help him with his carseat in an emergency. It has not been inspected by anyone yet.”
Filed Nov 18, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 112 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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
- Check engine light or misfire 30 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 27 reports