2013 Dodge Grand Caravan Experiences?

kf4uda · Jul 9, 2013

I know this forum is usually about big heavy trucks and trailers but I need some information/opinions on a smaller scale. We are looking to replace my wife's primary vehicle, a 2005 GMC Envoy. The Envoy has been a great dependable vehicle with plenty of power and towing ability. We have looked at several suv type vehicles. My wife started looking at mini-vans. My first reaction was

, as I normally despise vans. We have looked at and drove a few vans and even I have come to like the Dodge Grand Caravan. This vehicle drives and handles great. It has a 283hp V6 which is comparable to the Envoy's hp. It also has a 3600lb towing capacity with a load leveling and height control system.

The towing for this vehicle would consist of occasional towing of a 5x10 utility trailer with a 1100lb ZTR mower or Polaris Ranger as the load. Basically say a total of 2000lbs. So, on to my question: Do any of you guys have any experience with this vehicle especially relating to power and towing? I would also like any experience with reliability as well.

Peacock · Jul 9, 2013

Long term reliability is a question mark. They offer a lot of content for the money, though.

There is a reason why the Odyssey and Sienna sells for more new and used.

riptides · Jul 9, 2013

Well, it is a Dodge.

We have had two, one traded for the latter.

The latter being a 1 9 9 6 Dodge Grand Caravan Mark III. Other than normal maintenance, and a transmission rebuild, the vehicle is still an every day vehicle with 260k miles on it.

We did NOT tow anything with it. It's a mini-van.

deepNdirt · Jul 9, 2013

We have had several in our family , I bought my wife hers new in '84 when the Dodge caravan was first built, only a few minor recalls, We got 13 years of use from it, Until our son got grown and my wife decided she no longer wanted to be a "socker mom" she parked the minivan and i got her a convertible,

The van sit for about 12 months, We had too much invest into it to expect to get anything out of in through a re-sale, it was still like new interior wise, and had just a bit over 100-k miles, the fake wood grain was peeling off, The van was a comfortable ride and we kept it to use for occasional long distance travel,

One day the wife was heading out to do some shopping and I ask for her to take the minivan, On her way back the van had ran hot due to a un-known leek in the radiator, she managed to exit off the interstate but it had ran so hot it shut itself down, It was the larger reliable Mitsubishi engine, Never a days worth of trouble from it, But one and only time it ran hot it took out the engine,

My MIL has had 3 dodge caravans over the past 20 years and put over 180-k on them before trading in on the next one, the last trade was her '99 with 204-k miles in perfect condition, the dealership wouldn't give much in trade so she sold it outright,
In Dec she purchased her a 2013 and she loves it, She of course confides in me to do her test drives

The only thing I didn't like about the 2013 is the 6 speed transmission along with the "Eco- button" I don't think I would tow with one that has the 6- speed ,

Agent Blue · Jul 9, 2013

After their supposed recall of 3 million vehicles with the gas tank located adjacent to the bumper on Jeep models causing fires & fatalities.......... they offered free trailer hitches.

Maybe this is business in ITALY... not here. I won't buy a key chain with the chrysler logo.

caps · Jul 9, 2013

My wife and I each had one when we got married. Got a good bit of use out of the vans but the transmissions in both failed at about 120K. Hers had failed once prior to that but I don't know the mileage. One we got rid of (hers) and the other we had a new transmission put in. That new transmission failed in 30 k miles and we had it rebuilt. It failed again but by then we had 190 K miles on so we traded it in for a Chevy E3500 van. I towed a pop-up camper with the Dodge van a few times but the camper didn't have brakes on it as it was less than 1500 pounds. Did not feel safe and wanted to push the van if braking around a turn. I would not recommend towing anything substantial with it without brakes. It is just too light in the rear end. The Dodges were ok and we got a lot of use out of them. The big weakness as far as we were concerned was that the transmissions seemed to fail regularly. We both really like the Chevy but its only got 25K miles on it so we will see how it holds up. I have towed (once) a dual axle trailer with brakes with my tractor on it (approx 5K total) with the Chevy and it worked pretty decently although still not my choice of a tow vehicle.

Dr_Zinj · Jul 9, 2013

My wife has a Dodge Grand Caravan. More trouble than it's worth. Bought new. Rotting out in less than 5 years. Electronics are all f'ed up. Power steering problems. Cooling problems. Runs terrible. Half the floor covers broke tabs off in 3 years just from sticking groceries on it. AC dead. Frankly, I think the old Ford Econoline vans are a **** sight better vehicle.

k0ua · Jul 9, 2013

Hm.. Interesting.. we bought a 2013 Chrysler Town and Country (Basicly same car).. Of course I cant report on it much. it is too new. Nice car with a lot of features. But the old Company Dodge 2000 minivan is still going at 264,000 miles. Transmission failed (well started slipping ) at 142,000 replace with a rebuilt.. no problems so far. the AC compressor went out at about 180,000, got a rebuilt, still works well. Tires, batteries, oil changes and a windshield, (rock). The air conditioner drain filled up with cedar tree debris this year, and overflowed into the floor. It developed an intermittent problem with the dash instruments at about 260,000. (grounding or cracked circuit board), They couldn't find it so they just replaced the whole panel with one from a wreck. The motor still runs well, and burns very little oil. All in all though, the old thing has done pretty well considering how many miles it has been.

Diamondpilot · Jul 9, 2013

Dodges bread and butter but the Odyssey is the first choice around here for moms.

My mechanic has had 3 Caravans over the past 13 years and the only real issue was a tranny in the last one.

Chris

wmonroe · Jul 9, 2013

My parents have had 3 of them with the first two traded in about 120,000 miles and the last one they ran till 268,000 miles. It was running fine but the water pump went out and mom mom drove it till the engine cooked itself. One required a recall one the tranny but other than that normal maintenance for all three.