2013 Dodge Grand Caravan Experiences?

[kf4uda]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[bdeboer]

I have rented at least 3 in the last year from the local Enterprise for work. They would get about 27 mpg freeway with a tail wind and about 22 driving into the wind hand calculated. I put around 800 miles round trip on them when I rented them. I like them better than the 2005 or so vintage as far as ride and power. The leather seat versions of them seemed to be more comfortable than the basic trim model also.

No experience towing with them.

 

[kf4uda]

Thanks to all for your experiences and opinions. I am not sure what vehicle we are going to go with yet but will add all of your post to the equation. We have been driving GM products for many years, but decided to look at other brands this time so I find myself having to research more.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Dont know if it was mentioned, but, the design was updated and the engine changed to a whole new series in 2011, so any comparisons to before then is basically moot. I do know that they are very popular and the smaller caravan based Journey is a sales leader and really popular. Now that I have my grandkids living with me, I am looking at the Journey. Every one I know who has one loves it.

edit: just read an article on a cars.com - jd power - usa today comparision of all the top 'van/car' based SUVs less than $38k and the Grand Cherokee won.. by far.

 

[aczlan]

My wife has a 2002 with just over 112k miles (we are the 3rd owner, my grandparents bought it off lease), my SIL has a 2006 Town and Country (from my MIL), now has ~90k miles.
My wife's is rusting apart (baseball wide piece rusted out down both rocker panels, tip of the hood is rusting out, PS line rusted through) and has also had issues with brakes (rusted brake lines), vacuum evap system (has been in 5-10 times to replace disintegrated vacuum evap hoses).
My SIL has had problems with AC (repeated), brakes, bad BCM, bad power sliding door motors, bad CD/DVD changer, etc, etc, etc.

I would not buy another Caravan unless they have greatly improved their paint and rustproofing techniques...

Aaron Z

 

[Midniteoyl]

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.

Oh.. nobody has recalls... ok :confused2:

 

[Midniteoyl]

My wife has a 2002 with just over 112k miles (we are the 3rd owner, my grandparents bought it off lease), my SIL has a 2006 Town and Country (from my MIL), now has ~90k miles.
My wife's is rusting apart (baseball wide piece rusted out down both rocker panels, tip of the hood is rusting out, PS line rusted through) and has also had issues with brakes (rusted brake lines), vacuum evap system (has been in 5-10 times to replace disintegrated vacuum evap hoses).
My SIL has had problems with AC (repeated), brakes, bad BCM, bad power sliding door motors, bad CD/DVD changer, etc, etc, etc.

I would not buy another Caravan unless they have greatly improved their paint and rustproofing techniques...

Aaron Z

See, thats weird.. I have had Fords rust out very quickly, and hear about Chryslers doing it too, but my 1993 Acclaim didnt and had 235k before I got rid of it, and my 1992 Caravan never rusted right up to the day my kid torn a tranny cooling line at 186k. My 1997 Intrepid didnt either, and it was @ 192k went I let it go, and I still have an 1985 D250 Prospector that is only just now showing rust around the rear fender openings. The Aerostar? forget about it... rusting from day one.

As with everything, there are good and bad ones. With the amount of them still on the road, I tend to think they are mostly good..

 

[Cub 7274]

I have a 2013 Journey with the 3.6ltr six speed and tow a small trailer with ease
I recently drove to Myrtle beach and averaged 31.8 mpg and sometimes getting over 32 and it only had 1500 miles on it
This vehicle replaced the 2009 Journey I had with the 3.5ltr and the 3.6 is far better I never got over 26mpg ever
Also they upgraded the seats and its a far better ride now.

 

[Midniteoyl]

I have a 2013 Journey with the 3.6ltr six speed and tow a small trailer with ease
I recently drove to Myrtle beach and averaged 31.8 mpg and sometimes getting over 32 and it only had 1500 miles on it
This vehicle replaced the 2009 Journey I had with the 3.5ltr and the 3.6 is far better I never got over 26mpg ever
Also they upgraded the seats and its a far better ride now.

This is what I heard as well... I just hate buying new, so am waiting for the 2012's to start reselling

 

[Diamondpilot]

Around here Dodges rust the worst. I think rust must be regional by brand based on what is put on the roads. I see many 4 year old Rams with rust at the wheel wells and door bottoms. My 03 2500 Ram was rusting badly after 3 years and our Dakota rusted in the same places after 7.

My 06 F350 and 08 Titan dont have a single spot of rust. The wifes 07 BMW doesn't either.

Chris

 

[bdeboer]

See, thats weird.. I have had Fords rust out very quickly, and hear about Chryslers doing it too, but my 1993 Acclaim didnt and had 235k before I got rid of it, and my 1992 Caravan never rusted right up to the day my kid torn a tranny cooling line at 186k. My 1997 Intrepid didnt either, and it was @ 192k went I let it go, and I still have an 1985 D250 Prospector that is only just now showing rust around the rear fender openings. The Aerostar? forget about it... rusting from day one.

As with everything, there are good and bad ones. With the amount of them still on the road, I tend to think they are mostly good..

The nose on the mid 2000's around here all seem to rust.