Selling a junk or non-running Dodge Grand Caravan

If your van has quit, or the repair list now tops what it's worth, you can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US.

What owners reported, era by era

The data for this van carries no generation dates, so the years below are grouped by where the complaints bunch up.

1984-1990: latches, body and the first engine recall

These seven model years hold 849 complaints between them. Latches, locks and linkages lead or sit near the top in most of them, along with structure. Power train takes over on the 1989 (51 complaints) and the 1990 (95).

On 1989-1990 engines, recall 89V237000 deals with a valve cover gasket that could move out of position and let oil leak. Recall 91V053000, same years, covers front seat belt buckle straps that could crack near the anchor. Both campaigns count 634,000 and 640,000 vehicles in all, which may include other Chrysler models.

1991-1995: brakes and seat belts

The 1991 draws more brake complaints than anything else (227 of 748), and so do the 1992 (296 of 1,172) and the 1993 (379 of 1,242). Seat belts come second on all three.

Two 1991-1993 recalls deal with the belts. Under 97V148000, buckle covers could come loose and leave the buckle only partly latched. Recall 97V149000 covered a rear seat belt anchor hook that could pull loose from the body. Other campaigns from this span cover steering wheels that could crack at the hub (96V229000, 1991-1992) and liftgate strut bolts (99V213000, 1991-1994).

1996-2000: the worst year, and fuel leaks

The 1996 has 2,560 complaints, the most of any model year. Air bags lead (369), then the gasoline fuel system (346) and the power train (330). The 1996 also accounts for 89 of the van's 532 fire complaints.

The recalls line up with that. For 1996 vans, recall 99V216000 is about fuel leaking at the spot where the pump module mounts to the tank. Recall 00V268000 applies to 1996-2000 vans with the 3.3 or 3.8, where aging rubber seals on the fuel rail could wear out and drip fuel by the engine. For the air bags, 02V293000 (1996-1998) and 04V480000 (1998-2000) both target the clockspring, which sits at the center of the wheel. In both, dealers replace the clockspring if the odometer reads 70,000 or fewer.

2001-2007: steering, then a door-latch spike

Steering complaints lead the 2003 (81 of 414) and come second on the 2002. Recall 04V386000 covers 2002-2004 vans with the 3.3 or 3.8 V6, where the upper power steering cooler hose could split and leak.

The 2005 jumps to 1,533 complaints, and 461 of them name latches, locks or linkages. On a minivan, that means the doors and liftgate owners use every day.

2008-2020: the electrical years

Electrical system complaints lead every model year from 2008 through 2019 except the 2015. On the 2008 it's 677 of 1,594; on the 2010, 457 of 1,041.

Three recalls from this stretch matter most if you still have the van:

• 14V373000 (2008-2010): the ignition switch and key fobs, replaced because of their effect on the air bags.
• 20V396000 (2008-2010): a driver air bag cover with a loose or missing emblem. The 925,239-vehicle campaign also covers the Chrysler Town and Country and the 2007-2011 Nitro.
• 14V234000 (2010-2014): a vent window switch. Its 644,757 vehicles include Town and Country vans too.

The 2016 stands out late in the run with 1,004 complaints, 220 of them about the structure. The 2020, the final year, has just 20; the last vans built simply haven't been in owners' hands long enough to pile up many.

Owner complaints and recall campaigns by model year

Complaint tallies follow NHTSA's October 10, 2026 file. One campaign often spans several years and appears in each, which makes the recall column useless as a sum.

Repair it, or sell it as is?

Set the written estimate next to the price a running van of the same year fetches. If fixing the Grand Caravan eats up most of that figure, it's often smarter to sell it broken. A few checks first:

1. Run the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup and ask a Dodge dealer about anything open. Our open recall guide covers selling with one still pending.
2. Electrical gremlins on a 2008 or later? They are the most common complaint on these vans. The electrical problems guide helps you decide how deep to dig.
3. Transmission slipping or gone? See the bad transmission guide before you pay for a rebuild.
4. Still not sure? What a junk car is worth explains what moves an offer on a van that doesn't run.

Selling the van whole

1. Have ready the VIN, the mileage on the odometer, what's wrong, and whether the van can be pushed.
2. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Give us the location and let us know if the liftgate and sliding doors shut. A door that won't latch is worth mentioning so the truck crew knows what they're loading.
4. Leave the Grand Caravan whole, seats included. Tell us about anything already removed, since a missing part changes the offer.
5. On pickup day, the van leaves with its title and any keys you have, and the driver sees your photo ID. No title? Read the no-title guide. For plates and insurance, see after you sell.

Other Dodges we cover include the Durango, the Ram 1500 and the Intrepid, or see every Dodge.