My wife and I picked up a used 2010 Grand Caravan this weekend. It's the SXT trim with the 3.8L and 30,000 miles. It was a previous rental, but we paid a fair price for it. We will be taking it back to the dealer within the coming weeks for them to fix the hood (looks like a tech left a tool on the motor and tried to close the hood). Anyway, I just wanted to see if there are any issues that I should specifically lookout for over the next few weeks to have them addressed at the same time.

So far I like the van. The power from the 3.8L seems adequate, but not great. Transmission seems to be ok, but from what I read, these trannys are notorious. But I'm not sure if that is for the 4 speed or the newer 6 speed..??.. My only disappointment so far is the fuel economy. The dash display says only 18 MPG. That's mostly city with a little highway driving. I guess coming from a Ford Escape, my MPG's are going to drop some.

I also got the Chrysler extended warranty for 60/75,000. Not sure if that was a good move or not, but I guess time will tell.

 

This may or may not apply to your van but according to the NHTSA website the 2010s have had one safety recall. It concerns engine stalling at anytime and any place:

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): CHRYSLER / TOWN AND COUNTRY 2010 DODGE / GRAND CARAVAN 2010 DODGE / JOURNEY AWD 2010 NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 11V139000 Summary:
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 DODGE JOURNEY, GRAND CARAVAN, AND CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VEHICLES MANUFACTURER FROM AUGUST 3, 2009, THROUGH JUNE 17, 2010. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INADVERTENT IGNITION KEY DISPLACEMENT FROM THE RUN TO ACCESSORY POSITION WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF.
Consequence:
ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIN MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Notes:
CHRYSLER SAFETY RECALL NO. L02 & L25. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Call your dealership or head to the Dodge website and plug in your VIN#. It should tell you if there are any outstanding recalls on your van.

 

Get prepared to deal with exceptionally poor quality brakes. I had my first brake job on my 09 Caravan at only 27,000 kilometres (not miles). I since have had 4 brake jobs and counting - 4 pad kits, 7 rotors, 3 bearings, 1 caliper (which stuck on and made the rotor glow a most ominous red), 2 tie rods and numerous other parts. Dump your piece of junk asap.

 

laker 2964 unfortunitely sorry your bad luck but not always all have same issues i have a 10 and it so far has had no issues. might want to check your mechanic or your driving habits. parts are key. sometimes you just replacing the obvious and not really fixing the problem = so good mechanic will see this and correct it. i know its frustrating to have this issue.

 

Well my step dads 2009 T&C has had to have the brakes changed every 6 months due to warping, and his tranny just blew on him. Other than that he loves it to death. It has the 3.8L with the newer 6 spd. Just face the facts, the numbers on these vans, easily into the 100's of thousands, some of them will have issues. The same applies for anything.

 

I used 3 different mechanics all at 3 different Dodge dealerships. I switched on purpose thinking that the problem could be partly due to mechanic failure. Driving habits - it is so easy to blame brake problems on driver habits. I live in a rural area and during a 20 minute drive to work I have to deal with one (1) stop sign. No. I bought I lemon and I am sure a lot of others did as well.

 

The brakes are not driver error. The rotors Dodge uses anymore are low quality china crap. He will be upgrading the rotors from Oriley.

 

my grand caravan is on its 3rd set of rear calipers and rotors. yes 3.

dont know what it is, but 4 - 7 months after replacing i get a squeal when the brakes are OFF. it gradually gets worse to the point where the calipers have to be replaced.

last time i was able to get them to replace the pads and rotors too. after the warranty is up i will be going to a better caliper. other than that not much yet.

rob123

 

I have a 2010 Grand Caravan sxt, bought new 11/09. This spring I noticed the rear brakes overheating at times. Not always the same wheel. When I would stop and get out of the van, I could smell them. The wheel would be so hot I couldn't touch it, while the other wheels were cool.
At about 21,000 miles the rear brakes began to squeal like Rob123 said. The dealer said it is now recommended that the brakes be taken apart, cleaned and relube the guides every 18 to 20,000 miles because of the salt used in our NY winters. I paid them to do this although I am NOT convinced that is the problem. I also found the pads were nearly warn out already while the fronts were still like new. Everyone knows that front brakes wear out twice as fast as rear pads. Rather than allow the dealer to replace the pads and rotors I wanted to be sure the heating problem was solved. I managed to get through this summer and although sometimes one wheel felt hotter than it should, I had to replace the pads and rotors. This week, after a short trip. I got out to smell hot brakes again. One rear wheel was hotter than a pistol again!!!
So I am going in tomorrow to complain again.
It could be bad calipers, these are the kind with the spiral emergency brake, or it could be a defect in the anti-lock brake system, thinking that a wheel is spinning and applying braking to it. Whatever the cause it is a defect in this van.