Dodge Grand Caravan Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Plaintiffs allege the rear power sliding doors on some Dodge Grand Caravan minivans have defective lock actuators and door latches. They say the doors may fail to lock or unlock. It is a class action against FCA US LLC.

Plaintiffs claim FCA US LLC knew of the problem since at least 2008 and did not disclose it. They say owners overpaid for the vans. The court made no finding on the merits.

The case is White v. FCA US LLC, in the Eastern District of Michigan. The court finally approved the settlement on September 16, 2025, and the case was dismissed with prejudice. No MDL has been formed.

Latest Dodge Grand Caravan Lawsuit Updates

September 16, 2025: Court Grants Final Approval

Judge Shalina D. Kumar of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan granted final approval in White v. FCA US LLC [1].

She certified the settlement class and dismissed the case with prejudice. The judgment carries no admission by any party on the merits.

June 13, 2025: Class Counsel Files Fee Motion

Class counsel, the lawyers for the settlement class, filed an unopposed fee motion asking the court to award attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses. The filing also asked for a service award for plaintiff Kelly Mayor [2].

March 17, 2025: Court Preliminarily Approves Settlement

The court entered a preliminary approval order for the class settlement after a hearing on March 12, 2025 [3]. The order set the fairness hearing for September 16, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

October 4, 2024: Plaintiff Seeks Preliminary Approval

Plaintiff Kelly Mayor filed a motion for preliminary approval of the class settlement with FCA US LLC [4]. The settlement agreement was signed on October 3, 2024.

The motion describes the settlement terms, including a warranty extension and reimbursement of repair costs. It also describes what the release covers and what it leaves out.

March 31, 2023: Court Rules on Motion to Dismiss

The court granted in part and denied in part FCA US LLC’s motion to dismiss, as the settlement motion recounts. It dismissed all express warranty claims, some implied warranty claims and one Florida claim.

Multiple claims survived for each plaintiff and each of the five states pled. The ruling narrowed the case but did not end it.

July 22, 2022: NHTSA Closes Sliding Door Investigation

NHTSA closed preliminary evaluation PE21-016 into sliding door failures on 2016 Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vans [5]. The closing does not constitute a finding that a safety-related defect does not exist.

NHTSA says it reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The vans in that evaluation were model year 2016, while the settlement class covers vans built in 2017.

July 21, 2021: Plaintiffs File the Class Action

Plaintiffs filed the class action against FCA US LLC in the Eastern District of Michigan, as the class settlement motion describes it.

Judge Shalina D. Kumar presides over the case, and the magistrate judge is David R. Grand. The case number is 4:21-cv-11696.

June 16, 2021: FCA Approves a Warranty Extension

FCA approved a Quality Warranty Extension for sliding door lock actuators, as the closing resume reports. It runs fifteen years or 150,000 miles from the in-service date on vans built between May 1, 2015 and January 9, 2017.

FCA said it would reimburse owners who previously paid for sliding door repairs. It published TSB 23-017-20 on June 4, 2020, telling dealers to replace the door lock actuator.

May 15, 2020: Van Converter Files Recall 20V-278

Vantage, the company that converted the vans, reported recall 20V-278 to NHTSA [6]. It covers 127 converted Dodge Grand Caravans with a fuel pump gasket made of the wrong material. The recall began May 19, 2020.

The report says affected vans were built between November 29, 2018 and October 3, 2019. It lists the fuel pump gasket as part FP6510.

June 13, 2017: FCA Files Recall 17V-376

FCA US LLC reported recall 17V-376, FCA number T33, to NHTSA [7]. It covers 209,135 model year 2011 and 2012 Dodge Grand Caravans over a driver airbag wiring problem.

The remedy is for dealers to inspect the steering wheel wiring, replace it if necessary and apply a protective covering. NHTSA’s acknowledgment letter says the recall was expected to begin July 28, 2017 [8].

Who May Be Affected?

The settlement class covers anyone who bought or leased a Dodge Grand Caravan in the United States. The vans were built between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017.

The motion described the class as current and former owners and lessees of approximately 148,795 vehicles. FCA US and its affiliates are excluded from the class.

Also excluded are people who validly and timely opted out and owners who earlier released their claims in an individual settlement with FCA US.

Only an individual legal review can say how these facts apply to your situation, including your vehicle and your own records.

Reported Injuries or Damages

Plaintiffs allege the sliding door fails to lock or unlock, either with the electronic controls or manually. They say a door that fails locked freezes closed. These are allegations only.

A door that fails unlocked cannot be locked and can be opened by children while the vehicle is moving, plaintiffs allege.

If the condition continues with the vehicle off, they say it can drain the battery and strand the driver and passengers.

They allege all class members suffered economic harm because they paid more than they would have paid, or would not have bought the vehicle.

NHTSA’s closing resume for PE21-016 lists 0 crashes and fires, 0 injury incidents and 0 fatality incidents on the 2016 vans it investigated. The court made no finding of fact or law on any claim or defense.

Recall and Regulatory Background

Two of the NHTSA recalls that involve the Grand Caravan are unrelated to the door latch case, and a recall does not prove liability.

Recall 17V-376 covers vans built between August 23, 2010 and July 25, 2012. Of the 127 vans Vantage converted, 122 were potentially involved in recall 20V-278.

Evidence to Preserve

Records about the van and the door problem may matter in an individual review. Keep these items and any related records:

• Vehicle identification number and build date, which help show whether the van is in the 2017 class
• Purchase or lease paperwork showing who bought or leased the van and when
• Repair orders and invoices for any sliding door latch or lock actuator work
• Photos or video of the door problem, with the date each one was taken
• Medical records for anyone who was hurt, with the date of each visit
• Police or insurance reports made after any incident involving the door

Filing Deadlines

Filing deadlines exist for legal claims about a defect or an injury. State law sets them, so your deadline depends on where you live and on when the problem or injury happened and was found.

A missed filing date can end a claim that has strong facts. Ask a lawyer promptly about the time limit that may apply to you.

Potential Compensation

In an individual injury or defect claim, categories of damages can include repair costs, medical expenses, lost income and property damage.

The White class settlement gives a warranty extension for the sliding door latch system and reimbursement of repair costs after a valid claim. FCA US LLC pays the administration expenses of the settlement.

Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation is not promised to anyone who brings a claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Was the Dodge Grand Caravan Lawsuit Payout?

The Dodge Grand Caravan lawsuit payout to owners came as settlement benefits. Class counsel separately requested $1,750,000 in attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses and a $3,000 service award. FCA US LLC would pay them apart from the class benefits.

What Does the Dodge Grand Caravan Sliding Door Warranty Extension Cover?

The Dodge Grand Caravan sliding door warranty extension covers parts and labor for the latch condition, as the settlement motion describes it. It runs for the earlier of 10 years from the in-service date or 100,000 miles. FCA’s 2021 Quality Warranty Extension has different terms.

What Did NHTSA Find in Its Sliding Door Investigation?

NHTSA’s sliding door investigation covered an estimated 233,084 model year 2016 vans. It counted 439 ODI complaints and 6,536 manufacturer reports, or 6,915 in total after duplicates were removed. Reports are not proof that a defect caused each incident.

Can I Still Sue over a Sliding Door Injury?

Whether you can still sue over a sliding door injury depends on your facts. The settlement release excludes claims for personal injury, wrongful death and property damage from the vehicles, except damage to the door latch system itself. Class members who did not opt out cannot pursue released claims.

Was There a Dodge Grand Caravan Airbag Recall?

Yes, there was a Dodge Grand Caravan airbag recall for model year 2011 and 2012 vans. Owners may notice an illuminated airbag warning light, unintended wiper operation or an inoperable steering wheel, speed control or multifunction switch. Repairs are free, and Chrysler customer service is at 1-800-853-1403.

How Do I Find Out If My Van Has an Unrepaired Recall?

To find out if your van has an unrepaired recall, enter its 17-character VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup. The VIN is on the lower left of the windshield and on the registration card. The tool covers the past 15 calendar years and does not show repaired recalls.

References

1. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.355941/gov.uscourts.mied.355941.79.0.pdf
2. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.355941/gov.uscourts.mied.355941.75.0.pdf
3. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.355941/gov.uscourts.mied.355941.73.0.pdf
4. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.355941/gov.uscourts.mied.355941.69.0.pdf
5. https://business.cch.com/plsd/PE21-016closedPDF.pdf
6. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2020/RCLRPT-20V278-4841.PDF
7. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCLRPT-17V376-1532.PDF
8. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RCAK-17V376-8503.pdf