Is the Dodge Grand-Caravan more reliable than the Ford Transit-Connect-Wagon?

Yes, with a clear edge. The Grand-Caravan has fewer federal recalls and a low repair-cost profile. It also draws many more owner complaints per vehicle sold, mostly about transmissions, sliding doors and cylinder 2 misfires. Its lead rests on recalls and repair costs, not complaint volume.

Which has more recalls, the Grand-Caravan or the Transit Connect Wagon?

The Transit Connect Wagon has more. Federal recall records show 27 across its six model years, while the Grand-Caravan has 10 across three. The Ford's total covers more years, but it is still the heavier recall load. Check any VIN for open recalls before buying.

Which costs less to repair?

A direct comparison isn't possible, because repair-cost data is missing for the Transit Connect Wagon. The Grand-Caravan averages about $673 a year, with 0.3 unscheduled shop visits per year and an 11% chance a repair is major. Ask a shop to quote typical repairs on the Ford.

What goes wrong most often on the Transit Connect Wagon?

Transmission failure leads. Owners report harsh shifts, jerking when slowing, and a van that won't move in drive or reverse. Most failures came between about 80,000 and 95,000 miles, and dealers usually called for full replacement. Seized front brake calipers are the second most common complaint.

What are the biggest Grand-Caravan problems to check for?

Check the transmission, sliding doors and engine. Transmissions shudder or fail to shift, with failures between about 59,500 and 91,715 miles. Sliding door latches can seize shut or open while moving. A cylinder 2 misfire from low compression brings repair estimates of roughly $3,700 to over $5,000.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Grand Caravan vs Ford Transit Connect Wagon: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Dodge Grand Caravan

Good

Ford Transit Connect Wagon

Good

Shoppers get a clear winner: the Dodge Grand-Caravan beats the Ford Transit-Connect-Wagon on reliability, with 10 federal recalls against 27. The Grand-Caravan draws more owner complaints, though, led by transmission and sliding door failures.

How Do the Dodge Grand Caravan and Ford Transit Connect Wagon Generations Compare?

Late in its cycle, the fifth-generation Grand-Caravan covers all the years on this page, 2018 to 2020. That generation began in 2008 and got a mid-cycle refresh in 2011. Any van you find was built after the design had been on sale for years. The Transit Connect Wagon's 2018 to 2023 years sit in its second generation, which started with the 2014 model year. A facelift arrived for 2019. A 2018 is therefore the pre-facelift van, and 2019 through 2023 are the facelifted ones. Its two weakest years, 2019 and 2020, were the facelift year and the one after it.

Verdict

The Dodge Grand Caravan is more reliable than the Ford Transit Connect Wagon, scoring 78/100 vs 70/100.

A clear edge goes to the Dodge Grand-Caravan. The deciding fact is recalls: federal records show 10 across its three model years, against 27 for the Transit Connect Wagon across six. The Grand-Caravan draws far more owner complaints per vehicle sold, and its transmission, sliding door and cylinder 2 misfire problems are costly. Still, its repair-cost profile is low, with few shop visits and a small chance that a repair is major. The Ford's complaint count is small, but its recall load is heavier.

Key Differences

1Dodge Grand Caravan has 17 fewer total recalls
2Dodge Grand Caravan scores 8 points higher in reliability
3Ford Transit Connect Wagon has 5.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Dodge Grand Caravan

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1Ford Transit Connect Wagon

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Dodge Grand Caravan vs Ford Transit Connect Wagon: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Grand Caravan vs Ford Transit Connect Wagon at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Dodge Grand Caravan	Ford Transit Connect Wagon
Reliability Score	78/100	70/100
Years Tracked	3	6
Total Recalls	10	27
Complaints per 10k Sold	7.1	2
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2020 NHTSA	2023 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	3	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Grand Caravan and Ford Transit Connect Wagon?

Breadth separates the two profiles. The Grand-Caravan's complaints spread wide. Transmissions shudder, fail to shift, then need full replacement. Sliding door latches seize shut or fail to lock. A cylinder 2 misfire traces to low compression. Front head restraints burst open without impact. Power train and seats both have crash-linked reports. The Ford's trouble is narrower. Transmission failure leads, with harsh shifts and torque converter clutch complaints. Next come seized front brake calipers that return until the ABS module is replaced, and power steering that cuts out with no warning. Its only crash-linked area is the power train, with one report.

Dodge Grand Caravan vs Ford Transit Connect Wagon common problem areas comparison
Component	Dodge Grand Caravan	Ford Transit Connect Wagon
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1.8Low	0.1Very Low
POWER TRAIN	1Very Low	0.7Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1Very Low	0.2Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.9Very Low	—None
ENGINE	0.6Very Low	—None
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
SEATS	0.4Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.3Very Low	—None
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES	0.2Very Low	—None
STEERING	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Dodge Grand Caravan vs Ford Transit Connect Wagon Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Grand Caravan vs Ford Transit Connect Wagon year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Dodge Grand Caravan	Ford Transit Connect Wagon	Edge
2020	83/1001R / 15C	67/1008R / 27C	Dodge Grand Caravan
2019	76/1005R / 247C	65/1008R / 46C	Dodge Grand Caravan
2018	76/1004R / 258C	68/1006R / 21C	Dodge Grand Caravan

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan scored 83/100 and the 2018 Ford Transit Connect Wagon scored 68/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Grand Caravan vs the Ford Transit Connect Wagon?

Pick the Grand-Caravan if you want the lower recall count and a repair profile with few shop visits. Target 2020, its strongest year, and avoid 2019. The 2018 shows up as both a strong and a weak year, so check its history closely. Ask whether the transmission has been replaced or shudders, since failures cluster between about 59,500 and 91,715 miles. Test every sliding door's latch and lock, because door failures cluster between roughly 44,000 and 60,000 miles. Pick the Transit Connect Wagon if a low complaint count matters more to you than recall history, and you can check each VIN for open recalls. Target 2022 or 2023, but remember newer years have had less time to collect complaints. Avoid 2019 and 2020. Check for harsh shifting, since transmission failures landed between about 80,000 and 95,000 miles, and test the brakes for a hot wheel or vibration. Ask a dealer to confirm the windshield recall status, since owners found it hard to get leaks fixed.

Dodge Grand Caravan vs Ford Transit Connect Wagon: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Grand-Caravan more reliable than the Ford Transit-Connect-Wagon?: Yes, with a clear edge. The Grand-Caravan has fewer federal recalls and a low repair-cost profile. It also draws many more owner complaints per vehicle sold, mostly about transmissions, sliding doors and cylinder 2 misfires. Its lead rests on recalls and repair costs, not complaint volume.
Which has more recalls, the Grand-Caravan or the Transit Connect Wagon?: The Transit Connect Wagon has more. Federal recall records show 27 across its six model years, while the Grand-Caravan has 10 across three. The Ford's total covers more years, but it is still the heavier recall load. Check any VIN for open recalls before buying.
Which costs less to repair?: A direct comparison isn't possible, because repair-cost data is missing for the Transit Connect Wagon. The Grand-Caravan averages about $673 a year, with 0.3 unscheduled shop visits per year and an 11% chance a repair is major. Ask a shop to quote typical repairs on the Ford.
What goes wrong most often on the Transit Connect Wagon?: Transmission failure leads. Owners report harsh shifts, jerking when slowing, and a van that won't move in drive or reverse. Most failures came between about 80,000 and 95,000 miles, and dealers usually called for full replacement. Seized front brake calipers are the second most common complaint.
What are the biggest Grand-Caravan problems to check for?: Check the transmission, sliding doors and engine. Transmissions shudder or fail to shift, with failures between about 59,500 and 91,715 miles. Sliding door latches can seize shut or open while moving. A cylinder 2 misfire from low compression brings repair estimates of roughly $3,700 to over $5,000.

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Decided between Dodge Grand Caravan and Ford Transit Connect Wagon? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Dodge Grand Caravan and Ford Transit Connect Wagon

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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