After nearly four years of legal back-and-forth, Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit over sliding door lock actuator failures on 2017 and 2018 Dodge Grand Caravans—but only if those vans were built between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017.
The lawsuit, originally filed in July 2021, stemmed from widespread complaints about sliding doors that wouldn’t lock—or worse, locked and wouldn’t open. Many owners were forced to unload passengers through the front seats or the rear hatch. Some even mentioned hearing a loud buzzing sound before the locks completely failed, which turned out to be a common sign that the door actuator was wearing out.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation that same month, targeting 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country vans. That investigation revealed FCA had already issued a technical service bulletin (TSB #23-017-20) and extended warranty coverage for some 2016–2017 vans built between May 1, 2015, and January 9, 2017. As a result, NHTSA closed the case in August 2022 without forcing a recall.
Fast forward to 2025, and a federal judge has now given preliminary approval to a new settlement, which provides a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty extension from the date the vehicle first went into service—but only for 2017 model-year Grand Caravans built during that specific calendar year. That means if your van was built before January 1, 2017, or after December 31, 2017, you’re out of luck, even if it’s a 2017 or 2018 model.
Owners who already paid for out-of-pocket repairs might be eligible for reimbursement, provided they weren’t already paid back under prior programs.
The plaintiff, Lisa White, will receive $3,000, and her attorneys will walk away with a whopping $1.75 million. The final approval hearing is set for September 16, 2025. If the judge signs off, the limited settlement terms will go into effect.
As CarComplaints.com pointed out, most of these affected vans are already 7–8 years old. With the 100,000-mile limit also in play, many vehicles are likely already outside the window of actual coverage, making the warranty extension more symbolic than helpful for some.
Still, it’s a small win for a lot of frustrated minivan owners who’ve been stuck dealing with doors that didn’t quite open—or close—way they should.
Source: CarComplaints.com
