Recall 17V376 affects 209,135 2011-2012 Dodge Grand Caravan minivans for chafed air bag wiring. Repair is free at any franchised Dodge dealer.
Dodge is recalling 209,135 2011-2012 Grand Caravan minivans because the driver's frontal air bag wiring harness can chafe inside the steering wheel and short circuit. An unexpected air bag deployment increases the risk of a crash or driver injury, and the Dodge dealer repair is free.
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What's wrong?
The driver's frontal air bag in the 2011-2012 Dodge Grand Caravan sits in the steering wheel and is wired through an air bag wiring harness. That harness carries electrical signals for the air bag system and nearby steering wheel controls, so the wires need clean insulation and a protected path inside the wheel.
In affected vans, the harness can chafe inside the steering wheel. Chafing means the wire insulation rubs against another surface until it wears thin or breaks open. Once that happens, the exposed wiring can short circuit, and the driver's frontal air bag can deploy unexpectedly instead of only during a crash that calls for deployment.
Owners can see warning signs before the failure. Watch for an illuminated airbag warning light, wipers operating without a command, or steering wheel, speed control, or multifunction switches that stop working. Those electrical symptoms point to the same wiring area inside the steering wheel.
Who's affected?
Two model years are listed, and both point to the same front air bag component.
| 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan | front air bag |
| Units affected | 209,135 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific minivan is included.
What's the safety risk?
An unexpected driver frontal air bag deployment increases the risk of a crash or driver injury. Treat an airbag warning light, unintended wiper operation, or steering wheel, speed control, or multifunction switches that stop working as a reason to schedule the inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Dodge dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Dodge Grand Caravan is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Dodge dealer to schedule the free steering-wheel air bag wiring inspection.
- Schedule the wiring replacement if needed and protective cover installation that keeps the driver's frontal air bag wiring from chafing and short-circuiting.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it, and reference recall number 17V376 when you call.
- Avoid unnecessary driving until the repair is complete, because unexpected driver air bag deployment raises the risk of a crash or injury.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Dodge technician inspects the air bag wiring inside the steering wheel, replaces the wiring if needed, and installs a protective cover. The inspection, replacement when needed, cover, parts, and labor are free under the recall. If you've already paid for a related repair, the owner letter asks customers to send the original receipt or other adequate proof of payment to the company so it can confirm the expense.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 13, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 28, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| July 28, 2017 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 28, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| August 9, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V376?
Recall 17V376 covers 209,135 2011-2012 Dodge Grand Caravan vans with driver's frontal air bag wiring that can chafe inside the steering wheel and short circuit. That short can deploy the air bag unexpectedly, increasing crash or driver injury risk. Dodge dealers will inspect the wiring, replace it if needed, and install a protective cover for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Dodge Grand Caravan is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 17V376. If it is, contact a franchised Dodge dealer to schedule the steering-wheel air bag wiring inspection. Reference recall number 17V376 and Chrysler recall T33 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and this recall says the inspection, any needed wiring replacement, and protective cover installation are free. A franchised Dodge dealer performs the repair.
Is it safe to drive my Dodge Grand Caravan before the recall repair?
The recall does not include a do-not-drive order. The risk is that the driver's frontal air bag can deploy unexpectedly if the wiring harness chafes and short circuits, increasing crash or driver injury risk. Confirm your VIN and schedule the free dealer repair.
What if I bought my Dodge Grand Caravan used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2011-2012 Grand Caravan is included, then call a franchised Dodge dealer and reference recall 17V376 or Chrysler recall T33.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V376000 |
|---|---|
| Dodge customer service | 1-800-853-1403 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V376 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V376000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →