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According to the Dodge Problems website, the 2006 Caravan had the fourth-worst model year in its tenure. It had 57 recalls that year, for issues as minor as exterior accessories and as serious as brakes. There were a number of other problems serious enough for recall.

Headlights

In the summer of 2008, Eagle Eyes, the manufacturers of headlamps for the 2006 Dodge Caravan, recalled the 11,534 Dodge Caravans that bore the lights. The light emanating from the lamps was not bright enough to meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. According to Automall USA, such dimly lit headlamps could result in a crash.

Windshield: Visibility Issues

On March 8, 2006, Daimler-Chrysler recalled 268,800 Dodge Caravans because of a weak windshield wiper motor armature shaft, according to Automall USA. The concern was that breakage could occur, resulting in the loss of wiper function, which can be dangerous during rainy or snowy conditions.

Air Bags

According to Automall USA, on January 11, 2010, the Chrysler Corporation deemed the airbag sensors on 308,950 of its cars---including Dodge Caravans---to be weak. The automakers concern was that the sensors could break as a result of inclement weather, allowing water to enter the sensors. This, in turn, would cause the airbags not to deploy properly, resulting in serious injury or loss of life.

Rear and Side Windows

On December 11, 2007, Chrysler recalled 1,657 of its 2006 Dodge Caravans because the glass that made up their rear and side windows failed a tempered glass breakage test. Breakage of the glass could result in serious injury to the driver and occupants, according to the Automall website.

Engine

Another complaint that did not lead to a recall, but was an inconvenience for 2006 Dodge Caravan owners, was the tendency of the 3.3-liter water pump to fail on the van. As the MSN Autos website points out, this led to many financial problems for owners. According to MSN Autos, the costs the Dodge Caravan owner incurred included a $72 charge for parts, $112.50 for labor, as well as a $65 flat rate. However, these quotes excluded the time the mechanic spent diagnosing the problems of the vehicle, as well as sales tax.

Duramax is the name of an 8-cylinder 6.6-liter diesel engine that General Motors has manufactured since 2001. The 2006 version carries the LLY designation and is an option for many full-size Chevrolet pickup trucks. The braking system on vehicles with a 2006 Duramax engine includes an electronic brake control module. The function of the EBCM is to keep the wheels from locking during an emergency stop by applying less braking force to a wheel that is rotating more slowly than the other wheels.

Instructions

1

Remove the negative battery cable with a socket wrench to prevent anyone from inadvertently starting the engine. Raise the vehicle with a floor jack and support it on jack stands. Clean the area around the EBCM under the vehicle with a shop cloth to prevent contamination of the disassembled braking components.

2

Disconnect the mounting screws for the EBCM with a socket wrench and discard the mounting screws. Pull the EBCM down slightly to detach it from the brake pressure modulator valve, or BPMV. Discard the EBCM.

3

Clean the mounting surfaces on the BPMV with a clean shop cloth to ensure a good electrical contact between the EBCM and BPMV. Install the new EBCM to the BPMV with new mounting screws and fasten the mounting screws with a socket wrench.

4

Lower the vehicle with the floor jack. Attach the negative battery cable with a socket wrench.

5

Turn the ignition on. Connect a scan tool to the data link connector under the dashboard on the left side of the steering column. Check and clear any error codes that the scan tool displays.