DodgeCaravan20163.6L/dodge/caravan/2016/3-6l/
RT platform

2016 Dodge Caravan — 3.6L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Caravan 3.6L.

Engine 3.6LTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2016 Dodge Caravan 3.6L is a minivan built on Chrysler's RT platform and powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined, placing it squarely in line with typical segment benchmarks for power and efficiency. This model year represents a notably strong point in the Caravan's reliability trajectory, with only two owner complaints recorded and zero recalls—placing it among the lowest-complaint years in the model's history spanning from 1990 to 2017, second only to the 2017 model year. Given that complaint volumes peaked at 1,647 in 1996 before declining steadily through subsequent generations, the 2016 Caravan appears to benefit from engineering refinements that addressed earlier durability concerns, making it a comparatively mature and dependable choice within this model run.

Model year20182017201620152014

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy17/25/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 68191349AC. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 730 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225/65R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter68191349AC
Engine air filter04861737AB
Spark plugSP149125AF
BatteryBBH7A001AA alt BBH7F001AA
Front wiper blades68125735AA alt 68028442AA
Thermostat05184894AA alt 05184570AK

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length202.4 in
Overall width78.7 in
Overall height67.7 in
Wheelbase121.3 in
Curb weight4519 lb
Track (front / rear)65.7 / 65 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 25 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF+4
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity4.0-6.0
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Engine CoolantMS-12106
Engine Coolant Capacity13.4 qt
Power Steering FluidATF +4

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts55.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 128.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.6-0.9 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance6,000-9,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerMopar
Spark Plug Gap.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature192-199 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)56-60 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)58+/-5 psi
Engine Compression100 min psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 26; Rear: 26 /
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 125; Rear: 74 /; Front: 150; Rear: 74
ABS Sensor Torque4.5 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.040; Rear: .409
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., step 2: 10530 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 33.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 75 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step. Step 4: 50 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step. Step 5: Loosen bolts in reverse sequence Step 6: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 7: 33.0 ft. lbs. Step 8: 70 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step. Step 9: 70 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step. Bolts should be checked for stretching using a straight edge. Ay bolts that show stretching should be replaced.22 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 10,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 10,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBattery (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Dodge Caravan sits at the end of a long downward trend in owner complaints, recording just 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 recalls, and 0 investigations — the lowest complaint count in the entire year-by-year record provided. Compared with 2015 (23 complaints, 0 recalls) and 2017 (1 complaint, 1 recall), 2016 represents the quietest point of this generation from a consumer-complaint standpoint, though technical service bulletins remained elevated at 139, down modestly from 149 in 2015 and 158 in 2014. From 2011 onward, complaints stayed low and recalls were absent through 2016, while TSB volumes stayed consistently high, indicating ongoing dealer service guidance but little formal safety action. The two 2016 complaints involved the electrical system and an unspecified category, with zero crash or fire complaints reported. Because the data does not specify root causes, we cannot attribute the low complaint volume to any particular design fix, only that federal-filed problems were exceptionally rare this year. For a used minivan shopper, the 2016 model year looks like a comparatively safe bet on this record: complaints and recalls are minimal, but buyers should still review service history given the sustained TSB activity.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
139
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Unknown Or Other1
Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 139 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1084632025-11-18Service BrakesPAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
1084642025-11-17Service BrakesPAD KIT - REAR DISC BRAKE, FRONT DISC BRAKE
1036172025-03-20EngineSTARTER - ENGINE
91004562024-11-26SeatsIncoming Vehicles with Deployed Active Head Rest (AHR) should have a through enquiry. If…
S14080003842024-01-10Electrical SystemStart Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Caravan. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 Caravan have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.6L get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.