2003 Dodge Caravan recalls and problems

The 2003 Dodge Caravan has 3 recalls and 195 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is steering.

How the 2003 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 18 Caravan model years — 6th most.

3recalls

195complaints

13crashes

5fires

23injuries

40,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Latches/locks/linkages

Apr 6, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V134000 · 70,235 vehicles

Problem: On certain minivans, the power liftgate (plg) latch May not engage the striker allowing the liftgate to open while driving.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE THE STRIKER ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING.

Risk: In the event of a crash, an unbelted passenger could be ejected from the vehicle.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN UNBELTED PASSENGER COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the power liftgate control module free of charge. The recall began April 26, 2005. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Daimlerchrysler recall no. E06. Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Steering

Aug 5, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V386000 · 681,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain minivans equipped with 3.3 or 3.8L v-6 engine, the upper power steering cooler hose May split and cause a fluid leak.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH 3.3 OR 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, THE UPPER POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE MAY SPLIT AND CAUSE A FLUID LEAK.

Risk: Power steering fluid leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in an under hood fire.

Original NHTSA wording

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the upper power steering cooler hose. This recall began on September 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Recall no. D37.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Structure

Mar 7, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V094000 · 3,674 vehicles

Problem: Certain pickup truck, van, and MINI van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, INC. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Risk: This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began March 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southern comfort at 1-800-745-6096.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine19

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Engine Stall After Refueling

DP14002 · opened Sep 5, 2014 · closed Apr 6, 2015

Summary

This defect petition evaluates July 7, 2014 allegations from an owner of a model year (MY) 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan that engine stall occurs in these vehicles without warning after refueling.The petitioner's vehicle is a Chrysler RS platform minivan.The RS platform includes MY 2003 through 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country and Chrysler Voyager minivans.NHTSA evaluated the petition by analyzing consumer complaints submitted to the Agency, analyzing field data, reviewing technical information provided in Chrysler's response to an Agency information request and testing an RS minivan identified by its owner as experiencing post-refuel engine stalls.After completing this evaluation, NHTSA has concluded that further investigation is unlikely to result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists.The stalls occurring in these vehicles only occur immediately after filling up the fuel tank and happen at low engine speeds. The failure rate is low, even after 8 to 13 years of the vehicles being in service, and there are no reports of crashes or injuries resulting from the stall condition.In the Agency's view, additional investigation is unlikely to result in finding the existence of a safety-related defect in the subject vehicles.Given the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the Agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.This action does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a sa…

2003 vs. other Dodge Caravan years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Dodge Caravan have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Dodge Caravan, the latest from Apr 6, 2005 (latches/locks/linkages). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Dodge Caravan?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention steering (41), service brakes (34), electrical system (29). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.