U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Dodge CARAVAN problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

195 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

40,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 137 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 195 complaints (10.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	45	23.1%
Braking behavior	37	19.0%
Transmission and shifting	22	11.3%
Electrical and battery issues	12	6.2%
Engine operation	11	5.6%
Fuel system concerns	6	3.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System

Steering

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Engine And Engine Cooling

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Air Bags

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Suspension

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Electrical System	20
Steering	19
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	13
Engine And Engine Cooling	10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	10
Air Bags	9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	7
Suspension	7

Electrical System: 20; Steering: 19; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 10; Air Bags: 9; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Suspension: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 42; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 9

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 58 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2020

2021

2002: 2; 2003: 27; 2004: 21; 2005: 40; 2006: 28; 2007: 14; 2008: 22; 2009: 5; 2010: 9; 2011: 7; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 45 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10041147 · 2003-10-03 (October 3, 2003)

THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL 'RATTLE' COMING FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING, STARTED AT ABOUT 47,000 MILES. UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF IT CAN CAUSE A STEERING PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041147 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10056935 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)

POWER STEERING PUMP WHINES WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMES FROM POWER STEERING. WHINING IS AGGREVATED WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. NOISE CHANGES WITH SPEED OF THE ENGINE. MY FLUID LEVEL IS AT NORMAL. MY DEALERS ANSWER WAS TO OVERFILL THE RESERVOIR WITH FLUID. NOW THAT THE FLUID LEVEL IS COMPLETELY FILLED TO THE TOP OF THE RESERVOIR, INCLUDING THE NECK OF THE RESERVOIR, THE NOISE HAS GONE AWAY. IT APPEARS THE RESERVOIR IS TOO S…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,144 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056935 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016579 · 2003-04-27 (April 27, 2003)

MY "BRAND-NEW" 03 DODGE CARAVAN HAS RUSTY AND OLD PARTS INSIDE. IT HAS LESS THAN 3500 MILES, AND THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ALREADY, THE BRAKES MAKE A SLIGHT NOISE, AND THE BATTERY STARTED CORRODING, TOO. WHEN I CALLED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER, THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT MY VEHICLE. I AM QUESTIONING WHETHER MY VEHICLE IS REALLY NEW... I PAID WAY TOO MUCH FOR IT TO BE ACTING THIS WAY - AGAIN UNDER 3500 MILES! *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016579 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030394 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)

2003 DODGE CARAVAN - BRAKE FAILURE AT 6500 MILES, REPLACED CALIPERS AND PADS BRAKE FAILURE AT 11800 MILES, REPLACED PADS, ROTORS, SHOES, DEALER STATED NPF IN CAUSE OF FAILURE, BLAMES DRIVER ABUSE? SOMETHING WRONG IN BRAKE BOOSTER OR OTHER CAUSES TO WHY BRAKES NEED REPLACING AT LOW MILEAGE INTERVALS AND NOT COVERED BY CHRYSLER WARRANTY.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030394 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018425 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)

2003 DODGE CARAVAN IS A PIECE OF GARBAGE! MY NEW CARAVAN HAD A RECALL FOR A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS NOISY, RUFF RUNNING, AND IT DOES NOT GET 21-27 MILES PER GALLON AS ADVERTISED!! 12 MILES PER GALLON IS MORE REALISTIC. BE WARNED! THIS VAN IS TERRIBLE. LOOK AT OTHER VANS DO NOT BUY OR LEASE THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF CHRYSLER AND MAROONE DODGE AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. GO ELSEWHERE! THEY ARE NOT 5 STAR THEY SUCK! *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018425 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10048839 · 2003-11-29 (November 29, 2003)

40 TO 60 MPH REAR END CRASH BY BMW INTO STATIONARY (TRANS IN DRIVE, WAITING TO EXIT EXPRESSWAY) 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT - (ONLY DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER IN CARAVAN, BOTH WITH SEAT BELTS FASTENED) ALL SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED BACKWARD, INCLUDING MIDDLE BENCH, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE FLUNG BACK CAUSING NECK INJURIES. IF A CHILD HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE MIDDLE BENCH SEAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN CRUSHED. IN ADDITION THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR DETACHED COMPLETELY (ELECTRICAL WIRES TORN OUT FROM VISOR LIGHT) AND FLEW INTO THE DRIVERS FACE. THE CARAVAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048839 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024722 · 2003-06-23 (June 23, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON WEDNESDAY JUNE/1//03 VEHICLE STALLED AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR. BUT ON SATURDAY JUNE/21/03, VEHICLE STALLED, AND TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024722 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10087659 · 2004-07-28 (July 28, 2004)

2003 DODGE CARAVAN STALLING PROBLEM. *MR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK. INCIDENT DATE: JULY 29, 2004. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087659 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10048511 · 2003-11-21 (November 21, 2003)

WHILE FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK, THE VALVE JOINT SEPARATED FROM GAS TANK, CAUSING GASOLINE TO POUR OUT. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT THE FUEL TANK BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048511 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10101354 · 2004-11-12 (November 12, 2004)

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WAS RUBBING THE WHEEL WELL. *NM THE INNER FENDER WHEEL COVER HAD BEEN MODIFIED FOR THE HANDICAP WHEEL CHAIR CAUSING THE FUEL TANK AND HOSES TO BE OFF CENTER. MODIFICATIONS WERE NOT MADE BY CHRYSLER. *TC

Owner-reported narrative. 8,097 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101354 at NHTSA ↗