2003 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
219 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
49,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 169 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 219 complaints (9.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 50 | 22.8% |
| Braking behavior | 28 | 12.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 24 | 11.0% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 7.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 2.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Steering | 21 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 20 |
| Air Bags | 19 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 11 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
| Tires | 7 |
Electrical System: 21; Steering: 21; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 20; Air Bags: 19; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 11; Engine: 7; Seat Belts: 7; Tires: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 43 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 42 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 42; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 15
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 50 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 39 |
| 2005 | 23 |
| 2006 | 29 |
| 2007 | 20 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 28; 2004: 39; 2005: 23; 2006: 29; 2007: 20; 2008: 14; 2009: 12; 2010: 14; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 7; 2015: 6; 2016: 3; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 50 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 24 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 10025608 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON CONTINUOUS, THE HORN IS NOT WORKING, THE CRUISE CONTROL ISN'T WORKING, AND DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW MAKES A SQUEALING NOISE. I CALLED AN AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED A DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PART. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047036 · 2003-11-17 (November 17, 2003)
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, BUT MY STEERING IS UNSAFE. AFTER OVER 5 ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE STEERING PROBLEM, AND 2 NEAR ACCIDENTS, I FEEL CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS. IF I WAIT UNTIL I DO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THEY TAKE MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY, IT WILL BE TO LATE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 14,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004574 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW ON 12/20/02. ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING CHECKED BY DEALER. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 1,001 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047216 · 2003-11-20 (November 20, 2003)
EVEN ON THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE, VAN ROLLS BACKWARDS WHILE IN DRIVE. THIS IS THE FIRST AUTOMATIC THAT I EVER HAD DO THIS. IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND SOMEONE WALKS BEHIND YOU OR ANOTHER CAR IS TOO CLOSE. I NOTICED THIS THE FIRST DAY I DROVE IT. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020583 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE - RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM, REMOVED TRANSMISSION, AND OVERHAULED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACING THE FRONT PUMP, SEALS AND FLUID. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 8,965 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025005 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED VERY ROUGHLY WHEN DECELERATING. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN STARTED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS 3 TIMES. A NEW TRANSMISSION PACKAGE WAS ORDERED AN INSTALLED. *AK *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 17,761 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024881 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
ON 6/18/03, VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH CONTROL MODULE AND REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY, VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026007 · 2003-07-13 (July 13, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLED, SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE IN GEAR AT STOP LIGHT. IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY START UP, BUT WOULD STALL AT THE NEXT LIGHT. ALSO, STALLED ONCE WHILE IN "PARK". DEALERSHIP RETRIEVED VEHICLE AND CLAIMED IT WAS THE CRANK SENSOR AND REPLACED IT. THE SAME EVENING, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVER A HUNDRED MILES OUT OF TOWN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, BUT IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, SEVERAL TIMES, AND RESTARTED. HOWEVER, IT DID FINALLY STALL AND WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALERSHIP.*A…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067143 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
CONSUMER LOSS ALL LIGHTING AND HORN WHEN THE BATTERY DIED. *PH DEALER PULLED THE FUSE OUT, BUT BATTERY DIED EVERY TWO DAYS AND VEHICLE HAS NO HORN FOR 6 WEEKS. CONSUMER ALSO LOST ALL LIGHTS AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH. LIGHTS BELLS WAS FIXED BY DEALER BUT STILL NO REMEDY WITH THE BATTERY. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095522 · 2004-11-17 (November 17, 2004)
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE ALL THE GAUGES WORK. AFTER ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES ALL THE GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. *JB AS OF 10/22/04, THE PROBLEM HAD GOTTEN WORSE. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL PARTS IN THE VEHICLE STOPPED WORKING. THERE WOULD BE NO BLINKER. ALL GAUGES IN THE DASH DID NOT COME ON, THE ELECTRICAL PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND THE HATCH STOPPED WORKING. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066961 · 2004-04-07 (April 7, 2004)
2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE SUDDENLY STOPPED DUE TO A MECHANICAL PROBLEM REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENSOR. (NAR) *PH *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067300 · 2004-07-30 (July 30, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING OVER SOME DEBRIS IN THE ROAD, THE FUEL TANK RUPTURED. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067300 at NHTSA ↗