2004 Dodge GRAND CARAVAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
83,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 93 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 116 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 29 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 26 | 22.4% |
| Braking behavior | 19 | 16.4% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 12.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 25 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 6 |
| Steering | 6 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 25; Electrical System: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Engine: 6; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 6; Steering: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 15
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2003: 1; 2004: 10; 2005: 13; 2006: 6; 2007: 10; 2008: 9; 2009: 7; 2010: 9; 2011: 6; 2012: 9; 2013: 7; 2014: 13; 2015: 8; 2016: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 29 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 26 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 19 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 10126376 · 2005-06-23 (June 23, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSES IT TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE AND CAUSE LEAKING WHICH CAN LEAD TO A FIRE HAZARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205192 · 2007-10-08 (October 8, 2007)
SHORTLY AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS, I OFTEN EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY WITH THE VEHICLE. IT SOMETIMES STALLS. IT ACTS UP WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO BY TRYING TO STALL. I TRY TO GIVE IT AS MUCH GAS AS I CAN AND IT EVENTUALLY STOPS ACTING UP IF IT DOESN'T STALL FIRST. THE DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER, BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE WHOLE GAS TANK SETUP. IT IS NOT REPLACEABLE LIKE MOST FUEL FILTERS ARE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT IS THE FUEL FILTER NEEDING TO BE CLEANED. I DO BELIEVE IT IS RUINING MY FUEL PUMP SLOWLY. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106126 · 2005-01-11 (January 11, 2005)
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN THAT HAS 11,500 MILES HAS STALLED. THE FIRST TIME THE VAN STALLED WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT INTO TRAFFIC. THE VAN WAS STUCK IN THE ROAD WITH CARS COMING FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS, AND LUCKILY WAS NOT HIT. THE SECOND TIME THE VAN DID NOT REALLY STALL, IT JUST DIED BACK ON DEC 31ST 2004 WHILE GOING 50MPH HOUR ON A 6 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY. THE VAN JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE LANE, NEARLY, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE VAN DID NOTHING WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, AND THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116668 · 2005-04-09 (April 9, 2005)
VAN FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR IF IDLING. ALSO BATTERY DIED TWICE WITHIN FIRST YEAR. HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING DEVELOPED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. THE VAN VIBRATES, ESPECIALLY STEERING WHEEL ONCE SPEED EXCEEDS 50 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY AND ALSO THE ALTERNATER DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MECHANISM. THE SQUEALING HAS STOPPED. ADJUSTMENTS WERE ALSO MADE TO REDUCE THE ROUGH RIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIBRATING STILL OCCURS AND IT IS NOT SMOOTH WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088662 · 2004-08-27 (August 27, 2004)
THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQEAKING AND WHEN I LET OFF OF THEM THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GRABBING. THERE IS ALSO LOTS OF BRAKES DUST ON MY FRONT RIMS. THIS HAS BEEN SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR 3/15/04. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERS SAID THE BRAKE NOISE IS NORMAL. THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES ON 3/17 AND SAID THEY WERE FINE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK 8/17 BECAUSE OF THE FRONT END PULLING AND ASKED THAT THEY CHECK MY BRAKES AGAIN. THE ROTORS WERE WARPED SO THEY "TURNED THE FRONT ROTORS". I ASKED WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS AND THEY SAID DRIVING WITH 2 FEET OR IT C…
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091235 · 2004-09-18 (September 18, 2004)
AFTER HURRICANE FRANCES, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR,( THAT HAD SAT IN THE STORM OUTSIDE MY HOME,) TO DRIVE TWO DAYS AFTER THE STORM , MY BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY . IT WAS AS IF THE ABS WAS INGAGED AND SUDDENLY GRABBED.MY HUSBANDS CAR DID THE SAME THING. SO I THINK IT IS A DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUE. THE SAME DAY AS THIS OCCURED, AFTER ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MILES IT GOT BETTER AND I HAVE HAD NO NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088654 · 2004-08-26 (August 26, 2004)
THE DAY AFTER I BOUGHT MY 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN/SE IT STARTED MAKING FUNNY NOISES AND THE STEERING FELT FUNNY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND THE FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING FAST. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY DID A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. IT IS STILL PULLING AND I TOOK IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT AND SAID IT WAS OFF. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT AND THEY DID NOTHING. MEANWHILE MY FRONT TIRES CONTINU…
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103067 · 2004-12-16 (December 16, 2004)
AFTER APPROX. 15,000 MILES THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING FELT VERY LOOSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE FRONT RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM WAS "WORN OUT" IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT CHRYSLER HAD PURCHASED THESE PARTS FROM 2 SOURCES AND ONE OF THE SUPPLIERS PARTS WERE WEARING OUT RAPIDLY. THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. AFTER 3 MONTHS AND 6,000 MILES LATER THE STEERING SYSTEM WAS AGAIN WORN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A VEHICLE THAT COST OVER $30,000. …
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161876 · 2006-07-08 (July 8, 2006)
2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SXT V6-3.8L WITH APPX 24,000 MILES ROUGH IDLE CONDITION WHILE STOPPED WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE THAT MULTIPLE DEALERS CANNOT DUPLICATE WITH COMPUTERS, BUT CAN DUPLICATE WHEN SITTING IN THE AUTOMOBILE. ONE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS ON ALL 2004 GRAND CARAVANS WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND PCM HAS BEEN FLASHED TO NO AVAILABLE. IF THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON, THEN WHY ISN'T THEIR A RECALL ON THIS?*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206973 · 2007-10-26 (October 26, 2007)
FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR A WINDOW HAS EXPLODED ON MY 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT POSTED SPEED, LIGHT TRAFFIC, SUNNY DAY, WINDOWS DOWN, AND POP, THE PASSENGER SLIDER WINDOW SHATTERED. IT LOOKED LIKE IT POPPED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VAN. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PULL OVER AND WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. ONCE I STOPPED THE WINDOW JUST FELL OUT. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND WAS ADVISED BY MS. J TO PROCEED TO THE DEALER THAT I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR FROM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. I WENT TO THE DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052772 · 2004-01-10 (January 10, 2004)
EXPOSED, UNPROTECTED WIRING IN CARGO AREA.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052772 at NHTSA ↗