2003 Dodge CARAVAN: complaints, problems and recalls

BOUGHT A 2003 SPORT GRAND CARAVAN ON DEC 30, 2003. THE SAME DAY, I DISCOVERED THE VEHICAL VIBRATE ON REVERSE ON GENTLE SLOPE. LATER, TEST DRIVE TWO OTHER NEW 2003 SPORT GRAND CARAVAN = LESS VIBRATION. TEST DRIVE 2002 (13000 MILES) SPORT GRAND CARAVAN = NO VIBRATION AT ALL. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005024 at NHTSA ↗

BACK WHEEL FREEZE UP WHEN DRIVEN ON WET ROADS AND WHEN IT GETS COLD AT NIGHT.THE NEXT MORNING YOU CAN'T MOVE IT.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007944 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO A REPORT THAT WAS FEATURED ON THE NEWS ON 4/27/03 CONCERNING THE GEN 3 SEAT BELTS ON CHRYSLER AND DODGE VEHICLES. I WAS VERY ALARMED AT THE INFORMATION THAT THESE SEAT BELTS CAN EASILY BECOME UNLATCHED WITH MINIMAL PRESSURE SUCH AS AN ELBOW OR DRINK CONTAINER. THE REPORT ALSO SHOWED THE "BALL TEST" WHICH EASILY DISENGAGED THE SEAT BELT. THERE WERE SEVERAL OWNERS OF VEHICLES FEATURED, INCLUDING A WOMAN WHO LOST HER HUSBAND IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HIS GEN 3 SEAT BELT UNLATCHED DURING AN ACCIDENT AND HE WAS THROWN 30 F…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016605 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS JUST MADE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN HAS THE GEN. 3 SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR SEATS. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND THEIR SAFETY IS IMPERATIVE. MY 4 YEAR OLD SON HAS ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED MY 2 YEAR OLD'S CAR SEAT AT LEAST TEN TIMES, OPENING THE GEN 3 SEAT BELT...THEREBY MAKING MY DAUGHTER UNSAFE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016629 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

WHILE BACKING UP THE VEHICLES RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION BOLT WAS MISSING. *NLM *CB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,001 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020092 at NHTSA ↗

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME STUCK TOGETHER DURING AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP. THERE WAS A HARD RAIN AND WE WERE DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE WITH MANY OTHER PERSONAL AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES WHEN WE ENCOUNTERED THE PROBLEM. WE WERE FORCED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE WIPER BLADES FROM ONE ANOTHER. WE THEN PROCEEDED TOWARD OUR DESTINATION WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. UPON OUR RETURN HOME OUR VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL SEEMED VERY DISINTERESTED AND SIMPLY REPLACED…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020676 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)

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.

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

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2004-08-05 (August 5, 2004)

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.

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

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)

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

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

Remedy: 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.