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2003 Dodge Caravan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Dodge Caravan do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

137 reports with mileage · 58 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports5 fire reports13 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

14 reports
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44,000 miles · Sep 8, 2005
Air BagsInjury

APPROX. 10:30 ON SAT. AUG. 27TH, 2005 I DROVE MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN TO WAL-MART ON BLEACHERY BLVD TO GET MY SON A HAT FOR THE PARADE HE WOULD BE IN AT NOON THAT DAY. AS I PARKED MY VAN AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNED TO LOOK FOR MY PURSE ON THE BACK SEAT, I DECIDED TO GET OUT AND OPEN THE LEFT BACK SLIDING DOOR. AS I TUR…

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APPROX. 10:30 ON SAT. AUG. 27TH, 2005 I DROVE MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN TO WAL-MART ON BLEACHERY BLVD TO GET MY SON A HAT FOR THE PARADE HE WOULD BE IN AT NOON THAT DAY. AS I PARKED MY VAN AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNED TO LOOK FOR MY PURSE ON THE BACK SEAT, I DECIDED TO GET OUT AND OPEN THE LEFT BACK SLIDING DOOR. AS I TURNED GETTING OUT OF THE VAN THE DRIVERS AIRBAG EXPLODED IN MY BACK AND PUSHED ME THE REST OF THE WAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE. MY FATHER AND SON WERE WITH ME AND MY FATHER CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPT. CAME AND MADE A REPORT BECAUSE THE AIRBAG CAUSE WHELPS AND BURNS ON MY BACK AND I LATER WENT TO THE ER AFTER MY SON FINISHED HIS EVENTS FOR THE DAY. THE FIRE DEPT. CALLED APD(POLICE)AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT... THE OFFICER (KEITH MCCULLOCH #2600) SAID THAT BECAUSE I WAS SITTING STILL AND HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING AND NOTHING HIT ME, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT NEEDED.. HE THEN GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE NHTSA AND SAID TO FILE A COMPLAINT.... SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO RESOLVE THE MATTER QUICKLY SO I CAN GET MY VEHICLE BACK. THEY HAVE DRUG THEIR FEET ON THE MATTER AND SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY MADE A DECISION IN ABOUT 10 WORKING DAYS. THE INCIDENT IS A CLEAR DEFECT AND THEY ARE TRYING MAKE IT OUT TO BE MY FAULT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10135783

37,000 miles · Apr 29, 2004
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM *LA

NHTSA ODI #10064895

18,250 miles · Nov 29, 2003
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

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 …

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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 AFTER BEING HIT WAS PUSHED INTO THE NEXT CAR IN FRONT OF IT. NEITHER THE DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10048839

6,435 miles · Aug 5, 2003
Air BagsInjury

I WAS DRIVING A RENTAL 2003 DODGE CARAVAN FROM ALAMO WITH 6,435 MILES ON IT. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH WHEN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10030820

Official recalls

3

05V134000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock

Apr 6, 2005

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

Consequence & remedy

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.

04V386000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections

Aug 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 & remedy

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.

03V094000 · Structure

Mar 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP14002 · Engine Stall After Refueling

Opened Sep 5, 2014 · Closed Apr 6, 2015

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

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 safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will take further action if warranted by future circumstances. More details concerning our review can be found in the Federal Register Notice for this action.The following 161 VOQs are included in the petition evaluation: 10209242, 10229468, 10240708, 10260923, 10275939, 10276532, 10296487, 10298175, 10328669, 10330144, 10346517, 10349789, 10354758, 10363689, 10372112, 10372368, 10372514, 10378031, 10379764, 10382938, 10387448, 10394063, 10398877, 10413918, 10418652, 10420924, 10427063, 10437525, 10445392, 10446902, 10470028, 10471249, 10473733, 10502231, 10503114, 10504260, 10509862, 10511988, 10512120, 10512385, 10512650, 10513147, 10538154, 10549841, 10551763, 10555188, 10555418, 10556754, 10565367, 10574012, 10574398, 10586555, 10587212, 10587559, 10593433, 10607841, 10607913, 10608922, 10615810, 10622468, 10628141, 10632112, 10632128, 10632172, 10632175, 10632231, 10632262, 10632266, 10632270, 10632305, 10632316, 10632326, 10632370, 10632385, 10632399, 10632492, 10632542, 10632765, 10632833, 10632928, 10633197, 10633281, 10633409, 10633421, 10633483, 10633507, 10637752, 10637804, 10637950, 10637975, 10638032, 10638289, 10638290, 10638401, 10638968, 10639218, 10639623, 10641157, 10641603, 10641614, 10641836, 10644339, 10644705, 10649713, 10649895, 10649932, 10650313, 10652590, 10653147, 10653783, 10654533, 10655226, 10658900, 10659679, 10660320, 10662588, 10662645, 10662662, 10663473, 10667056, 10667437, 10668081, 10668094, 10668131, 10668612, 10668969, 10668970, 10669584, 10669678, 10669729, 10669775, 10669866, 10669895, 10669992, 10670422, 10670506, 10676348, 10676732, 10677120, 10679795, 10679934, 10680057, 10680290, 10680342, 10680714, 10681512, 10682584, 10682906, 10683022, 10683114, 10683549, 10683620, 10683697, 10683743, 10689898, 10690761, 10691284, 10691556, 10691751, 10693061, 10694300