IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5-30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A POPPING, KICKING, AND CREEKING SOUND. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Caravan years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
430–25K
4225–50K
2750–75K
675–100K
10100–150K
9150K+
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
Steering complaints
41 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. A NOISE WAS PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AREA. THE COLD WEATHER WAS A FACTOR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK AND THAT HER RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE A YEAR AGO. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE RACK AND PINION COULD RESULT IN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. A NOISE WAS PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AREA. THE COLD WEATHER WAS A FACTOR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK AND THAT HER RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE A YEAR AGO. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE RACK AND PINION COULD RESULT IN HER LOSING STEERING CONTROL AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68000.
STEERING RACK AND RACK PROBLEMS 2003 DODGE CARAVAN WENT OUT AT 60,000 MILES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR MAKING A TURN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE STEERING RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED TWICE BY THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR MAKING A TURN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE STEERING RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED TWICE BY THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SOUND FOR THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, AND THEN IT WOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,380. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SOUND FOR THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, AND THEN IT WOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,380. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, REAR LIGHTS THAT WERE HANGING, THE REAR WIPER CAME OFF, THE SLIDING DOOR DID NOT SHUT PROPERLY. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE WATER PUMP WAS COMING APART THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND OIL PAN GASKET WERE LEAKING. UPDATED 05/20/08. *JB
SOLUTION TO: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10218207 DETAILS: 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHINING NOISE WHEN ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. SOUNDS LIKE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUID, BUT LEVEL IS FINE. NO LEAKS ANYWHERE. MECHANIC CAN FIND NO APPARENT PROBLEM. IN WARMER WEATHER THE NOISE IS DIMINISHED, BUT STILL PRESENT. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. IT H…
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SOLUTION TO: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10218207 DETAILS: 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHINING NOISE WHEN ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. SOUNDS LIKE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUID, BUT LEVEL IS FINE. NO LEAKS ANYWHERE. MECHANIC CAN FIND NO APPARENT PROBLEM. IN WARMER WEATHER THE NOISE IS DIMINISHED, BUT STILL PRESENT. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. IT HAS 71,000 MILES. I TRIED A POWER STEERING CONDITIONER THAT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP WHINING. THE WHINING WORSENED FOR A WHILE. NEVER GOT BETTER. FROM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN IN THE FILLING TANK DESIGN FOR THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VAN. FILL WITH POWER STEERING FLUID ABOVE THE FULL MARK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FILL TUBE ON TOP BUT JUST BELOW THE FILLER CAP PLUG WHEN PUT BACK ON. THIS WILL STOP ALL NOISE FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR
2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHINING NOISE WHEN ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. SOUNDS LIKE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUID, BUT LEVEL IS FINE. NO LEAKS ANYWHERE. MECHANIC CAN FIND NO APPARENT PROBLEM. IN WARMER WEATHER THE NOISE IS DIMINISHED, BUT STILL PRESENT. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. IT HAS 71,000 MILES. I TRIED A POWER STEERING CONDITIO…
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2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHINING NOISE WHEN ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. SOUNDS LIKE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUID, BUT LEVEL IS FINE. NO LEAKS ANYWHERE. MECHANIC CAN FIND NO APPARENT PROBLEM. IN WARMER WEATHER THE NOISE IS DIMINISHED, BUT STILL PRESENT. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. IT HAS 71,000 MILES. I TRIED A POWER STEERING CONDITIONER THAT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP WHINING. THE WHINING WORSENED FOR A WHILE. NEVER GOT BETTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE NOISE BECOMES LOUDER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THE LINES ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. HOWEVER, THE DEALER FAILED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE NOISE BECOMES LOUDER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THE LINES ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. HOWEVER, THE DEALER FAILED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 51,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, A NOISE WAS HEARD AND CONTINUED FOR 20 MINUTES. THE NOISE RETURNED ON EVERY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR AND PIPING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, A NOISE WAS HEARD AND CONTINUED FOR 20 MINUTES. THE NOISE RETURNED ON EVERY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR AND PIPING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP DESIGN LOCATION AND INSTALLATION BY DODGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THE NOISE PROBLEM BUT IT WAS NEVER RECALLED. THE SYSTEM DESIGN DID NOT ALLOW POWER STEERING FLUID TO RETURN FROM THE FLUID RESERVOIR TO THE PUMP AS QUICKLY AS THE PUMP DEMAND REQUIRED. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT; A WHINING AND GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES. THE WATER PUMP, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 2/24/2006 - *NM
Official recalls
305V134000 · 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
1DP14002 · 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