2003 DODGE CARAVAN Complaints

WE EXPERIENCED A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT OF A BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42 (21565R16 98T) ON OUR 2003 DODGE CARAVAN (ONLY 20,800MI) WHEN I DROVE TO THE HOME. WHEN I CHECK OTHER TIRES. I FOUND A SAME PROBLEM ON ANOTHER TIRE --- FEW CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL. *TR

2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED DUE TO SOME TYPE OF FAILURE WITH THE TURN SIGNALS. WHEN THE LEFT DIRECTIONAL WAS USED TO SIGNAL A LANE CHANGE THE RIGHT DIRECTIONAL TURNS ON INSTEAD. THE CAR THAT WAS BEHIND ME THOUGHT I WAS CHANGING LANES TO THE RIGHT WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY GOING LEFT. I NATURALLY HEARD THE CLICKING OF MY DIRECTIONAL BEFORE MOVING NEVER THINKING THIS COULD HAPPEN. I NEED TO HAVE THIS CHECKED AS IT HAPPENS AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES PER DAY. *TR

I TURNED ON MY VAN, STARTED DOWN THE STREET, LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHAT SPEED I WAS GOING AND SAW THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T WORKING. THE NEEDLE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PIN AS IF WE WERE GOING 160 MPH AND DOES NOT BUDGE. WHEN THE VAN WAS TURNED OFF, IT DID NOT RETURN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PIN. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM FOR US IN THE PAST. MY VAN IS A 2003 AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE ON A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. *TR

SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPING. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL YEAR MODELS OF CARAVAN AND HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM TO BE CONSTANT WITH ALL. DURING RAIN OR OTHER WATER ON THE ROAD CONDITION, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS ENOUGH TO INTERFERE WITH VEHICLE OPERATIONS UNTIL THE WATER IS DISPLACED FROM THE BELT. IF A DRIVER IS NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION OR IS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THE TIME, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, OR LOSE OF ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE AXLES. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE STUDIED AND REMEDIED TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCES. IF THE FIX CAN BE RETROFITTED TO PREVIOUS YEARS, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PROVIDE THE REPAIRS AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THIS CONDITION BEGAN WITH THE PURCHASE DATE THROUGH TODAY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CONTAINED TO ONE ENGINE SIZE. *TR

2003 DODGE CARAVAN THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT HAD LITTLE PROBLEMS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF UNTIL NOW, NOW THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN A SHOP AND UNUSABLE FOR ABOUT 8 WEEKS. THE HORRIBLE NOISE IT MADE WHEN STARTING IT, THE GEAR SHIFT MOVING ON OCCASION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR UNTIL A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL BUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS WERE OCCASIONAL BUT NOW I HAVE NO VEHICLE IT IS SITTING IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND I HAVE NO VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR BORROWING AND RENTING TO GET CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, AND MY CHILDREN WITH ECZEMA AND ALLERGIES TO DOCTORS AND IF THEY NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. I AM DEVASTATED AND DESPERATE HOW DO I AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE I AM GETTING TAPPED OUT. I ALSO HAVE NO ESTIMATED DATE OR PRICE FOR REPAIR. *TR

MY 2003, 6 CYL, 3.3L, DODGE CARAVAN, LOSES IT'S POWER STEERING WHEN IT RAINS AND YOU HIT EVEN A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER. THE WATER SHIELD IS IN PLACE. THE DODGE DEALER SAYS IT IS COMMON TO ALL THE CARAVANS AND THERE IS NO FIX. I CALLED MAIN DODGE HQ WHICH CONFIRMED THIS. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. *TR

PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE, LOCK WILL NO LONGER LOCK USING REMOTE OR DRIVER DOOR LOCK SWITCH, ALSO AUTO LOCK AT 20MPH NO LONGER AUTO LOCKS, THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD AND THEFT HAZARD. DID NOT KNOW THAT ALL DOORS WERE NOT LOCKING ITEMS COULD BE EASILY STOLEN. *TR

THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE ON MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN GETS AN ELECTRICAL SPIKE FREQUENTLY AND SPINS COMPLETELY AROUND CLOCKWISE UNTIL IT GETS STUCK ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE STOP PIN. IT BECOMES FROZEN THERE UNTIL I TAKE TO THE DODGE DEALER FOR A RESET WITH SOME KIND OF INSTRUMENT. THE SERVICE DEPART AT THE HUNTSVILLE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS PROBABLY CAUSE BY "STATIC ELECTRICITY" OR AN ABNORMAL ELECTRICAL SURGE. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. THEY CHARGED THE FIRST TIME FOR RESET BUT NOT THE SECOND TIME. *TR

TL*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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN HOT WEATHER, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATE 09/18/08. *JB