Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING PIN WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 367,000.
TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE DAMAGES WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.
I PURCHASED MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT 2003 BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT IN NOV. 2002. I KEPT IT IN MINT CONDITION WITH ALL MAINTENANCE LOGS FILLED OUT. AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT THERE WERE ONLY 95,000 MILES ON THE VAN. IT HAD NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK BEFORE. ON JAN 18 2015 WHILE DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS I HIT BLACK ICE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT FLIPPED FRONT TO BACK, DID A 180 MID AIR, LANDED ON WHEELS THEN ROLLED AT LEAST ONCE TO THE LEFT, LANDING ON THE WHEELS AGAIN. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY PASSENGER AND I BOTH HAD OUR SEATBELTS ON HOWEVER I STILL LIFTED UP AND HIT MY HEAD ON THE ROOF AND THE WINDSHIELD. WE ARE STILL ASSESSING OUR INJURIES. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED AS TO HOW I LIFTED OUT OF MY SEAT, BASICALLY THE SEATBELT DID NOT TIGHTEN TO ME. ALSO WHY DIDN'T THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY? HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL CONCERNING THE AIRBAGS OR SEAT BELTS OR OTHER THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TESTED AND REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SUCCESSFULLY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE HORN WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ACTIVATE. THE MECHANIC DISABLED THE HORN AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
DRIVING TO MEET MY HUSBAND. I WAS ON A HIGHWAY I GOT UP TO 60 MPH. MY VAN STARTED LOSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AT FIRST ONLY A LITTLE BUMP (DING) THEN AS I CONTINUE DRIVING I LOST THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY AND THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND SPRAYED WIPER FLUID AND ALL LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN I GOT THE PANEL BACK IT WOULD LEAVE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON. IT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE REST OF THE ENGINE. I HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPEN BEFORE AND IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY. I WENT AND HAD BOTH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED THEY ARE FINE. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT HAD HAPPENED AT LEAST EVERY 2 WEEKS FOR 6 MONTHS WITH NO ANSWERS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT COMPLETELY LOST THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BUT NOT THE FIRST TIME IT WOULD LOSE 5 MPH OR SO ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NOTHING TO THE ENGINE. I AM GOING CRAZY THINKING MY CAR IS POSSESSED! WENT TO A NON DEALERSHIP REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT WAS NOT DOING IT RIGHT NOW THEY CAN'T TELL ANYTHING. *TR
MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HORN STOPPED WORKING WAS TOLD BY DEALER IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRINGS BUT ITS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON STARTUP, REMAINS ON, THEN TURNS OFF. WILL COME BACK ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THEN CYCLE ON-OFF DURING NORMAL DRIVING. LIGHT REMAINS ON MORE THAN OFF DURING DRIVING. THIS LOOKS LIKE CLOCKSPRING RECALL THAT EFFECTED 98-99 CARAVANS, BUT NO RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE?? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
PROBLEM BEGAN WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING LEFT AND STEERING COLUMN NOISE OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME. CURRENTLY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED, WITH PERIODIC STEERING COLUMN NOISE. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT RESULTED IN A CLOCKSPRING RECALL ON MINIVANS AGED 1998-2000. CALLED DEALER AND WAS QUOTED $250-300 TO REPAIR. SEEMS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE STILL AND SHOULD BE COVERED AT NO CHARGE. HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED COMPLAINT TO DAIMLER/CHRYSLER AS WELL. *TR
2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, 90K MIS. AIRBAG LIGHT ON, INTERMITTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION. PROBABLE CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. *LN
2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO MY WIFE. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DOES NOT COME ON ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN IT DOES, IT STAYS ON FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND REMAINS ON. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. I AM SURE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS THE SAME CLOCKSPRING PROBLEM THAT MY 99 CARAVAN DID,THOUGHT THIS PROBLEM WAS REDESIGNED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AIRBAG INDICATOR STAYED ON FOR COUPLE OF MINUTES AND GOES OFF. AFTER FEW MINUTES IT COMES BACK ON. THE CYCLE KEEPS REPEATING AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. BECAUSE THE AIR BAG IS REQUIRED FOR SAFETY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS OPEN CLOCK SPRING AND REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING. BASED ON RECALL HISTORY OF DODGE GRAND CARAVANS RELATED TO AIRBAG INDICATOR, I FELT THAT THE PROBEM STILL EXISTS WITH AIRBAG INDICATOR IN 2003 DODGE GRANDCARAVAN SPORT VEHICLE. *AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A COW. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS PRIOR BRAKING AND THE IMPACT WAS ON THE GRILL. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP.
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD TURNS ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE AIRBAG, A SENSOR, OR THE WARNING LIGHT ITSELF. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 11/2002 AND HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD THE AIRBAG REPLACED OR WORKED ON.
WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE MORNING FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *SC
I HAD THE CLOCKSPRING IN MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN REPLACED (AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED) SOMEWHERE AROUND 40,000 MILES. THE CLOCKSPRING CAUSED MY STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP WHEN TURNING A CORNER. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE CLOCKSPRING ALONG WITH A RELATED AIRBAG COMPONENT THEY SAID WAS ALSO NEEDED. THIS REPAIR WORK WAS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP IN JULY OF 2004. ON SEPTEMBER 29TH,2004 I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A WOMAN WHO RAN A RED LIGHT. I WAS IN MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH MY 4 CHILDREN (14,10,6,AND 5). THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FRONTAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND MY CAR WENT THROUGH A CHAIN LINK FENCE FOLLOWING THE IMPACT. MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN WERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT AND I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY THIS AIRBAG (THAT I JUST HAD REPLACED) DID NOT GO OFF DURING THE IMPACT.
WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SENT OUT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD ANYTHING AS OF YET.*AK
THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON CONTINUOUS, THE HORN IS NOT WORKING, THE CRUISE CONTROL ISN'T WORKING, AND DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW MAKES A SQUEALING NOISE. I CALLED AN AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED A DODGE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PART. *AK
CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILURE - AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ON. *NLM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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