2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Electrical Problems

THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS THAT ARE VERY SERIOUS. FIRST, IN 2017 AS I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE, I DROVE THROUGH A PUDDLE. AS I ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT ONTO THE ROAD, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND IT WAS ONLY WITH EXTREME FORCE AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES THAT I KEPT FROM RUNNING THROUGH THE GUARDRAIL, AND DROPPING DOWN TO THE INTERSTATE BELOW. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND STOPPED ON THE OVERPASS UNTIL MY STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. YES, MY ENGINEER HUSBAND KEEPS UP WITH ALL OF OUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING THE BELTS. NEXT, WITH AN UNUSUALLY HEAVY RAIN THIS PAST WEEK, MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PARKING FOR AN HOUR, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN WHEN I ATTEMPTED GO AGAIN. I RESTARTED THE CAR FIVE TIMES BEFORE THE STEERING UNLOCKED. ALL WEEK, DURING THAT HEAVY RAIN, THE STEERING LOCKED REGULARLY. THESE PROBLEMS ARE ALL OVER THE WEB. WOMEN AND CHILDREN EVERYWHERE ARE IN DANGER OF DYING FROM SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? IF YOU ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, THEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BEING SUED ALONG WITH CHRYSLER, FOR ALLOWING THIS TO CONTINUE UNCORRECTED.

NHTSA ID

11152335

Incident

Nov 12, 2018

Mileage

238,958 mi

TAKATA RECALL, MY CAN HAS HAD SOME SERIOUS SAFETY ELECTRICAL ISSUES FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.I'VE HAD MANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. WITH THIS CAN ONE THING AFTER THE NEXT. I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY THE PROBLEM BUT SOMETHING THE POWER CONTROL MODUAL OR WIRING HARNESS IS NOT OK. THE RADIATOR FANS DIDN'T WORK AS WELL AS THE POWER CONTROLS WINDOWS,HEAT,AC,RADIO, AND THE WIPERS ECT.THERE IS SPARKING COMING FROM THE CAR. WIRES HAD STARTED TO CATCH FIRE. AS WELL AS THE CAR OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID

10861411

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10659037

Incident

Nov 18, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10633291

Incident

Aug 28, 2014

Mileage

111,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON ROAD TOTALLY CUT OUT, WOULD NOT RE START, AFTER SOME 20 MINUTES RESTARTED, DECIDED TO DRIVE ON THRUWAY BACK TO MECHANIC, WOULD RUN FOR A SHORT TIME THEN CUT OUT AGAIN. GIVEN TO CHRYSLER DODGE DEALER, UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM, COULD NOT FIX.. REPLACED ECM MODULE REPLACE OEM MODULE NO BETTER. OWN MECHANIC REPLACED A WIRE, AT LEAST IT RUN BUT NOW CUTS OUT IN CAR WASH, PUDDLES, SLUSH. CHRYSLER STILL HAVE NO IDEA, EXCEPT THAT THEY HAVE SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO IGNITION KEY WORKS ONLY WHEN TAPPED WITH A HAMMER AND TURN, APPARENTLY THIS IS ALSO A COMMON FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567126

Incident

Dec 12, 2012

Mileage

101,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10538617

Incident

Sep 3, 2013

Mileage

159,955 mi

I HAVE HAD SO MANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN! I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2008 W/ 68K MILES. AT THAT TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ($2000), AUTO WINDOW REGULATOR, AC BLOWER, TIRES, ALTERNATOR BELT, WATER PUMP, ETC.THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SOME TIME NOW AND MECHANIC SAYS MISFIRING SPARK PLUGS. WHEN SERVICED FOR PROBLEM(@ 170K MILES) DISCOVERED ORIGINAL FACTORY SP STILL IN. HORRIBLE CORROSION/BUILD UP, HAD 2 FUEL SYSTEM FLUSHES. LIGHT ON AGAIN. NEWEST & MOST DANGEROUS PROBLEMS,ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS NOW, VAN HAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING, IDLING, AND PARKED. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. MORE FREQUENTLY WHILE AT LOWER SPEEDS OR PARKED BUT ONCE WHILE I WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING. WHEN IT CUTS OFF THE OIL LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE CAR TURNS RIGHT BACK ON. 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING 25-50MPH HAS GONE INTO CRUISE CONTROL BY ITSELF, AND I LOOSE CONTROL UNTIL IT DECIDES TO GIVE IT BACK! TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME, AFTER PARKING AND TURNING CAR OFF MYSELF, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. IGNITION NOT RESPONDING, NO NOISE, NOTHING. TRIED TO JUMP IT AND NOTHING, NOTICES THAT LIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS NOT EFFECTED. FORTUNATELY AN OBSERVER ALSO HAPPENED TO BE A MECHANIC, HE TOOK OUT THE STARTER FUSE AND STUCK SOME WIRES IN THE SOCKET AND HAD ME TURN THE KEY, IT STARTED!!! HE SAID THAT IT SEEMS THERE IS AN IGNITION COMMUNICATION PROBLEM, A.K.A. COMPUTER PROBLEM. I HAVE 4 KIDS THAT ARE ALWAYS WITH ME AND THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS DEPENDENT ON THE COMPUTER TO FUNCTION, THEN I HAVE ZERO ROOM FOR COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS. I HAVE REVIEWED ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE SIMILAR IF NOT IDENTICAL TO MINE. I WONDER HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE TO BE FILED BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? *TR

NHTSA ID

10475044

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

Mileage

165,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY GOING 75MPH AND EVERYTHING DIED. NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES! LUCKILY WE WERE IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND WERE ABLE TO BARLEY ABLE TO MAKE IT OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING HIT OR HITTING ANYONE. IN 110 DEGREE WEATHER, WE SAT WITH OUR 4 SMALL CHILDREN WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. AND THEN FOR SOMEONE TO PICK US UP. WE DON'T' EVEN KNOW HOW THE TOW TRUCK WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE WITHOUT GETTING HIT, IT WAS THAT CLOSE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOTHING STARTED AND AFTER 3 SHOPS, FINALLY FOUND IT WAS THE COMPUTER, TOOK THE PART OUT AND ITS MESSED UP AND WE WERE TOLD NOT ONLY BY ALL 3 SHOPS, BUT BY ALL THE PARTS PLACES THAT ITS COMMON IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE! MY KIDS NOT ONLY ARE AFRAID TO GET IN THE CAR, BUT I HAVE HAD TO START TAKING SOMETHING FOR ANXIETY, I AM SO AFRAID TO DRIVE ANY CAR NOW, AFRAID OF THAT HAPPENING AGAIN. IT WAS TERRIFYING GOING THAT SPEED AND LOSING ALL POWER AND CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471660

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

Mileage

119,282 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING. IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN A FEW MINUTES LATER, AND HAS CONTINUED TO TURN ON AND OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HIGH BEAMS WORK OK. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH TWO DIFFERENT BULBS. WHEN THE IGNITION IS OFF, I CAN TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE LEFT LIGHT HAS A SLIGHT DELAY TURNING ON. WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION ON, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. I CANNOT FIND ANY RELAYS OR FUSES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. TWO MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM, AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE WEB, BUT I CAN'T FIND ANY SOLUTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445700

Incident

Nov 17, 2011

Mileage

123,000 mi

2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT, THE HEAD LIGHTS AND DASH WILL DIM FOR A QUICK SECOND. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ITS COLD OUT SIDE AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWN SHIFTING WHEN BRAKING. I HAVE HAD THE BATTER AND ALTERNATOR TEST AND RECEIVED PASSING RESULTS. ONCE THE ENGINE AND TRANNY IS WARMED UP THERE IS NOT PROBLEM. HAVE DONE A INTERNET SEARCH THAT REVEALED SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS ON THE 02 MODELS BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING ON GETTING IT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10377980

Incident

Jan 7, 2011

Mileage

79,850 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10363673

Incident

Oct 16, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL AND HESITATE WHEN DRIVING 25 MPH AND UP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY BEFORE THE FAILURE WOULD REPEAT ITSELF. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS HAD SHORTENED AND BURNED OUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 12/21/10*BF THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMIATED AS WELL. UPDATED 12/29/10

NHTSA ID

10355268

Incident

Aug 31, 2010

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLES EXTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM FAILED WHICH ALSO DECREASED THE VISIBILITY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AT NIGHT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON, WHEN THE CONTACT TRIED TO TURN ON THE LOW BEAMS. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL CAME ON INSTEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL UNIT HIMSELF, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS OIL IN THE ELECTRICAL UNIT. THE CONTACT RETAINED THE ELECTRICAL UNIT FOR EXAMINATION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY AFTER THE ELECTRICAL UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.

NHTSA ID

10316786

Incident

Mar 14, 2007

Mileage

79,000 mi

ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT THAT CONTROLS THE HEATER SMELLS OF BURNING AND WHEN HEAT IS TURNED ON SMOKE BLOWS OUT THE HEAT VENTS, ALSO CAUSING THE HEAT TO GO OUT. WHEN THE WIRES WERE CHECKED THEY WERE ALL MELTED FROM BURNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297085

Incident

Dec 13, 2009

Mileage

133,435 mi

NIGHT DRIVING, HEAD LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS JUST GO OUT, COME BACK ON AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292463

Incident

Nov 16, 2009

Mileage

79,000 mi

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE. DOOR LOCKS AND SLIDING DOOR PROBLEMS, AUTOMATIC REAR DOOR QUITE OPENING, TIRE SYSTEM RECALIBRATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT THE BIGGEST SAFETY PROBLEM IS THE BLINKERS QUITE WORKING OR EVEN WORSE, IF YOU PUT THE RIGHT BLINKER ON, THE LEFT SIGNAL STARTS BLINKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10285592

Incident

Sep 28, 2009

Mileage

53,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10253015

Incident

Dec 8, 2008

Mileage

92,000 mi

OCT 17 2007 MY VAN STARTED ACTING LIKE THIS. THE VAN WILL NOT START BUT EVERYTHING WORKED THAT NEEDING THE BATTERY. WHEN DROVE FOR 2SEC THE VAN JUST LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT START. I CHECKED THE BATTERY, FUSES, AND RELAYS. I HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY CAN NOT FINED OUT. THEY WAS THINKING THE COMPUTER AND KEYS NEED TO REDONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10207084

Incident

Oct 17, 2007

ALL OF MY VEHICLE LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY FLICKER. A VERY NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE INTENSITY OF THE HEADLIGHTS, MARKER LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT LIGHTS OCCURS WHENEVER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10185668

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

71,000 mi

POWER CABLE FOR RADIATOR FAN WAS RUBBING AGAINST AC TUBING. CABLE WORE THROUGH CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT, FAILURE OF RADIATOR COOLING FAN RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF ENGINE. WIRE CABLE BUNDLE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND REROUTED TO PREVENT FUTURE VIBRATION EROSION OF CABLE BUNDLE.*JB

NHTSA ID

10175833

Incident

Dec 9, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF ON MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH 68,000 MILES. THIS ORIGINALLY HAPPENED ON VACATION WITH MY FAMILY OF 5 IN THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY IN TENNESSEE. WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OFF I REACHED FORWARD TO TOUCH THE SWITCH AND THEY CAME BACK ON. 3 WEEKS WENT BY WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT. NOW ALMOST DAILY THE LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND COME BACK ON WHEN I TOUCH THE SWITCH. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. *NM

NHTSA ID

10175412

Incident

Oct 3, 2006

Mileage

66,000 mi

MY PASSENGER AND DRIVER POWER WINDOWS STOP WORKING, SOMETIMES FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY WILL NOT TURN FROM IT'S LOCKED POSITION (STEERING WHEEL IS "NOT" LOCKED) *JB

NHTSA ID

10174265

Incident

Oct 1, 2006

ALL POWER ACCESSORIES INCLUDING PW, PL, LIGHTER, RADIO, AND ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS, SHUT-OFF AND USUALLY AFTER A MINUTE TURN BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE JERKS INTO GEAR AT LOW SPEEDS AND SLAMS INTO GEAR AT HIGH SPEEDS, TAKING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE FROM 100K TO 60K IN A MILLISECOND. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170646

Incident

Jul 27, 2006

Mileage

55,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FINALLY THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE BLACK BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 25 MPH, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL WHEN PLACED IN PARK. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS LATER TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID

10165407

Incident

Aug 14, 2006

Mileage

49,000 mi

OWN A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT . CAR WAS TOWED TO DODGE DEALER ON FRIDAY JULY 20,2006 , DUE TO ROUGH ENGINE IDLING. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A PCM , WOULD TAKE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY TO HAVE TO PART SHIPPED IN ( I LIVE IN THE CHICAGO AREA ). ON THURSDAY DODGE CALLED TO SAY THAT THE ROCKER ARM IN THE # 5 PISTON NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THIS WOULD TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME. THE ROCKER ARM WAS REPLACED AND AGAIN DODGE CALLED TO ADVISE ME THAT NOW THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND THEY WOULD NEED TO TRACE TO LOCATE THE SHORT. CAR WAS FINALLY RETURNED TO ME ON AUGUST 9,2006 . MY WIFE USED IT TO GO TO THE STORE , SHE CALLED ME AND SAID THE CAR HAD DIED WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT .THIS WAS JUST 4 HOURS AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP FROM THE DEALER. CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED TO DODGE DEALER. TOTAL TIME DODGE HAS HAD MY CAR IS NOW 21 DAYS AND COUNTING . I'VE HAD TO RENT 3 DIFFERENT CARS DURING THIS TIME ALL ON MY OWN EXPENSE . *JB

NHTSA ID

10165146

Incident

Jul 20, 2006