2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 238,000.

NHTSA ID

11191715

Incident

May 20, 2018

Mileage

238,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD SLEES LIMIT WAS 45 I WAS DOING 50 MD A DEER CAME OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT IT HEAD ON THW WHOLE FRONT ENDS OF MY CAR IS AT MY WINDSHIELD. IT WAS A VERY HARD IMPACT THAT BROUGHT ME TO A COMPLETE STOP M Y AIR BAGS DIS NOT DEPLOY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE WITH A IMPACT LIKE THAT

NHTSA ID

10750245

Incident

Aug 20, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

UPON REFUELING THE VEHICLE, VEHICLE STALLS FOR A FEW SECONDS UPON FIRST ACCELERATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES (ABOUT 1 OUT OF EVERY 4 REFUELS). SEVERAL TIMES, THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. UPON DOING RESEARCH, WE HAVE LEARNED OF MANY COMPLAINTS ALREADY VOICED ABOUT A FAULTY VALVE. FOR REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.AUTOBLOG.COM/2014/09/10/DODGE-GRAND-CARAVAN-CHRYSLER-TOWN-AND-COUNTRY-STALLING-NHTSA/ HTTP://EN.ALLEXPERTS.COM/Q/CHRYSLER-REPAIR-807/F/STALLING-REFUELING.HTM HTTP://RICKSFREEAUTOREPAIRADVICE.COM/ENGINE-STALLS-AFTER-FILLING-TANK-CHRYSLER-MINIVAN/. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694300

Incident

Jun 5, 2013

Mileage

175,000 mi

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AROUND 2 YEARS NOW AND IT OCCURS WHEN THE VAN IS NEAR EMPTY AND I FILL IT WITH GAS. WHEN I START TO DRIVE AWAY AND PULL ONTO THE STREET, THE ENGINE CHUGS AND JERKS AND ACTS LIKE IT WILL COMPLETELY STOP. THERE IS NO POWER TO ACCELERATE, AND IT IS A TERRIFYING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH WILL LIKELY RESULT IN ACCIDENT. IF I LET OFF THE GAS AND GO SLOW, IT EVENTUALLY STOPS CHUGGING AND JERKING. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT WHEN IT DOES, IT IS A FRIGHTENING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. UNLESS A SOLUTION IS FOUND, I EXPECT THAT IT WILL RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632400

Incident

Aug 15, 2012

Mileage

149,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID

10593492

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

7,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568677

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

63,000 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

TUBES CARRYING COOLANT TO THE REAR HEATER RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK OUT OF THE SYSTEM. REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY. HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER CARAVAN OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE. SOME WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HAVE READ ON NUMEROUS FORUMS 1) ABOUT THIS SAME FAILURE ON MULTIPLE MODEL YEARS (1999 - 2005) 2) HOW THE BRACKET MATERIAL IS DIFFERENT THAN THE TUBE, THEREBY CAUSING GALVANIC CORROSION 3) HOW CHRYSLER HAS SINCE CHANGED THE MATERIAL OF THE TUBES TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF GALVANIC CORROSION. THE REPAIR (TUBE REPLACEMENT) IS RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE, BUT POTENTIALLY MORE SO IF THERE IS COMPLETE DRAINAGE OF COOLANT, CAUSING ENGINE/TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10441797

Incident

Sep 23, 2006

Mileage

48,280 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL THE CONTACT ADDED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED AND WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE SPEED CIRCUIT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10433926

Incident

Oct 10, 2011

Mileage

98,000 mi

WIFE WENT TO START CAR IN MORNING. LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SHE LEFT VEHICLE. SHE SMELLED BURNT PLASTIC SMELL. I CHECKED LATER AND SAW EXPLODED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND HOSE ON TOP OF ENGINE. OBVIOUS EXPLOSION IN ENGINE INTAKE AREA WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO BLOW MANIFOLD INTO PIECES. CAR IS AT DEALER. THEY ARE WAITING FOR NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD TO REPAIR VEHICLE. UNCONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL HARM TO DRIVER/PASSENGERS OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS POTENTIAL FOR FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VEHICLE AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263218

Incident

Mar 25, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. DURING ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE JUMPS. THE FAILURE SUBSIDES AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. DURING THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF DURING ACCELERATION. DURING THE THIRD FAILURE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE JUMPING STILL OCCURRED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WARMED UP. THE FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,863.

NHTSA ID

10232538

Incident

Mar 26, 2008

Mileage

70,000 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

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

MY 2003 NEW DODGE CARAVAN HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED X3, AIR CONDITIONER REPLACED X1 THEN REPAIRED AGAIN X 2, REPLACED STARTER, WHEEL BEARING, TIE ROD & CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THESE MAJOR PROBLEMS STARTED WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 30, 000 MILES AND IS ONLY AT 60, 000 MILES. THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER CORPORATION WILL REPLACE OR REFUND THIS CAR STATED IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER LEMON LAW. MULTIPLE TIME LOST FROM TAKING IN THIS CAR TO BE FIXED ALONG WITH EXTRA MONEY SPENT TO GET RENTALS WHILE THIS CAR WAS IN THE SHOP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162707

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

Mileage

30,000 mi

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE STEERING, AND THEN HAVING THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED, THE WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS, I DON'T FEEL THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER ARE LISTENING TO MY CONCERNS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND A LEMON LAW ATTORNEY, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT CHRYSLER HAS IT'S OWN MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION. I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS FAIR, SINCE IN THE LAST 7 MONTHS, MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE 15 DAYS.

NHTSA ID

10069027

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

8,000 mi

VEHICLE STALLED, SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE IN GEAR AT STOP LIGHT. IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY START UP, BUT WOULD STALL AT THE NEXT LIGHT. ALSO, STALLED ONCE WHILE IN "PARK". DEALERSHIP RETRIEVED VEHICLE AND CLAIMED IT WAS THE CRANK SENSOR AND REPLACED IT. THE SAME EVENING, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVER A HUNDRED MILES OUT OF TOWN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, BUT IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN, SEVERAL TIMES, AND RESTARTED. HOWEVER, IT DID FINALLY STALL AND WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CLOSEST DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026007

Incident

Jul 11, 2003

Mileage

6,300 mi

CONSUMER STATES SERPENTINE BELT MAKES ONGOING NOISE. DEALER HAD REPLACED A COUPLE OF TIMES THE SERPENTINE BELT; BUT, PROBLEM STILL RECURRING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026673

Incident

Jul 7, 2003