The Lemon IndexAll cars · Dodge Grand Caravan
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan.
The 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan is worse than average by owner complaints: 238 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 123, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 9 recalls, and it gets 17 to 21 mpg combined. The best Dodge Grand Caravan year is 2020.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 414 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Dodge Grand Caravan year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 18K to 75K miles on the car (305 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 26K–65K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 46K–118K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 4K–46K miles
Recalls 9
- equipment 2010
CURT MFG IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS 3 RECEIVER HITCHES, P/N 13347, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON 1997-2007 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS, 1996-2007 DODGE CARAVANS, AND 1996-2004 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER VANS.
- lights 2008
EAGLE EYES IS RECALLING 11,534 HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS.
- lights 2008
MAXZONE IS RECALLING 2,520 HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 3341103L-AS AND 334-1103R-AS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR 2001-2007 DODGE CARAVAN PASSENGER VEHICLES.
Show all 9 recalls
- brakes 2006
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES.
- latches/locks/linkages 2005
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE THE STRIKER ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING.
- steering 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.
- fuel system, gasoline 2003
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, MODELS WIX FILTER PART NUMBERS 33576, 33577, 33734; NAPA FILTER PART NUMBERS 3576, 3577, 3734; AND CARQUEST FILTER PART NUMBERS 86576, 86577, 86734 USED ON 1996-2000 DAIMLERC…
- equipment 2003
AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 17, 2002, AND JANUARY 20, 2003, SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES LISTED ABOVE.
- body structure 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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Dodge told dealers about
Dodge sent dealers 71 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Power steering fluid cooler hoses may split and cause a loss of power assist - customer…
- Delayed or temporary loss of transmission engagement after initial start up on various models…
- Transmission harsh 4-3 downshift on various models including the 2004 pacifica, sebring,…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedEngine stall after refueling2014–2015
- ClosedPower liftgate latch2004–2005
- ClosedPower liftgate latch2004
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3050–3800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl, 3.8L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
When driving any speed steering wheel jerked and made a squeaking noise. Dealership informed the consumer that the problem perrtained to power steering pump failure. The problem was not resolved.
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan owner · NHTSA complaint 10097849
More owner reports
When braking at any speed consumer would have to pump the brakes to decelerate the vehicle. Dealership repaired vehicle 5 times, but the the same problems recurred.
NHTSA complaint 10106928
Very loud noise when steering my vehicle, when backing up.
NHTSA complaint 10145799
Quick answers
Is the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 123; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Dodge Grand Caravan year by this measure is 2020.
What are the most common 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (18%), steering (18%) and transmission & drivetrain (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
9 safety recalls (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan get?
17 to 21 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 18,800 and 75,200 miles. The middle report was at 44,000 miles, from 305 complaints.
Does the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 15% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan cost in fuel a year?
About $3050 to $3800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 3.3L 6-cyl, 3.8L 6-cyl.
What Dodge Grand Caravan year is better than the 2003?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2020, 2015 and 2019.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works