Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2003 Dodge Caravan. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗POWER LIFTGATE CONTROL MODULE
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE THE STRIKER ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING.
- Consequence
- IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN UNBELTED PASSENGER COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER LIFTGATE CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 26, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER/POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE UPPER POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
SOUTHERN COMFORT/RUNNING BOARDS
- Summary
- 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. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.
- Consequence
- THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (195)
195 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The steering is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 195 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 41 | 21% |
| Service brakes | 34 | 17.4% |
| Electrical system | 29 | 14.9% |
| Power train | 22 | 11.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 8.7% |
| Air bags | 14 | 7.2% |
| Fuel system | 11 | 5.6% |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 5.1% |
| Suspension | 8 | 4.1% |
| Tires | 8 | 4.1% |
How 2003 compares with other Caravan years
Best and worst Caravan years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 555 | 5 |
| 2000 | 470 | 4 |
| 2001 | 257 | 3 |
| 2002 | 245 | 4 |
| 2003 | 195 | 3 |
| 2004 | 65 | 1 |
| 2005 | 537 | 4 |
| 2006 | 173 | 2 |
| 2007 | 81 | 0 |
| 2008 | 302 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2003 Caravan for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2003 Dodge Caravan FAQ
How many recalls does the 2003 Dodge Caravan have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 05V134000 (latch), 04V386000 (steering), 03V094000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2003 Dodge Caravan problems?
Owners filed 195 complaints with NHTSA. Steering (41), Service brakes (34), Electrical system (29) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 2003 Caravan compare with other years?
Among the 1999–2008 Dodge Caravan model years at least five years old, the 2004 drew the fewest complaints (65) and the 1999 the most (555). The 2003 drew 195. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.