FaultScore

2003 Dodge Caravan airbag problems

14 of the 252 complaints about the 2003 Dodge Caravan are about the airbag system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 64,000 miles.

F

14

Complaints

4

Crashes

0

Fires

8

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 9 64.3%
Frontal 4 28.6%
Sensor/Control Module 1 7.1%

Airbags across every Dodge Caravan year

1991 12 1.0%
1992 34 2.7%
1993 40 3.2%
1994 105 8.4%
1995 73 5.9%
1996 255 20.5%
1997 154 12.4%
1998 100 8.0%
1999 120 9.6%
2000 71 5.7%
2001 43 3.5%
2002 61 4.9%
2003 14 1.1%
2005 49 3.9%
2006 28 2.3%
2008 42 3.4%
2009 26 2.1%
2010 17 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 200,000 miles Muncie, IN

AIR BAGS

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON TOOK TO MIDDAS HAD INSPECTION $200 LATER LIGHT STILL ON NO ONE KNOWS WHY SCARED IT'S GOING TO BUST WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD NO BUMPS

NHTSA complaint #10969672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wyoming, MI 1 injured

AIR BAGS

CPSC: I1530226A. 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION NEITHER DID IT HIT ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10733128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Orlando, FL

AIR BAGS

THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG IS NONE FUNCTIONAL DO TO A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING.

NHTSA complaint #10486524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,700 miles Mount Pleasant, PA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,700. UPDATED 02/03/12*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WERE INOPERATIVE, DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. UPDATED 02/10/12

NHTSA complaint #10441317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,345 miles Lynn, MA 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE AIR BAGS IN MY VEHICLE DEPLOYED BY IT SELF WITH OUT ANY REASON.

NHTSA complaint #10250434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,380 miles Gilbert, AZ

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SOUND FOR THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, AND THEN IT WOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,380. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, REAR LIGHTS THAT WERE HANGING, THE REAR WIPER CAME OFF, THE SLIDING DOOR DID NOT SHUT PROPERLY. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE WATER PUMP WAS COMING APART THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND OIL PAN GASKET WERE LEAKING. UPDATED 05/20/08.

NHTSA complaint #10226034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Chicago, IL Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ON NOVEMBER 2, 2006 MY WIFE (7 MONTHS PREGNANT) WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER SEDAN. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. I BELIEVE THAT AIR BAGS DEPLOYMENT AND VEHICLE DESIGN MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS BROKEN ARMS/WRIST AND FOOT. IN ADDITION TO WIFE'S INJURIES, THREE OTHER PASSENGERS ALSO SUFFERED BROKEN LIMBS AND SHOULDERS.

NHTSA complaint #10192069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles Tallahassee, FL

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I SLOW DOWN THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CLOCK SPRING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I AM 1 OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10182995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 71,000 miles Elign, IL Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING HEAD ON ACCIDENT, CAR'S AIR BAG BROKE DRIVERS RIGHT ARM AND SHATTERED WRIST. OTHER THREE PASSENGERS AND DRIVERS SUFFERED BROKEN RIGHT FOOT AND SEVERAL BRUISES.

NHTSA complaint #10177130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,000 miles Slidell, LA

AIR BAGS

MY 1998 DODGE CARAVAN SUFFERED FROM THIS TWICE IN THE 5 1/2 YEARS WE DROVE IT. FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HUB OF THE STEERING WHEEL. RECALL NO. D17. MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN WITH 33000 MILES ON IT NOW HAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON JUST LIKE MY 1998 DID. IS THERE A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON THE 2003?

NHTSA complaint #10160706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 44,000 miles Asheville, NC 1 injured

AIR BAGS

APPROX. 10:30 ON SAT. AUG. 27TH, 2005 I DROVE MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN TO WAL-MART ON BLEACHERY BLVD TO GET MY SON A HAT FOR THE PARADE HE WOULD BE IN AT NOON THAT DAY. AS I PARKED MY VAN AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNED TO LOOK FOR MY PURSE ON THE BACK SEAT, I DECIDED TO GET OUT AND OPEN THE LEFT BACK SLIDING DOOR. AS I TURNED GETTING OUT OF THE VAN THE DRIVERS AIRBAG EXPLODED IN MY BACK AND PUSHED ME THE REST OF THE WAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE. MY FATHER AND SON WERE WITH ME AND MY FATHER CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPT. CAME AND MADE A REPORT BECAUSE THE AIRBAG CAUSE WHELPS AND BURNS ON MY BACK AND I LATER WENT TO THE ER AFTER MY SON FINISHED HIS EVENTS FOR THE DAY. THE FIRE DEPT. CALLED APD(POLICE)AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT... THE OFFICER (KEITH MCCULLOCH #2600) SAID THAT BECAUSE I WAS SITTING STILL AND HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING AND NOTHING HIT ME, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT NEEDED.. HE THEN GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE NHTSA AND SAID TO FILE A COMPLAINT.... SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO RESOLVE THE MATTER QUICKLY SO I CAN GET MY VEHICLE BACK. THEY HAVE DRUG THEIR FEET ON THE MATTER AND SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY MADE A DECISION IN ABOUT 10 WORKING DAYS. THE INCIDENT IS A CLEAR DEFECT AND THEY ARE TRYING MAKE IT OUT TO BE MY FAULT.

NHTSA complaint #10135783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 37,000 miles Eugene, OR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM

NHTSA complaint #10064895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,250 miles Hillsborough, NJ Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

40 TO 60 MPH REAR END CRASH BY BMW INTO STATIONARY (TRANS IN DRIVE, WAITING TO EXIT EXPRESSWAY) 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT - (ONLY DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER IN CARAVAN, BOTH WITH SEAT BELTS FASTENED) ALL SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED BACKWARD, INCLUDING MIDDLE BENCH, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE FLUNG BACK CAUSING NECK INJURIES. IF A CHILD HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE MIDDLE BENCH SEAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN CRUSHED. IN ADDITION THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR DETACHED COMPLETELY (ELECTRICAL WIRES TORN OUT FROM VISOR LIGHT) AND FLEW INTO THE DRIVERS FACE. THE CARAVAN AFTER BEING HIT WAS PUSHED INTO THE NEXT CAR IN FRONT OF IT. NEITHER THE DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10048839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,435 miles Brownstown, MI 2 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING A RENTAL 2003 DODGE CARAVAN FROM ALAMO WITH 6,435 MILES ON IT. I WAS IN A PARKING LOT MOVING AT APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH WHEN BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10030820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Dodge Caravan problems

← Full 2003 Dodge Caravan report