13 of the 252 complaints about the 2003 Dodge Caravan are about the fuel system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 94,010 miles.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER REFUELING ENGINE DIES WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. HAPPENED LAST THREE TIMES AFTER REFUELING.
NHTSA complaint #11065549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL WIRING HARNESS IS TO CLOSE TO EXHAUST CAUSED MELTING OF WIRES WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL IN THE CABIN OF CARAVAN. IT HAPPENED APPROX. A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AT APPROX 45MPH AND A STRONG ODOR OF GAS WAS NOTICEABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL COMING UP DRIVE WAY. WE STILL HAVE THE CARAVAN BUT HAVE PARKED IT. WE BELIEVE WHEN THE MELTING OCCURRED IT CAUSED OTHER POSSIBLE ISSUES AND ARE SCARED TO HAVE IT FIXED, NOT KNOWING WHAT OTHER ISSUES THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED THAT WE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL WE ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, IT'S NOT A RISK I'M WILLING TO TAKE...ESPECIALLY WITH GAS BEING FLAMMABLE AND SHORTENING OF FUEL ELECTRICAL WIRES. THAT'S A FIRE IN THE MAKING, IT'S NOT WORTH RISKING OUR LIVES OR ANYONE ELSE'S ON ROAD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON REVIEW PAGES AND MECHANICS BLOGS/POSTS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUING ISSUE THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. I HAVE SEEN THAT OTHER YEAR MODELS WERE RECALLED DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE BUT NOT THE 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER? IT COULD BE A SIMPLE FIX BY MOVING WIRES AWAY FROM EXHAUST BUT YOU ARE UNAWARE THAT, IT'S A ISSUE, UNTIL IT HAPPENS. BECAUSE IT NOT A VISIBLE HARNESS THAT YOU CAN SEE JUST BY RAISING HOOD.IT'S ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE PROBLEMS THAT YOU REALLY GET TO LOOKING AND THAT'S WHEN YOU SEE IT MELTED AND BURNED WITH STRONG ODOR COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD WHEN WE CHECKED IT. ALSO CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS HOT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A CONSUMER EXPENSE WHEN IT HAPPENS. DUE TO WIRES TO CLOSE TO EXHAUST IT SEEMS TO BE A ISSUE FOR DODGE, SINCE THIS IS DUE TO THEIR FAULT AND NOT THE CONSUMER, DODGE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR COST WHEN FUEL HARNESS WIRES MELTS AND ANY FURTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE WIRES SHORTENING OUT . THIS IS A DANGEROUS/SERIOUS ISSUE THAT I HOPE CAN BE ADDRESSED SOON...BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST.
NHTSA complaint #10978732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED, AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,968 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,974. UPDATED 9/13/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FUEL INJECTION HARNESS WHICH WERE BARE AND HITTING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. ALSO, THE O2 SENSOR AND AC COMPRESSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/31/11
NHTSA complaint #10419835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ADDING FUEL TO THE VEHICLE, GASOLINE WOULD SPILL OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CONTROL VALVE FOR THE EVAP HAD FAILED AND WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. I THINK WE HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM, WE MOVED THE VENT LINE OVER ABOUT 2", DRILLED A HOLE IN GAS TANK THEN GLUED THE VENT LINE IN HOLE. SORRY TO HAVE BOTHERED YOU! TW UPDATED 10/12/2011 *LN
NHTSA complaint #10413824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN HOT WEATHER, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATE 09/18/08.
NHTSA complaint #10234777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WE OWN 2 DODGE CARAVAN'S A 2001 GRAND THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH FOR 6 MONTHS. WE KEPT GETTING A EVAP LEAK WARNING LIGHT. FINALLY THEY DID A SMOKE TEST AND THE WHOLE TOP OF THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE JUST GOT THAT FIXED AND MY HUSBANDS 2003 CARAVAN NOW HAS THE SAME WARNING LIGHT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A COINCIDENCE. DODGE IS NO HELP . FIRST TIME I CALLED THEY SAID WE WILL HELP YOU. NOW THEY SAY ITS NOT OUR PROBLEM. COME ON 2 VANS IN THE SAME HOUSE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10215647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER WAS FILLING UP THE GAS TANK AT A GAS STATION AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT RECALL NOTICE 02V274000 FUEL TANK CONTROL VALVE WELD WAS ISSUED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THIS DISCUSSION WAS HELD WITH VEHICLE SAFETY HOT LINE OPERATOR.
NHTSA complaint #10109361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S MANUAL AND THE TIRE MANUAL HAVE SPECIAL CUSTOM SHOWING A TREAD PATTERN WITH SOLID RUBBER ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE. AS A RESULT, WATER WAS UNABLE TO ESCAPE WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO HYDRO PLANE OR SPIN EASILY WHEN DRIVING ON WET SURFACES. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE FUEL WAS LESS PER GALLON THAN ANTICIPATED IN THE MANUALS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10053564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PROBLEMS WITH FUEL MILEAGE ON 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SE.*MR THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE FUEL MILEAGE WAS 13 MPG CITY DRIVING AND 20 MPG HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADVERTISED THE MPG AS 19 FOR CITY DRIVING AND 26 FOR THE HIGHWAY. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10050230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHILE FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK, THE VALVE JOINT SEPARATED FROM GAS TANK, CAUSING GASOLINE TO POUR OUT. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT THE FUEL TANK BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10048511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 2002. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF FUEL ECONOMY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. I AM NOT GETTING CLOSE TO WHAT IS LISTED AT 19-25 MPG. DEALER HAS BEEN TOLD OF THIS SEVERAL TIMES. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10037585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 DODGE CARAVAN IS A PIECE OF GARBAGE! MY NEW CARAVAN HAD A RECALL FOR A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT IS NOISY, RUFF RUNNING, AND IT DOES NOT GET 21-27 MILES PER GALLON AS ADVERTISED!! 12 MILES PER GALLON IS MORE REALISTIC. BE WARNED! THIS VAN IS TERRIBLE. LOOK AT OTHER VANS DO NOT BUY OR LEASE THIS VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF CHRYSLER AND MAROONE DODGE AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. GO ELSEWHERE! THEY ARE NOT 5 STAR THEY SUCK! *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10018425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THEIR WAS A SMALL ROCK ON ROAD CONSUMER AVOID THE WITH TIRE CAUSING ROCK TO TRAVEL UNDER VEHICLE. CONSUMER NOTICE A LOUD NOISE FLOWING FUEL SMELL. CONSUMER PULL VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICE FUEL SPRAYING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8023330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.