2003 Dodge Caravan Review: A Very Good Used Minivan, but Matched by its Competitors for Reliability, and Outclassed for Convenience

The 2003 Dodge Caravan may be an excellent value if you can get a good deal on one. But 2003 was a great year for minivans, and you’ve got plenty of other options to choose from like the Honda Odyssey and the Chrysler Town & Country.

Is the 2003 Dodge Caravan a Good Used Vehicle?

• Overall Rating 7/10 – The Caravan is one of those “pretty good” vehicles that might not be your dream car, you don’t want to pass it up if you can get a good deal on one.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 9/10 – A living room on wheels with durable suspension and enough space in the back to carry a smart car.
• Reliability 8/10 – It’s impressive for so many of these to still be running after twenty years of commuting families on long road trips.
• Safety 6/10 – Crash test ratings are mediocre and onboard tech is basic and outdated. A minivan is still safer than a compact, but by minivan standards the Caravan is underwhelming.
• Gas Mileage 6/10 – At 17-21 miles to the gallon in the city and 23-27 on the highway, it’s not bad for a twenty year old minivan, but it’s still a twenty year old minivan.
• Value 7/10 – This number would be a little higher if the 2003 Honda Odyssey wasn’t the clear winner for best value.

What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Dodge Caravan?

Consumer Reports found the Caravan to be pleasant to drive and they liked the whisper-quiet road noise. Limited interior flexibility and some cheap materials cost the minivan some points in the final review.

Kelley Blue Book users appreciate how low maintenance and spacious the Caravan is. While there are no outright negative driver reviews on file, there are a few comments regarding broken cupholders and power door locks, backing up CR’s opinion on cheap-feeling build quality in some areas.

Edmunds found the Caravan to be surprisingly agile, and they loved the low price point. Like CR and the reviewers at KBB, they weren’t so enthused about some of the cheap interior materials.

What Common Problems Does the 2003 Dodge Caravan Have?

The 2003 Dodge Caravan has just 195 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is pretty good for a twenty year old family vehicle. The biggest cause for concern is in the steering, with 41 complaints in total and several reports of power steering failure.

The transmission has held up surprisingly well over the years, with just 22 complaints on file for the powertrain. Issues here range from slipped serpentine belts to hard shifting. Some of the more recent complaints come down to simple wear and tear, while no single issue has occurred frequently enough to generate a recall.

Early in the vehicle’s life there was an issue with the front brakes either locking up or failing to engage entirely. The most recent incident date was reported in late October, 2010. You probably won’t have to deal with this problem, but check the brakes on your test drive because it’s potentially pretty severe.

The Dodge Caravan’s reputation isn’t the best, with many drivers quick to call it a lemon. But, with just 9 recalls on file, the data suggests that it’s gotten a bad rap. The truth is that minivans are mostly going to be used as daily drivers for large families. That puts a lot of wear and tear on a vehicle, and you can’t really blame the automaker for that.

How Long Will the 2003 Dodge Caravan Last?

Data from RepairPal tells us that older Caravans will cost $430, on average, to keep running, and you can expect that price to go up the older the vehicle. The most expensive common repair is going to be a replacement for the heater core, starting at $1,234.

Most sources will tell you that a 2003 Caravan can last up to 300,000 with excellent maintenance. Now… there’s a good chance that the previous owner was a busy parent who maybe skipped an oil change now and then. So expect to get around 200,000 to 250,000 miles out of your Caravan, and if you top that, hey, bonus.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology is adequate for 2003. Higher trim levels have the full setup with AM/FM radio and a tape and CD player. Backseat DVD players are available in some models.

Safety features are, likewise, adequate for 2003. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are about as high-tech as it gets here.

Is the 2003 Dodge Caravan a Good Value?

A 2003 Dodge Caravan is a very good value if you can find one in great shape. An entry level SE Caravan starts at around $2,179. A top-of-the-line ES can go up to $4,800 in the Blue Book. Those are fair prices, but the purchase can be a bit of a gamble.

Some minivan drivers run their vehicles ragged, and there’s always the risk of buying something that will barely make it home. The best advice is to go with a licensed dealer. If you’re shopping around for a good deal with a private seller, make sure you get an excellent price on it.

What are the Different Models of the 2003 Dodge Caravan?

There are six trim levels available for the 2003 Dodge Caravan from the Base to the high-end EX and ES.

The bare bones Base model features:

• Manual air conditioning
• Cloth bucket seats
• FM/AM radio with tape player and two speakers

With the entry-level SE you add:

• CD player with disc changer and four speakers
• Front seat cargo net

The next level up is the EL, adding:

• Universal garage door opener
• Speed control
• Power windows in the front with one-touch down for the driver
• Six speakers

The Sport trim includes:

• Power door locks
• Remote keyless entry
• Dual zone or tri-zone air conditioning
• Optional fog lamps

The second-best EX adds:

• Standard tri-zone air conditioning
• Power liftgate

The top-of-the-line ES adds:

• Eight way power driver seat
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Automatic headlights
• Heated power mirrors
• Optional touring suspension

What Engines Come In the 2003 Dodge Caravan?

• The base engine for the 2003 Caravan is a 16 valve 2.4L DOHC delivering 150 horsepower and 167 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission and configured in front wheel drive. This engine comes standard in the entry-level SE.
• In the Base, EL, and Sport model you’ll find a 3.3L OHV V6 delivering 180 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of troque. Again, this is paired with a 4-speed automatic and configured in front wheel drive.
• The EX and ES models come equipped with a 3.8L V6 delivering 245 lb.-ft. of torque and 215 horsepower. This is paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, and it can be configured in front wheel or all wheel drive.

What Colors Does the 2003 Dodge Caravan Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2003 Dodge Caravan?

The 2003 Caravan is famously comfortable. It’s hard to find a single complaint regarding the interior or the ride. The seats are cushy, the interior is roomy, and you can comfortably seat up to seven average-sized adults.

It’s been twenty years since this minivan was released, but there are few issues with the suspension in most models. The touring suspension in the ES is especially nice, but the fully independent front suspension in the entry-level SE has held up well, too.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Dodge Caravan Have?

Fold the seats down and you’ve got up to 155 cubic feet of cargo space in the 2003 Dodge Caravan. The payload capacity goes up to 1,538 so you’ll want to know how much weight you’re carrying as you might have more room in the back than the suspension can handle if you pack the minivan floor to ceiling.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2003 Dodge Caravan was the third iteration of the 4th Generation for the nameplate, launching for the 2001 model year and retiring with the 2007 edition.

2001: The Dodge Caravan was wholly redesigned for 2001 with the biggest change arguably being the power tailgate, an industry-first.

2002: Dodge introduced the backseat DVD player as an option in the 2002 edition, and they added adjustable pedals and tire-pressure monitoring.

2003: The biggest change for 2003 was an optional power sunroof.

2004: 2004 saw a handful of minor changes like the addition of 17″ Titan Chrome wheels and a new key fob.

2005: There were no major changes for the 2005 Caravan, although the Grand Caravan got a new grille this year.

2006: No big changes for 2006, either.

2007: Once more, no big changes. The standard Caravan nameplate was retired after the 2007 edition, being sold as the Dodge Minivan in 2008.

How Does the 2003 Dodge Caravan Compare to the Competition?

The nearest competition to the 2003 Caravan may be the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country, which sells in roughly the same price range and shows similar numbers for complaints and recalls with the NHTSA, but the T&C offers basic features like power windows even at the Base level, and that might be a tiebreaker.

Another strong competitor is the 2003 Honda Odyssey, which, just like the T&C, shows comparable performance and reliability and sells for around the same price, and, like the T&C, features basic conveniences like power windows in the lower trim levels, where that costs extra in the Caravan.

There’s a lot to love about a 2003 Caravan, but it’s not the only 2003 minivan likely to reach 300,000 miles. Unless you can get a lucky deal on a Dodge, the 2003 Odyssey might be the overall best minivan in this price range.

Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Dodge Caravan?