2003 Dodge Caravan: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Apr 17, 2017 · Electrical, Fuel system · 242,000 miles · TN · fire

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.

Filed Sep 13, 2013 · Engine · 180,000 miles · NY · fire

I was driving my car when all of a sudden it started to chock like it was getting no gas I decided to turn around to go home because I live in a rural area with no cell service when I stopped to turn around a man that was behind me came running over to get me out of the car because he said it was on fire under the back drivers side I didn't even know it was on fire if is was not for him I could have been severely injured or even died the car burned up and exploded with in two minutes of me getting out. The car was fine when I started it that morning and the day before I drove it about 100 miles with no problems. I don't know how this can be a cat should just not go on fire like that. The car had to be junked because there was nothing left of it. I contacted dodge and they said there was nothing they could do for me because the car was totaled. I had no fire on this car because of its age so now I am out a car that was in very good condition and I could have had it for many more years. Dodge will not even look into this matter I hope that this doesn't happen to someone else because they might not be as lucky as me to get out uninjured. Can you please look into this for me I am very upset with this and am worried that someone is going to get hurt something is not right with this car and now I have no car and can't afford to buy one now and I live 14 from the nearest store.

Filed Sep 11, 2008 · Brakes, Electrical · 50,000 miles · LA

2003 dodge caravan thought it was great had little problems that I never thought much of until now, now that my vehicle has been in a shop and unusable for about 8 weeks. The horrible noise it made when starting it, the gear shift moving on occasion and the brake pedal going all the way to the floor until a slight burning smell but all these problems were occasional but now I have no vehicle it is sitting in the dealership for repair and I have no vehicle except for borrowing and renting to get children to school, and my children with eczema and allergies to doctors and if they need to go to the hospital. I am devastated and desperate how do I afford a new vehicle because I am getting tapped out. I also have no estimated date or price for repair.

Filed Oct 6, 2005 · Engine · VA · fire

The vehicle was driven approximately 5 miles to where my wife and I were to drop off our daughter at a friends house. Upon arriving at my friends house, my son and 3 other passengers remained in the vehicle and due to the weather, the car remained running with the AC on. When we entered our friends house, we observed smoke and flames coming from the vehicle. We immediate ran to the vehicle to get our son and the other passengers out. We attempted to extinguish the flames and placed a 911 call to the local fire department.

Filed Oct 4, 2005 · Engine · 17,000 miles · NJ · fire

Heading off to the mall one evening, I dropped off my wife and my son, keeping my other son and his friend with me. As I pulled away, I heard a loud pop and smelled and saw smoke. When I got out of the car, I could see melting plastic and what appeared to be small fire balls dropping to the ground under the hood. I turned the engine off and got the kids out of the car . Called 911 and by the time they got there flames were 10-15 feet in the air. There was a re-call on this car about a steering hose I believe that I had done. Other than that I have never had any other problems with this car. It was only 2 years old and had only 17,000 miles on it. The car has been totaled.

Filed May 19, 2005 · Steering · 29,000 miles · IN · fire

Consumer stated the vehicle caught fire. Fire started from the engine. The insurance company stated it was a power steering hose that ruptured.