Steering Problems of Dodge Caravan - part 2

When I put the key in the ignition switch sometimes it will not turn allowing me to start the car. When I called the Dodge dealer they said that this is a common problem. They told me to insert the key pull it towards me then insert a flat head screw driver in the key and tap 2 to 3 times then turn the key. I works like that each time but the symtoms match those described in tv ads prompting danger of having the engine shut down when unsuspecting and causing accidents. What can be done? john aki. Duval.

See all problems of the 2003 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

While driving at 50mph the traction light came on and the van became unresponsive to the accelerator. While the van began to slow the power steering stopped working making it hard to maneuver off the road, good thing I was on a rural road. This is extremely dangerous!!!.

See all problems of the 2010 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

As I was driving, my car would just die and everything would shut down and lock up. I thought I had run out of gas. It would start back up. It started doing this alot. I was on highway with a car behind me and a semi truck going 65-70 an hour and my van shut down and everything locked up. Very scary because I barely made it to the side of the road without being hit. Very close to being a serious three car wreck. Took van it and they said it was the key and extension switch piece. Cost me $610. 66. I did not have any more problem with it until about 3 months ago and it started doing it again( turning off while I was driving) I took it in again and they said it was the key again. They told me to take key ring off of my key and not have anything on it. Try that and see if that works. If not I would have to replace it again. Tried it and it worked but still shuts down every once in a while. Can not afford to have it replaced again for $610. 66. Obviously there is a defect with this key in my Dodge carivan since it has been replace and doing it again. I feel that there needs to be a recall with Dodge carivans and if so I need to be refunded my money. My aunt sent me an article out of the star business section on recalls and it mentioned Dodge carivans being looked into. Well, I am one that has experienced this and am still experiencing this after key and system have been replaced!!.

See all problems of the 2009 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

While driving down on ramp at chamberlayne Ave in richmond, va to major highway i64 cutoff completely, no power, no brakes no nothing! second time, travel @ approx. 65 mph on i64 near bottoms bridge exit on i64, car cut off, no power, no brakes, no nothing! third time - entering i64 towards va beach, va in traffic approx. 40 mph, car cut off, no power, no brakes, no nothing; fourth time - while driving down Mercury blvd at the king st exit ramp, 20 mph, car cut off, no power, no brakes, no nothing! fifth time, leaving work at 2114 executive dr, hpt va, approx. 10mph entering into street, car cut off, no power, no brakes, no nothing, after being evaluated for 8 hrs by Dodge dealership; sixth time, when leaving Mercury blvd at king st exit ramp, 20 mph, car cut off, no power, no brakes, no nothing after computer was reset!.

See all problems of the 2008 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

After refueling the engine cut off and lost all power in the van while turning into a parking lot. This happens consistantly after refueling. The van will begin to shake then cut off completely. I am able to restart it again and gain full power. Resently, it cuts off after refueling and in the rain.

See all problems of the 2006 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

This vehicle has a chronic design problem with throwing its sepentine belt whenever the tension pulley gets wet. Soon as the belt is thrown there is no power steering, and it steers 10 times worse than a mack truck. The lack of steering is a definite safety hazard to every other vehicle on the road. As it happens suddenly by driving through a water puddle, etc. There is virtually no time to react. In addition to lack of steering there is no alternator output, resulting in rapid battery drain. Also there is no coolant system fan resulting in rapid engine overheating. This design fault has been known for well over a decade, no make that 2 decades, but Chrysler has never acknowledged a problem. The problem dates back to all Chrysler Mini-van designs from the early 1990s to at least 2000. If the lack of steering is not a safety related defect I don't know what is. We have a used wheelchair conversion Caravan van to transport my wife. This latest incident was the past Saturday night as we left a restaurant to return home. It had been raining profusely and suddenly I had no steering. I knew immediately what the problem was since this is the 3rd occurence in the past 6 months. Do you expect your vehicle to become inoperable just because you drive in the rain? why has not Chrysler been made to acknowledge this problem and issue a repair recall? I don't care if the van is over a decade old. This defect is one which endangers everyone else on the road and which Chrysler should have been required to address well over a decade ago.

See all problems of the 1996 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

While driving engine shut down and I did not know it until I realized I did not have power steering or brakes, while car still rolling I restarted vehicle. I received letter notifying me on a recall regarding this problem. I brought car in for repair. July 19 I brought my car in for oil change and told dealer that after recall repair my key gets stuck in ignition and cant turn car off unless I put vehicle in drive again and restart car and again try to shut off. Dealer said they needed to check the recall and possibly replace again. They said they would inspect win module and reposition for more key support. August 15, 2012 vehicle stalled again while driving. This is getting dangerous since I have 3 toddlers in car with me at all times - the reason for purchasing a Mini van. Dealer states they know I have been there several times for same concern but found no stored or active codes. They stated it may have to do with needing a software update and updated to latest level. Oct 22,2012 brought vehicle in again for 4th time with vehicle stalling while driving. Dealer decided they would keep my vehicle and gave me a loaner to drive home. The stated they needed to duplicate in order to fix. After driving 237 miles (warranty over in 6k miles) and contacting Chrysler on how to handle problem, they re-installed the safety recall again. The dealer keeps doing the same recall over and over with no resolution to this very scary stalling problem. Now Dec, my key again did not come out of ignition unless I restarted vehicle. Don't know where to turn for further assistance with ganley Dodge.

While driving, the engine just suddenly died, stopped working leaving a 1. 7 ton vehicle with no steering or brakes, it was a miracle I rolled to a stop and did not caused an accident it happened a few more times, this vehicle is a ticking time bomb, we need to file a class action lawsuit against Dodge-Chrysler, records show this happened to a lot of people quite a few times.

The problem is autonomous acceleration. When my car is moving slowly at idle speed while I'm pulling into or out of a parking space or my home garage and I apply pressure to the steering wheel to guide the car, the engine rpm speed surges by about 400 rpms causing the car to suddenly accelerate forward or backward, depending on the gear selection. This has caused a number of near accidents, including nearly striking children at an elementary school when I was picking up my granddaughter. I reported the problem to the local Dodge dealer, but the dealer found no problem after checking the car. Yet, the problem persisted intermittently, but I learned to "live with it. " however, the autonomous acceleration is now suddenly growing more frequent. My fear is that this autonomous acceleration problem is a precursor to someday my having a runaway car that results in serious injury or death.

See all problems of the 2012 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

Direction asiste( power steering).

See all problems of the 2007 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

On the way home from a nice vacation (until this happened)with son and grandkids we were getting back onto the highway (thank god it happen before entering highway the right front axle fell apart caused a fire as well. There was no warning at all. A lady that saw this happened was blowing horn to make us stop. I saw the smoke we pulled over got the kids out called 911. A man from the hotel grabbed fire extinguisher and put the fire out. Van had to be towed. It cost me 400. 00 for the repair and had to stay in a hotel for 2 more nights. My son had to get a rental car to drive home to get back to work. The garage said he's never saw this happen. I read this has happened on a 2006 Dodge Caravan as well. Is this a common problem with the Dodge 06 and 07 Caravans? has there been any recalls about this or are they waiting until someone gets killed!!!!!!!!! thank god we were not yet back on the highway.

Purchased used 2000 Caravan w/90,000 miles. Warranty expired in 2003 and because of mileage. Problem: belt slips off when it rains, causing power steering to not work, mechanic say's it can destroy engine if you continue to drive w/belt off. Had belt put back on 5 times. Won't drive when it's wet out, plan to purchase this "kit" needed in order to stop belt slipping off. Kit is est. $600, pllus labor cost. I keep wondering what did prior owner do for this problem.

See all problems of the 2000 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

Serpentine belt slips off in the rain causing a loss in power steering, ac (for window defogging), power (no alternator when headlights are on during rain). When it slipped off, the ability to correct for loss of traction due to water was reduced due to lack of power steering and the windshield fogged up quickly due to the loss of the ac compressor. Slid of the interstate and slid down the median. Multiple other instances of belt slipping off (4 times in past 3 days), though at lower rates of speed. Dodge denies there is an issue even though there are many reports on the internet relating to this problem. It is also interesting that they now sell a upgrade kit that changes out the two non-grooved pulleys for grooved ones and add a belt with grooves on both sides. They said that they would only fix this problem when enough people reported the problem.

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Caravan. The contact stated that whenever it rained and the contact made an attempt to turn the steering wheel, the vehicle would resist and it became stuck on the highway. The warning lights also illuminated on the instrument panel. A local mechanic was unable to diagnose the failure. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 69,000. The VIN was unavailable.

When it is raining or road is wet there is a tendency to loose control of the steering for a moment , one time steering become very stiff cannot turn right /left , 2nd time while driving at 40 mph and it was raining could not control the direction of the vehicle heading for 10 - 20 seconds, third time repaeted what happen 2nd time on sat 29 Nov 2011.

My first gas tank fill after purchasing the used vehicle resulted with constant stalling for the next 1/2 mile. This has been going on for the last 4 years. I do not overfill the tank. The vehicle now stalls about 80% of the time after I fill the tank. After about 6/10 th of a mile ,the problem corrects itself. One time I come very close to having an accident when after leaving the gas station I was going down a hill and had to make a right turn at an intersection, the vehicle stalled out & I had to put the gear selector in neutral to try to restart the vehicle while it was moving & making a right turn at the same time ! I am now forced to park the car for a few minutes after fill up before I can safely take it back on the roadway. This is an ongoing problem for the 2004 -2007 Chrysler & Dodge minivans. I have viewed many complaints on line about the same issue. Does someone have to give up their life before a recall is issued? there is a defective valve in the gas tanks & the tanks have to be replaced !.

See all problems of the 2004 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

The contact owns a 1997 Dodge grand Caravan. While driving approximately 10 mph in rainy weather conditions, the steering wheel locked and would not steer to the left or right and then it the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated that the serpentine belt came off. The belt was put replaced and the contact was informed this was a known failure for his year, make and model vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 150,000.

See all problems of the 1997 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

On my 2005 Dodge Caravan the steering slips when I start the car ~ this happens whenever the car is left in the rain. The steering catches after a minute and then is fine. This has been happening for a couple of years. I have taken it to firestone and they could find nothing wrong.

See all problems of the 2005 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge grand Caravan. The driver of the vehicle was a quadriplegic who had a wheelchair installed in the vehicle by manufacturers named independent driving vehicle. Braun, another manufacturer helped to produce vehicle equipment that would allow the driver to sit in a wheelchair while driving. The vehicle crashed after hitting a curb and driving over an entrapment. As a result, the driver (the quadriplegic) was killed. A police report was filed. A witness to the crash stated that the vehicle was heading toward a three-way intersection and instead of going either left or right, the vehicle drove straight ahead. The cause of the crash had not been determined and the vehicle had not been inspected at the time of the complaint. The current and failure mileages were approximately 50,000.

1996 Dodge Caravan - ridiculous. . . . Almost every puddle makes belt slip off and power steering becomes dangerous. This is the 14th time since I have owned the car. Should have a recall on all of these vans or a reimbursement plan for this or better yet. . . . A free final fix!!!!!!.

Car was making a whining noise when running. It became higher pitched when turning, sometimes a grinding noise.

Backed out of garage on cold morning and couldn't turn steering wheel (especially to the left) until several minutes of idling and forcing to extreme right and then to left, several times, problem is getting worse and even after driving several miles, it has hung up on left turns requiring a slight right turn and janking to left in cold temperatures.

See all problems of the 2002 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

My 2003, 6 cyl, 3. 3l, Dodge Caravan, loses it's power steering when it rains and you hit even a small puddle of water. The water shield is in place. The Dodge dealer says it is common to all the Caravans and there is no fix. I called main Dodge hq which confirmed this. This is incredibly dangerous.

Not 100% but probably 40% - 60% of the time I refuel - especially a full tank - the car will tend to hesitate and stall within the first 90 seconds of getting back on the road. Seems like it has not done it a lot lately but I just had some work done by the local Dodge dealer including new wires and plugs. When I left the dealership it ran fine. I put in probably 3/4 tank of gas in it and it began hesitating and stalling worse than it had in some time. The weather was also quite a bit cooler than it had been in 6 months. I also read an article in USA today about this issue which I have been experiencing since 2007 when I purchased the car used. I have had the dealer look at it in the past and the could identify nothing specific. Figured I would register the complaint since I heard others were having the same issue.

No accident.

See all problems of the 1998 Dodge Caravan 🔎.

The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Caravan. While driving 35 mph, the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. The vehicle also began to jerk back and forth. The contact also noticed that the dial for the outside temperature gauge was extremely high. The contact pulled the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed that the passenger side wheel was on fire. He was able to extinguish the fire without injuries. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and has not been diagnosed. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 73,000.

Power steerig become noisy after being drivena few miles at higher speeds.

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Caravan. While driving 5-30 mph, the steering wheel makes a popping, kicking, and creeking sound. The contact scheduled an appointment to have the vehicle inspected. The current and failure mileages were 30,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Caravan. While driving over a bump or making a turn at any speed, the contact could hear a thumping noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. The dealer informed him that the steering rods needed to be replaced. The vehicle has been diagnosed twice by the dealer for the same failure. The current mileage was 51,000 and failure mileage was 48,000.

2000 Dodge Caravan - belt keeps coming off during rain/snow -- this effects the power steering making the van very hard to steer --- we hate driving it when it's doing to rain/snow -- this is supposed to be a family van ---- make Dodge fix it --- so far they don't have a solution to the problem but installing new belts/tensioner --- which every 2-3 weeks is expensive along with tows --- please help!.

For 2002 Dodge Caravan: many Dodge Caravans 2002 - 2004 have been recalled for odi defective power steering power assist hose, piping and connection. This is recall # d37. Why is my vehicle not included in this recall? my van is having this exact problem. This is a fire hazard. I want my car recalled and fixed, please.

I have had 2 recalls taken care of however the steering in my 2002 Caravan still continues to lock up when making turns. This has caused me to almost have more than one collision because this can happen when pulling out in traffic and turning. I am a busy mother with four children who depend on me for their safety. Today my son who is in college borrowed my van to go to school and almost had an accident. This is why I am doing research on this problem. If you force the steering it will finally break away and continue to steer however you do not know when to expect it to be defective. I thought when I took care of the recalls that this would fix the problem however, we still have to battle with this problem on a regular basis. Most of the time it happens when the weather turns colder. I have not been informed of any new recalls on my vehicle. We keep a regular check on the fluids so I know this is not the problem. I would appreciate something being resolved before one of my children or myself end up deceased.

Steering rack and rack problems 2003 Dodge Caravan went out at 60,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2007 Dodge Caravan. While driving 5 mph, the vehicle steered to the right at any speed. The dealer could not duplicate the failure. They attempted to adjust the front end and re-aligned the vehicle, but nothing worked. The dealer even changed the front two tires, but the failure continued. The failure has been occurring since the day the vehicle was purchased. The failure mileage was 16,000 and current mileage was 29,000. Updated 03/14/08.

Steering wheel becomes so tight and cant even move when ever the outside temperatures fall below 50degrees. It takes at least 15 min to become normal. Fuel levels are normal in my van.

See all problems of the 2001 Dodge Caravan 🔎.