Four problems related to sway bar have been reported for the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan based on all problems reported for the 2005 Grand Caravan.
I have an sxt version of this minivan. While replacing the disc pads I found that the parking brake cable on the rear driver side is worn almost in two. I checked several of my neighbors vehicles and found only the sxt versions with the rear sway bar seem to be affected. The se version did not have a rear sway bar. The parking brake cable is routed between the fuel tank and the sway bar and it rubs on the sway bar with any movement of the vehicle. This will cause two problems; 1) the parking brake will fail or only be applied to one side. If the vehicle is raised on the passenger side and the parking brake has failed and the wheels are not blocked, the vehicle could roll off of the jack. 2) the severed part of the parking brake cable could damage the wheel brake line and cause it to rupture resulting in total loss of all brakes.
Sway bar links and bushings went out and the car is only 52,000 miles old. I have heard this is a common problem. The dealer told me it wasn't dangerous but it sure feels that way. They told me it isn't covered under my service warranty and I would have to pay over $400 even though I have a service contract. I see lots of people on the internet that have this problem and it has even been reported to you several times. Why don't you have a recall.
Reference to case with sway bar bushing problem ref. Number 10173990 . I had the same problem with my 2005 Grand Caravan with 25000 miles on it. I took it to the dealer and they repaired it no problem at no cost. Then on 23 Nov 2006 my van just died. Battery was dead. Would not jump start at all. Towing service could not jump start it either and said something major was wrong. They towed to dealer in shreveport on flat bed where they said the battery was bad. But the good news they said it was all covered under warranty. And they also told me everything from front bumper to rear bumper is 100 percent covered under the warranty for the first 3 years/36,000 miles. So I don't understand why the dealers are so inconsistent is warranty repairs. It states in the manual what is and is not covered and to sum that up anything that shows any sign if hitting a hazard in the road is not covered. Maybe we should start a class action here.
Bought my 2005 Grand Caravan in July 2006 with 39,000 miles on it. At 41,000 had the sway bar bushings replaced, covered by dealership warranty. This is the third caravan that I have owned since 2001 and every one has had the same problem.