Hydraulic Power Assist Steering System Problems of Dodge Grand Caravan - part 1

I had the power steering upper hose recall done back in may of 2005. Before then I was not having any trouble with noise. Since the recall work was done I am having ongoing noise from my power steering. I have taken it back asking about the noise. I was told that the engineers knew about the noise and were working on it. Last week, March 27, 2008, I took it in to have something done. I was told that the problem can't be fixed however, if I was willing to have it flushed for about $150. 00 that this might help with no sure guarantee that it would improve. I think the tech might have not properly followed the procedure to fixed the recall which has resulted in the contamination of the power steering fluid. This has caused me this problem.

See all problems of the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

In February 2007 noted high pitched noise - particularly at idle. Sometimes when turning. Felt like it was coming from the steering wheel. Took it into the dealer and they replaced the power steering pump. Warranty expired in August and noted the same noise in September. Took van back into the dealer and they replaced the steering gear. Parts and labor nearly $600. I feel the reason the pump failed the first time was overwork due to the gears and it should have been replaced while under warranty. Service department recommended I contact Chrysler warranty. I am still investigating how to reduce/eliminate the charges.

See all problems of the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

Vehicle power steering makes loud resonating hum when turning. Dealership cannot find the location of the noise. Rack & pinion and power steering pump have both been replaced, and the noise still persists.

See all problems of the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

Groaning in power steering, dealership fitted ps cooler and extra length of hose - did not fix problem.

This is an abbreviated copy of the second letter I have sent to Dodge the first letter was sent in sept, 2006. The power steering goes out intermittently when it rains. Unable to control vehicle. Feb 20, 2007 Dodge customer assist ctr power steering failure due to rain 2005 Dodge caravan VIN: 2d4gp44l55r201365 this is the 2nd attempt to get Dodge or Chrysler to care about the vehicle built that has a power steering flaw. It is apparent from your lack of correspondence or communication that your company does not care about its customerã‚??s safety. Upon your advice, I have taken the van to a different service center, autoway in clearwater, FL. The service advisor told me that there was nothing they could do until Chrysler comes up with a fix for the problem. As I have stated in previous correspondence, my wife drives the above mentioned vehicle 99% of the time. She loves the convenience, performance and most of the time the handling of the van. However, when it rains, which is often in florida, the power steering ceases to function without warning as she is driving. This is a major safety issue. My wife is unable to control the vehicle without power steering and it is just a matter of time before a major accident occurs. We have brought the vehicle into tarpon Dodge four times for the same problem within the last nine months. The last time, Jan 2007, I was told each time that there was nothing to do except avoid the rain. Not acceptable. I was also told that the service manager was going to get with Chrysler to determine a solution. To date no phone calls. I previously called tarpon Dodge ser. & spoke to a mr. Littlejohn. He told me that he has seen several caravans with the same power steering problem. He told me that they were trying to get some answers from Chrysler. My wife on Feb 13, 2007 was taking her father to lunch when a major rain storm occurred. The power steering went out 6 different times as she was trying to get home.

Whenever the temperature is 40 degrees or colder the power steering system in my 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan admits a loud high pitch whining sound, the steering wheel can be very hard to turn until the engine is warmed up, and also a shudder is felt thru the steering wheel. This problem has occurred every year since we have owned the car, occurring when the weather cools off. We take it into the dealer every year. For the past 2 years the solution has been to flush the system and tighten the hoses. This year the solution is suppose to be a power steering fluid cooler, which the car is now out of warranty, will cost $220. 00. I refuse to pay for this work has the problem has occurred every year, and only now is there a redesign for the system that never worked properly in the first place. When I contacted Dodge corporate office for resolution on this matter, I was last told to take the car to the dealer. But the cooperate agent could not tell me what the dealer was going to do or at what cost. Basically I am getting the round around for what is a safety problem that will cause an accident.

2003 Dodge Grand Caravan. High pitched whining sound while turning steering wheel. Comes and goes. Fluid level is fine. Fluid color and smell is fine,no air bubbles in fluid. Seems to be the worst after driving highway speeds then driving in town. Sometimes goes away after shutting vehicle off for a few minutes. Dealer recommends a flush. Bought vehicle used at 29000 miles. Problem seemed to start shortly after. A $80 flush isn't going to fix the problem after reading about the same problem others are having. Seems like some sort of restriction on the intake side of the system.

2005 Dodge caravan that when it rains the power steering goes out making the vehicle almost impossible to control. I have taken it to two different dealers, tarpon Dodge and clearwater autoway Dodge to have them figure out a repair. Both dealership said they could not do anything until chyrsler came up with a fix. The service manager from tarpon Dodge told me not to drive in the rain and avoid puddles if I did drive in the rain and to slow down. I then sent letters to chyrsler customer care requesting a fix or replacement vehicle without penalty from the lease company. Customer care said that there was nothing they could do. Drive slower and avoid puddles. I live in florida, when it rains, it rains. All of our street turn into giant puddles and if I were to drive much slower, I would be going backwards. The power steering going out is frightening and dangerous. It comes back then you are over reacting to compensate for no steering. At one point I could not negotiate a turn after already moving into it and then the steering came back on and I nearly went through a fence and field. I have an illness that reduces my strength and makes handling this van without power steering even for 30 seconds almost impossible. This has been going on now for over a year. Four times in the shop after a rain storm and the power steering has gone out.

Power steering reservoir filter clogs causing power steering failure. It is more severe in cold weather. Have had van in dealer multiple times and they observed the problem. Dealer and manufacturer agree there is a severe problem, but because they cannot identify the "exact component" causing the problem, they will not fix. Daimler Chrysler refuses to fix under warranty or not. If this were isolated issue, I would ignore. But there are hundreds of cases posted online with same issue. Result is low speed and high speed steering failure.

See all problems of the 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

Power steering was making a whining noise about a year after we got it, I took it into the dealer and they could not find a problem. After 4 visits back to the dealer they replaced the power steering rack 6 months later the noise is back. I know of 3 other people that have the same Mini van and they all have experienced the same problem.

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed, and the steering wheel became hard to turn when the contact drove over a puddle of water. The failure was recurring over a period of nine years. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who replaced the serpentine belt and idler pulley however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.

I own a 2001 Grand Caravan sport. At 35,000 miles I brought it to a dealer for the 30,000 mile check and to service a grinding noise in the ac unit and a shudder when turning at slow speeds. They fixed the ac and shudder by truing the rotors and new pads, however they also said there was a bulletin out on the steering pump and the unit was on back order. . . Would call when it came in. . . Yeah right. After an attempt on my part 3 months later to locate this pump, I gave up trying and continued driving. At 54,000 miles, I againg brought in my car because the ac compressor failed due to another bulletin on the pcm unit. I inquired about fixing the old problem with the pump and they admitted they made a mistake by not ordering the pump or contacting me but they would not honor the repair becaues it was now out of warranty and they would have to pay for it. . . Even though it was under warranty when I brought it in and they admit to their mistake!!! never again for Dodge. . . In fact, we are selling it to buy a Honda.

See all problems of the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

Power steering failed.

See all problems of the 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

My 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan steering system. The steering system makes a rubbing noise, binding, vibration, wandering and play in steering. I took it to stockton Dodge in California. At first they promised to call me back when a recalled part came back but no call was made. The last time they told me Dodge was investigating this and there is no known solution at this time. This is not acceptavble and has a very high chance of causing an accident. If they can't fix a clear problem which lowers the car's value, is dangerous and uncurable, they have a duty to refund the money paid under the lemon law.

The power steering is making a sporadic whining noise only in the first few miles of driving when the vehicle is cold. Trying to work with local dealer to replace the pump, however, since it doesn't happen all the time they can't "fix it if they don't hear it" I didn't consider this a safety concern until recently. It's happening so often now that I fear the power steering will fail.

Power steering system is making extreme amounts of noise. There is a high probability of premature failure causing loss of vehicle control if it happens during a cornering maneuver. Dealer(s) acknowledge this is a defect on this model and get many complaints from customers. Manufacturer has been contacted and refuses to repair the defective components.

I have a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan ES that has on 3 separate occasions had grinding noises coming from the left front tire area prior to the steering wheel locking up when making low speed turns. On the first incident the power steering was so tight I had to fight to turn left onto my street. Fortunately there was no one behind or in front of me because the car kept going straight even when the road didn't. I was able to stop before I hit the curb. On the second incident, again I was turning at a slow speed, this time right, and again had a lockup of power steering. I was in the middle of the street again. This time with frightened passengers as they watched me struggle with the steering wheel to get us out of oncoming traffic. On the last incident, again fighting to turn onto my street, I didn't attempt to turn into my garage. I parked on the street and called for a tow to the Dodge dealership to have them look at it. I didn't feel safe driving it. I wanted it to be checked out. I wasn't looking forward to going since the car is out of manufacturer warranty with 44,716 miles on it, but I took it and the dealer stated they tested the vehicle and made several turns and found the vehicle is operating as designed at this time, so I picked up my van and I told the service advisor that intermittent problems are always the hardest to find and I wouldn't have inconvenienced myself 2 days if there wasn't a problem. I feel there is a problem that should be investigated more completely. Many problems don't show up until after the warranty has expired and people in the real world have driven some miles. Under real life driving conditions. There is where you'll find any flaws. I am making this complaint because people may get hurt or killed if the power steering unpredictably continues to fail without warning.

Power steering failed. Heard a whining sound while at a stop light, a short time later I was almost unable to make a turn into a park, because the power steering was gone.

I have a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan ES with stock 17 inch wheels. Power steering groans and vibration is felt in the steering wheel at low speed. I originally thought it required new brakes (due to millage being 42,205) and brought vehicle into a repair shop for that purpose. Brakes were determined to not need servicing yet. Then brought car to local Dodge dealer (where purchased) for investigation. The dealer charged me $60. 00 to tell me that it has a TSB (19-001-02) on the power steering and refuses to cover cost of correction due to car being 6,000 miles out of basic warranty. I claim this is a design defect as Dodge wants to replace power steering reservoir and power steering return line as well as change the fluid normally in the reservoir from power steering to atf fluid!!! I called the Chrysler consumer line and only got them to agree to split the cost (they pay for parts and I pay for labor). They were not sympathetic at all because the car was out of the basic warranty window. Consumer line person went on to say that it would be my fault if power steering failed for not addressing the problem. I called the dealer to do the corrections and was told that the parts were not available and I would get a call when they get a confirmation for the parts!. I feel that chrylsler is not admitting to a design defect and forcing the consumer to pay for their problem which could lead to serious injury if the power steering failed.

We were on vacation to the mountains and had just happened to stop at a visitors center. We heard a loud popping noise. The car would move forward and backwards but the power steering was not working leaving us unable to steer the car. Had we been on the highway going 65 mph or in the mountains on switch backs when it broke this could have proved fatal. The Dodge dealer said the tensioner had broken and they had to replace the whole piece. **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*753523.

See all problems of the 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

While trying to start vehicle consumer heard a loud grinding noise, and then a loud pop. When trying to drive off consumer did not have any way to control vehicle. Contacted dealer.

See all problems of the 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

While driving on highway heard a whiring noise. Then, power steering went out, consumer could not turn wheel with out excessive force. Consumer states no prior indication of a problem, no leaks of fluid, which is checked every 3000 miles, mechanic advised consumer that cables or lines were rusted and one was completely broken.

See all problems of the 1997 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

Vehicle loses power assist in rain or while riding through a water puddle. Consumer was turning into a subdivison and steering got hard. Consumer almost hit a large brick planter. Has contacted Chrysler by writing letters and making phone calls, but no action has been taken. Consumer stated that dealer previously replaced the tensioner and belt because the vehicle was slipping when driving in the rain.

I was driving down the road when I heard a loud pop and not more than ten seconds later I lost all power steering. I barely managed to steer my van into a parking lot on my right. Ourisman Dodge dealership in virginia states that the serpentine belt tensioner was broken and serpentine belt borken. Also found power steering pump pully broken. They removed power steering pump and replaced the pully. Installed new serpentine belt and tensioner. Thank you.

Serpintine belt tensioner fails which can cause serious accidents.

See all problems of the 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan 🔎.

Lost power steering. Could have been serious at higher speed.

On freeway, heard clunk, wam. . . Power steering died, about lost control as steering went manual. Tow guy said these fail alot. When will NHTSA recall these things. . . ? when some one dies. . . ?.

While driving, consumer could smell smoke, pulled over and smoke and flames started coming out of the hood, fire originated from a leaky power steering line at the rear of the power steering pump, claim 05-4462-943.

While driving, the operator experienced total loss of power assisted steering. Mini-van became difficult to control. A very potentially dangerous situation. Luckily not a congested traffic area at the time or curvy road or snowy road. This is unusual since my vehicles are routinely well cared for. I have 2 other vehicles together totaling nearly 400,000 miles on original engines. Current diagnosis (vehicle still in shop), total power steering assembly failure (appx. $800).

When driving through puddles at any speed, the power steering goes out. Dealer recently replaced belt tensioner, but this did not solve problem.

Vehicle travels through water and power assisted steering control goes out. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

Power steering completely went out momentarily. Dealer said "nothing wrong. " *k.

Vehicle has had momentarily lost power assist numerous times, there is a TSB out on this problem. Dealer has not repaired vehicle while under warranty.

When even the smallest amount of street water, I. E. Water-filled pothole, curb water drainage, etc gets splashed up onto the vehicle underside the power sterring assist disappears for a short interval, 10 to 20 seconds. During that period I, a 200 lb man with reasonable body strength, can barely continue turning the steering wheel. This has happened on several occassions during the past three years. I have almost crashed into the curb three times already. I am aretired mechanical engineer with extensive "do it yourself" experience and I perceive that water is splashing up on the serpantine belt and the belt friction is changed enormously when water gets splashed on that belt. As far as I know there is no splash guard or deflector to protect the belt from water being splashed up by the right front tire. My engine is the largest displacement v6. I have had my belt tensioner checked and it is performing properly.

When you go through a puddle of water you lose your power steering. I took it to my mechanic and he claims that this model van has that problem. If not aware of problem could cause a serious accident.