2002 Chrysler Town & Country Steering Problems

THE POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING AT TIMES WHEN ITS RAINING. IT WILL NOT WORK MANY TIMES WHEN I CRANK IT UP IF ITS BEEN RAINING. ITS HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE, CITY STREETS, WHILE TURNING ONTO ANOTHER STREET OR ROAD, AND AT STOP SIGNS. I HAVE HAD THE DRIVE BELT, POWER STEERING PUMP, TENSION IDLER REPLACED AND NOTHING HELPS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO JOHN GREENE CHRYSLER DODGE IN MORGANTON NC, AND OTHER REPAIR CENTERS. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

WHILE SLOWING FOR A TURN MY VAN STARTED MAKING WHINING NOISES THEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. GOT OUT AND LOOKED AND FOUND FLUID LEAKING ON THE GROUND. NOW THERES NO POWER STEERING. *TR

WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE. I WAITED A MINUTE AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. I DROVE FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES IN HEAVY RAIN AND AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 20 MPH MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS GOING SO SLOWLY AND THAT I COULD JUST PULL STRAIGHT INTO TWO PARKING SPOTS AND WAIT FOR THE POWER STEERING TO COME BACK. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE POWER STEERING HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I AM SO HAPPY THAT I WAS GOING SO SLOWLY. WHAT IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY? *TR

POWER STEERING HOSE KEEP BREAKING, FLUID LEAKS OUT WHEN HOSE BREAKS. HARD TO TURN STEER WHEEL WHEN HOSE BROKE. *TR

JANUARY 2ND 2012 REPLACED HOSE FLUID AND CLAMPS BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. VAN WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE ENGINE AND SMOKING. MILEAGE 63,893 FEBRUARY 21ST 2012 HAD TO ADD MORE POWER STEERING FLUID APRIL 20TH 2012 VAN HOSE BUSTED AGAIN LEAVING FLUID ALL UNDER THE VEHICLE. WE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, HOSE AND FLUID BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC . MILEAGE 66,091 TODAY THE VAN IS DOING THE SAME THING WITH A WHINING OF THE POWER STEERING AND SOMETIMES STIFFENS UP WHEN DRIVING AND YOU CAN SMELL THE FLUID BURNING ON THE ENGINE. SEEMS TO BE WORSE DURING COLDER WEATHER. THERE IS ALSO A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONTEND WHEN YOUR TURNING. ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE NATIONAL RECALL #04V386000. THIS VEHICLE IS AN ADA COMPLIANT VEHICLE AND IS USED TO TRANSPORT OUR SON WHO IS PERMANANTLY IN A WHEEL CHAIR. I BELIEVE THIS VAN IS A DANGER TO OUR FAMILY AND SHOULD BE PUT ON THE REGISTRY OF RECALLED VEHICLES FOR REPAIR. *TR

WE NOTICED A NOISE AND FEELING LIKE THE POWER STEERING WAS BINDING,THEN WENT AWAY. IT CAME AND WENT AWAY, BUT START TO DO IT MORE OFTEN. IN MARCH. WHEN WE TOOK IN FOR A OIL CHANGE, WE TOLD THEM ABOUT IT,BUT IT WOULD NOT DO IT FOR THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY TOLD US TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT WAS DOING IT. WE DID AND THEY AND THEY EXPLAINED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND REPAIRS THAT WAS HAPPENING.TO THE 2003 MODELS. I HAD THEM DO THE HOSE REPAIR TO THE SUM OF $218.36. THE POWER STEERING REPAIR AND UPPER STRUT BEARING WOULD BE A TOTAL OF $962.70. I TOLD THEM I WOULD GET BACK TO THEM ON THAT PROBLEM.THAT'S WHEN I WENT TO THIS SITE ON THE ADVICE OF SOMEONE,AND FOUND OUT THAT ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE THE SAME AS THE 2003 TOWN AND COUNTY WHEN I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED WHY THE CHARGED ME FOR THE SERVICE UPDATE. WHICH THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THEY GAVE ME SOME VAGUE STUPID ANSWER. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR THIS STEERING PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH ON SSI., AND SHE IS DISABLED AND WE REALLY CAN'T AFFORD THESE KIND OF REPAIRS . [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHEN IT IS RAINING AND BELOW 45 DEGREES UPON STARTING THERE IS A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND THE SMELL OF BURNT ELECTRICITY AND THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. THE VAN MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO REENGAGE THE POWER STEERING. ON 2 OCCASIONS THE STEERING STAYED OUT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO CHRYSLER/DODGE/JEEP DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN NOT RE ENACT THE PROBLEM. HAVE LOOKED ON FORUMS AND TALKED WITH OTHER OWNERS THIS IS NOT JUST MY ISSUE. FEAR ONE DAY I WILL BE DRIVING AND LOOSE IT. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN CAR IS BACKED UP AND TURNED TO THE LEFT. WHEN PULLING FORWARD THE POWER STEERING IS NOT FUNCTIONING. PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND REVVING THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CAR HAS 147000+ MILES ON IT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISE WHENEVER IT WAS TURNED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS TOO SHORT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V386000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

I BOUGHT THIS 2002 MINI-VAN IN JANUARY FROM MY SISTER. SHE TOOK METICULOUS CARE OF IT. SO WHEN I FOUND MY STEERING FAILING, I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING. I BLEW A POWER STEERING HOSE ONE DAY AFTER WEEKS OF SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. GOT THAT FIXED AND THEN FOUND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS STILL LOCKING UP, NOT LETTING ME TURN THE CAR, RUNNING OVER THE CURB BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER IT. AND I CAN STILL SMELL SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, IT ALMOST SMELLS LIKE ANTI-FREEZE. NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. IT USUALLY HAPPENED WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAR AND DID NOT LET IT WARM UP FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. NOW IT WILL DO IT WHEN I AM DRIVING.IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. I AM GETTING ANNOYED WITH THIS. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE GARAGE 2 TIMES NOW AND THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE WHAT HAPPENS AND NOW I FEEL LIKE THEY THINK I AM A NUT CASE BECAUSE THEY SAY, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. WE CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT. I CARRY 5-6 CHILDREN IN MY CAR AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND I FIND THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

MY TOWN AND COUNTRY HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM DAY ONE. IT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF STEERING PROBLEMS( IS NOW UNDRIVABLE AS IT IS LEAKING AND HEAT SHIELD IS DOWN) DEALER CLAIMS NO RECALL. IT HAS BEEN RUSTING SINCE BEFORE 30,000MILES. IT NOW HAS HOLES IN IT AND UNDERCARRIAGE RUSTED OUT. CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING FOR ME. POWER WINDOW MECHANISMS/MOTORS WERE INOPERATIONAL A YEAR AGO-AT THE SAME TIME. IT SHAKES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. PAID PLENTY. HAS 68,000M.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED DUE TO PRESSURE FROM THE STEERING RACK. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

POWER STEERING WHINING DUE TO IMPROPER HOSE DESIGN. HOSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER WITH TEMPORARY RESULTS. PUMP OK. THERE SHOULD BE ALOT MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, THE DEALER SEEMED WELL AWARE OF IT. *TR

MY POWER STEERING IS BEGINNING TO GO OUT AGAIN AFTER HAVING TO HAVE THE HOSES REPLACED FOR A 2ND TIME. I BELIEVE THE HOSES ARE REALLY DEFECTIVE AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CORRECTED YET! *TR

THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CHRYSLER POWER STEERING HOSES AND MINE WAS FIXED TWO YEARS AGO & THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT AGAIN SAYING WEAR & TEAR. ALSO, THEY PUT OUT A NOTICE (BUT NOT TO OWNERS) THAT THE OIL PLATE ON THESE VEHICLES ARE LEAKING & THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM WHICH I'VE ALREADY CONSULTED 50 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VAN AND SAME PROBLEM. *TR

POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING 30 MPH WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIMES WHEN BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, SOMETIMES WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN RESULTING IN A NEAR- MISS AND JUMPING A CURB. TO THIS DATE STEERING CONTINUES TO EMIT A WHINING NOISE. HOSES WERE REPLACED, STEERING COLUMN REBUILT. MORE THAN ONCE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM RESULTING IN GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO US. *TR

ON MY 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY WITH 38,000 MILES, THE RACK AND PINION BEGAN LEAKING IN OCT 2007. THE INTERNAL 'FALLING APART' OF THE RACK CAUSED A CLOG OF THE STEERING PUMPS SCREEN FILTER WHICH CAUSED A LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. IN APRIL 2008, BOTH THE RACK & PINION AND THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE LEAK AND THE WHINING NOISE: PARTS - $320, LABOR - $900. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 60-65 MPH ON A SLIGHTLY WET ROAD SURFACE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE EXTREME RIGHT WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A NEARBY GUARDRAIL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE TIE ROD. THE VIN WAS PROVIDED; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT ACCEPTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,223.

POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN VEHICLE WAS COLD AND TURNING TO THE LEFT. NO EVENTS LED UP TO THE FAILURE, IT JUST DID IT. WE BOUGHT THE 2002 T&C IN MARCH 2007... GOT A GREAT DEAL. BUT THEN, AFTER ONE WEEK, THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FAIL. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND EVERY MORNING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE TURNED, BUT ONLY WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS, AND IN DRIVE. TAKING BACK TO DEALER TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AGAIN TODAY. *AK

1) AT LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY TURNING THERE WAS NOISE AND SHAKING IN THE FRONT OF THE CHRYSLER 2002 TOWN AND COUNTRY. IT WAS IDENTIFIED AT A GARAGE AS A POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE PROBLEM AND IN FACT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS. I THEN TOOK IT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER - DOAN IN ROCHESTER NY - WHO AGREED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR REPLACEMENT. I FOUND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE CORRECT PROBLEM DID NOT QUALIFY. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT THE SAME STORY. THEY SAID THAT THE VIN NUMBERS LISTED WERE DETERMINED BY NHTSA AND THEY - IN SO MANY WORDS - WERE OFF THE HOOK. I DID HAVE IT REPLACED WITH MY OWN MONEY, BUT I AM UPSET ABOUT IT. 2) MY AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED TO GO ON TELLING ME THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE TURNED OFF. THEN THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF FOR A LITTLE AND COME BACK ON FOR NO REASON , SPEED, OR OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. AGAIN I WAS TOLD IT WAS CLOCK SPRINGING IN THE MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I FELT THAT THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM INVOLVING THE LIFE OR DEATH OF MY FAMILY SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. THE DEALER AGAIN AGREED THAT THIS WAS THE PROBLEM, ENCOURAGED ME TO GET IT FIXED, AND GAVE ME AN INDICATION THAT THIS WAS COMMON AND THAT AGAIN MY VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY RECALL. I HAD IT FIXED, BUT FEEL THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB