2003 Chrysler Town & Country Steering Problems

Power steering failure and water pump failure smoking under hood and power steering fluid all on the exhaust system almost caught fire.

THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM GETS HOT. I LOOSE STEERING, FRONT TIRE WOBBLES AND BRAKE STARTS SMOKING THE HOSE KINKS ALSO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MADE A LOUD WINDING NOISE AND LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ISSUE ONLY OCCURRED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. CONSUMER STATES STEERING UP/DOWN CONTROL MECHANISM STOPPED FUNCTIONING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE REMOVED THE FAIRING COVER AT THE BACK OF THE STEERING COLUMN, THE ONE-PIECE SLIDE ASSEMBLY SHOWED A BREAKING POINT. WHEN THE CONTROL PIN REACHED THE GROOVED AREA OF THE TOOTHED ASSEMBLY, IT CAUSED THE UPPER SECTION TO SPRING UP, ALLOWING UP AND DOWN ADJUSTMENT. WHEN THE DESIRED UP/DOWN ADJUSTMENT WAS REACHED, THE CONTROL LEVER WAS RELEASED, ALLOWING THE SLIDE ASSEMBLY TO MOVE BACK OUT OF THE GROOVE WHERE THE UPPER ARMS ENGAGED THE TEETH ON THE LOWER TOOTHED ASSEMBLY TO THE DESIRED POSITION. DUE TO THE CONTROLLED PIN ROTATION/MIGRATION TO THE RIGHT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY LACK OF LUBRICANT, WHEN THE PIN BECAME DISENGAGED FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ASSEMBLY AND WHEN THE CONTROL LEVER WAS ENGAGED TO ADJUST UP/DOWN, THE CONTROL ASSEMBLY BECAME INOPERATIVE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SLIDE ASSEMBLY BROKE. NOW WHEN THE CONTROL LEVER IS PULLED, THE BROKEN LEFT SIDE OF THE SLIDE ASSEMBLY MOVES BACK FREELY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE TOOTHED ASSEMBLY. THE LUBRICANT THAT WAS APPLIED AT INITIAL ASSEMBLY IS NOW DRIED AT CRITICAL POINTS, THE CONTROL ARM, PIVOT POINT AND THE GROOVED SLIDE AREA BETWEEN THE CONTROL PIN AND THE UPPER SECTION OF THE TOOTHED ASSEMBLY. *JB

STEERING WHEEL LOOSE, LOUD POP SOUND FROM STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF STEERING IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. *TR

WHEN WILL CHRYSLER DO A RECALL ON POWER STEERING LINES, PUMPS, ETC. MY SON IS 16 AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVING FOR A FEW MONTHS. HE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF OUR VEHICLE BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING FROZE AND HE COULDN'T TURN! LUCKILY HE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO JUST PARK IT, AND WE HAD IT TOWED. THE POWER STEERING LINES BROKE (AGAIN) ! THE MECHANIC SAID THERE ARE 173 PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR A POWER STEERING LINE. DOESN'T THIS SUGGEST THIS IS A PROBLEM? I HAVE HAD TO ADD POWER STEERING FLUID TO MY VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE REPLACED WATER PUMPS, BUSHINGS, LINKS, AND CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING. WILL THEY WAIT UNTIL ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM LOSING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE? I DON'T EVEN FEEL SAFE HAVING MY SON TAKE THIS VEHICLE IS IT CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY ADVANCED WARNING! WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE - 73 COMMENTS ON THE POWER STEERING ISSUE: TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F172B27. BY THE LOOKS OF IT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE...BUT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO MY SON - IT WILL BE TOO LATE! *CW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MADE A LOUD WINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THE CONTACT COULD NOT RECALL THE NAME OF THE PART THAT CAUSED THE STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ UPDATED 02/17/12

2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY POWER STEERING ASSIST HOSE RECALL NOTICE WAS NEVER SENT TO CURRENT AND ORIGINAL OWNER, JUST FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2004. THE OWNERS VEHICLE BROKE DOWN ON HIGHWAY IN 2009 DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND OWNER PAID LOCAL GARAGE TO FIX, BUT VEHICLE POWER STEERING STILL IS MAKING NOISE AND NEEDS TO HAVE RECALL WORK THAT OWNER DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT. VIN # WAS CHECKED ON CHRYSLER WEBSITE AND NO RECALL NOTICE WAS POSTED ABOUT THIS RECALL. *KB

ENGINE WILL DIE AT A STOP SIGN. ENGINE WILL ALSO DIE WHILE COASTING BETWEEN 30 TO 65 MPH. THERE IS NO WARNING SIGNS WHEN THIS OCCURS. OBVIOUSLY POWER STEERING WILL BE LOST INSTANTLY. POWER BRAKES WILL ALSO FADE AFTER THREE APPLICATIONS. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP OR PLACING THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL AND CRANKING THE ENGINE IT WILL RE-START. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM SINCE 2009. CHRYSLER DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO PIN POINT THE PROBLEM DUE TO LACK OF ENGINE SERVICE CODES. OVER TIME THEY HAVE CHANGED FUEL FILTERS, THROTTLE BODY CLEANING, TUNE UPS, CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR REPLACEMENT, BCM RE-LEARN ETC. INTERNET BLOGS INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER MINI VANS. SOME TECHNICIANS ATTRIBUTE IT TO ELECTRICAL HARNESS SHORTING. I WONDER IF THERE ARE ANY SAFETY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED BY CHRYSLER. AS OF THIS DATE THE PROBLEM IS ONGOING, ENGINE STALL IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. *TR

I WENT TO CHANGE THE OIL ON OUR 2003 CHRYSLER T&C AND NOTICED A LEAK WHICH I ASSUMED TO BE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE SECOND TIME, BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, YET. THE LEAKING FLUID WAS ALSO PART POWER STEERING FLUID. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN I WAS TOLD THE VAN NEEDED A NEW STEERING RACK AND SEALS AT 72,000 MILES. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN THEY TOLD ME THE PRICE AND THAT I WAS PAYING FOR IT. I HEREBY ADD MY VOICE TO THIS PROBABLY FUTILE LITANY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE STEERING RACKS. FORTUNATELY, I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE LEAKS BEFORE ANYTHING WENT DRY. THE KICKER WAS THAT AFTER THE RACK REPAIR, MY WIFE SAID IT STILL SOUNDED FUNNY. ENDED UP TAKING IT BACK. THAT WAS WHEN THEY DECIDED TO DO THE STEERING HOSE RECALL REPAIR WHICH WE NEVER HEARD ABOUT. OF COURSE, THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER SO MY WIFE AND I GOT TO HAVE OUR SCHEDULES SCREWED UP WITH 3 SEPARATE VISITS TO THE SHOP. CHRYSLER/FIAT - MEANT TO BE? ( AS IN F. I. A. T. IF YOU GET MY DRIFT...). *TR

AT APPROX 58000 MILES THE STEERING SYSTEM BEGAN TO MAKE A WHINING NOISE. POWER STEERING FLUID LEVELS WERE AT PROPER LEVELS BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE A DRY PUMP. THEN THE POWER STEERING BECAME ERRATIC. TURNING EASY THEN PART WAY THROUGH THE TURN IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND THEN WITHOUT WARNING EASY AGAIN. VERY DANGEROUS. EVENTUALLY THE RACK HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2003 TOWN AND COUNTRY IN JANUARY 2008 WE WERE SECOND OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASED NOTICED THE POWER STEERING WAS BEGINNING TO STICK AND BECOME UNDRIVABLE. WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER OR STOP DRIVING ALL TOGETHER UNTIL THE POWER STEERING LOOSENED UP. IT WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND NOT TURN AT ALL AND AS IT BEGAN TO LOOSEN THE NOISE WOULD BEGIN TO BECOME LESS AND LESS, REPORTED THIS INFORMATION TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE ARE STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE AND HAVE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND AGAIN SAME ANSWER THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS OCCURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW A CERTAIN DEGREE BUT WEATHER SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTING POWER STEERING OF A CAR. WE HAVE TRIED TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND ARE STILL AWAITING TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED. *TR

STEERING IS MAKING A WHINING SOUND AND STARTED AROUND 65,000 MILES. I'VE OWNED THREE CHRYSLER VANS AND ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE AND WONDER WHY CHRYSLER DOESN'T RECALL THAT ITEM OR CORRECT THAT PROBLEM WITH NEWER MODELS. I THINK I'VE FINALLY LEARNED MY LESSON. NO MORE CHRYSLERS. *TR

I PURCHASED THE 2003 TOWN/CHRYSLER VAN ABOUT 3 MONTHS. AGO AS SOON AS I GOT IT IT STARTED TO MAKE NOISES, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ,THEY STATED IT NEED POWER STEERING FLUID IN WHICH THEY DID PUT IN THE VAN . A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THE VAN STARTED MAKING NOISES AGAIN. I LATER GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL STATING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL CONCERNING THE POWER STEERING PUMP, I ALSO FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE REAR BACK DOOR IN WHICH THEY THE CHRYSLER DEALER STATES THEY WILL FIX FOR FREE. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THEY WANT FIX FOR FREE IS THE STEERING RACK WHICH IS LEAKING. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS IS MY FAULT AND THE FINANCE PEOPLE ARE HOUNDING ME TO PAY $529.00 A MONTH ON A VEHICLE THAT IS SOON TO BE OUT OF REMISSION. IS THERE SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP ME GET OUT OF THIS DEAL. *TR

STEERING RACK ON MY CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 2003 MINIVAN LET GO AT 75,000 MILES AND ACCORDING TO OUR REPAIRMAN IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO GET A RECALL. THEN I LOOKED ONLINE AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER CHRYSLER AND DODGE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

STEERING LOCKS UP DURING COLD AND/OR WET CONDITIONS. I GRINDING NOISE IS ALWAYS PRESENT BUT GETS VERY LOUD DURING SLOW TURNS. ON FIRST DEALER VISIT I WAS TOLD THE PS PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A RECALL PERTAINING TO THAT UNIT. AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, THE SAME NOISE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BRAKE PROBLEM. NOW THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERAND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THE DEALER INDICATED RACK SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS HAS BECOME MORE THAN A NUISANCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN STEERING BECOME UNRELIABLE. *TR

ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I STARTED HEARING A WHINE/GROAN WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY DECIDED THAT I NEED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN WHILE GETTING MY TIRES CHANGED IT WAS THEN SWITCHED TO I NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING RACK. EVERY GARAGE TOLD ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT. 1500 DOLLARS LATER I AM WITH A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, RESERVOIR, RACK, COOLER HOSE, AND FIN PACKED HOSE AND STILL THE WHINE AND SHUDDER AND GROAN WHILE MAKING SHARP TURNS OR INTO PARKING SPACES. I AM IN TEARS AND FEEL HELPLESS WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT'S IN GORGEOUS CONDITION, HOWEVER TOTALLY UNAWARE OF IF I WANT IT ANYMORE TO DRIVE MY CHILDREN AROUND IN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. AFTER SPENDING 20K + ON A VEHICLE, WHERE IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SATISFACTION?? *TR

WHEN STARTING OUT IN DRIVE, I WAS UNABLE TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL CASEIN A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. MY WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. I TURN THE CAR OFF AND TRY AGAIN I NEVER KNOW WHEN MY WHEELTURN WHEN I AM DRIVING MYSELF AND MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR. PLEASE HELP ! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND PULSATED WHEN DEPRESSED. ALL OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR MADE A GRATING AND SCRAPING SOUND AND WAS REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE TEN MINUTES OF JIGGLING TO GET IT BACK IN AND START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE CYLINOID WAS REPLACED. THE GASKET AND SEAL ON THE WATER PUMP AND THE ACCESSORY BELT WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THE LIFTGATE WAS REPLACED AS WELL. THE FOLLOWING RECALLS WERE REFERENCED: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 03E053000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), 04V386000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HOSE, PIPING AND CONNECTIONS), 05V134000 (LATCHES:LOCKS:LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE LOCK), AND 06E022000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 04-02-08 *BF THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLAED AFTER 1 YEAR AND 8 MONTHS. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID AND SEPERPENTIN BELT WERE REPLACED.

BOTH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 58,000 MILES ON MY 2003 TOWN & COUNTRY MADE BY CHRYSLER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VAN WITH SO FEW MILES ON IT. *TR