2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning, the vehicle made an abnormal growling sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power steering fluid was leaking. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the vehicle had been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V386000 (Steering) in 2004. The failure mileage was approximately 329,281.

THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS THAT ARE VERY SERIOUS. FIRST, IN 2017 AS I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE, I DROVE THROUGH A PUDDLE. AS I ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT ONTO THE ROAD, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND IT WAS ONLY WITH EXTREME FORCE AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES THAT I KEPT FROM RUNNING THROUGH THE GUARDRAIL, AND DROPPING DOWN TO THE INTERSTATE BELOW. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND STOPPED ON THE OVERPASS UNTIL MY STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. YES, MY ENGINEER HUSBAND KEEPS UP WITH ALL OF OUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING THE BELTS. NEXT, WITH AN UNUSUALLY HEAVY RAIN THIS PAST WEEK, MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PARKING FOR AN HOUR, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN WHEN I ATTEMPTED GO AGAIN. I RESTARTED THE CAR FIVE TIMES BEFORE THE STEERING UNLOCKED. ALL WEEK, DURING THAT HEAVY RAIN, THE STEERING LOCKED REGULARLY. THESE PROBLEMS ARE ALL OVER THE WEB. WOMEN AND CHILDREN EVERYWHERE ARE IN DANGER OF DYING FROM SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? IF YOU ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, THEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BEING SUED ALONG WITH CHRYSLER, FOR ALLOWING THIS TO CONTINUE UNCORRECTED.

I AM THE VICTIM OF A FRAUDULENT CLOSE OUT OF A FACTORY RECALL. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO FIX ONE OF THEIR OWN RECALLS ON A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THREE DEALERSHIPS TO TRY TO GET SATISFACTION. TWO OF THOSE HAVE SINCE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. THE THIRD REFUSES TO HELP IN ANY WAY. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT SOME DEALERSHIP HAS ALREADY CLOSED OUT THE TICKET FOR FIXING THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE ON MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CAR WAS NEVER FIXED: IT STILL HAS THE FACTORY HOSE. FINALLY I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE WHERE A FORMER CHRYSLER TECHNICIAN WORKED WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM.. HE SAID THAT NOT ONLY HAD THE RECALL NEVER BEEN DONE, BUT THE DESIGN WAS FAULTY. THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE IS SO SHORT THAT THE SYNTHETIC ATF THAT IS USED AS POWER STEERING FLUID FOAMS UP CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH BELCHING OUT FLUID, POWER STEERING FAILURE, PUMP FAILURE AND EVENTUALLY RACK AND PINION FAILURE. I TOLD HIM NOT TO TOUCH THE POWER STEERING BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NEVER PERFORMED. HE AGREED THAT THE REPAIR HAD NEVER BEEN DONE AND ESTIMATED THE REPAIR COST AT $800.00 TO PUT A NEW RACK AND PINION AND TO REPAIR THE FAULTY DESIGN PER THE CHRYSLER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. MY PROBLEM NOW IS THE PUMP HAS GONE BAD TOO WHICH WILL ADD ANOTHER $500.00 TO THE PRICE. MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VIN IS [XXX]. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX]. THE PHONE AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT REFUSES TO HELP IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS MODEL HAS STEERING ISSUES. WITH ONLY 60K MILES I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION 2 SEPARATE TIMES ALREADY AND NOW THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS GOING OUT. *TR

I OWN A 2003 GRAND CARAVAN CURRENTLY WITH 43,000 MILES ON IT. AT A LITTLE LESS THAN 40,000 MILES THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTING MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE, DIDN'T MATTER IF YOU WERE TURNING THE WHEEL OR NOT; MORE OFTEN ON A RAINY OR COLD MORNING, NOW ITS ALL THE TIME. I CONTACTED DODGE SINCE I HAVE AN EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN, TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE NO COVERAGE ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR RACK AND PINION, BUT IM COVERED ON THINGS THAT MY HUSBAND COULD DO IN THE BACKYARD. WHAT A STORY I WAS FED, WHEN I BOUGHT THIS $900 COVERAGE. I WAS TOLD TO GO TO A CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER AND PAY $65 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, UMMM IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, IT REQUIRES 30 SECONDS OF LISTENING. THEN AND ONLY THEN WOULD THEY CONSIDER POSSIBLY HELPING ME WITH THIS REPAIR. WHEN I BOUGHT THE SERVICE PLAN, I WAS TOLD $100 DEDUCTIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS, END OF STORY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE WITH MILEAGE COULD HAVE AN ISSUE LIKE THIS ALREADY. DODGE DOES NOT WANT TO HELP!!!! *TR

THE 2203 GRAND CARAVAN HAS HAD A RECALL ON THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE AND WAS SERVICED. A RECURRING NOISE STARTED. UNDER A EXTENDED WARRANTY THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE RACK ONCE. 6 MONTHS AFTER THE LAST SERVICE THE NOISE CAME BACK AND LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE INTO THE COOLER BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. (NO CRASH) REPLACED HOSES WITH BETTER CLAMPS AND BACK FLUSHED POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. INTERNET SOURCES HAVE INDICATED A FILTER SCREEN IN THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. COULD THIS BE CAUSING THE LARGE LISTING OF SAME PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET? *TR

POWER STEERING FAILS ON 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON MORNINGS WHEN IT RAINS. HUGE SAFETY RISK SINCE VEHICLE CANNOT BE TURNED WITHOUT EXTREME MANUAL EFFORT...IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY WIFE! DEALERSHIP SAYS RACK AND PINION IS BAD AND NEEDS REPLACING ($1400). INTERNET SAYS THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THESE VEHICLES FROM 2002-2006! WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR A SAFETY RETROFIT? *TR

ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE'S VAN HAS BEEN MAKING A WHINING SOUND FROM THE STEERING PUMP. THE NOISE INTENSIFIES ONCE THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING PUMP MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. EVENTHOUGH THIS VAN IS 6 YEARS OLD, IT WAS IN STORAGE FOR 3 YEARS. THE CAR WAS OPERATED ONCE A MONTH IN STORAGE. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. *TR

2003 GRAND CARAVAN SPORT, STEERING WHEEL IS STIFF DURING WINTER FOR THE FIRST 5 TO 10 MINS IN THE MORNING. *TR

POWER STEERING PUMP WAS VERY NOISY AND STEERING WOULD BECOME STIFF UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A POOR DESIGN OF FILTER IN POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. *TR

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. *TR

THE RACK AND PINION STEERING IS LEAKING ON MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE THE SEALS TO BLOW OUT AND LOSE POWER STEERING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND RACK I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ONE AT 58,000 AND NOW AT 91,000. *TR

VAN HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES FOR STEERING PROBLEM WHINING NOISE RACK WAS REPLACED ONCE AND PUMP WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. *TR

NOISE IN STEERING WHEN FIRST STARTED TOOK IT TO DEALER SAID IT WAS INTERNAL LEAK IN RACK & PINION CHECKED SERVICE RECORD AND SAW THAT RACK&PINION WAS REPLACED A YEAR AGO.CONFRONTED SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY SAID WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IN MY OPINION APART AS IMPORTANT AS THIS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ONE YEAR. ALSO NOTICE THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. *TR

TWO TSB'S THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE WHEN THE RECALL WAS DONE HAVE NOW COST ME $300.00 BECAUSE CHRYSLER DOES NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE, SINCE THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO DEAL WITH THE STEERING,THAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY..I WAS TOLD THAT THE 2 UPDATES ARE REQUIRED ON ALL 2000-2004 CHRYSLER VANS.

GROANING IN POWER STEERING, DEALERSHIP FITTED PS COOLER AND EXTRA LENGTH OF HOSE - DID NOT FIX PROBLEM *TR

TL *- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE VIBRATED, BUT DID NOT STALL WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED SINCE JUNE 2006. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE SERVICING THE TRANSMISSION THE MECHANIC OBSERVED THAT THE OIL PAN AND DIP STICK HAD GREY DEBRIS IN IT, AND THE MAGNET WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT LOCATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING RETURNS COOLER SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED A BURNING SMELL UNDER THE HOOD ,AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT AN UNDER HOOD FIRE. THE DEALER DID NOT CONFIRM IF THERE COULD BE A FAILURE IF SHE DIDN'T REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RETURN COOLER. HOWEVER, HE ADVISED HER THAT THE NEW PART WILL ELIMINATE THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. EACH VISIT TO THE DEALER/REPAIR SHOP THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A NEW FAILURE INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL CONCERN. THE DEALER STATED THE CONTACT SHOULD ALSO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RETURN COOLER. . THE CONTACT ALSO REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRES ON TWO OCCASIONS SINCE 2004 DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR. THEY MECHANIC STATED THAT A CARRIAGE BOLT WILL CORRECT THE TIRE FAILURE. *AK

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. *JB

POWER STEERING MAKES TERRIBLE WHINING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERS AND IS HARD TO TURN - WORSE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. PROBLEM STARTED WHEN VAN HAD LESS THAN 30K, IT NOW HAS 58K MILES. VAN HAS EXT. WARRANTY THROUGH DODGE COVERING EVEN SEALS & GASKETS, BUT SINCE DEALER CALLS THIS A "NUISANCE" PROBLEM - IT'S NOT WARRANTY. WE ARE VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED WITH DODGE. *TR

POWER STEERING IN 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS FAILING FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW. I HAVE TWICE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IT FAILS DURING WINTER MONTHS. *TW