RoadVitals

1991 Dodge Caravan Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
38
Latest Mar 27, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 617 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words

BrakesElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Mar 27, 2014

1991 DODGE CARAVAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS ON APRIL 20, 2006 AND WAS CHARGED $376.73, EVEN THOUGH A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ABS PROBLEMS AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2013. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL LETTER STATED IF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, CHRYSLER WOULD COVER ANY REPAIRS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, HE HAD TO PAY $112 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WOULD BE COVERED, UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALER THEN INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO TEST HIS VEHICLE, DUE TO THE AGE. HOWEVER, A FEW DAYS LATER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY HAD THE EQUIPMENT, BUT IT WOULD COST $336. THE CONSUMER DECLINED THE TEST. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION, STARTER, FUEL PUMP, IGNITION COIL BLOCKS , SERPENTINE BELT, PULLEYS, POWER STEERING PUMP, AND RADIATOR WERE ALL REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 04/16/14

NHTSA ID
10574533
Incident
Apr 20, 2006
Steering
Filed Aug 15, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 96V229000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF. FORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 13, 2005. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF EXACTLY WHY THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED. BUT IT DID CAUSE THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10132955
Incident
Aug 13, 2005
BrakesSteering
Filed Aug 7, 2001

NHTSA RECALL 96V229000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 709 REPAIRS WERE DONE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. RECENTLY, CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REMEDIED. CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP.*AK CONSUMER STATES WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, BECAME HEAVY AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT TURN, CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF, CONSUMER STATES SOMETIMES WHEN BRAKES ARE NEEDED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES BEFORE HE HITS THE BRAKES, CONSUMER FEELS AS THOUGH HE IS NOT GOING TO STOP IN TIME, WHEN GROUND IS WET AND NEED TO STOP AHEAD VERY SLOWLY, VEHICLE TENDS TO JUMP FOWARD IN A JERKING MANNER BEFORE IT STOPS.*JB

NHTSA ID
893729
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Body & structureSteering
Filed Jul 24, 2001

THE TENSIONER AND PULLEY TO THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND SO WE REPLACED IT ALREADY BUT WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW FOR OTHER CONSUMERS. WE HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE PAINT JOB. WE KNOW IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BUT MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE OLDER CARS DON'T HAVE THEIR PAINT COMING OFF ON THEIR ROOF OR HOOD. WE CAN SEE OTHER MINIVANS AROUND TOWN WITH THE SAME MODEL AND BLUE COLOR PAINT PEELING OFF ALSO. AND WE ARE THE ONLY CARS WHICH HAVE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE CONTACT US REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. OUR DOOR HINGE IS BAD ALSO BUT WE THINK IT HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED.*AK

NHTSA ID
749056
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
BrakesHeating & air conditioningDriver assistance+2 more
Filed Jun 5, 2001

BRAKE LINE WAS CUT.*AK CONSUMER STATES ABS LINE RUBBED A TIRE AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. AIR CONDITIONER CAUGHT ON FIRE. TRANSMISSION FAILED. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. *SLC

NHTSA ID
889754
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
EngineSteering
Filed Apr 16, 2001

BOLT THAT HOLDS TENSIONER BROKE, CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE, AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. OWNER REPLACED THE PART THREE TIMES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT WEBSITE SHOWS THIS FAILURE HAPPENING FREQUENTLY. *SLC

NHTSA ID
885942
Incident
Jul 1, 1997
Steering
Filed Apr 12, 2000

RUSTED BRACKET ON STEERING RACK CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
860238
Incident
Feb 15, 1998
Steering
Filed Feb 18, 2000

STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF WHILE TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP SIGN. IT BROKE MECHANISM THAT CONTROLS CRUISE CONTROL. NOT KNOWING THAT IT WASN'T WORKING AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL ALMOST CAUSED ANOTHER ACCIDENT. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS CRACKED A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, BUT THERE WAS NO CHANCE OF IT COMING OFF. IT BROKE OFF IN FRONT OF A GRADE SCHOOL, BUT FORTUNATELY IT WAS JUST AFTER SCHOOL STARTED AND NO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CROSSWALK. IT WAS ALSO FORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED AT THE STOP SIGN AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
718919
Incident
Jan 13, 2000
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Nov 16, 1998

WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL STICK AND MAKE A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING EITHER WAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE KEPT ON ROLLING. ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MOVE INCHES LIKE THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO DROP ON THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
830837
Incident
Oct 26, 1998
Steering
Filed Feb 19, 1998

STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM CENTER HUB UNIT ATTACHED TO STEERING COLUMN PRIOR TO RECALL. DEALER INSISTED NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND THAT WAS WHY STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF (96V-229). *AK

NHTSA ID
807352
Incident
Mar 30, 1994
Steering
Filed May 9, 1997

POWER STEERING BELT HAS PREMATURELY FAILED DUE TO A FRACTURE IN THE BOLT. *AK

NHTSA ID
810830
Incident
Mar 31, 1997
Steering
Filed Apr 15, 1997

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF, FELL IN DRIVER'S HAND, SLOWLY MOVED VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, NO KNOWN WARNING, DEALER HAS NO CLUE AS TO CAUSE, DEALER WILL REPLACE STEERING WHEEL, COULD HAVE CAUSED CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ID
811004
Incident
Apr 11, 1997
Steering
Filed Apr 14, 1997

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL CAME APART FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER SAID THAT CONSUMER VIN. WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. HOEVER MAKE AND YEAR WAS UNDER RECALL. 96V229000. *AK

NHTSA ID
810919
Incident
Apr 12, 1997
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningEngine+3 more
Filed Mar 3, 1997

AIR CONDITIONER NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID
510021
Incident
Jul 19, 1996
Steering
Filed Feb 6, 1997

VEHICLE UNDER RECALL #96V229000; DEALERSHIP HAD NO PARTS SINCE EARLY PART OF JANUARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
808758
Incident
Feb 5, 1997
Steering
Filed Jan 30, 1997

EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING.

NHTSA ID
514301
Incident
Nov 1, 1995
Steering
Filed Jan 10, 1997

STEERING COLUMN WELDS WERE BROKEN PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
525793
Incident
Aug 2, 1996
Steering
Filed Oct 16, 1996

CONSUMER STATES WHILE PARKING HIS VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF IN HIS HANDS DUE TO METAL SHEARING OFF ALONG WITH WIRING HARNESS TO AIR BAG AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID
802342
Incident
Sep 3, 1996
Steering
Filed Jul 29, 1996

THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE TURNING A CORNER. *AK

NHTSA ID
985917
Incident
May 17, 1996
Steering
Filed Jul 15, 1996

STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF IN DRIVERS HAND WHILE PARKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
986907
Incident
Nov 9, 1995
Steering
Filed Apr 25, 1996

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF INTO THE DRIVERS HANDS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983493
Incident
Apr 25, 1996
Steering
Filed Apr 2, 1996

STEERING WHEEL HUB SEVERELY CRACKED, CAUSING WHEEL TO TILT. *DSH

NHTSA ID
503018
Incident
Mar 19, 1996
Steering
Filed Feb 20, 1996

POWER STEERING TENSIONER BROKE, LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TT

NHTSA ID
979438
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Steering
Filed Feb 14, 1996

STEERING WHEEL MAKES SCRAPING/SQUEAKING NOISES. *DSH

NHTSA ID
501608
Incident
Jun 1, 1991
Steering
Filed Feb 6, 1996

STEERING WHEEL HAS BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE COLUMN, DIFFICULTY STEERING VEHICLE. TT

NHTSA ID
978775
Incident
Feb 6, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .