RoadVitals

1993 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.
93
Latest Mar 24, 2004
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.
10%
of 949 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 1993 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 93 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 93, in the owner's own words

BrakesElectricalExterior lighting+5 more
Filed Mar 24, 2004

I HAVE A 1993 DODGE CARAVAN. I HAVE SPENT OVER $10,000.00 ON REPAIRS SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 1993. I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH DODGE. I'VE HAD SEVERAL RECALLS ON VARIOUS COMPONENTS, THEY WERE CORRECTED AND ARE NOW AGAIN DEFECTIVE INCLUDING MY SEATBELTS, ABS SYSTEM, AND STEERING COLUMN. I AM NOW NOTICING THAT THE PAINT IS ERODING ON THE TOP OF MY VAN. I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER DODGE CARAVANS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THE EXACT SAME PATTERN OF CORROSION. IT APPEARS THE PAINT IS WEARING OFF ON THE TOPS OF THE CARS, THEN THE HOODS AND SO ON. IT EVENTUALLY RUSTS THROUGH AS I'VE SEEN ON AT LEAST 20 DODGE CARAVANS. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED PAINT WEARING AWAY LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT I'VE OWNED AND MUCH OLDER THAN 10 YEARS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT SOMEWHERE IN THE PAINTING PROCESS, PERHAPS THE PRIMER OR THE PAINT ITSELF. THIS IS THE THIRD LETTER I'VE WRITTEN AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM ANYONE. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PAINTING PROCESS OF THESE VANS. I BELIEVE IT IS ALSO OCCURRING IN OTHER YEAR MODELS. THANK YOU, SUSAN DEANFRASIO. *JB

NHTSA ID
10063811
Incident
May 1, 2003
EngineSteering
Filed Jul 3, 2003

DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT STEERING COLUMN WAS EXCESSIVELY LOOSE. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT COVER, TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, WATER PUMP AND OIL PUMP. *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID
10022850
Incident
Sep 22, 1999
Mileage
91,800 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 2, 2003

THE CONSUMER INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HIS COMPLAINT WAS ON FILE REGARDING AN EXCESSIVELY LOOSE STEERING COLUMN, BECAUSE HE NEVER RECEIVED ANY LETTER TO SIGN. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID
10029535
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Feb 11, 2003

THE BALL JOINTS AND STARTER FAILED, THE BRAKE LINE WAS BROKEN, THE SIDE DOOR FELL OFF, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OIL AND COOLANT FAILURES. ALSO THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN OUTER ROD END INSTALLED AND A NEW TRANSMISSION WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *JG *JB

NHTSA ID
10006061
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jan 6, 2003

THE SLIDING DOOR SEPARATED FROM THE HINGES, ALSO THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL, COOLANT, BALL JOINTS, STARTER, BRAKE LINE, TIE ROD, TRANSMISSION, EXHAUST AND THE FRONT BRAKES. TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10002079
Incident
Dec 28, 2002
Steering
Filed Jul 23, 2002

INTERNAL FAILURE OF COMPONENT NOTED BY KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING GEAR BOX. ADDITIONAL PLAY IN STEERING NOTED AND OTHER OWNERS HAVE STATED SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
764653
Incident
Jul 22, 2002
Steering
Filed Apr 1, 2002

WHILE PLACING VEHICLE IN REVERSE THEN IN DRIVE STEERING WHEEL FELL ON DRIVER'S LAP, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8006724
Steering
Filed Jul 11, 2001

STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF PRIOR TO RECEIVING MANUFACTURER RECALL, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
562020
Incident
Jan 18, 2001
Heating & air conditioningSteeringTransmission
Filed May 29, 2001

STEERING WAS LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID NOT TO DRIVE BECAUSE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE ON RIGHT SIDE. *AK CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY, AIR CONDITION FAILED AND MAJOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR.*JB

NHTSA ID
889278
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
Steering
Filed May 15, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
745353
Incident
Apr 30, 2001
ElectricalSteering
Filed May 8, 2001

IN EVENING CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE AND EFFECTED STEERING COLUMN OPERATIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID
887658
Incident
Apr 30, 2001
EngineSteering
Filed Mar 1, 2001

ENGINE BELT CAME OFF, CAUSING STEERING FAILURE. DEALER REPAIRED BELT, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK WHEN DRIVING 38 TO 42 MPH STEERING WHEEL IS VIBRATING. CONSUMER STATES PRESSURE PULLEY OR TENSIONER KEEPS BREAKING BOLT, IT DOES NOT TAKE PRESSURE, AT SPEEDS ABOVE 38 MPH IT VIBRATES LIKE IT'S GOING TO COME OFF. *SLC

NHTSA ID
881860
Incident
May 1, 1998
AirbagsSteering
Filed Feb 14, 2001

THE PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD "FREEZE" & NOT TURN WHILE MAKING CORNERS SOMETIMES. THIS HAPPENED 4-6 TIMES BEFORE THE STEERING FINALLY "BROKELOOSE" AND ALLOWED ME TO STEER (IT HAS BEEN FOR THE MOST PART BEEN STEERING OK SINCE THIS HAPPENED). BUT, WHEN THIS HAPPENED ("BROOKLOOSE" IN THE STEERING COLUMN) THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE,(THE AIR BAG HAS NE VER DEPLOYED & THERE IS NO PASSANGER AIRBAG) & THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK SOMETIMES NOW. I FEEL THIS WAS/IS A PROBLEM & SHOULD BE LOOKED AT! I WOULD LIKE THE MGFR.(DODGE) TO ISSUE FREE INSPECTION CERTIFICATES & THEN OFFER TO FIX THIS IF IT A MGFR.'S DEFECT. ONLY THEN WOULD I FEEL COMPLETELY SAFE! *AK

NHTSA ID
740899
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Steering
Filed Jan 30, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL9700V305000/ STEERING WHEEL, AND HAS CONTACTED CARWAY CHRYSLER (911 NORTH SALISBURY BLVD. TELE 410-749-1301)ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE NOVEMBER 2000. DEALER CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T HAVE PARTS TO PERFORM RECALL. CONSUMER FELT RECALL WAS NOT BEING DONE IN TIMELY MANNER, AND WAS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
879295
Steering
Filed Jan 4, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE IN CONSUMER'S HANDS, THE METAL NEXT TO THE WELDS HAVE CONTINUOUS CRACKS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO RECALL 00V305. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558697
Incident
Dec 25, 1999
SteeringTransmission
Filed Dec 14, 2000

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. NLM

NHTSA ID
558573
Steering
Filed Aug 7, 2000

STEERING WHEEL BROKE AT THE BASE AND CLOCKSPRING BROKE. NLM

NHTSA ID
553568
Incident
Jun 14, 2000
Steering
Filed Jul 26, 2000
Crash reported

WHIILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVE WAY DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL BECAUSE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. VAN WAS REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
866051
Incident
Jul 21, 2000
Steering
Filed Jun 6, 2000

WHILE BACKING OUT STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
863125
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Body & structureSteering
Filed Mar 23, 2000

THE STEERING WHEEL JAMMED AND STUCK AFTER MAKING A TURN DUE TO A BROKEN SAFETY DEVICE (CLOCK SPRING) UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE AIR BAG, THE HORN AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT TO FAIL. YH

NHTSA ID
551500
Incident
Feb 20, 2000
Steering
Filed Mar 8, 2000

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH AND PULLING OUT A PARKING SPACE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PARTS BEING REPLACED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
858110
Steering
Filed Nov 5, 1999

WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF IN DRIVER'S HAND. WAS TURNING STEERING WHEEL COUNTER CLOCKWISH AT THE TIME. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HANGING BY THE WIRES. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED IT WAS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR. MECHANIC WILL REPAIR STEERING WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ID
852597
Incident
Oct 28, 1999
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningSteering+1 more
Filed May 14, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID
545593
Steering
Filed May 26, 1998

PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THE FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION. OBVIOUSLY CHRYSLER HAS NOT SOLVED THIS PROBLEM AS YOU MAY HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE SINCE BOTH THE ORGINAL AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS FAILED. ALSO, WHAT LEGAL REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME UNDER THE LEMON LAW?

NHTSA ID
536787
Incident
Jun 7, 1996
Seat beltsSteering
Filed Dec 4, 1997

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT FIT TIGHTLY INTO THE SEAT BELT HOLDER. DRIVER DOES NOT HEAR THE CLICK TO INDICATE THA TIT IS PROPERLY SECURED. *AK

NHTSA ID
523639
Incident
Oct 3, 1997

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 .