EngineSteering
Filed Feb 22, 2005
THE SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUOUSLY SLIPS OFF WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10112852
- Incident
- Nov 11, 2004
1994 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 Feb 22, 2005
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 644 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.
3
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 1994 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
Steering
Filed Apr 22, 2003
Crash reported
THE VEHICLE TURNED LEFT UNEXPECTEDLY. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO RESPOND. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10017324
Steering
Filed Aug 18, 2001
BROUGHT VAN TO ATTENTION OF DEALER D/T DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS NOT AT UPRIGHT POSITION, COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO UPRIGHT POSITION. DEALER LUBRICATED IT, CHARGED US $40. DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. RETURNED VAN TO DEALER AFTER SEEING SIMILAR REPORTS REPORTED ON THIS SITE. DEALER SET UP APPOINTMENT FOR VAN TO BE RETURNED TO HAVE A BRACKET REPLACED. UNABLE TO FIX AT OUR APPOINTMENT D/T THEY HADN'T ORDERED THE PART. MECHANIC STATED THAT VAN WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, KEPT VAN WHILE AWAITING PART ARRIVAL SEVERAL DAYS LATER. REPLACED BRACKET AT THIRD APPOINTMENT. SEAT MARKEDLY WORSE, "SPONGY" AS WELL AS RECLINED. OBVIOUSLY NO SUPPORT, SEAT COULD BE RECLINED BY PUSHING WITH HAND, NO NEED TO RELEASE LEVER. DEALER INSISTED CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. ORDERED ADDITIONAL PARTS. UNABLE TO SERVICE CAR AT FOURTH APPOINTMENT D/T SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T HAVE TIME. DID PROVIDE RENTAL REPLACEMENT. AT FIFTH APPOINTMENT, BOTH SEAT TRACK RAILINGS ("ADJUSTER 23047006") WERE REPLACED; ONE WAS OBVIOUSLY BROKEN. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND SEAT NOW WORKS PROPERLY AND SAFELY.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 750713
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2001
Steering
Filed Aug 7, 2001
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY TIE ROD BROKE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 893711
- Incident
- Jun 26, 2001
AirbagsBody & structureSteering
Filed Jun 20, 2001
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES 99V113000/ AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT; 99V213000/LIFTGATE SUPPORT BRACKET, AND 00V305000/ STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN THE MAIL. WHEN DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS, SHE WAS TOLD THAT WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD NEVER BEEN EXAMINED FOR THESE RECALLS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 890808
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2001
ElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 29, 2000
1. VEHICLE IS INTERMITTENLY STALLING WHICH OCCURS AT ANYTIME AND WIHTOUT WARNING. 2. INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS ARE PREMATURLY WEARING OUT AND ARE IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 877184
Steering
Filed Mar 6, 2000
WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD PULLED OVER TO A NO PARKING ZONE, TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. THE BOLT THAT HELD THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF , THEY REPLACED IT. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 857943
- Incident
- Nov 25, 1998
BrakesSteering
Filed Dec 16, 1999
WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TURNED THE CORNER, BRAKED JUST A LITTLE, AND IT DIDN'T TURN IN THE DIRECTION DRIVER WANTED TO GO. GOING UP HILL WITH A/C ON, GOT BEHIND A BIG TRUCK, WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO SLOW DOWN, AND VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 853059
- Incident
- Apr 15, 1999
Steering
Filed Oct 14, 1999
MOUNTING BOLT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING SPRING-LOADED BELT TENSIONER TO FAIL. THIS RELEASED TENSION ON THE ACCESSORY BELT WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALSO CAUSED LOSS OF ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP WHICH MADE ENGINE OVERHEAT. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP.
- NHTSA ID
- 713283
- Incident
- Sep 15, 1999
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 27, 1999
WITHIN FOUR MONTHS WATER PUMP WENT OUT TWICE, AND FAN BELT POPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. ALSO, NO POWER STEERING, AND RADIATOR OVERHEATED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 848800
- Incident
- May 1, 1999
Heating & air conditioningSteeringTransmission
Filed Aug 9, 1999
THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THIS VEHICAL. BOTH HAVE OCCURED AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. THIS IS A FAMOUS PROBLEM NOW WITH THESE VEHICALS. COUNTLESS MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS "GO" AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. THE WEB HAS PAGES DEDICATED TO THE FACT THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS FAIL. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE THERE ARE MORE ACCIDENTS THAT PUT OUR TAXPAYING LIVES AT RISK. YOU SHOULD LOOK UP PAGES ON THE INTERNET THAT WILL DEMONSTRATE A CONSISTANT PATTERN OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT OR NEAR 70,000 MILES. ALSO AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD LOOK AT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING PROBLEMS FOR WHICH THERE IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SET OF WEB PAGES DEDICATED TO THESE PROBLEMS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THESE ENGINEERING PROBLEMS ARE COSTING OWNERS OF THESE CARS ENOURMOOS AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND SEVERELY JEOPRODIZING PEOPLES' SAFTEY!! THERE MUST BE SOME RECOURSE FOR THE SHODDY ENGINEERING OF CHRYSLER/DODGE!! DON'T STOP AT JUST THE AIRBAG PROBLEMS!! THE LARGE AMOUNT OF FAMLIES WHO OWN CHRYSLER/DODGE MINI-VANS AND THE SERIOUS SAFTEY PROBLEMS- IMAGINE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING INTO 2ND AT FIFTY ON AN ICY MN ROAD, OR THE STEERING COMING LOOSE PASSING AT 60MPH - THAT THESE CARS EXHIBIT AT REGULAR INTERVALS SHOULD BE ENOUGH REASON TO START AN INVESTIGATION.
- NHTSA ID
- 709757
- Incident
- Aug 6, 1999
Steering
Filed Feb 26, 1998
RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED.
- NHTSA ID
- 531510
- Incident
- Jan 25, 1998
EngineFuel systemSteering+1 more
Filed Feb 24, 1998
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED.
- NHTSA ID
- 531287
- Incident
- May 1, 1996
BrakesSteering
Filed Jul 3, 1997
REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER THREE TIMES. ALSO, FRON TBRAKE ROTORS/STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 603368
Steering
Filed May 1, 1997
RACK AND PINION FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
- NHTSA ID
- 516876
- Incident
- Jan 24, 1997
Steering
Filed Nov 4, 1996
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DRIFT INTO OTHER LANES. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 510852
- Incident
- Jul 1, 1996
Steering
Filed Aug 16, 1996
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING BELT TENSIONER BROKE . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 800977
- Incident
- Oct 1, 1995
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Aug 15, 1996
THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH GETTING THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON THE ELECTRO LOCK AT CAROL BURGER DODGE WORLD BECAUSE MS. MILLER DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE AT THERE DODGE WORLD. COLONIAL DODGE DEALERSHIP IS NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECALL.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 800927
- Incident
- Aug 15, 1996
Steering
Filed Jul 24, 1996
POWER STEERING PULLEY BOLT FRACTURED, CAUSING POWER STEERING FAILURE. *AW
- NHTSA ID
- 506590
- Incident
- Jun 24, 1996
Steering
Filed Jun 14, 1996
WHEN TURNING STEERING, IT LOCKS UP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 985626
Steering
Filed Apr 8, 1996
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 982472
- Incident
- Apr 5, 1996
Steering
Filed Mar 18, 1996
Crash reported
STEERING KNUCKLE BROKE, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING, RESULTING IN VEHICLE CRASHING INTO STONE WALL. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 980882
- Incident
- Mar 8, 1996
Steering
Filed Mar 13, 1996
STEERING BELT TENSIONER FRACTURED, LOST STEERING CAPABILITY. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 980685
- Incident
- Oct 5, 1994
Body & structureInterior & seatsSeat belts+3 more
Filed Mar 12, 1996
SUSPENSION FAILURE. *SD
- NHTSA ID
- 502605
- Incident
- Mar 12, 1996
Steering
Filed Jan 11, 1996
THE POWER STEERING HAS SLOW PROCESSING . TT
- NHTSA ID
- 977526
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .