1997 Dodge Caravan Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHENEVER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER, CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO BECOME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THREE DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS RECONNECTED EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ID

10574469

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE WINDOWS BECAME FOGGY, CAUSING VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER THE CONTACT HAD JUST REPLACED THE SERPINITINE BELT 2,000 MILES PRIOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,000.

NHTSA ID

10465246

Incident

Jul 9, 2012

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE ROD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED.THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10456088

Incident

Apr 22, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WOULD NOT STEER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND THEN IT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. THE BELT WAS PUT REPLACED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10342195

Incident

Jul 8, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

ON RAINY DAYS WHEN MAKING SHARP LEFT TURN, THE 97 DODGE CARAVAN (3.0 V6) LOOSES POWER STEERING AND GOES OUT OF CONTROL. THE SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT SLIPPED OUT OF THE TENSIONER PULLEY CAUSING THE POWER STEERING LOSS LEADING TO THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING IN ADDITION TO THE ROAD BEING WET AND SLIPPERY. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH OR DEADLY ACCIDENT IF THIS CONDITION HAPPENS. THIS CONDITION HAPPENED FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217100

Incident

Feb 2, 2008

Mileage

141,562 mi

WHILE DRIVING OVER WATER PUDDLES CONSUMER NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT FROZE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. *AK THE POWER STEERING HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE GEARS WOULD SLIP WHEN SHIFTED, THE WATER PUMP LEAKED, THE BELT TENSIONER FELL APART, THE CONSUMER WOULD LOSE THE STEERING WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER,THE A/C DID NOT BLOW COOL AIR DUE TO A LEAKING EVAPORATOR, AND THE BELT TENSIONER WOULD STICK AND MAKE NOISES WHEN DRIVING THROUGH WATER. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10057730

Mileage

11,475 mi

I OWN A 1997 DODGE CARAVAN, WITH APPROX 139,000 MILES ON IT. I JUST READ IN THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATING DAIMLER-CHRYSLER'S 1998-1999 DODGE CARAVANS/CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRYS/PLYMOUTH VOYAGERS. THE ARTICLE STATES THE VANS HAD A DEFECT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL/AIRBAG. MINE IS DOING THIS EXACT THING. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING. PLEASE INCLUDE THE 1997 MODEL YEARS IN THE INVESTIGATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056446

Incident

Dec 24, 2003

Mileage

137,000 mi

WE HAVE HAD OUR VEHICLE SINCE 1999 AND HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH ITS PERFORMANCE. THIS IS OUR THIRD CHRYSLER/DODGE VAN AND THIS IS THE SECOND OF THE THREE TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE FIRST HAD THEM AT 37,000 MILES AND THIS ONE IS HAVING THEM AT 71,000 MILES. WE WERE SMART ENOUGH TO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR BOTH VEHICLES, UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE CURRENT VAN THE WARRANTY RAN OUT LAST MONTH...BESIDES THE POOR ENGINEERING OF THE TRANSMISSIONS THIS VAN HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE ROD AND FRONT END NOISE AS WELL AS GOING THROUGH FRONT BRAKES RELATIVELY QUICKLY (WE DO NOT DRIVE IT ROUGHLY AND IT IS MAINLY USED TO TRANSPORT OUR KIDS AROUND OUR COMMUNITY APPROXIMATELY. 12000 MILES OR LESS A YEAR SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043534

Incident

Oct 21, 2003

Mileage

70,502 mi

THE VEHICLES RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015954

Incident

Apr 15, 2003

Mileage

190,000 mi

WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009470

Incident

Feb 23, 2003

CONSUMER STATE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN PARK IT AUTOMATICALLY JUMPS INTO REVERSE GEAR. TS

NHTSA ID

8023791

Incident

Nov 2, 2002

CONSUMER STATES CLOCK SPRING DOES NOT WORK IN HER TRUCK WHICH PREVENT HER AIR BAG, AND THE HORN FROM WORKING. CONSUMER STATES SHE WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THAT IT MIGHT BE A RECALL COMING UP ON THIS PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE COULD NOT BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. TS

NHTSA ID

8023087

Incident

Sep 15, 2002

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID

769848

Incident

Apr 29, 2002

HEARD A CLICK WHEN TURNING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THEN, LATER ON STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, THEY SAD IT MIGHT BE THE RACK AND PINON OR POWER STEERING THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.*AK *YD

NHTSA ID

8009157

Incident

May 2, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

759601

Incident

Sep 21, 1997

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGING ON COLD START. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *TT

NHTSA ID

564629

Incident

Nov 16, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH LOST STEERING. DEALER REPLACED TENSIONER BELT THAT HAD FALLEN OFF. THIS HAD HAPPENED IN DECEMBER 2000, AT 30000 MILES. DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION ON 15 NOVEMBER, 2001 DEALER NOTICED TENSIONER BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

899231

Incident

Oct 1, 1998

WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CLAIM 23-1389-946. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900630

Incident

Aug 19, 2001

TIE ROD END BECAME DISASSEMBLED WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL. THE KNUCKLE CAME OUT OF THE CUP RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, LUCKY WE WERE NOT ON FREEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

749014

Incident

Jul 22, 2001

ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURES HAVE RESULTED IN FIVE VISITS, FOUR REPAIRS - COUNTING THIS CURRENT INCIDENT. WARRANTY ISSUES HAVE PREVENTED IMMEDIATE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH WE HOLD AN EXTENDED GOLD WARRANTY. DEALER CLAIMS CLOCKSPRING INVOLVEMENT - CUSTOMER CLAIMS OPERATION PERFECT WITHOUT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. CUSTOMER LEFT CLOCKSPRING UNREPAIRED DUE TO WARRANTY ISSUE, SINCE, A POSSIBLE RECALL IS UNDER REVIEW. CUSTOMER REFUSES PAYMENT FOR REPAIR. DODGE IS UNRESPONSIVE. DEALER IS UNRESPONSIVE. LAWSUIT WILL BE PURSUED. *AK

NHTSA ID

743937

Incident

Oct 12, 2000

DEALERSHIP REPAIRED DEFECT OF AIRBAG/STEERING COLUMN/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS LAST FEBRUARY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THESE DEFECTS HAVE OCCURRED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

883491

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING SERPENTINE BELT WOULD BECOME LOOSE. WOULD HAVE NO PRIOR WARNING. IT CAUSED PROBLEM WITH STEERING.*AK THE LOOSE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED POWER STEERING LOSS AS WELL AS POWER BRAKES AND COOLING FAN. *YH

NHTSA ID

881889

RACK AND PINION WAS LOCKING UP ON TURNS CAUSING DIFFICULTY TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *SLC

NHTSA ID

878324

Incident

Jan 2, 2001

HAD JUST TURNED ON AIR CONDITIONER WHEN CONDENSATION STARTED TO BUILD UP & DRIPPED ON BELT CONTROLLING STEERING. THIS CAUSED BELT TO SLIP & LOSS OF POWER STEERING. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #19-01-97 REVISED A WAS SENT ON THE PROBLEM. REPLACING AIR CONDITIONER. *AK THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WAS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW BY THE MANUFACTURER, ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR. *YH

NHTSA ID

875967

PARKING BRAKE CABLE FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

556589

Incident

Nov 3, 1998