Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 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.
The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words
SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY GAS TANK, IT ALWAYS STOPS ME EVEN IF IT'S HALFWAY. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DOESN'T STAY WELL. THE HOLES WHERE THE ENGINE ALWAYS COMES OFF AND THERE'S A LOT OF SMOKE COMING OUT. THE HEADLINER IS COMING OFF AND THERE'S LIKE A SAND FALLING TO MY KIDS. THE BREAK IS NOT THAT STRONG
THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCK WERE EVER I STOP ,INTERNAL CONTROL FAILURE, RADIATOR HEAT CONSTANTLY WHEN I AM DRIVING ,
BACKED OUT OF GARAGE ON COLD MORNING AND COULDN'T TURN STEERING WHEEL (ESPECIALLY TO THE LEFT) UNTIL SEVERAL MINUTES OF IDLING AND FORCING TO EXTREME RIGHT AND THEN TO LEFT, SEVERAL TIMES, PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND EVEN AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL MILES, IT HAS HUNG UP ON LEFT TURNS REQUIRING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN AND JANKING TO LEFT IN COLD TEMPERATURES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. WHEN THE CONTACT REACHED HIS DESTINATION, HE NOTICED A MASSIVE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID. HE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AS INTENDED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V386000 (STEERING;HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST;HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS), BUT IT HAS PROVEN TO BE INSUFFICIENT AND HAS NOT PREVENTED FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,000.
FOR 2002 DODGE CARAVAN: MANY DODGE CARAVANS 2002 - 2004 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR ODI DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING POWER ASSIST HOSE, PIPING AND CONNECTION. THIS IS RECALL # D37. WHY IS MY VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL? MY VAN IS HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. I WANT MY CAR RECALLED AND FIXED, PLEASE. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 GRAND CARAVAN. THERE IS A LOUD WHINING SOUND FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM FROM THE TIME IT WAS PURCHASED. ORIGINALLY THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE MY COMPLAINT. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE RACK, PUMP AND LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS DONE AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE POWER STEERING FLUID BEGINS LEAKING AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT IT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,014 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,995.
I HAVE HAD 2 RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF HOWEVER THE STEERING IN MY 2002 CARAVAN STILL CONTINUES TO LOCK UP WHEN MAKING TURNS. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE MORE THAN ONE COLLISION BECAUSE THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC AND TURNING. I AM A BUSY MOTHER WITH FOUR CHILDREN WHO DEPEND ON ME FOR THEIR SAFETY. TODAY MY SON WHO IS IN COLLEGE BORROWED MY VAN TO GO TO SCHOOL AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS WHY I AM DOING RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU FORCE THE STEERING IT WILL FINALLY BREAK AWAY AND CONTINUE TO STEER HOWEVER YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT IT TO BE DEFECTIVE. I THOUGHT WHEN I TOOK CARE OF THE RECALLS THAT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM HOWEVER, WE STILL HAVE TO BATTLE WITH THIS PROBLEM ON A REGULAR BASIS. MOST OF THE TIME IT HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLDER. I HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF ANY NEW RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. WE KEEP A REGULAR CHECK ON THE FLUIDS SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMETHING BEING RESOLVED BEFORE ONE OF MY CHILDREN OR MYSELF END UP DECEASED. *TR
HAD RACK IN PINION AND FRONT END WORK DONE DECEMBER 28, 2005 AND TOOK BACK THE CAR ON JANUARY 2006 TWICE FOR FRONT END NOT BEING ALIGNED. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEAL TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IGNITION AND ALARM BECAUSE CAR WON'T START AND ALARM LIGHT WAS FLASHING. STEVE- FIXED THE ALARM BUT ALSO NOTICE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WON'T LOCK AND THE IGNITION WAS HAVING ISSUES STARTING CAR. HE SUGGESTED SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THEM FIXED, GOT THE CAR BACK TODAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL STILL ISN'T LOCKING. BACK IN DEC-JAN SERVICE DATES, DENSIE-SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT THEY REPLACED MY STEERING COLUMN WITH A REBUILT BECAUSE THE HAD ISSUES FIXING MY ORIGINAL ONE. NOW THE IGNITION ISSUES HAS HAPPENED AND THE DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE REBUILT STEERING COLUMN WAS NEVER REPLACED OR IN THE COMPUTER HISTORY. DENISE IS NO LONGER WORKING AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE IGNITION PROBLEMS. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THEREWAS A HUMMING NOISE AND TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD OR DAMP WEATHER. THE HUMMING NOISEWAS NOTICEABLE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL SEALS, GASKETS, THE POWER STEERING PUMP, SEVERAL HOSES ,AND WIRING. NONE OF THESE REPLACEMENT PARTS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THERE MAY BE A RECALL OR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITHIN A YEAR. *AK
I HEARD A "BANGING" NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH. SO I CALLED MY DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPT FOR MULTIPLE OF REASONS AND THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AGAIN WITH MY CAR; MY FRONT BRAKES (SHOE PADES, ROTOR'S TURNED) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND PREVIOUS TO THAT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHOE PADES AGAIN AT 19,000 MILES?? ALSO AT 19,000 MILES, THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE "BUSHINGS AND LINKS" FOR THE FRONT END AND AGAIN AT 45,000 MILES TWO DAYS AGO. I AM STRATING TO WONDER IF THERE IS A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN THE TWO PARTS GOING PREMATURELY. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES BECAUSE DUE TO THE WEAR/TEAR ON THEM BECASUE THEY WERE UNSAFE. THE DEALER WON'T WARRENTY THEM, SO I HAD TO BUY NEW SET OF TIRES AT 19,000 MILES. I THINK THE TIRES WORN OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO ALL THE FRONT END PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING. THERE ALSO HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF "POWER STEERING" ISSUES WITH MY VEHICHLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN TWO RECALLS ON THE POWER STEERING UNIT AND HAD THE DEALER TAKE CARE OF THEM.(HAD THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WON'T WORK AND IT LEAKED ALL OVER MY NEW DRIVEWAY) I 'VE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR "POWER STEERING" LEAKING. THE LATEST NEW WAS THE A "BOOT" OF SOME SORT IN THE "RACK-AND-PINION STEERING" WAS THE CAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING LEAK AND THEY ALSO FOUND AN OIL LEAK ON THE HEADCASK COVER TOO. AFTER EVERYTHING WAS FINALLY FINIHSED (AFTER 2 DAYS) I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME BUT I AM GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALSHIP BECAUSE NOW THE CAR IS SWAYING LEFT/RIGHT AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DID A FRONT END ALIGNEMENT BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK THEY HAD TO DUE TO THE VEHICLE. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT INSPECTED .THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD END BROKE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED DURING STATE SAFETY INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WORE OUT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
STEERING FAILURE. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING TO THE FAR LEFT OR RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS IN THAT POSITION AND RELEASES ONLY AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. IN NORMAL STRAIGHT AHEAD OPERATION THERE IS A VERY NOTICEABLE NOISE AND COMING FROM THE STEERING APPARATUS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, THEY OPTED TO DO NOTHING--SUGGESTED THAT I GET IT REPAIRED. *NM
THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS FAILED, ONLY TO ONE SIDE SO FAR--TO THE LEFT, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND/OR TURN TO THE LEFT. AT 51,000 MILES, I BELIEVE THIS IS VERY PREMATURE FOR A FAILURE AND CAN BECOME A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. CHRYSLER WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEREFORE, IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS AND/OR REQUESTED REPAIRS TO THIS ISSUE, I BELIEVE A RECALL IS JUSTIFIED TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND PREVENT VERY SERIOUS INJURY. *NM
CONTACT STATED: CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN. SHE HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED TWICE, BUT WAS STILL IS MESSING UP. WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION IT MADE A NOISE. CONTACT HAS THE LAST RECALL LETTER AND SHE COULD GET THE SERVICE INVOICES FROM DEALER IF WE NEEDED THEM.*AK
2002 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT. 1) VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH TILT-WHEEL. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO AJUST WHEEL. (2) TILT-WHEEL WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE, LEAVING STEERING WHEEL "FLOPPING" UP AND DOWN. EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. ALMOST CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT.*AK
POWER STEERING DOES NOT OPERATE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A CHECKUP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED FOR THE STEERING.*AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DRIVER NOTICED A LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING HOSES AND TRANSMISSION SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEN, DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEMS STILL OCCURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
WE HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP CHANGED FOUR TIMES. ON 7/22/03, WE BROUGHT THE VAN INTO WESTWAY DODGE, BECAUSE WE HAD A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING. THEY CONDUCTED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 19-006-02 AND INSTALLED A LONGER POWER STEERING HOSE. ON 7/31/2003, WE AGAIN BROUGHT IT IN TO WESTWAY, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A MOANING SOUND. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS LOW PRESSURE OUTPUT AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. ON SEPT. 15, 2003 WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE POWER STEERING COOLANT LINE RECALL. AFTER THAT TIME, THE DEALER ADVISED US THAT IT WAS STILL MAKING NOISE BUT IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER THE LINES GOT BROKE IN. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL, AT TIMES, IS DIFFICULT TO TURN. NOVEMBER 26, 2004, WE TOOK OUR VAN IN FOR THE UPPER POWER STEERING PUMP RECALL. WE BROUGHT IT TO MACK MASSEY DODGE AT 950 CROCKETT, EL PASO, TX 79922. OUR SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS RALPH GARCIA (TELEPHONE 915-231-4193). HE ARRANGED TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. I ALSO ASKED HIM TO INVESTIGATE A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 27, 2004, THE UPPER POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CHANGED. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE PUMP AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY MR. GARCIA, THAT THE PUMP LEAKED AND COMPLETELY FELL APART?. MR. GARCIA STATED THEY WOULD CHANGE THE PUMP AGAIN, CHECK IT FOR LEAKS. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. ON DECEMBER 3, 2004, WHILE DRIVING TO PHOENIX, I EXPERIENCED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & WARNING TONE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO LAS CRUCES, NM AND TOOK IT TO THE SANDOVAL DODGE SERVICE CENTER, WHICH WAS CLOSER TO ME AT THE TIME. MR. RUDY SANDOVAL ( PHONE: 800-499-1403) HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED. I SPOKE WITH MR. SANDOVAL TODAY, (12/6/2004) AND HE STATED THEIR REPAIR DEPARTMENT HAD DONE THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE RECALL AND ALSO FOUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BE LEAKING AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS STILL BEING REPAIRED AS OF 12/7/2004. *JB
THE CONSUMER HEARD A SHUTTERING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *TC THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING WAS THE PROBLEM AND HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. ALSO WHEN THE A/C WAS TURNED ON, IT MADE A LOUD NOISE. *SC *JB
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04V386000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE: TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND CONSUMER CONTINUED TO SMELL SOME TYPE OF FLUID BURNING, AND STEERING WHEEL FELT LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DEALER INFORMATION AT THIS TIME.*AK
VEHICLE WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, MAKING IT HARD TO TURN. *AK
BROUGHT MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN IN FOR A RECALL REPLACEMENT ON THE UPPER POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE , I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP THINKING MY VAN WAS OKAY BOY WAS I WRONG THE NEXT DAY MY VAN STARTED POURING POWERSTEERING COOLANT ON THE GROUND AND IT MADE A HORRIBLE WHIRLING SOUND , I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AN WAS TOLD TO BRING IN AND I DID BUT WHEN I GOT AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY ACTED LIKE I NEVER CALLED AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT MY VEHICHLE , WELL I DEMANDED A LOOK BEFORE I LEFT AND WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS AND IF THERE WERE THEY WOULD NOT COVER THEM DUE TO THERE STUPIDNESS THAT THEY DONT HAVE TIME AND IF PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS TO BRING BACK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS , KEEP IN MIND MY POWER STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING HORRIBLY EVERYWHERE AND THAT IS WHAT I WAS THERE TO FIX IN THE BEGINNING BECAUSE IT WOULD CATCH FIRE , SO I TOOK TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY RACK N PINNION POWER STEERING WAS BURNT UP DUE TO FAULTY INSTALLERS OF THE HOSE . I AM GOING TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED CORRECTLY AND FOR FREE . DAIMER CHRYSLER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DISCREPANCY AND TOLD ME TO TAKE TO ANOTHER DODGE DEALERSHIP . SO DONT DEAL WITH ELDER RANDALL AUTOPLEX IN MARSHALL, TX.. THEY DO NOT GIVE U INFORMATION ON THE REPAIR BEING DONE AND U HAVE TO COMPLAIN TO GET IT, SUPPOSEDLY THEY ARE MAILING IT TO ME - WHO KNOWS . I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DODGE EVER AGAIN THEY ARE UNRELIABLE AND DISHONEST PEOPLE.*AK
POWER STEERING PUMP MAKES A LOUD WHIN OR GROWL WHEN TURNING. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE. I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE 25 MILES TO THEIR SHOP WITH THE SOUND BUT BY THE TIME THEY GET THEIR TECH OUT TO CHECK IT, IT QUITS. ANOTHER MECHANIC HAS HEARD IT AND SUGGESTED IT IS A PRESSURE RESISTENCE VALVE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE PUMP APPROX 15 MONTHS AGO AND IT QUIT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS THEN IT BEGAN AGAIN. IT HAS GOTTEN INCREASINGLY MORE OFTEN AND LOUDER. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE MANUFATURER WILL NOT ALLOW ANOTHER "RANDOM" CHANGE OF THE PUMP UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE ABOUT 4000 MILES LEFT ON THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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