2003 Dodge Caravan Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING STARTED TO FAIL WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE UPPER POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V386000 (STEERING) WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.

NHTSA ID

11403052

Incident

Jun 11, 2018

Mileage

108,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11099032

Incident

May 31, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAD ALREADY SENT INFO TO DOL (BELOW) ON 03 CARAVAN I FROM UNLICENSED DEALER MICHAEL RANKIN. PLEASE SEE COMPLAINT FORM INATTACHMENT -IT'S TOO LONG TO ADD. THEY'RE IN PROCESS OF CHARGING MICHAEL RANKIN ON 12 COUNTS FOR DIFFERENT VEHICLES SOLD,AND ASESSING MONETARY FINES. I HAVE DONE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS TO THIS POSTAL FLEET VEHICLE.ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCED MECHANISS AT 32,300 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD ALREADY BEEN REBUILT -IMPROPERLY. I'M COMPLAINING BECAUSE I WAS STUCK ON FAST MOVING ARTERIAL WITH LEAKING TRANSMISSION (UNSAFE CONDITION) BECAUSE OF IMPROPER REPAIRS ,AND COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE IN CONJESTED TRAFFIC 1621-72ND ST EAST,TACOMA,WA 98404. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THAT MOMENT AND AT ANOTHER DIFFERENT TIME WHEN DRIVING.THIS IS THE UNSAFE PART. THE MECHANIC CHARGED ME APPROXIMATELY $1500 AND ALSO TOLD ME IT HAD TRANSMISSION ALREADY REBUILT AND (4) LOOSE BOLTS ON PUMP SEAL, ALSO HAD A "PRE OWNED" USED? WRECKING YARD TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH WAS PAINTED BLACK INDICATING THE REBUILD OCURRED. HE ALSO STATED HOW THE 2 FRONT HALF SHAFTS (AXELS) WERE WORN OUT AND I HAD TO REPLACE THOSE, ABOUT $250. IT HAS BAD POWER STEERING PUMP-AND GROANING NOISES CURRENTLY (UNSAFE CONDITION) JUST LIKE WHEN I GOT IT (32.3K MILES) VEHICLE HAS A BAD AIR CONDITIONER NOT UNSAFE. *I HAVE JPEG PHOTOS AND RECEIPS FOR PARTS,AXELS, TRANSMISSION REPAIR AND FLUID I HAD TO BUY TO KEEP FLUID IN TRANSMISSION. PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT FOR COMPLAINT SENT TO WASHINGTON DOL , JOSH IS THE CONTACT.

NHTSA ID

11063819

Incident

Jun 10, 2017

Mileage

36,000 mi

WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT TURN ALLOWING ME TO START THE CAR. WHEN I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER THEY SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME TO INSERT THE KEY PULL IT TOWARDS ME THEN INSERT A FLAT HEAD SCREW DRIVER IN THE KEY AND TAP 2 TO 3 TIMES THEN TURN THE KEY. I WORKS LIKE THAT EACH TIME BUT THE SYMPTOMS MATCH THOSE DESCRIBED IN TV ADS PROMPTING DANGER OF HAVING THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN UNSUSPECTING AND CAUSING ACCIDENTS. WHAT CAN BE DONE? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10662170

Incident

Jan 4, 2013

WHEN IT IS RAINING OR ROAD IS WET THERE IS A TENDENCY TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING FOR A MOMENT , ONE TIME STEERING BECOME VERY STIFF CANNOT TURN RIGHT /LEFT , 2ND TIME WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND IT WAS RAINING COULD NOT CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE VEHICLE HEADING FOR 10 - 20 SECONDS, THIRD TIME REPEATED WHAT HAPPEN 2ND TIME ON SAT 29 NOV 2011. *TR

NHTSA ID

10434251

Incident

Oct 27, 2010

Mileage

40 mi

2003 DODGE CARAVAN POWER STEERING PROBLEM WHEN COLD START THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAKES A WHINING NOISE. AT THE BEGINNING THE POWER STEERING IS SOLID HARD, SO I CANNOT TURN THE WHEELS. AFTER A MINUTE THE CAR STRUTS DRIVING NORMALLY. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED BY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AFTER 2 YEARS AGAIN. WHEN YOU READ THE AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS FOR DODGE CARAVAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370628

Incident

Nov 12, 2010

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS A QUADRIPLEGIC WHO HAD A WHEELCHAIR INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE BY MANUFACTURERS NAMED INDEPENDENT DRIVING VEHICLE. BRAUN, ANOTHER MANUFACTURER HELPED TO PRODUCE VEHICLE EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE DRIVER TO SIT IN A WHEELCHAIR WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED AFTER HITTING A CURB AND DRIVING OVER AN ENTRAPMENT. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER (THE QUADRIPLEGIC) WAS KILLED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. A WITNESS TO THE CRASH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HEADING TOWARD A THREE-WAY INTERSECTION AND INSTEAD OF GOING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, THE VEHICLE DROVE STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10322664

Incident

Mar 22, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

I AM ON MY THIRD RACK AND PINION FOR THE STEERING MECHANISMS FOR THE 2003 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT THAT WE OWN. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005 WITH 28000 MILES WITHIN THE YEAR I REPLACED MY FIRST RACK AND PINION (2006). SINCE THEN I REPLACED ANOTHER ONE (2008) AND NOW AM HAVING TO REPLACE ANOTHER. I CAN'T AFFORD THIS AND AM HAVING TO CONTINUOUSLY DRIVE A CAR WITH DEFECTIVE STEERING. EVERY MECHANIC I CALL SAYS THAT THE DODGE VANS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HORRIBLE RACK AND PINIONS AND THAT NO ONE WILL WARRANTY THAT PART. CAN YOU HELP ME? THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED NOT JUST ACCEPTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320917

Incident

May 16, 2006

Mileage

34,000 mi

SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPING. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL YEAR MODELS OF CARAVAN AND HAVE FOUND THIS PROBLEM TO BE CONSTANT WITH ALL. DURING RAIN OR OTHER WATER ON THE ROAD CONDITION, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS ENOUGH TO INTERFERE WITH VEHICLE OPERATIONS UNTIL THE WATER IS DISPLACED FROM THE BELT. IF A DRIVER IS NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION OR IS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THE TIME, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ALTERNATOR, OR LOSE OF ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE AXLES. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE STUDIED AND REMEDIED TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCES. IF THE FIX CAN BE RETROFITTED TO PREVIOUS YEARS, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PROVIDE THE REPAIRS AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THIS CONDITION BEGAN WITH THE PURCHASE DATE THROUGH TODAY. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CONTAINED TO ONE ENGINE SIZE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242529

Incident

Aug 20, 2003

MY 2003, 6 CYL, 3.3L, DODGE CARAVAN, LOSES IT'S POWER STEERING WHEN IT RAINS AND YOU HIT EVEN A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER. THE WATER SHIELD IS IN PLACE. THE DODGE DEALER SAYS IT IS COMMON TO ALL THE CARAVANS AND THERE IS NO FIX. I CALLED MAIN DODGE HQ WHICH CONFIRMED THIS. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240746

Incident

Sep 2, 2008

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5-30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A POPPING, KICKING, AND CREEKING SOUND. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10235493

Incident

May 15, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. A NOISE WAS PRESENT IN THE ENGINE AREA. THE COLD WEATHER WAS A FACTOR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK AND THAT HER RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE A YEAR AGO. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE RACK AND PINION COULD RESULT IN HER LOSING STEERING CONTROL AND RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68000.

NHTSA ID

10234311

Incident

Dec 5, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

STEERING RACK AND RACK PROBLEMS 2003 DODGE CARAVAN WENT OUT AT 60,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226953

Incident

Jun 20, 2007

Mileage

64,449 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR MAKING A TURN AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT COULD HEAR A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE STEERING RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED TWICE BY THE DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID

10226856

Incident

Mar 28, 2008

Mileage

48,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SOUND FOR THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING, AND THEN IT WOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,380. UPDATED 05/20/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, REAR LIGHTS THAT WERE HANGING, THE REAR WIPER CAME OFF, THE SLIDING DOOR DID NOT SHUT PROPERLY. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE WATER PUMP WAS COMING APART THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND OIL PAN GASKET WERE LEAKING. UPDATED 05/20/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10226034

Incident

Nov 10, 2003

Mileage

18,380 mi

SOLUTION TO: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10218207 DETAILS: 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHINING NOISE WHEN ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. SOUNDS LIKE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUID, BUT LEVEL IS FINE. NO LEAKS ANYWHERE. MECHANIC CAN FIND NO APPARENT PROBLEM. IN WARMER WEATHER THE NOISE IS DIMINISHED, BUT STILL PRESENT. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. IT HAS 71,000 MILES. I TRIED A POWER STEERING CONDITIONER THAT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP WHINING. THE WHINING WORSENED FOR A WHILE. NEVER GOT BETTER. FROM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN IN THE FILLING TANK DESIGN FOR THE POWER STEERING ON THIS VAN. FILL WITH POWER STEERING FLUID ABOVE THE FULL MARK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FILL TUBE ON TOP BUT JUST BELOW THE FILLER CAP PLUG WHEN PUT BACK ON. THIS WILL STOP ALL NOISE FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221095

Incident

Mar 12, 2008

Mileage

22,000 mi

2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHINING NOISE WHEN ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. SOUNDS LIKE POWER STEERING PUMP. CHECKED FLUID, BUT LEVEL IS FINE. NO LEAKS ANYWHERE. MECHANIC CAN FIND NO APPARENT PROBLEM. IN WARMER WEATHER THE NOISE IS DIMINISHED, BUT STILL PRESENT. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. IT HAS 71,000 MILES. I TRIED A POWER STEERING CONDITIONER THAT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP WHINING. THE WHINING WORSENED FOR A WHILE. NEVER GOT BETTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218207

Incident

Oct 14, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE NOISE BECOMES LOUDER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THE LINES ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. HOWEVER, THE DEALER FAILED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 51,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID

10192500

Incident

Feb 1, 2006

Mileage

35,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, A NOISE WAS HEARD AND CONTINUED FOR 20 MINUTES. THE NOISE RETURNED ON EVERY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR AND PIPING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THE CONSUMER EXPLAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP DESIGN LOCATION AND INSTALLATION BY DODGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR THE NOISE PROBLEM BUT IT WAS NEVER RECALLED. THE SYSTEM DESIGN DID NOT ALLOW POWER STEERING FLUID TO RETURN FROM THE FLUID RESERVOIR TO THE PUMP AS QUICKLY AS THE PUMP DEMAND REQUIRED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10169336

Incident

Sep 25, 2006

Mileage

16,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT; A WHINING AND GRINDING NOISE IS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES. THE WATER PUMP, THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE REPAIRS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 2/24/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10148830

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

26,053 mi

TOOK MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN IN FOR AN OIL CHANGES AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP (AFTER HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE) THAT THE FOLLOWINGS THINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED ON THE VAN THAT ON HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT: STEERING RACK AND FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND BELT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146670

Incident

Nov 15, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE NOISE WAS INSPECTED. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR, RACK AND PINION STEERING, AND SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT WAS SEEKING A SECOND OPINION BEFORE MAKING ANY REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10146336

Incident

Nov 15, 2005

Mileage

47,000 mi

DT: CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A GROWLING NOISE. ON COLDER DAYS ONE COULD HEAR NOISE MORE OFTEN. IN WARM WEATHER ONE WOULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE AS OFTEN. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SUGGESTED HE CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10144059

Incident

Sep 30, 2004

MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN, WITH 40K MILES, WENT TO THE SHOP TODAY FOR NEW TIRES. AT THAT TIME I ALSO ASKED THAT THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT BE CHECKED AND CORRECTED, IF NECESSARY. A SHORT WHILE LATER I WAS CONTACTED BY THE MANAGER STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DUE TO THE TIE ROD ENDS BEING SO LOOSE AND WORN OUT. WE LIVE ON A PAVED ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A FRONT COLLISION OR EVEN HIT A CURB, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AWAITING NEW TIE ROD ENDS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PUT SUCH JUNK ON A CAR IN SUCH A CRITICAL SAFETY AREA. I WONDER HOW MANY MORE DODGE CARAVAN'S HAVE A SIMILAR SERIOUS PROBLEMS? *JB

NHTSA ID

10143499

Incident

Nov 22, 2005

Mileage

40,877 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V386000 CONCERNING THE STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE SOLUTION CALLED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MAKE THIS NOISE BEFORE THE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. *AK UPDATED DEC 7 2005. *JB

NHTSA ID

10143421

Incident

Nov 2, 2005