1996 Dodge Grand Caravan Steering Problems

WIFE WAS DRIVING 96 GRAND CARAVAN LE TO COLLEGE IN THE RAIN. WHEN SHE ARRIVED IN THE PARKING LOT STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN SO SHE PULLED IT STRAIGHT INTO PARKING SPOT. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW BELT HAD COME OFF. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE BUT CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AT HOME. AS SHE STARTED TO REVERSE OUT OF DRIVEWAY STEERING BECAME TOUGH AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS ALSO RAINING AT THIS TIME. THIS HAPPENED EARLY JANUARY 2011. AROUND MARCH 2010, AGAIN WHILE IT WAS RAINING, AS MY WIFE APPROACHED A STOP SIGN THE CAR BEGAN TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE AND SHE HAD TO GUIDE IT TO THE SIDE. SINCE IT WAS BLOCKING THE ROAD POLICE DID COME BY AND HELP PUSH IF OFF THE ROAD UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK CAME TO TAKE IT TO THE GARAGE. NEW BELT, IDLER PULLEY AND TENSIONER WAS INSTALLED BY MECHANIC. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT (APRIL 2011) PULLEY AND TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. LUCKILY THE SPEED WAS SLOW IN ALL INSTANCES AND NO INJURY OR DAMAGE WAS DONE...YET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395315

Incident

Apr 3, 2011

Mileage

187,090 mi

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LE 3.8. IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF 2 TIMES WHEN IT IS RAINING OUTSIDE OR THE VAN GOES THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED TWICE. I HAVE READ THAT OTHER DODGE OWNERS HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE WHEEL CANNOT BE CONTROLLED WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND MY WIFE IS SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR NOW. I THINK THAT DODGE HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO AS THEY HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, AND ARE NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS REPEATED SERIOUS SAFETY FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372161

Incident

Dec 21, 2010

1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - LIFETIME LUBRICATED TIEROD END SEPARATED RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING - THE RUBBER SEAL DETERIORATED THE GREASE WAS GONE AND THE BALL JOINT CORRODED TO THE POINT IT FELL APART - WIFE WAS PARKING THE VAN AT THE TIME - COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE SHE WAS 150 MILES FROM HOME AT THE TIME LESS THAN A MONTH LATER I SAW ANOTHER DODGE CARAVAN BROKE DOWN ON A HIGHWAY RIGHT FRONT TIRE NOT FACING AS IT SHOULD - I SUSPECT ANOTHER TIE ROD END FAILURE - NOW I KNOW THESE BEARINGS CAN BE MANUFACTURED SO THEY CAN NOT SEPARATE - AIRCRAFT ROD END BEARINGS COME TO MIND - ISN'T A LOSS OF STEERING A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO MAKE A PART SO IT CANT FAIL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10353220

Incident

Oct 10, 2003

Mileage

90,000 mi

STRUT TOWER, DRIVER'S SIDE IS EXTREMELY RUSTED - A HARD BUMP WILL CERTAINLY PUSH THE SUSPENSION SPRING ASSEMBLY THROUGH THE TOP CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238043

Incident

Aug 13, 2008

Mileage

154,000 mi

THE SERPENTINE BELT THAT RUNS THE CAR JUMPED OFF TRACK THE FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER WHEN IT WAS RAINING. I FIRST NOTICED MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER IT OVER HEATED. SO WHEN I GOT UNDER THE HOOD TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, IT WAS THE BELT IT WAS NOT BROKEN JUST OFF TRACK. HAD IT FIXED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON OCTOBER 25, 2003 SOME 3-4 WEEKS LATER. AGAIN IT WAS RAINING. THE PERSON WHO FIXED IT THE 2ND TIME STATES THAT EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND IF I GET WATER IN MY UNDERCARRAIGE IT IS GOING TO POP OFF. THIS IS VERY DISCOURAGING, I AM THE SINGLE MOTHER OF FOUR YOUNG GIRLS AND I SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VAN WHEN IT IS RAINING. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE SOME SENSE OUT OF THIS FOR ME.

NHTSA ID

10071154

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

Mileage

85,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE RACK AND PINION. ALSO, THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING OVER A MINOR BUMPS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10046485

Incident

Nov 4, 2003

Mileage

67,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE, AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. *AK CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1991 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - TENSIONER PULLEY. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10030125

Incident

Jul 20, 2003

Mileage

89,000 mi

CAMSHAFT ON 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FAILED (BROKE INTO TWO PIECES) WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE OHIO TURNPIKE WITH FAMILY (TWO YOUNG CHILDREN) IN THE VAN - FAILURE OF ALL POWER ASSIST AND FOWARD MOTION (OTHER THAN COASTING) WAS IMMEDIATE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT THE TIME AND IF THE ROAD HAD BEEN BUSIER THE POTENTIAL EXISITED FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE INJURY/DEATH. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 98,100 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME (3.3L ENGINE). THIS FAILURE MAY BE RELATED TO CHRYSLER TSB 09-008-01 WHICH DISCUSSES CAMSHAFT FAILURE WITH CAMSHAFT BEARING WEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DAIMLER/CHRYSLER "STEP UP TO THE PLATE" ON THE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE OCCURING. I WILL BE CONTACTING D/C TO PURSUE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE NEW ENGINE AS AN EVENT LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR.

NHTSA ID

10028717

Incident

Jul 7, 2003

Mileage

98,100 mi

MR

NHTSA ID

768493

AIR CONDITIONERCONDENSER/DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR/TIE ROD, TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE, AND O2 SENSOR WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND FROM THE EXHAUST AREA. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. IN ADDITION, SERPENTINE BELT AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. *JB. *AK

NHTSA ID

567168

Incident

Aug 17, 2001

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED COMPUTER PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE BEING DRIVEN. NLM

NHTSA ID

567054

EA 01 007 AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING: CONSUMER STATES THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING, ALSO THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER NOTIFIED. *JB DEALER STATED IT COULD BE A BAD WIRE INT HE STEERING COLUMN OR THE CLOCK SPRING, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM UNLESS STEERING WHEEL IS TAKEN APART. *TT

NHTSA ID

8010726

Incident

May 1, 2002

WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND THEN A LOUD POP. WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE OFF CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY WAY TO CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

8010077

Incident

May 18, 2002

I HAVE A GRAND CARAVAN ES PURCHASED NEW IN 1996. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THE AIR BAG, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HORN ALL QUIT AT ONCE. BEING UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN CLOCK (SP.) SPRING LOCATED BEHIND THE AIR BAG. THIS DEVICE APPARENTLY AFFECTS ALL THREE NON-WORKING SYSTEMS, AND WAS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM, $350 TO FIX. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS AND A RECALL "COULD BE IN THE WORKS" ADDITIONALLY, FOR SOME REASON DURING COLD WEATHER MY TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING, AS THE LEVER ENTERS THE STALK IN THE CLOCK SPRING AREA I SUSPICION IT IS AFFECTING THEM ALSO.

NHTSA ID

757281

Incident

Dec 1, 1998

WATER GETS ON POWER STEERING BELT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001967

BELT TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS COMPONENT HAS FAILED. THIS IS ALSO THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS TIME THE PROBLEM IS THE CLOCK SPRING, ALSO CAUSING THE HORN AND AIR BAG SYSTEM TO BE INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ID

751455

Incident

Feb 2, 2001

BATTERY CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID INTO WIRING COVER AND AIR CLEANER HOUSING CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START, BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND BEGAN TO LEAK AGAIN APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, SEVEN MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY HAD TO BE BOOSTED TO START VEHICLE, AGAIN DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BATTERY WAS REPLACED A FOURTH TIME ALONG WITH A FAULTY STARTER. *SLC

NHTSA ID

562605

Incident

Oct 7, 1997

I HAVE HAD MY SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AT 32000 (UNDER WARRANTY) AND ONCE AT 73000 MILES. THE DEALER CHARGED ME THE FULL $200 FOR THE REPAIR IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT I'D HAD IT REPLACED AT 32000M AND IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A SERVICE BULLITIN. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE POWER STEERING TO CEASE OPPERATING. I ALSO HAD A BROKEN GEAR TOOTH IN MY TRANSMISSION AT 73,000M. THE DEALER WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME $2100 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT I DECIDED TO TAKE IT ELSEWHERE AND HAVE YET TO HAVE IT FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ID

749507

Incident

Jul 31, 2001

VEHICLE LOSES POWER ASSIST IN RAIN OR WHILE RIDING THROUGH A WATER PUDDLE. CONSUMER WAS TURNING INTO A SUBDIVISON AND STEERING GOT HARD. CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A LARGE BRICK PLANTER. HAS CONTACTED CHRYSLER BY WRITING LETTERS AND MAKING PHONE CALLS, BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE TENSIONER AND BELT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS SLIPPING WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. *YD

NHTSA ID

889552

Incident

May 14, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DURING SNOWY CONDITIONS POWER ASSIST STEERING BELT TENSIONER BROKE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM THE CONSUMER AS TO WHY THIS DEFECT HAPPENED. APPROXIMATELY FOUR WEEKS AFTER THIS EVENT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AGAIN, THIS TIME RACK AND PINION STEERING CAUSED THIS DEFECT. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO FLUID BURNING, NOTHING MORE SPECIFIC WAS SAID. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

885991

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

VEHICLE TRAVELS THROUGH WATER AND POWER ASSISTED STEERING CONTROL GOES OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

885166

Incident

Nov 1, 1999

A PIECE INSIDE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL UNIT BROKE. ALSO, AIR BAGS/ HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK

NHTSA ID

884715

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

SLOW DRIVING 25MPH THRU 1-4" STANDING WATER CAUSES STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME EXTREMELY UNRESPONSIVE & HARD TO TURN.

NHTSA ID

740811

Incident

Feb 1, 2001

ON FREEWAY, HEARD CLUNK, WAM...POWER STEERING DIED, ABOUT LOST CONTROL AS STEERING WENT MANUAL. TOW GUY SAID THESE FAIL ALOT. WHEN WILL NHTSA RECALL THESE THINGS...? WHEN SOME ONE DIES...?*AK

NHTSA ID

738386

Incident

Jun 1, 2000

BELT TENSIONER LOCKED UP TWICE IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING CONTROL AND POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE POWER STEERING BELT WAS THROWN OFF THE BELT TENSIONER AND DESTROYED TWICE, ONCE IN MARCH 2000 AND AGAIN IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. *AK

NHTSA ID

736314

Incident

Nov 13, 2000