Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 53 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 53, in the owner's own words
MY STEERING WHEEL ACTS UP WHEN IT RAINS OUTSIDE MAKES IT HARD TO STEER MY LEFT SIDE SPEAKERS WENT OUT THE TAPE DECKS NEVER WORKED ON MY VAN MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GOES DOWN BUT SEEMS TO HAVE DIFFICULT GOING UP MY SLIDING DOORS SEEM TO HAVE DIFFICULTIES AT TIMES THE RIGHT SIDE NEVER OPENS
I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR JUST TURN OFF,I TURN BACK ON WHIT NO PROBLEM AND TIME LATER PASSES AGAIN,SOMETIMES TURN OFF 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY AND SOMETIMES WORK FINE, THE COMPUTER SHOWS NO CODE, AND I CHANGE MANY THING TRYING TO FIX IT, SPARK PLUGS, RELAY FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUG WIRES, RELAY STARTER. I WENT WHIT THE MECHANIC FOR CHECK THE FUEL PUMP AND IS GOOD. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. THANKS. *TR
WHENEVER IT RAINS, IN PORTLAND OREGON, THAT IS ALL THE TIME, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. YOU CAN HEAR THE BELT SLIPPING AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL WARNINGS GO ON. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. DUE TO THE DANGERS OF THIS PROBLEM, WE WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT IS OR HAS BEEN RAINING. *TR
I ENTERED COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ABS BRAKING, STEERING, WINDOW MOTORS AND ENTIRE RUSTING UNDER CARRAIGE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE DOORS HAD TO BE TAKEN APART IN ORDER TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 77,000. UPDATED 07/27/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN BROKE, THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WAS INCORRECTLY FIXED AT THE DEALER. THE ELECTRIC TAIL GATE DOESN'T WORK. ONE OF THE TAIL LIGHTS CAME OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE INTERSTATE, THE HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED THE LEFT ND RIGHT WINDOW REGULATORS BROKE, THE FUEL PUMP BROKE OFF AND THE ABS SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 08/01/11
THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE ON MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT AND AN ESTIMATED 500 DOLLARS IS NEEDED TO FIX IT. IT HAS UNDER 99,000 MILES. *TR
THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS FAILED DURING OPERATION ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON A TRIP TO PROVIDENCE RI WHERE THE RESERVOIR FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE REACHED OUR DESTINATION WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, AS STEERING WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE -- MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE PUMP HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN 2007. ON THIS OCCASION, THE SEALS AND RACK WERE REPLACED FOR $800. SINCE THAT TIME, THE POWER STEERING HAS DRAINED COMPLETELY AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN HOSE AND BROKEN SEALS. THIS HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER 2009 AND JANUARY 2010. THE HOSE WAS FIXED IN NOVEMBER FOR 150. THE BROKEN SEALS/HOSE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER REPAIR. I UNDERSTAND FROM OUR MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *TR
TWICE EARLIER THIS YEAR I HAD TWO POWER STEERING HOSES BLOW OUT ON ME WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY PULL-OVER AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. *TR
POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, PULLING ME INTO A PICKUP TRUCK AND "TOTALING" MY 2002 DODGE GRANDCARAVAN BEYOND INSURED RECOVERY. NOTE: I HAD POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE REPLACED AS INSTRUCTED IN 2004 RECALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING:RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING FLUID AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER BECAUSE IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,234. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF UPDATED 07/15/08
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED PUDDLES OF LIQUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR WHERE HIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED. WHEN HE TOOK IT FOR MAINTENANCE HE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH HIS LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING BOX WAS LEAKING AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING BOX BEGAN LEAKING FOR THE SECOND TIME. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ADDITIONAL LEAKING, BUT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE ORIGINAL FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE SECOND FAILURE WAS IN 6/2005 WITH A FAILURE MILEAGE OF 24,000. THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS AT 47,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A TENDENCY TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1 AND 60 MPH. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A U-JOINT AT THE END OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT FREEZES AND CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THE FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD OF THIS DEFECT AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF UPDTATED
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-20 MPH, THE BRAKES SQUEALED AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STILL STOPPED NORMALLY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT ROTORS WERE CUT, AND THE REAR DRUMS WERE CUT AND ADJUSTED AT 9,000, 22,000, 33,000, 45,000, AND 61,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE BRAKES HAVING A LOT OF WEIGHT ON THE FRONT END. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE DEALER STATED POWER STEERING NOISE, VEHICLE REVVING ON HILLS. UPDATED 11/14/07 *TR
MY VANS POWER STEERING STARTED TO WHINE AND VIBRATE DURING THE COLD DRIVING UNTIL IT WARMED UP A YEAR AGO, CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THE POWER STEERING FOR MY VAN. TOOK THE CAR IN BUT BY THE TIME I HAD DRIVEN THERE IT WAS NOT MAKING ANY NOISE SO NOW THEY ARE ACTING AS IF THE SOUND IS ALL IN MY HEAD. LOOKED UP RECALLS ON YOUR WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE HOSES BUT THE DEALERSHIP STILL SAYS NO RECALL. THE NOISE IS WORSE AND SO IS THE VIBRATION I FEAR A FAILURE BUT NO ONE WILL FIX WHAT ISN'T HEARD. AFTER READING SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *JB
WE HAVE CHASED POWER STEERING ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN OF MY 2002 GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. NOISE , SHAKING AND VIBRATING. LOCAL DODGE DEALER REPLACED EVERYTHING - PUMP, RESERVOIR , LINES , SERVICE BULLETINS AND RECALLS. EVEN REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AT 70,000 BY THE 6TH TRIP IN , THEY REPLACED THE RESERVOIR SCREEN . FIXED ALL NOISE AND ISSUES . NOW , AT 110,00 MILES ,THE RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING LIKE A SIEVE AND NO ONE WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE THAT THIS PART ONLY HAS 35,00 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS NOT THE BROKEN PART IN THE FIRST PLACE . *AK
THE RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO LEAK ON OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. WE HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED IN FALL OF 2005 AFTER HAVING TROUBLE WITH STEERING. NOW IN MARCH OF 2007 WE ARE TOLD BY THE SERVICE SHOP THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND THAT THESE VANS TEND TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. UPON CONTACTING CHRYSLER THEY INFORM US THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP US REPLACE THIS PART BECAUSE THE VAN IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO START WITH A NOISE WHEN WE TURN THE WHEEL, EVENTUALLY BECOMING VERY LOUD AND HARD TO TURN AS THE PROBLEM WORSENS. *JB
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY.AIRBAG FAULTY . DEALER REPLACED THEM AT COST $338.00. SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED WITH ONLY 44450 MILES ON 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. VERY DISSAPPOINTED WITH THIS VEHICLE,ALWAYS IN SHOP. ENGINE 4 TIMES,TIE ROD ENDS, BRAKE CALIPERS ,AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP. ETC. *AK
REPLACEMENT OF BOTH LINK SWAY ELIMINATORS AND BUSHINGS AND NUTS ALL WERE LOOSE AND WORN, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME REPLACED. *NM
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ON GARAGE FLOOR. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE POWER STEERING RACK AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CHYRSLER AGREED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR. 18 MONTHS LATER THE SYSTEM IS LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER IS AGAIN SAYING THAT IT IS THE POWER STEERING RACK AND THAT IT NEEDS REPLACED YET AGAIN. CHRYSLER WILL NOT ASSIST IN ANY WAY ON THE $1,100.00 REPAIR. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AT A STOP LIGHT WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE HEATING VENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD. THE SMOKE BEGAN TO TURN BLACK AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE DASHBOARD VENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO PLASTIC BURNING. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE SAME SMELL INTERMITTENTLY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THERE WAS A HOSE LEAKING FLUID AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT DOES NOT RECALL THE TYPE OF FLUID LEAKING OR THE TYPE OF HOSE THAT WAS REPLACED. THE SMELL CONTINUED HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. UPDATED ON 05/30/2006. *AK
2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT WITH 35,000 MILES. RECALLED TWICE FOR STEERING FLUID HOSE REPLACEMENTS IN 2004. AFTER FIRST HOSE WAS REPLACED, MINIVAN STARTED LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE FOR ANOTHER STEERING HOSE REPLACEMENT. TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THAT REPLACED, TOLD THEM TO LOOK INTO THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, THEY SAID THEY WOULD. THEY FIXED THE RECALL HOSE, MADE NOT MENTION OF LEAKING FLUID. FLUID DID NOT LEAK FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THEN STARTED LEAKING AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK IN FOR 3RD RECALL (RADIO VENT SLOTS), AS WELL AS SMOKING ENGINE AND AGAIN MENTIONED LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY'D LOOK INTO IT. DEALERSHIP CONDUCTED 27 POINT INSPECTION ON OWN WILL, DID NOT FIND LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID (AUG. 2005). FLUID HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE THEN. NOISE IN POWER STEERING CONSISTENTLY AUDIBLE, AND INCREASINGLY LOUDER AT ALL TIMES. NOW, DEALERSHIP SAYS THE RACK AND PINION ARE CRACKED AND NEED REPLACING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS IN NO WAY RELATED TO POWER STEERING HOSE RECALLS OR NEGLECT TO ADDRESS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. AM TAKING MINIVAN TO INDEPENDENT TECHNICIAN FOR REVIEW OF RACK AND PINION AND OPINION ON NEXT STEP. *JB
POWER STEERING WAS LOCKING IN COLD WEATHER DURING INITIAL START UP. FIRST REPORTED 4/05, DEALER STATED IT WAS CAUSED BY PROBLEM WITH HOSES WHICH HAVE A RECALL, RECALL PERFORMED, AND VEHICLE RETURNED. (NOT FIXED), RETURNED VEHICLE AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY VERIFIED PROBLEM STILL AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP *DUE TO LOW PRESSURE". I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, SINE THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED IN COLD WEATHER THROUGH THE SUMMER IT WAS FINE UNTIL EARLY DECEMBER AGAIN THE PROBLEM WAS BACK BUT EVEN WORSE, THIS TIME IT WAS ALSO HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER "OF COURSE IT WAS NOW OUT OF MANUFACTURE WARRANTY", HOWEVER DEALER AGREED TO FIX PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD PRIOR HISTORY. THEY VERIFIED PROBLEM BY SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC THE DAY I BROUGHT IT IN, HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THEY HAD MY VAN FOR 3 WEEKS, DURING THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO WITH IT BUT WERE NOT GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE SAFETY ISSUE. I EVEN TRIED TO GET CHRYSLER INVOLVED AND THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK EVEN THOUGH I LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES AND WAS PROMISED A CALL BACK. FINALLY THE DEALER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT STEERING RACK. I GOT IT BACK, IT WAS FINE FOR 4 DAYS AND PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND WOULD LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO WAS HANDLING MY CASE. IT HAS NOW BEEN 4 DAYS AND NO RETURN CALL. MEANTIME IM DRIVING AROUND AND UNSAFE CAR, PAYING OVER $600.00 A MONTH. IM VERY UPSET THERE ISN'T MORE THAT CAN BE DONE AGAINST THESE COMPANIES PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. *NM
POWER STEERING PUMP MAKING LOAD NOISES AGAIN. HAD HOSES REPLACED DUE TO PREVIOUS RECALL ABOUT A YEAR AGO. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V386000 REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS THERE HAS BEEN A SHUDDER IN THE STEERING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *AK
POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK AND PINION SEALS, TRANSMISSION SOLENIOD PACK. ON DEC 16, 2003 I TOOK VAN IN FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER DID A RECALL JOB ON THE POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE. 1 WEEK LATER THE POWER STEERING STARTED GROWLING. I CHECKED FLUID AND NOTICED THE PUMP WAS DRY. APPARENTLY THE DEALER DIDN'T TOP OFF THE FLUID. I FILLED RESEVIOR AND DROVE BUT IT STILL HAD A LITTLE GROWL IN THE POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE SAME DEALER ON NOV 19, 2004 FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ANOTHER POWER STEERING HOSE RECALL AND TOLD THEM THE STORY AND TO CHECK OUT PUMP. THEY SAID THE PUMP CHECKED OUT OK BUT THERE WAS A LITTLE NOISE WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS BUT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO REPLACE THE PUMP. I TOLD THEM I WOULD BRING BACK IN COLDER WEATHER BECAUSE IT WAS STIFF TO STEER. I RETURNED ON 2/22/2005 BECAUSE THE PUMP WAS REALLY GROWLING AND IT WAS HARD TO STEER. THE DEALER CHECKED THE PUMP SAID IT WAS LOW BUT THEY DID NOTICE LEAKS FROM THE RACK N PINION AND TRANSMISSION SOLENIOD PACK. I ASKED THEM IF THIS WAS DUE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THEY SAID NO. I EXPLAIND I PURCHSED THE VEHICLE FROM THEM EXACTLY 2 YEARS AGO AND IT WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND ONLY HAD 20K ON IT. THEY SAID THEY CAN'T WARRANTY IT BUT WOULD FIX IT FOR $1600. I DECLINED AT THIS POINT.*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.
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