2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning, the vehicle made an abnormal growling sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power steering fluid was leaking. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the vehicle had been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V386000 (Steering) in 2004. The failure mileage was approximately 329,281.

NHTSA ID

11564617

Incident

Jan 3, 2024

Mileage

329,281 mi

THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS THAT ARE VERY SERIOUS. FIRST, IN 2017 AS I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE, I DROVE THROUGH A PUDDLE. AS I ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT ONTO THE ROAD, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND IT WAS ONLY WITH EXTREME FORCE AND SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES THAT I KEPT FROM RUNNING THROUGH THE GUARDRAIL, AND DROPPING DOWN TO THE INTERSTATE BELOW. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND STOPPED ON THE OVERPASS UNTIL MY STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. YES, MY ENGINEER HUSBAND KEEPS UP WITH ALL OF OUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING THE BELTS. NEXT, WITH AN UNUSUALLY HEAVY RAIN THIS PAST WEEK, MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PARKING FOR AN HOUR, MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN WHEN I ATTEMPTED GO AGAIN. I RESTARTED THE CAR FIVE TIMES BEFORE THE STEERING UNLOCKED. ALL WEEK, DURING THAT HEAVY RAIN, THE STEERING LOCKED REGULARLY. THESE PROBLEMS ARE ALL OVER THE WEB. WOMEN AND CHILDREN EVERYWHERE ARE IN DANGER OF DYING FROM SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? IF YOU ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, THEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BEING SUED ALONG WITH CHRYSLER, FOR ALLOWING THIS TO CONTINUE UNCORRECTED.

NHTSA ID

11152335

Incident

Nov 12, 2018

Mileage

238,958 mi

I AM THE VICTIM OF A FRAUDULENT CLOSE OUT OF A FACTORY RECALL. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO FIX ONE OF THEIR OWN RECALLS ON A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THREE DEALERSHIPS TO TRY TO GET SATISFACTION. TWO OF THOSE HAVE SINCE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. THE THIRD REFUSES TO HELP IN ANY WAY. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT SOME DEALERSHIP HAS ALREADY CLOSED OUT THE TICKET FOR FIXING THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE ON MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CAR WAS NEVER FIXED: IT STILL HAS THE FACTORY HOSE. FINALLY I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE WHERE A FORMER CHRYSLER TECHNICIAN WORKED WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM.. HE SAID THAT NOT ONLY HAD THE RECALL NEVER BEEN DONE, BUT THE DESIGN WAS FAULTY. THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE IS SO SHORT THAT THE SYNTHETIC ATF THAT IS USED AS POWER STEERING FLUID FOAMS UP CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH BELCHING OUT FLUID, POWER STEERING FAILURE, PUMP FAILURE AND EVENTUALLY RACK AND PINION FAILURE. I TOLD HIM NOT TO TOUCH THE POWER STEERING BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NEVER PERFORMED. HE AGREED THAT THE REPAIR HAD NEVER BEEN DONE AND ESTIMATED THE REPAIR COST AT $800.00 TO PUT A NEW RACK AND PINION AND TO REPAIR THE FAULTY DESIGN PER THE CHRYSLER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. MY PROBLEM NOW IS THE PUMP HAS GONE BAD TOO WHICH WILL ADD ANOTHER $500.00 TO THE PRICE. MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VIN IS [XXX]. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX]. THE PHONE AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT REFUSES TO HELP IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10336715

Incident

Jun 16, 2010

Mileage

71,000 mi

POWER STEERING IN 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS FAILING FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW. I HAVE TWICE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IT FAILS DURING WINTER MONTHS. *TW

NHTSA ID

10307168

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

THIS MODEL HAS STEERING ISSUES. WITH ONLY 60K MILES I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION 2 SEPARATE TIMES ALREADY AND NOW THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS GOING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10300233

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 GRAND CARAVAN CURRENTLY WITH 43,000 MILES ON IT. AT A LITTLE LESS THAN 40,000 MILES THE POWER STEERING PUMP STARTING MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE, DIDN'T MATTER IF YOU WERE TURNING THE WHEEL OR NOT; MORE OFTEN ON A RAINY OR COLD MORNING, NOW ITS ALL THE TIME. I CONTACTED DODGE SINCE I HAVE AN EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN, TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE NO COVERAGE ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP OR RACK AND PINION, BUT IM COVERED ON THINGS THAT MY HUSBAND COULD DO IN THE BACKYARD. WHAT A STORY I WAS FED, WHEN I BOUGHT THIS $900 COVERAGE. I WAS TOLD TO GO TO A CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER AND PAY $65 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, UMMM IT DOESN'T REQUIRE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, IT REQUIRES 30 SECONDS OF LISTENING. THEN AND ONLY THEN WOULD THEY CONSIDER POSSIBLY HELPING ME WITH THIS REPAIR. WHEN I BOUGHT THE SERVICE PLAN, I WAS TOLD $100 DEDUCTIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS, END OF STORY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE WITH MILEAGE COULD HAVE AN ISSUE LIKE THIS ALREADY. DODGE DOES NOT WANT TO HELP!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10299941

Incident

Oct 1, 2009

Mileage

39,000 mi

POWER STEERING MAKES TERRIBLE WHINING NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERS AND IS HARD TO TURN - WORSE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES. PROBLEM STARTED WHEN VAN HAD LESS THAN 30K, IT NOW HAS 58K MILES. VAN HAS EXT. WARRANTY THROUGH DODGE COVERING EVEN SEALS & GASKETS, BUT SINCE DEALER CALLS THIS A "NUISANCE" PROBLEM - IT'S NOT WARRANTY. WE ARE VERY, VERY FRUSTRATED WITH DODGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275476

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

28,000 mi

THE 2203 GRAND CARAVAN HAS HAD A RECALL ON THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE AND WAS SERVICED. A RECURRING NOISE STARTED. UNDER A EXTENDED WARRANTY THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE RACK ONCE. 6 MONTHS AFTER THE LAST SERVICE THE NOISE CAME BACK AND LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE INTO THE COOLER BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. (NO CRASH) REPLACED HOSES WITH BETTER CLAMPS AND BACK FLUSHED POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. INTERNET SOURCES HAVE INDICATED A FILTER SCREEN IN THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. COULD THIS BE CAUSING THE LARGE LISTING OF SAME PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET? *TR

NHTSA ID

10265933

Incident

Mar 3, 2009

Mileage

72,422 mi

ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE'S VAN HAS BEEN MAKING A WHINING SOUND FROM THE STEERING PUMP. THE NOISE INTENSIFIES ONCE THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING PUMP MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. EVENTHOUGH THIS VAN IS 6 YEARS OLD, IT WAS IN STORAGE FOR 3 YEARS. THE CAR WAS OPERATED ONCE A MONTH IN STORAGE. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255161

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILS ON 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON MORNINGS WHEN IT RAINS. HUGE SAFETY RISK SINCE VEHICLE CANNOT BE TURNED WITHOUT EXTREME MANUAL EFFORT...IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY WIFE! DEALERSHIP SAYS RACK AND PINION IS BAD AND NEEDS REPLACING ($1400). INTERNET SAYS THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THESE VEHICLES FROM 2002-2006! WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR A SAFETY RETROFIT? *TR

NHTSA ID

10251648

Incident

Dec 12, 2008

Mileage

175,000 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP WAS VERY NOISY AND STEERING WOULD BECOME STIFF UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A POOR DESIGN OF FILTER IN POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250637

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

67,000 mi

2003 GRAND CARAVAN SPORT, STEERING WHEEL IS STIFF DURING WINTER FOR THE FIRST 5 TO 10 MINS IN THE MORNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246776

Incident

Oct 10, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY LOSE POWER STEERING ABILITY. THE RISK OF A CRASH OR SERIOUS INJURY WERE INCREASED. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. AS OF OCTOBER 6, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10244512

Incident

Jun 6, 2003

Mileage

17,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNS THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS SERVICED EACH TIME. THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SAFTEY RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND A POSSIBLE FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10224691

Incident

Oct 16, 2004

Mileage

5,000 mi

I HAD THE POWER STEERING UPPER HOSE RECALL DONE BACK IN MAY OF 2005. BEFORE THEN I WAS NOT HAVING ANY TROUBLE WITH NOISE. SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE I AM HAVING ONGOING NOISE FROM MY POWER STEERING. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK ASKING ABOUT THE NOISE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINEERS KNEW ABOUT THE NOISE AND WERE WORKING ON IT. LAST WEEK, MARCH 27, 2008, I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM CAN'T BE FIXED HOWEVER, IF I WAS WILLING TO HAVE IT FLUSHED FOR ABOUT $150.00 THAT THIS MIGHT HELP WITH NO SURE GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD IMPROVE. I THINK THE TECH MIGHT HAVE NOT PROPERLY FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURE TO FIXED THE RECALL WHICH HAS RESULTED IN THE CONTAMINATION OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID. THIS HAS CAUSED ME THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223099

Incident

Mar 27, 2008

THE RACK AND PINION STEERING IS LEAKING ON MY 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE THE SEALS TO BLOW OUT AND LOSE POWER STEERING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND RACK I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ONE AT 58,000 AND NOW AT 91,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221057

Incident

Mar 12, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

NOISE IN STEERING WHEN FIRST STARTED TOOK IT TO DEALER SAID IT WAS INTERNAL LEAK IN RACK & PINION CHECKED SERVICE RECORD AND SAW THAT RACK&PINION WAS REPLACED A YEAR AGO.CONFRONTED SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY SAID WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. IN MY OPINION APART AS IMPORTANT AS THIS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ONE YEAR. ALSO NOTICE THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216800

Incident

Sep 7, 2007

Mileage

58,000 mi

VAN HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES FOR STEERING PROBLEM WHINING NOISE RACK WAS REPLACED ONCE AND PUMP WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208632

Incident

Nov 7, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

TWO TSB'S THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE WHEN THE RECALL WAS DONE HAVE NOW COST ME $300.00 BECAUSE CHRYSLER DOES NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE, SINCE THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO DEAL WITH THE STEERING,THAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY..I WAS TOLD THAT THE 2 UPDATES ARE REQUIRED ON ALL 2000-2004 CHRYSLER VANS.

NHTSA ID

10192773

Incident

Jun 8, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

GROANING IN POWER STEERING, DEALERSHIP FITTED PS COOLER AND EXTRA LENGTH OF HOSE - DID NOT FIX PROBLEM *TR

NHTSA ID

10192194

Incident

Mar 20, 2007

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. IN DECEMBER 2003, FOUR MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AT 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND NO FAILURES COULD BE FOUND. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON APPROXIMATELY TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, HEARD THE NOISE, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG THE 2003-2005 GRAND CARAVANS. ALTHOUGH THE MECHANIC COMPLETED OTHER RECALL REPAIRS, HE FELT THAT HE COULD NOT REMEDY THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE TO WORSEN. THE CONTACT HAS DOCUMENTATION OF ALL THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 23,100 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,025.*AK

NHTSA ID

10188627

Incident

Dec 21, 2003

Mileage

2,025 mi

2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. HIGH PITCHED WHINING SOUND WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL. COMES AND GOES. FLUID LEVEL IS FINE. FLUID COLOR AND SMELL IS FINE,NO AIR BUBBLES IN FLUID.SEEMS TO BE THE WORST AFTER DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS THEN DRIVING IN TOWN. SOMETIMES GOES AWAY AFTER SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. DEALER RECOMMENDS A FLUSH. BOUGHT VEHICLE USED AT 29000 MILES. PROBLEM SEEMED TO START SHORTLY AFTER. A $80 FLUSH ISN'T GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER READING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM OTHERS ARE HAVING. SEEMS LIKE SOME SORT OF RESTRICTION ON THE INTAKE SIDE OF THE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

10185264

Incident

Oct 10, 2006

Mileage

29,000 mi

RACK AND PINION SEALS LEAKING DEALER REPLACED RACK & PINION 2/21/06 RACK AND PINION SEALS LEAKING AGAIN, CAR REPAIR SHOP RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT AGAIN 2/2007. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183636

Incident

Feb 21, 2006

Mileage

35,567 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HUMMING AND LOW GRADE VIBRATION THAT ONE HEAR COULD WHILE DRIVING IN LOW SPEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THEREWAS A DEFECT IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE THIS VEHICLE HAD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80000 , AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10183138

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL *- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE VIBRATED, BUT DID NOT STALL WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED SINCE JUNE 2006. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION. WHILE SERVICING THE TRANSMISSION THE MECHANIC OBSERVED THAT THE OIL PAN AND DIP STICK HAD GREY DEBRIS IN IT, AND THE MAGNET WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT LOCATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING RETURNS COOLER SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO OBSERVED A BURNING SMELL UNDER THE HOOD ,AND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT AN UNDER HOOD FIRE. THE DEALER DID NOT CONFIRM IF THERE COULD BE A FAILURE IF SHE DIDN'T REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RETURN COOLER. HOWEVER, HE ADVISED HER THAT THE NEW PART WILL ELIMINATE THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. EACH VISIT TO THE DEALER/REPAIR SHOP THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A NEW FAILURE INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL CONCERN. THE DEALER STATED THE CONTACT SHOULD ALSO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING RETURN COOLER. . THE CONTACT ALSO REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRES ON TWO OCCASIONS SINCE 2004 DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR. THEY MECHANIC STATED THAT A CARRIAGE BOLT WILL CORRECT THE TIRE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10180792

Incident

Jan 24, 2007

Mileage

74,385 mi