101 of the
1,229 complaints about the 1993 Dodge Caravan are about the
steering — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
91,800 miles.
I HAVE A 1993 DODGE CARAVAN. I HAVE SPENT OVER $10,000.00 ON REPAIRS SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 1993. I AM EXTREMELY DISSATISFIED WITH DODGE. I'VE HAD SEVERAL RECALLS ON VARIOUS COMPONENTS, THEY WERE CORRECTED AND ARE NOW AGAIN DEFECTIVE INCLUDING MY SEATBELTS, ABS SYSTEM, AND STEERING COLUMN. I AM NOW NOTICING THAT THE PAINT IS ERODING ON THE TOP OF MY VAN. I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER DODGE CARAVANS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THE EXACT SAME PATTERN OF CORROSION. IT APPEARS THE PAINT IS WEARING OFF ON THE TOPS OF THE CARS, THEN THE HOODS AND SO ON. IT EVENTUALLY RUSTS THROUGH AS I'VE SEEN ON AT LEAST 20 DODGE CARAVANS. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED PAINT WEARING AWAY LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT I'VE OWNED AND MUCH OLDER THAN 10 YEARS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT SOMEWHERE IN THE PAINTING PROCESS, PERHAPS THE PRIMER OR THE PAINT ITSELF. THIS IS THE THIRD LETTER I'VE WRITTEN AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM ANYONE. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PAINTING PROCESS OF THESE VANS. I BELIEVE IT IS ALSO OCCURRING IN OTHER YEAR MODELS. THANK YOU, SUSAN DEANFRASIO.
NHTSA complaint #10063811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LA Jolla, CA
STEERING:COLUMN
THE CONSUMER INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HIS COMPLAINT WAS ON FILE REGARDING AN EXCESSIVELY LOOSE STEERING COLUMN, BECAUSE HE NEVER RECEIVED ANY LETTER TO SIGN. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10029535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 91,800 milesPoway, CA
STEERING:COLUMN
DURING VEHICLE INSPECTION THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT STEERING COLUMN WAS EXCESSIVELY LOOSE. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT COVER, TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, WATER PUMP AND OIL PUMP. *AK *CB *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10022850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Osceola, WI
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE BALL JOINTS AND STARTER FAILED, THE BRAKE LINE WAS BROKEN, THE SIDE DOOR FELL OFF, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OIL AND COOLANT FAILURES. ALSO THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN OUTER ROD END INSTALLED AND A NEW TRANSMISSION WITHIN ONE YEAR OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. *JG
NHTSA complaint #10006061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Osceola, WI
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE SLIDING DOOR SEPARATED FROM THE HINGES, ALSO THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL, COOLANT, BALL JOINTS, STARTER, BRAKE LINE, TIE ROD, TRANSMISSION, EXHAUST AND THE FRONT BRAKES. TS
NHTSA complaint #10002079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kennewick, WA
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
INTERNAL FAILURE OF COMPONENT NOTED BY KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING GEAR BOX. ADDITIONAL PLAY IN STEERING NOTED AND OTHER OWNERS HAVE STATED SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #764653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Rosa, CA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE PLACING VEHICLE IN REVERSE THEN IN DRIVE STEERING WHEEL FELL ON DRIVER'S LAP, RESULTING IN VEHICLE BECOMING INOPERABLE.
NHTSA complaint #8006724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Nashville, TN
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF PRIOR TO RECEIVING MANUFACTURER RECALL, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #562020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sarland, AL
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING WAS LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID NOT TO DRIVE BECAUSE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE ON RIGHT SIDE. *AK CONSUMER HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY, AIR CONDITION FAILED AND MAJOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #889278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saraland, AL
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #745353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
College Park, GA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
IN EVENING CONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID STEERING COLUMN WAS LOOSE AND EFFECTED STEERING COLUMN OPERATIONS.
NHTSA complaint #887658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norwalk, CA
STEERING
ENGINE BELT CAME OFF, CAUSING STEERING FAILURE. DEALER REPAIRED BELT, BUT PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK WHEN DRIVING 38 TO 42 MPH STEERING WHEEL IS VIBRATING. CONSUMER STATES PRESSURE PULLEY OR TENSIONER KEEPS BREAKING BOLT, IT DOES NOT TAKE PRESSURE, AT SPEEDS ABOVE 38 MPH IT VIBRATES LIKE IT'S GOING TO COME OFF. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #881860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EAU Claire, WI
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER I BROUGHT THE VAN. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD "FREEZE" & NOT TURN WHILE MAKING CORNERS SOMETIMES. THIS HAPPENED 4-6 TIMES BEFORE THE STEERING FINALLY "BROKELOOSE" AND ALLOWED ME TO STEER (IT HAS BEEN FOR THE MOST PART BEEN STEERING OK SINCE THIS HAPPENED). BUT, WHEN THIS HAPPENED ("BROOKLOOSE" IN THE STEERING COLUMN) THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE,(THE AIR BAG HAS NE VER DEPLOYED & THERE IS NO PASSANGER AIRBAG) & THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK SOMETIMES NOW. I FEEL THIS WAS/IS A PROBLEM & SHOULD BE LOOKED AT! I WOULD LIKE THE MGFR.(DODGE) TO ISSUE FREE INSPECTION CERTIFICATES & THEN OFFER TO FIX THIS IF IT A MGFR.'S DEFECT. ONLY THEN WOULD I FEEL COMPLETELY SAFE!
NHTSA complaint #740899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesterland, OH
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE IN CONSUMER'S HANDS, THE METAL NEXT TO THE WELDS HAVE CONTINUOUS CRACKS, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO RECALL 00V305. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #558697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #558573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Salisbury, MD
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL9700V305000/ STEERING WHEEL, AND HAS CONTACTED CARWAY CHRYSLER (911 NORTH SALISBURY BLVD. TELE 410-749-1301)ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE NOVEMBER 2000. DEALER CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T HAVE PARTS TO PERFORM RECALL. CONSUMER FELT RECALL WAS NOT BEING DONE IN TIMELY MANNER, AND WAS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #879295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pierre, SD
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL BROKE AT THE BASE AND CLOCKSPRING BROKE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #553568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brandenton, FLCrash
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHIILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVE WAY DRIVER LOST STEERING CONTROL BECAUSE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. VAN WAS REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #866051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chugiak, AK
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE BACKING OUT STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #863125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wellington, FL
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE STEERING WHEEL JAMMED AND STUCK AFTER MAKING A TURN DUE TO A BROKEN SAFETY DEVICE (CLOCK SPRING) UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE AIR BAG, THE HORN AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT TO FAIL. YH
NHTSA complaint #551500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Logan, UT
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH AND PULLING OUT A PARKING SPACE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PARTS BEING REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #858110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Theodore, AL
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF IN DRIVER'S HAND. WAS TURNING STEERING WHEEL COUNTER CLOCKWISH AT THE TIME. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HANGING BY THE WIRES. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED IT WAS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR. MECHANIC WILL REPAIR STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #852597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Conyer, GA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #545593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stafford, VA
STEERING
PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THE FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION. OBVIOUSLY CHRYSLER HAS NOT SOLVED THIS PROBLEM AS YOU MAY HAVE BEEN LED TO BELIEVE SINCE BOTH THE ORGINAL AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS FAILED. ALSO, WHAT LEGAL REMEDIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME UNDER THE LEMON LAW?
NHTSA complaint #536787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sappington, MO
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #520990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vienna, VA
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
FAULTY POWER STEERING UNIT.
NHTSA complaint #516683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vienna, VA
STEERING
STEERING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #516683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sparaway, WA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHELL STARTED TO MAKE CLICKING SOUND, BECAME UNBALANCED AND JUST CAME OFF.
NHTSA complaint #807927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
CONSUMER WAS COMING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND NOTICED A SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN , THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT BREAKING AWAY FROM THE STEERING GEAR BOX. CONSUMER HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #807840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER WAS COMING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND NOTICED A SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN , THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT BREAKING AWAY FROM THE STEERING GEAR BOX. CONSUMER HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #807840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.