1999 Dodge Caravan steering problems

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA complaint #11340839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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"TAKATA RECALL" THGE SERPINTINE BELT KEEPS BREAKING OR COMMING OFF WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY. I VE HAD IT REPKACED NUMBEROUS TIMES. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE PULLEY, I CHANGED THAT. AND THE BELT HAS COME OFF AGAIN!

NHTSA complaint #10825479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MAIN DRIVE BELT WOULD DETACH FROM THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN ADDITION, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT BUMPER WOULD SUDDENLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE AND FALL TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10660871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES AT THE TIME. AFTER THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR, HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL KEPT MOVING UP AND DOWN AND HE HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE STEERING WHEEL AGAIN WITHOUT A SERVICE CHARGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 11/21/07.

NHTSA complaint #10202774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

THIS FAMILY CAR IS NOT A VEHICLE WE DRIVE EVERY DAY. ON (9/10/04), WE WENT TO USE THIS CAR WITH LESS THAN 72,000 MILES ON IT, AND WHEN WE WENT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WE HEARD A SQUELING NOISE FROM THE POWER STERING UNIT. WE FOUND AN AREA OF SEEPAGE OF STERING FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE HAD FOUND IT TO BE COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE BASE OF THE POWER STERING PUMP CASTING. THE LEAKING FLUID IS ACTUALLY FLOWING THROUGH THE VOIDS IN THE METAL OF THIS UNIT. NOT ONLY IS THIS A HAZARD TO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND ITS PASSENGER'S, IT IS A HAZARD TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE USE OF POOR QUALITY PARTS AND USED IN OUR TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY. IF A PERSON IS DRIVING ONE OF THESE VEHICLES AND ONE OF THESE UNITS FAILS IT COULD CAUSE CATASROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. I DO FEEL OBLIGATED TO INFORM YOU OF THIS DEFECT. AS OF 8/17/04 THIS VEHICLE WILL HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE POWER STERING UNIT REPLACED AT THE CHRYSLER DEALER IN KEENE NH. I AM NOT AWARE IF I WILL BE ABLE TO GET THIS UNIT BACK FROM THE DEALER WHEN THEY REPLACE IT.

NHTSA complaint #10090968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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1999 DODGE CARAVAN STEERING WHEEL LEAD WEIGHT BROKE OFF AND FELL INTO THE HORN AND AIR BAG WIRING.*MR

NHTSA complaint #10079945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE STEERING PUMP FAILED, CONSUMER LOST THE CONTROL, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, MECHANIC DETERMINED STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK ALSO, AT 50,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10075445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING POWER ASSIST PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10071693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FELL OFF THE CAR. THE THERMOSTAT FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FELL APART. THE STEERING BELT FELL OFF. THE SPEED SENSOR WENT. THE STEERING BELT AND ALTERNATER BELT AND PULLEY SYSTEM FELL OFF DOING 70MPH. THE BACK BREAKS HAD RUST BUILD UP. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS I'VE OWNED THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10070212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A LIGHT RAIN/SLUSH MIXTURE THE CAR LOST POWER STEERING, ETC. CONSUMER IDENTFIED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD CAME OFF. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LATE 90'S DODGE CARAVAN'S. I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM 2 WEEKS EARLIER. DODGE DOES HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN RELATED TO THIS, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE SOME TYPE OF DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SINCE IT RELATES TO THE POWER STEERING, AND NEARLY EVERY OTHER VITAL SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10052414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

WHILE DRIVING, THE SERPENTINE AND POWER STEERING BELT SLIPPED OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE'S STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #10019631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

POWER STEERING PUMP RUST THROUGH MADE AS A 2 PART ASSEMBLY THE SHROUD AROUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS MADE FROM A THIN SHEET MEDAL WITH NO RUST PROTECTION. THE PART SIMPLY RUSTED THROUGH AND STARTED LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10016618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN IN THE RAIN OR SNOW, THE POWER STEERING FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10015725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

WHEN DRIVING A "WIND" BLOWING SOUND IS HEARD IN INTERIOR COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE NOISE WAS AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE, CHRYSLER RECALLED 96-98 MODELS DUE TO AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS MFG ON 12-98 AND SOLD AS A 1999 MODEL. *TS *NLM

NHTSA complaint #8022405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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OWNER HEARD NOISE WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. WHEN DRIVER MADE ATTEMPT TO TURN THE STEERING FAILED TO RESPOND DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT COMING OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8020377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #765129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #765014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #765014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WHILE BEING DRIVEN RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED, RESULTING IN DIFFICULT STEERING.

NHTSA complaint #8010530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME VERY TIGHT AND BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AND IN THE SUMMER THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE LOSE THEN TIGHTEN UP. CONTACTED DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8007939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

I HAD BEEN TO A FUNERAL AND WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MILES PER HOUR ONLY MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. I HAD TURNED INTO THE RESIDENTIAL SECTION AND HAD GOTTEN TO MY HOUSE AND SLOWED TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS TO TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. THE PART BROKE AT THIS TIME AND ALL THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I COULD NOT TURN INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME WHAT PART HAD BROKEN. IT ALSO HIT THE PULLEY WHEN IT BROKE AND THE PULLEY AND BELT BROKE ALSO. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A DEALER ITEM; HOWEVER, THEY STOCK IT BECAUSE IT BREAKS ALL THE TIME ON THE 1999 MODELS AND OLDER MODELS ALSO. IF THIS PART HAD BROKEN ONLY MINUTES EARLIER WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, DRIVING AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MILES PER HOUR AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY, I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER IN MY VAN AND MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED AND IT COULD HAVE INVOLVED OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO MY LACK OF STEERING ABILITY. I HAVE NOT CALLED DODGE TO SEE IF THIS PART HAS BEEN REDESIGNED FOR THE NEWER MODELS OR NOT. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM DUE TO THE IMMINENT DANGER IMPOSED BY THIS FAILURE AND THE FACT THAT IT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN.

NHTSA complaint #748154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

IN HEAVY SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND AIR CONDITIONING ON I LOST THE POWER STEERING WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL.JERRY ULM CHRYSLER DEALER CHARGED ME $208. AND TOLD ME SOMEONE INSTALLED THE WRONG FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR WHICH ISN'T TRUE ANYWAY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE DEALER SAYS HE CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.I'M WONDERING IF ANY OTHER COMPLAINT OF THIS NATURE HAS BEEN LAUNCHED I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR VACATION IN THE VERY HOT WEATHER.

NHTSA complaint #747487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER COULD HEAR NOISE COMING FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING. TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DID NOT POINT TO STATUS, JUST AS DETERIORATION. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #875505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED A LOUD NOISE, COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP AND THE STEERING RACK.

NHTSA complaint #868464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED A LOUD NOISE, COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING PUMP AND THE STEERING RACK.

NHTSA complaint #868464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

I AM VERY UPSET THAT AFTER JUST 3 MONTHS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION GOES AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER.

NHTSA complaint #724511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES

WHILE DRIVING TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. ALSO, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT A WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #864202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO MECHANIC FOR REGULAT OIL CHANGE SERVICE. THE NEXT DAY, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO ACT UP. COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL UNLESS PULLED ON IT VERY HARD. HAD NO PROBLEM PRIOR TO OIL CHANGE BY MECHANIC.

NHTSA complaint #850763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.