NHTSA Complaint #10102388 — 2002 DODGE CARAVAN

WE HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP CHANGED FOUR TIMES. ON 7/22/03, WE BROUGHT THE VAN INTO WESTWAY DODGE, BECAUSE WE HAD A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING. THEY CONDUCTED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 19-006-02 AND INSTALLED A LONGER POWER STEERING HOSE. ON 7/31/2003, WE AGAIN BROUGHT IT IN TO WESTWAY, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A MOANING SOUND. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS LOW PRESSURE OUTPUT AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. ON SEPT. 15, 2003 WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE POWER STEERING COOLANT LINE RECALL. AFTER THAT TIME, THE DEALER ADVISED US THAT IT WAS STILL MAKING NOISE BUT IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER THE LINES GOT BROKE IN. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL, AT TIMES, IS DIFFICULT TO TURN. NOVEMBER 26, 2004, WE TOOK OUR VAN IN FOR THE UPPER POWER STEERING PUMP RECALL. WE BROUGHT IT TO MACK MASSEY DODGE AT 950 CROCKETT, EL PASO, TX 79922. OUR SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS RALPH GARCIA (TELEPHONE 915-231-4193). HE ARRANGED TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. I ALSO ASKED HIM TO INVESTIGATE A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 27, 2004, THE UPPER POWER STEERING PUMP WAS CHANGED. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE PUMP AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY MR. GARCIA, THAT THE PUMP LEAKED AND COMPLETELY FELL APART?. MR. GARCIA STATED THEY WOULD CHANGE THE PUMP AGAIN, CHECK IT FOR LEAKS. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. ON DECEMBER 3, 2004, WHILE DRIVING TO PHOENIX, I EXPERIENCED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & WARNING TONE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO LAS CRUCES, NM AND TOOK IT TO THE SANDOVAL DODGE SERVICE CENTER, WHICH WAS CLOSER TO ME AT THE TIME. MR. RUDY SANDOVAL ( PHONE: 800-499-1403) HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED. I SPOKE WITH MR. SANDOVAL TODAY, (12/6/2004) AND HE STATED THEIR REPAIR DEPARTMENT HAD DONE THE UPPER POWER STEERING HOSE RECALL AND ALSO FOUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BE LEAKING AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IT IS STILL BEING REPAIRED AS OF 12/7/2004. *JB