NHTSA Complaint #10174906 — 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT, THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING BECAME VERY TIGHT TO THE POINT OF ALMOST LOCKING UP. EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, ACCOMPANIED BY A NOISE AS IF THERE WAS PLASTIC FRACTURING INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. THE HORN, THE RADIO CONTROLS, THE AIR BAG, THE TRACTION CONTROL SWITCH, AND THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE PEDAL DISTANCE ALL DISENGAGED AT ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING HAD DETACHED. THE FIRST 3 TIMES THIS HAD OCCURRED, THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. THE FOURTH TIME, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CLOCKSPRING WERE REPLACED. THIS WAS THE FIFTH OCCURRENCE. IN THIS INSTANCE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED IN SPITE OF ALL THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED.