NHTSA Complaint #10192639 — 2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING SINCE LATE MARCH INMY2001 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT MINIVAN. WHEN IN REVERSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL,WHEN IN DRIVE ON OCCASION IT IS DIFFICULT. I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL DODGE SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP. IT ISNT PUTTING OUT ENOUGH PRESSURE,THE FLUID IS CONTAMINATED AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY PROVIDER AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COSTS DUE TO THE CONTAMINATION IN THE LINES. THEY SAID THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND DODGE MINIVANS FROM SEVERAL YEARS HAVE HAD A RECALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. BUT MY YEAR HAS NOT HAD A RECALL. I CALL THE SERVICE DEPT WHERE MY VEHICLE IS AND THEY SAY THE SAME THING ONCE AGAIN...THERE IS CONTAMINATION IN THE LINE IT COULD BE PIECES OF FAULTY HOSES BUT THEY DONT REALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS. THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES FOR THIS REASON, DODGE MINIVANS ARE KNOWN TO HAVE POWER STEERING ISSUES BUT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD A RECALL. THEY RAN THE VIN TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS L ISTED IN RECALLS. I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AS I WAS DIRECTED TO DO TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP. THEY TOOK MY NAME,INFO,ETC AND ONCE AGAIN RAN THE VEHICLE VIN AND SAID AT THIS TIME THEY ARE CHOOSING NOT TO HELP WITH THE REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER YEARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS/SYMPTOMS I AM HAVING. THEY DOCUMENTED IN THE COMPUTER AND STATED SHOULD THERE BE A RECALL THEY WILL CONTACT ME FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT HAVE A NICE DAY. I WAS STILL ANGRY AND CALLED BACK ASKING TO TALK TO A SUPERVISOR AND AFTER 15 MIN OF ARGUING WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPOVER WHAT SHE WAS READING ABOUT MY CASE AND WITH HER TELLING ME THEY DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THIS DECISION ABOUT NO REPAIRS WITH NO SUPERVISOR STEPPING IN SHE AGREED TO LOOK TO SEE IF A SUPERVISOR WAS AVAILABLE. I NEVER SPOKE TO ANYONE.