NHTSA Complaint #10193900 — 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

2005 DODGE CARAVAN THAT WHEN IT RAINS THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT MAKING THE VEHICLE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, TARPON DODGE AND CLEARWATER AUTOWAY DODGE TO HAVE THEM FIGURE OUT A REPAIR. BOTH DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL CHYRSLER CAME UP WITH A FIX. THE SERVICE MANAGER FROM TARPON DODGE TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN AND AVOID PUDDLES IF I DID DRIVE IN THE RAIN AND TO SLOW DOWN. I THEN SENT LETTERS TO CHYRSLER CUSTOMER CARE REQUESTING A FIX OR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WITHOUT PENALTY FROM THE LEASE COMPANY. CUSTOMER CARE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. DRIVE SLOWER AND AVOID PUDDLES. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, WHEN IT RAINS, IT RAINS. ALL OF OUR STREET TURN INTO GIANT PUDDLES AND IF I WERE TO DRIVE MUCH SLOWER, I WOULD BE GOING BACKWARDS. THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT IS FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS. IT COMES BACK THEN YOU ARE OVER REACTING TO COMPENSATE FOR NO STEERING. AT ONE POINT I COULD NOT NEGOTIATE A TURN AFTER ALREADY MOVING INTO IT AND THEN THE STEERING CAME BACK ON AND I NEARLY WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND FIELD. I HAVE AN ILLNESS THAT REDUCES MY STRENGTH AND MAKES HANDLING THIS VAN WITHOUT POWER STEERING EVEN FOR 30 SECONDS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR OVER A YEAR. FOUR TIMES IN THE SHOP AFTER A RAIN STORM AND THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT.