NHTSA Complaint #10219982 — 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

I BOUGHT A 2005 GRAND CARAVAN IN MAY 2005. THE RACK AND PINION RACK COMPLETELY FAILED IN DECEMBER 2005 AT 9870 MILES. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MY VAN BEGIN MAKING THE SAME NOISES AND LOSING POWER STEERING FLUID. WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED AT THE DEALERSHIP TODAY, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VAN WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND THAT THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON THE VAN IS 42,726. EVEN THE SERVICE ADVISOR REMARKED THAT THE RACK AND PINION SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT 42,726 AND THAT IT WAS UNHEARD OF TO REPLACE IT TWICE IN LESS THAN 2 AND A HALF YEARS AND UNDER 43,000 MILES. FROM RESEARCHING ONLINE I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE. THIS IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION, BEFORE THE DEFECT RESULTS IN A FATALITY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND SINCE I AM BEYOND 36,000 MILES THE REPLACEMENT WILL COST ABOUT $850. *TR