NHTSA Complaint #10947755 — 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN NOTICED A HYDRAULIC NOISE AS IF POWER STEERING WAS LABORING EVEN WHEN NOT TURNING THE WHEEL. STOPPED TO CHECK FLUID RESERVOIR AND NOTICED IT WAS UNDER PRESSURE WHEN OPENED BUT FLUID LEVEL WAS FINE BUT BUBBLY. PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND HEARD LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER HOOD. STOPPED AT NEXT EXIT AND FLUID WAS ALL OVER ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOWED TO DEALER THEY REPLACED PUMP BUT INITIAL NOISE WAS EVIDENT AFTER REPAIR AND STEERING STILL NOT NORMAL. THEY ARE NOW REPLACING STEERING GEAR WITH AFTERMARKET PART BECAUSE MANUFACTURER PART ON BACK ORDER. IF MANUFACTURER IS OUT OF PARTS THIS LEADS ME TO CONCLUSION THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE FROM ORIGIN I WILL SEND INVOICES WHEN I HAVE RECEIVED THEM, VAN IS STILL IN SHOP. I WAS NOT TURNING JUST TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN P/S PUMP BLEW. *TR