NHTSA Complaint #721349 — 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

ANYTIME IT RAINS OR WATER PUDDLES ON THE STREET , IF I DRIVE OVER IT THE STEERING BECOMES EXTREMELY STIFF AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T STEER AT ALL. I HAVE NOTICED THAT EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER SPLASHES UNDER THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL (THE SERPENTINE BELTS' LOCATION) THE BELT IMMEDIATELY SQUEALS AND IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. IF THE COMPRESSOR IS ON EITHER THE AIR CONDITIONING OR THE DEFROSTER, AND WATER IS SPLASHED ON THE BELT THE VEHICLE HA LITTLE OR NO STEERING. DURING A RIGHT TURN AT A GREEN TRAFFIC LIGHT WATER SPLASHED THE BEFORE MENTIONED AREA AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE OTHER LANE THAT WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN! IS THERE ANY RECALL OR SOME KIND OF PANEL THAT CAN PROTECT THE WATER PUMP ASSEMBLY FROM WATER CONTACTING THE BELT AND THUS LEADING TO LITTLE OR NO STEERING CAPABILITIES? *AK