2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Steering Problems

MY STEERING WHEEL ACTS UP WHEN IT RAINS OUTSIDE MAKES IT HARD TO STEER MY LEFT SIDE SPEAKERS WENT OUT THE TAPE DECKS NEVER WORKED ON MY VAN MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GOES DOWN BUT SEEMS TO HAVE DIFFICULT GOING UP MY SLIDING DOORS SEEM TO HAVE DIFFICULTIES AT TIMES THE RIGHT SIDE NEVER OPENS

I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY CAR JUST TURN OFF,I TURN BACK ON WHIT NO PROBLEM AND TIME LATER PASSES AGAIN,SOMETIMES TURN OFF 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY AND SOMETIMES WORK FINE, THE COMPUTER SHOWS NO CODE, AND I CHANGE MANY THING TRYING TO FIX IT, SPARK PLUGS, RELAY FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUG WIRES, RELAY STARTER. I WENT WHIT THE MECHANIC FOR CHECK THE FUEL PUMP AND IS GOOD. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. THANKS. *TR

WHENEVER IT RAINS, IN PORTLAND OREGON, THAT IS ALL THE TIME, THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. YOU CAN HEAR THE BELT SLIPPING AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL WARNINGS GO ON. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. DUE TO THE DANGERS OF THIS PROBLEM, WE WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WHEN IT IS OR HAS BEEN RAINING. *TR

I ENTERED COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ABS BRAKING, STEERING, WINDOW MOTORS AND ENTIRE RUSTING UNDER CARRAIGE. *TR

THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE ON MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT AND AN ESTIMATED 500 DOLLARS IS NEEDED TO FIX IT. IT HAS UNDER 99,000 MILES. *TR

THE POWER STEERING ON OUR 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS FAILED DURING OPERATION ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON A TRIP TO PROVIDENCE RI WHERE THE RESERVOIR FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. WE REACHED OUR DESTINATION WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, AS STEERING WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE -- MY WIFE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE PUMP HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN 2007. ON THIS OCCASION, THE SEALS AND RACK WERE REPLACED FOR $800. SINCE THAT TIME, THE POWER STEERING HAS DRAINED COMPLETELY AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN HOSE AND BROKEN SEALS. THIS HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER 2009 AND JANUARY 2010. THE HOSE WAS FIXED IN NOVEMBER FOR 150. THE BROKEN SEALS/HOSE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER REPAIR. I UNDERSTAND FROM OUR MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *TR

TWICE EARLIER THIS YEAR I HAD TWO POWER STEERING HOSES BLOW OUT ON ME WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY PULL-OVER AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TURN, PULLING ME INTO A PICKUP TRUCK AND "TOTALING" MY 2002 DODGE GRANDCARAVAN BEYOND INSURED RECOVERY. NOTE: I HAD POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE REPLACED AS INSTRUCTED IN 2004 RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT NOTICED PUDDLES OF LIQUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR WHERE HIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED. WHEN HE TOOK IT FOR MAINTENANCE HE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH HIS LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING BOX WAS LEAKING AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING BOX BEGAN LEAKING FOR THE SECOND TIME. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING ADDITIONAL LEAKING, BUT HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE ORIGINAL FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE SECOND FAILURE WAS IN 6/2005 WITH A FAILURE MILEAGE OF 24,000. THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS AT 47,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A TENDENCY TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 1 AND 60 MPH. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS A U-JOINT AT THE END OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT FREEZES AND CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. THE FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD OF THIS DEFECT AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF UPDTATED

POWER STEERING WAS LOCKING IN COLD WEATHER DURING INITIAL START UP. FIRST REPORTED 4/05, DEALER STATED IT WAS CAUSED BY PROBLEM WITH HOSES WHICH HAVE A RECALL, RECALL PERFORMED, AND VEHICLE RETURNED. (NOT FIXED), RETURNED VEHICLE AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY VERIFIED PROBLEM STILL AND REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP *DUE TO LOW PRESSURE". I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, SINE THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED IN COLD WEATHER THROUGH THE SUMMER IT WAS FINE UNTIL EARLY DECEMBER AGAIN THE PROBLEM WAS BACK BUT EVEN WORSE, THIS TIME IT WAS ALSO HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER "OF COURSE IT WAS NOW OUT OF MANUFACTURE WARRANTY", HOWEVER DEALER AGREED TO FIX PROBLEM SINCE IT HAD PRIOR HISTORY. THEY VERIFIED PROBLEM BY SERVICE MANAGER AND MECHANIC THE DAY I BROUGHT IT IN, HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THEY HAD MY VAN FOR 3 WEEKS, DURING THIS...

PROBLEM WITH STEERING FOR TWO YEARS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED LOWER POWER STEERING HOSE, POWER STEERING PUMP AND RACK AND PINION. *BF THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE TWO UPPER POWER RETURN HOSES AND INSTALL A LONGER POWER STEERING HOSE. *NM

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEH SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW , MAY 2002. VEH HAS A ROUGH IDLE WHILE STOPPED IN GEAR, DEALER STATES THEY ARE WAITING FOR A COMPUTER UPDATE. TO DATE STILL HAVE PROBLEM. PROBLEM WITH STARTER , SAME GRINDS ON FIRST START IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER. DEALER REPLACED 2 STARTERS AND FLYWHEEL. PROBLEM WITH TRANS, HARD BANG FELT WHEN SLOWING UP BETWEEN 8-5 MPH. SAID PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND DEALER HAS NOT DRIVEN VEH LONG ENOUGH TO GET CONDITION. DEALER HAS REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS OF TRANS, PROBLEM STILL EXIST. CAR HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR POWER STEERING LEAK AND VIBRATION. NUMEROUS PARTS REPLACED. I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND SPOKE WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER AND ADVISED HIM OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS WITH VEH AND PROBLEMS THAT STILL EXIST. I TOLD HIM I DID NOT WANT THE VEH . HE ADVISED ME HE WOULD LOOK...

ON 6/11/03 VEHICLE WAS MAKING POWER STEERING NOISES & AUTO DR LOCKS WOULDN'T LOCK AT 15 MPH. REPLACED POWER HOSE, HOSE CLAMP & OIL TRANS. INFORMED I NEEDED NEW BRAKES (22, 153 MILES & DIDN'T REQ THAT THEY DO THIS WHEN I ARRIVED AT SHOP). 7/2/03 TOOK VAN IN 'CAUSE LEFT REAR (DRIVER SIDE) SPEAKER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE AT A GAS PUMP. WHILE AT GAS PUMP W/2 OF OUR 4 KIDS IN THE CAR. BRAKES THAT WERE JUST REPLACED PREV MONTH WERE SQUEAKING AS WELL AS THE STEERING AGAIN. (DEALER-BRAKES SQUEAK 'CAUSE THEY ARE METAL & THERE IS AIR IN THE STEERING LINE). 9/23/03 VAN BATTERY BLEW UP WHEN STARTED. REPLACED BATTERY. 12/3/03 STEERING MAKING NOISE DURING TURNS. REPLACED BOTH SWAY BARS LINKS. 12/29/03 STEERING IS VERY TIGHT & SHUDDERING AGAIN & AUTO LOCK BUTTON ON KEY CHAIN WON'T WORK. ORDERED NEW POWER STEERING RACK & RESEVOIR. THEN ON...

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP ABOUT 20 TIMES BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING NOISES AND SQUEAKING WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED MANY COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE FRONT END NOISE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAD INTERNAL DAMAGE WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO BUCKLE AND UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT PADS WERE WORN AND THE ROTOR WERE GROOVED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS. THE INNER TIE ROD WAS LOOSE AND CAUSED THE STEERING TO MAKE NOISE. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE GEAR ASSEMBLY. *NM

I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A RUBBING NOISE, BINDING, VIBRATION, WANDERING AND PLAY IN STEERING. I HAVE TAKEN THE VAN FOR REPAIR AT MAROONE DODGE IN PEMBROKE PINES, FL. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *LA

IN 2002 I PURCHASED A NEW DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MY POSSESSION JUST UNDER A YEAR AND HAS APPROX. 20,800 MILES ON IT.THIS VEHICLE HAS ALREADY HAD 2 MAJOR REPAIRS TO SYSTEMS THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *AK 1. POWER STEERING HOSE RECALL 2. TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILURE. IN ADDITION TO THESE REPAIRS THERE WAS ALSO AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PLACED ON THE A/C UNIT BECAUSE IT IS EXPECTED TO FAIL, REPLACEMENT OF THE STEREO AND REPEATED REPAIRS TO THE FRONT CARPET PULLING OUT AT THE CORNERS. THE CARPET HAS BEEN "FIXED" HOWEVER NOW THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSEMBLY IS PROTRUDING ON THE DRIVER FLOORBOARD.

AFTER MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RETURN TO CENTER AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HIT A CURVE. WHILE THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THERE WAS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION. ONCE GAS PEDAL CAUGHT THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD. *NLM