2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN Power Train Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving 5-10 MPH and pulling out of the parking lot, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to coast into a gas station. The contact stated that the engine was running, but the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving near the residence. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the vehicle responded as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that the sliding doors had failed to close and lock automatically and sometimes opened while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that one of the windows failed to roll down. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

WHEN IT RAINS OR THE STREET IS WET THE POWER STEERING RANDOMLY GOES OUT. THE HAPPENS WHEN TURNING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, TURNING A CURVE OR GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD A FEW TIMES, BUT USUALLY HAPPENS JUST AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND BEGINNING TO MOVE. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT HAS BEEN RAINING OR I GO OVER A LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONSISTENT FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VAN, CARMAX. THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT DID REPLACE AN UNDERCARRIAGE SHIELD. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE SHIELD REPLACEMENT. CARMAX THEN DIRECTED ME TO THIS WEBSITE. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2011 AND ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER I TOOK INTO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY SAID I NEED TO CHANGE OUT MY RACK/PINION/STEERING SINCE IT HAD A SMALL LEAK. NOW I HAVE A LARGER LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VAN WHEREVER I PARK. I CHECKED MYSELF TO SEE THAT THE SMALL PLASTIC CLAMPS HAVE COME LOOSE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT. THAT DID NOT FIX IT SINCE IT IS NOW LEAKING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. ALSO I HAVE A SUNROOF THAT LEAKS WHEN WE WASH THE VAN AND WHEN IT RAINS, I HAVE CLEANED OUT THE DRAINS BUT THE SEAL IS WORN DOWN AND I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT $500 FOR THE PART DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR? I AM HAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE LEMON PART OF THE AXLE GOING BAD. *TR

THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE SIX MONTHS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. ANY TIME IT RAINS, ESPECIALLY IF MY VEHICLE GOES THROUGH A PUDDLE, THE POWER STEERING IS GREATLY AFFECTED. THE MOST RECENT TIME, THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY LOST AND I HAD TO USE ALL OF MY STRENGTH TO MANEUVER THE CAR INTO A SAFE LOCATION, OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. THE BELT SQUEALED AND THEN EVERYTHING RESUMED... UNTIL I HIT ANOTHER PUDDLE. IN THE TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, IT WAS NOT NEARLY AS LONG OF A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, NOR DID THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON; THE BELTS SQUEALING ALWAYS SIGNALS THAT THE STEERING HAS RESUMED. MY MECHANIC IS BAFFLED AND WE ARE SCARED TO DRIVE OUR VEHICLE, SPECIFICALLY IN THE RAIN. FROM MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE....

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE ALSO JERKED AND THE BRAKES LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH BUT THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 44,000.