Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 06/08/2011 | 81125 | ||
| 2005 grand caravan rack & pinion leak failure- it began as a slight grunt when turning the steering wheel while sitting still, like in a packing lot, then i took the van in for a vehicle safty inspection for plate renewal when i was informed i had a bad right strut and a leak, they replace the strut and re-alighned the frount end but informed me i would have to replace the rack & pinion box to fix the fluid leak. i did not believe them so i took it to another shop for a second opinion, and for sure thats what it is and the expected repair cost to be near $1000.00 the van only has 80,100 gentle miles on it, i can't believe this failed already, i treat this van really well. since then i have learned this is a big problem with this van, little did i know when i bought it brand new in 2005. i am the only owner and driver of this van. | |||
| 03/21/2011 | 73000 | ||
| Took my 2005 grand caravan to the dealership due to a loud noise when turning. was just informed by dealership that i need a power steering pump, and rack and pinion, bushings and bearings. also need a new radiator. this is ridiculous for a barely 6 year old vehicle with 70,000 miles on it. i have also had the problem with headlight not coming on when you flip the switch. that is a huge safety issue! | |||
| 02/01/2010 | 60000 | ||
| I own 2005 dodge grand caravan. recently i noticed a whinning sound from front end when i turn the steering wheel. itook it to amechanic he said i had leaking steering rail. i only had 60000 miles im told this rail is something that should never have to be replaced unless of course its damaged by accident. ive visited forums online and found that lots of other owners of this van have problems with steering system vibrations and loss of power assist, just as i have. i dont thik this is safe. | |||
| 03/04/2011 | 54000 | ||
| Bought a used 2005 grand caravan 4 months ago. took it ot the dealership todayto have the airbag sensor replaced (recall item). the dealership did a courtesy inspection for and found a leak in the power steering rack, play in the left tie rod, and a left front axle seal. the vehicle only has 54,000 miles on it so this should not be failing this soon (as i see it is with many other peoples' vehicles) | |||
| 02/18/2011 | 91000 | ||
| Power assisted steering rack on 2005 dodge grand caravan sxt 3.8l seals leaking causing possible loss of steering. | |||
| 02/20/2010 | 99000 | ||
| 2005 dodge grand caravan failing steering rack | |||
| 05/13/2010 | 30498 | ||
| Vehicle shuts down without warning;power door locks inoperative at times;premature failure front stabilizer bushings;premature failure outer tie rod end. no repairs made but estimates have been obtained. | |||
| 02/22/2010 | 55000 | 1 | |
| Started hearing grinding noise when turning several months ago. dodge dealership diagnosed it as faulty strut and spring and replaced. grinding noise continued. now, dodge dealership diagnosed as leaking power steering rack - want $1,100+ to replace. *tr | |||
| 12/16/2009 | 52001 | 2 | |
| 2005 dodge grand caravan 3.8 steering noisy and rack & pinion leaking. had to replace steering rack and reservoir. $1000 and only had 50000 miles. had it to dealer 2 times for steering noise under 3-36 warranty. *tr | |||
| 05/16/2009 | 85000 | 1 | |
| Power steering leak , rack and pinion 2005 dodge caravan. *tr | |||
| 09/08/2008 | 35000 | 1 | |
| Power steering makes grinding noise. the noise doesn't happen all the time usually when driven alot. took it to dealer they said they couldn't find any problem. i looked online and read that there are many complaints about this problem. *tr | |||
| 03/20/2009 | 17274 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. when the contact took the vehicle to the dealer for regular maintenance, it was discovered that the steering wheel column rack was leaking power steering fluid. the dealer estimated that it would cost $1,000 to replace the rack. there were no recalls listed for the failure. due to the fact that the vehicle was one month out of warranty, the manufacturer would not assist with the repairs. the vin was not accepted by the system. the failure and current mileages were less than 17,274. | |||
| 03/23/2009 | 40000 | 1 | |
| We have taken our 2005 dodge sxt grand caravan in numerous times for electrical problems which most of the time they can not duplicate. then on monday march 23 after leaving the city and bringing my children home from school i went to make a left hand turn and my steering column locked up and i could not complete the turn. with oncoming traffic and traffic behind i had no choice but to gun the engine and go into the field. i stopped the car with brakes that worked, at least, and turned the vehicle off. i then restarted the vehicle and there was complete free play in the wheel. i turned the wheel all the way to the right and there was a clunk and then i again had regular movement of tires with the wheel. i immediately called my dealership and told them what happened and that i was bringing it in with my dad following behind. tomkinson dodge has had it for 2 days and told me that they know there is a problem but since it is under warranty and they can't pinpoint the problem, warranty won't pay until they know what the problem is. it is too expense to let a tech get inside and take things apart to find the actually problem. they told me i need to drive it again and it will be fine, but if it happens again to let them come and tow it and don't touch anything. if it happens again! if it happens again my children and i could be dead. i was just lucky to not be in too busy of a place unlike i had been a half hour before. so there was a failure but nothing is being done to fix it because it may be to expensive for the dealership. *tr | |||
| 08/31/2008 | 34000 | 1 | |
| Normal driving, vehicle has been involved in no accidents. at about 34,000 miles on vehicle, and 3 and a half years old, airbag light on dash started illuminating. would turn off sometimes, but usually stayed on. dealer diagnosed failure of clockspring in steering column, which had to be replaced at cost of about $250.00. *tr | |||
| 11/16/2008 | 58000 | 1 | |
| Van started to make a loud sound from the engine area. took the van in to see what was wrong, first garage could not identify the problem in november. took the van in again 12/21/08 and they identified that the rack and pinion was going out and leaking fluid. that was making the noise. was informed that this is not a common repair and it is unusual for this type of repair to have to be done on a vehicle that gets regular maintenance and has never been in any kind of accident. the mechanic said he had seen several of the same vehicle with same problem. it appears to be a manufacturer defect in the build of the rack and pinion system. *tr | |||
| 03/08/2008 | 30000 | 1 | |
| Bad noises from steering column and right front suspension. *tr | |||
| 08/24/2008 | 65000 | 1 | |
| Rack and pinion on 2005 dodge caravan - noticed many others have same complaint. internal seal on assembly is wearing out around 65000. must replace entire rack and pinion assembly. how many before recall? *tr | |||
| 07/28/2007 | 35000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2005 dodge grand caravan and when i have reach 35000 miles i notices that my power steering fluid kept get low, but i could not find any leaks to show me that i had a problem. this was doing the winter time in ohio with snow on the ground with made it even more strange that i did not see any oil leak in the snow showing me that i had a problem. then when i reach 50000 mile my brake started squeaking and i knew it could not be my brake pads on the front because they had been replace about 18 month back. i just thought it was just some road grime that might have got on the rotor. when the sound did not stop i recheck the pad to make sure that they was still good and that when i found out that my steering boot was leaking and some of it was getting on to the on to the rotor. so by change i decide to check the internet to see it if anyone else had this problem and i was surprise to find out just how many people did. therefore i discovered your site and again was surprise to find out how many complaint that you have had about this insure yet you still had not did anything about it. as i said the fluid is leaking on to the disc rotor meaning that this is a more serious problem not only this is a serious problem the complete failure of the steering:rack and pinion:rack, either way you look at it either you won?t be able to stop or you loose control of the vehicle which mean it is more serious than you or anyone else could even imaging and i can not believe that you have not did anything about it all because no one has died yet. if everyone knew just how unsafe this vehicle really is they would be getting rid of this vehicle as fast as they could because their family lives are at stake here not the builder, designer, or the president or ceo of chrysler but the people who entrust these very people with a safe product. *tr | |||
| 06/04/2007 | 30150 | 1 | |
| At about 12,000 our 2005 dodge grand caravan developed a thumping/binding in the steering/front axle. we had it in several times during the warranty period for the same problem; both axles were replaced and the steering column was replaced also, yet the thumping/binding never truly went away. shortly outside the comprehensive warranty period, the right front axle broke. fortunately it was in a parking lot, not on the highway. the right axle was replaced, but now the thumping/binding is back just like it was when we first started pursuing getting the problem fixed. the van only has 30,300 miles on it. *tr | |||
| 01/05/2005 | 21 | 1 | |
| From the day i drove this brand new vehicle off of the dealers lot i began complaining about a noise when i turned right. i brought it in several times to have it checked out and was told that they could not duplicate the noise so all was fine. eventually it got so bad that the front end was bouncing. they finally determined after 22 months that it was a bad sway bar bushing that needed to be replaced. *tr | |||
| 10/18/2007 | 125000 | 1 | |
| Steering rack rapidly degraded and was about to fall out of car. seems like dodge mini-vans have lot sof problems with this. i had this happening my old van twice but it was a slower progressive problem . my new van started to make some noises on occasion. shops checked it out but couldn't find any problems.... i continued to drive it... over course of one week noise increased a bit and brought back in... shop's words steering rack was about to fall out.. many people are not as attune to noises and sensations as i am. i could easily see someone else driving without detecting this problem having a serious steering failure. *tr | |||
| 01/12/2007 | 1 | ||
| Every time i took my van in for an oil change i was told the power steering fluid was low, obviously didn't think much of it at the time. i started hearing a whining sound 5,000 miles after the warranty was up, took the van in and they found the power steering rack leaking fluid, reservoir empty and blocked with p/s gear remains, and p/s pump noisy. they replaced the p/s gear, pump, and reservoir at my expense of $1200.00. i wouldn't think that a 2005 van should have major power steering problems after 2 years. i believe this is a manufacturing problem. *nm | |||
| 08/05/2005 | 29000 | 3 | 08/01/2005 |
| I purchased a cpo 05 grd caravan from a local dealer. within months the electric door locks would go up and down while unlocking the doors by the key, would go up and down while traveling down the road & while opening the electric windows while inside the van..* * the steering wheel would lock up while pulling out onto the road. my wife and kids could have been killed by the approaching fully loaded log truck. the van was taken to the lithia in roseburg & was informed of the issued. it was inspected and the reply was that they could not find any problems & they said they could not get the door locks to go up and down. the van was taken in a 2nd time on 07/28/2006 with the same issues, again they kept the rig and told us they could not get the door locks to do anything. on 04/07/2006 the van was taken in to lithia after kendall said that they could not work on the van because of us buying it from lithia. so the van was returned to lithia with the same problems along with the rt rear brake light staying ..you know the sad thing is i still own 15k on this van. the steering on the van locked up again while traveling down the road and almost caused an accident with my wife and kids in the van. i just pray that when we take it in for the 4th time and we leave it at the dealership to fix, that they will get it done right and that if we either keep the van or trade it off that nobody gets killed from this major safety issue. i feel that i have been shafted due to having a cpo and dodge dealers are not able to do their job due to skills or ?. i sure hope that if you are in an accident and your unable to get out of the van due to the door locks you don't burn up or if you can not open the door that hopefully somebody can get the door open from the outside of the van. oh i forgot, when i go over a speed bump it sounds like the engine is going to drop out. *nm | |||
| 08/04/2005 | 5500 | 1 | 03/24/2004 |
| Since purchasing in 2004. i have had to take back the van numerous times to complain to the dealership about noises while driving in the steering brakes and front right wheel base area. brakes popping and scrubbing, wheel base makes a scrubbing/cracking noises, and there was a whining noise while slowing at stops and in parking lots. they have replaced a map light. my sliding doors have stopped working once but the problem has not occurred again to take to the dealer. at a red light when it turned green i went to go and the engine cut off would not restart immediately. luckily no one was behind me and no oncoming traffic. i was on a hill and able to roll to the side and put the van back in park to restart. 08/11/05 took to dealer ship and they performed a computer flash update and listed a label aut and label gen part. here are the service dates when i took in it each time to complain about steering and driving noises. 08/04/05 took to dealer ordered parts serviced on 08/11/05 replaced power steering reservoir. 11/17/05 replaced rack and pinion. 08/16/06 took in brakes starting making noises told we had 20% left at 16,812 miles they told us to replace the brakes. 08/16/06 also had them look at the same noise as before and they lubed/greased strut dust covers. 11/08/06 took back for same noises and they replaced the sway bar links found my steering fluid low, replaced fluid and stated they could not find any cracks/leaks. i am still hearing noises come from the right front wheelbase. the power steering fluid has fixed the whining noises as of today. the brakes are not popping. they said the sway bar links fixed the popping. *nm | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 01/21/2008 | 44000 | 1 | 03/21/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated that there is a leak in the steering wheel column. the dealer informed her that the parts were on back order and they did not know when they would be available. the repair will cost $550. the vehicle has not been repaired. the vin and engine size were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 44,000. | |||
| 12/01/2006 | 27100 | 5 | 05/27/2005 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while driving 10 mph and turning right, there was a clicking noise coming from the steering column. the steering became very tight to the point of almost locking up. excessive force was required to turn the steering wheel, accompanied by a noise as if there was plastic fracturing inside the steering column. the horn, the radio controls, the air bag, the traction control switch, and the switch that controlled the pedal distance all disengaged at once. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who determined that the clockspring had detached. the first 3 times this had occurred, the clockspring was replaced. the fourth time, the steering wheel and the clockspring were replaced. this was the fifth occurrence. in this instance, the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the problems persisted in spite of all the repairs. the manufacturer was also notified. | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | |||
| 01/21/2008 | 53718 | 1 | 06/04/2005 |
| Power steering rack / gearbox defect. 2nd. time needing to be replaced. on manufacturers back order. dealership said 10,000 on national back order. i cannot drive this vehicle until it is repaired. *tr | |||
| 11/27/2007 | 65432 | 1 | 12/23/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2005 dodge caravan. the contact took her vehicle to have an oil change and a leak was discovered in the power steering rack. the dealer stated that the steering gear needed to be replaced. prior to going to the dealer, the contact heard a loud noise when turning in either direction. the vin was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 65,432. updated 01-15-08. *kb updated 01/15/08 *tr | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||
| 01/04/2007 | 20000 | 4 | 03/01/2005 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated that he was unable to turn the steering wheel. the power steering hose came loose then the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure however; they reattached the power steering hose. the failure mileage was 20,000 and current mileage was 40,000. updated 03-04-08 *bf | |||
| 09/21/2005 | 14400 | 1 | 10/16/2004 |
| (1)during a routine home maintenance, i noticed there is a build up of soot on top of the intake assembly. upon closer inspection, power steering reservoir was cracked and the fluid is near the low level. (2) power steering fluid at low level (3) part replaced at dealer, no i do not have the old part. i paid out of pocket as chrysler warranty does not cover parts deemed damaged by outside force. *jb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - POWER STEERING FLUID | |||
| 07/12/2007 | 04/09/2005 | ||
| I recently had my 2005 dodge grand caravan, 28000 miles, serviced only to find out that my front brakes are 100% gone, my throttle body is plugged up, and i had no power steering fluid. of course, as the dealership tells me, the warranty does not cover any of these repairs that need to be done. | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 11/01/2007 | 67000 | 45 | 02/12/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. while driving 45 mph and decelerating, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. she took her vehicle to an authorized local dealer and they stated that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the contact filed a formal complaint with the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 67,000 and current mileage was 68,000. | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 10/18/2007 | 33112 | 2 | 07/03/2004 |
| In february 2007 noted high pitched noise - particularly at idle. sometimes when turning. felt like it was coming from the steering wheel. took it into the dealer and they replaced the power steering pump. warranty expired in august and noted the same noise in september. took van back into the dealer and they replaced the steering gear. parts and labor nearly $600. i feel the reason the pump failed the first time was overwork due to the gears and it should have been replaced while under warranty. service department recommended i contact chrysler warranty. i am still investigating how to reduce/eliminate the charges. *tr | |||
| 08/15/2006 | 24000 | 12 | 12/15/2004 |
| 2005 dodge caravan that when it rains the power steering goes out making the vehicle almost impossible to control. i have taken it to two different dealers, tarpon dodge and clearwater autoway dodge to have them figure out a repair. both dealership said they could not do anything until chyrsler came up with a fix. the service manager from tarpon dodge told me not to drive in the rain and avoid puddles if i did drive in the rain and to slow down. i then sent letters to chyrsler customer care requesting a fix or replacement vehicle without penalty from the lease company. customer care said that there was nothing they could do. drive slower and avoid puddles. i live in florida, when it rains, it rains. all of our street turn into giant puddles and if i were to drive much slower, i would be going backwards. the power steering going out is frightening and dangerous. it comes back then you are over reacting to compensate for no steering. at one point i could not negotiate a turn after already moving into it and then the steering came back on and i nearly went through a fence and field. i have an illness that reduces my strength and makes handling this van without power steering even for 30 seconds almost impossible. this has been going on now for over a year. four times in the shop after a rain storm and the power steering has gone out. | |||
| 02/13/2007 | 24000 | 6 | 12/19/2004 |
| This is an abbreviated copy of the second letter i have sent to dodge the first letter was sent in sept, 2006. the power steering goes out intermittently when it rains. unable to control vehicle. feb 20, 2007 dodge customer assist ctr power steering failure due to rain 2005 dodge caravan vin: 2d4gp44l55r201365 this is the 2nd attempt to get dodge or chrysler to care about the vehicle built that has a power steering flaw. it is apparent from your lack of correspondence or communication that your company does not care about its customer | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | |||
| 04/23/2008 | 113700 | 1 | 04/17/2008 |
| Purchase of used dodge grand caravan & then found out 1 week later that the rack and pinion area leaks & the entire rack needs to be replaced. *tr | |||
| 02/15/2008 | 1 | ||
| Took my 2005 dodge grand caravan to the dealer for an oil and filter replacement and was told that i had a leak rack and pinion steering assembly. never had a problem with the steering, and no leaks on my garage floor, but the dealer rep insisted that this was a problem that could get worse. part is back-ordered, which makes me wonder if this is a common problem that needs to be recalled. *tr | |||
| 03/27/2008 | 53315 | 3 | 12/20/2004 |
| Power steering rack defect. *tr | |||
| 03/03/2008 | 38200 | 1 | 02/20/2008 |
| Purchase of used dodge grand caravan & then found out 3 weeks later that the power steering boot fails & entire rack needs to be replaced. *tr | |||
| 03/03/2008 | 42726 | 2 | 05/18/2005 |
| 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 | |||
| 02/29/2008 | 48000 | 1 | 05/01/2006 |
| Sporadic noise coming from car engine, and some difficulty turning at times. after a thorough inspection, a mechanic found that it is a faulty rack and pinion. subsequent, have found numerous complaints, including at following site: http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/chrysler-town-and-country/t4icmksnnrm7ajfie/ this has potential serious safety issues with regard to steering. please investigate a recall for this problem. thanks. *tr | |||
| 02/25/2008 | 1 | ||
| I have had my 2005 dodge grand caravan for almost 2 years it has only 64, 000 mile on it. about two weeks ago we started hearing a sound when starting the van and when you turn the steering wheel, usually lasts until you drive for a awhile then it comes and goes. we took it to the dodge dealership and they said it was the racket pinion gear and would cost a little over $900 to repair. i called around to a few other car repair shops and they all said are you sure that is the problem, they have never heard of a vehicle needing that replaced that early. so i got online and did some research and found that there are many people with the same problem, all occurring with miles ranging for 15,000 to 75,000. i came across your web site and see that this has been investigated before. this i a problem that needs to be fixed, it is not just some random malfunction. i request that you reopen this investigation. *tr | |||
| 12/21/2007 | 35000 | 2 | 10/28/2005 |
| In 2005 we purchased a new dodge grand caravan and had it modified for my husband to drive from his wheelchair, spending $50,000 total for this vehicle/modifications. in the span of two years, we | |||
| 11/16/2007 | 42000 | 1 | 09/19/2005 |
| 2005 dodge grand caravan was serviced at 42,000 miles because of a moan/fog horn like sound while turning. dealer stated this was due to failed power steering system, which was leaking internal, as vehicle has no visible signs of power steering fluid leaks. vehicle has been serviced routinely at a 5 star dealership and was just in for an oil change 3 weeks ago. power steering failures on this vehicle appear to be widespread and should be recalled & covered under warranty as several technical service bulletins have been released proving system design flaws, defects & problems. this problem should be investigated further by the nhtsa as this contains serious safety defects in their design. *tr | |||
| 05/22/2007 | 2 | 01/12/2005 | |
| 2005 grand caravan sxt was purchased on january 12, 2005. this is my second dodge caravan. my first was a 1999. on december 21, 2005, after less than one year, with 17248 miles on the vehicle, the rack and pinion assembly failed and needed to be replaced. i brought it in because i was hearing a whining sound when i turned the steering wheel and there were oil spots on my garage floor, under the front left side of my vehicle. i was told by the dealer that this was a known problem and, since it was sitll under warranty, i wasn't to worried as long as it would be fixed. on may 22, 2007, after less than one and a half years after the first rack and pinion replacement and with 41558 miles on the vehicle, the rack and pinion assembly failed and needed to be replaced, again. i brought it in because this time i was hearing a loud rubbing/whining sound when i turned the steering wheel to the left and there were oil spots on the same spot on my garage floor, under the front left side of my vehicle. i don't understand how i need to put a third rack and pinion assembly in my van after only less than two and a half years of ownership and only 41558 miles on the vehicle! i was told that it would cost me around $800-$900 for the repair, parts and labor! i have to pay that amount of money every year, or year and a half, for a known problem? | |||
| 02/10/2007 | 38000 | 1 | 09/15/2005 |
| Over time the front end of the vehicle developed a whine that sounded like a piece of debris stuck in the cooling fan. however, there was no debris. the whine continued to worsen over several weeks. we took the vehicle to a repair shop and found that the power steering pump leaked, leading to damage to the rack and pinion system. the entire rack and pinion had to be replaced. however, to make matters worse we had to wait 3 weeks for parts, and continued to drive the vehicle in winter with the possibility that the power steering would fail at any time. we were told that there was a 3 week wait because parts were not available due to so many rack and pinion failures around the country. if there were that many failures this deserved a recall. this happened at 38,000 miles, and so was out of warranty and the repair cost was approximately $1300.00. *ak | |||
| 01/15/2007 | 27750 | 7 | 01/10/2005 |
| I am concerned with overall quality control on this vehicle. i purchased this vehicle new to provide safety and comfort for my growing family. i was disappointed in the vehicles performance and gas mileage during the first several weeks of ownership. i returned the vehicle to the dealership and they replaced the oxygen sensor units that they said where defective. several months later the heater/air conditioning blower went out. next with less than 20,000 miles on the vehicle i had to replace the brakes. now with less than 28.000 miles on the vehicle i noticed that the passenger side floor was soaked, the vehicle was making unusual sounds when turning and the passenger side door would not close automatically. at the dealership i found out that the rack and pinion steering unit had failed along with the the cable on the passenger side door. on investigation of the water leak the dealership found that the passenger side pillar had not been sealed properly to the roof causing water to run into the van and rot the carpet. while the vehicle is in for repairs the dealership is also replacing the heater/air conditioner blower which is making grinding sounds again. *nm | |||
| 08/18/2006 | 30709 | 3 | 04/28/2005 |
| My 2005 dodge caravan (id4gp24rx5b305163) had the rack and pinion replaced at 30,709 miles. at 47,208 miles the rack and pinion and pump had to replaced again. the vehicle was seen by dealer before several times before they confirmed the problem with the rack and pinion. *nm | |||
| 10/02/2005 | 23000 | 1 | 10/28/2004 |
| First noticed popping/rubbing noise in front end. took in and they replaced the front stabilizer bushings and etc.. that was in oct 2005. i have taken back to wilson dodge in jackson, ms 3/4 times since. the problem still exist. the service man said he hear noise when turning 1/4 to right. but when i went to pick up vehicle they had not done anything to it. i have a friend that's a mechanic. he said the rack and pinion system is going out and is bad. i have stated this to wilson dodge. they wanted me to sign the last paper work but i would not sign because they had not fixed problem. i am taking to other dodge dealer ship this week to see if they can find problem. also i had to replace the brakes already at 26,000 miles. and they said i needed new rotors. this is ridiculous. i had a 1998 dodge caravan and only had to replace brakes once on it and it had 98,000 miles on it. *jb | |||
| 02/28/2006 | 52000 | 1 | 10/18/2004 |
| Rack and pinion steering assembly is leaking clock spring for airbag light is broken. *nm | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION - RACK | |||
| 03/12/2008 | 1 | ||
| Told that power steering rack has failed and needs replacement, along with ps pump. 50,800 miles on vehicle. $1500 estimate, not covered under powertrain warranty, and can't be done anyway due to 10,000 piece backlog on the parts needed! this appears to be a very common problem, based on the number of complaints i see on this site for this particular vehicle and it's siblings (chrysler t&c, and neighboring model years), and the afore mentioned backlog. why is this problem not being investigated and why is it not subject to recall? it is clearly defective design, many reports on this site for failures at relatively low mileage. this vehicle purchased as a cpo in jan 2006 with 19k mi. *tr | |||
| 02/15/2008 | 47970 | 1 | 07/19/2005 |
| Premature steering rack seal wear and leaks resulting in fluid loss and potential loss of control in emergency situations. vehicle has less than 50,000 miles, 70% of which was freeway use. dealer called the problem a well known problem, also va state safety inspector also mentioned know problems with this critical vehicle system. dealer quoted $1000 to repair. *tr | |||
| 01/12/2007 | 25630 | 20 | 08/08/2005 |
| Whining noise coming from steering unit. minimal power steering fluid loss. first dealer could not diagnose problem, then misdiagnosed. second dealer diagnosed as needing new rack. *tr | |||
| 01/07/2008 | 56500 | 20 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. the contact stated that the power steering rack failed. when the steering wheel was turned, she heard a loud noise. the noise has grown progressively worse. the dealer stated that several vehicles were experiencing the same failure. the vehicle has not been repaired. the purchase date was unknown. the current mileage was 57,000 and failure mileage was 56,500. | |||
| 12/20/2007 | 15800 | 1 | 09/23/2004 |
| Steering fluid leak at rack and pinion (steering);dealer says that unit needs replaced. fluid loss could result in lack of steering control. *tr | |||
| 01/24/2008 | 80000 | 2 | |
| I have had to replace the power steering rack in 2005 grand caravan twice now. the first time was under warranty at 32,000 miles. the latest failure is now at 75,000 miles. the 5 star dealer replaced the rack both times. all maintenance has been done by the dealer and on schedule. i think that it is ridiculous that i am on my 3rd power steering rack in less than 80,000 miles. this has to be a design or manufacturing flaw and should be part of a recall. *tr | |||
| 12/28/2007 | 54000 | 2 | 04/11/2005 |
| I am in the process of replacing the rack in the steering component of my van for the second time. the first was 6 months after purchase, now a year and a half later and out of warranty. i researched this problem and found several databases of numerous complaints of the same thing. i purchased this vehicle thinking it was safe for my son and am now afraid of driving it. *tr | |||
| 01/08/2007 | 28800 | 1 | |
| My wife and i purchased our 2005 grand caravan new two years ago. several weeks ago i found a large puddle of fluid under it. it had 28,000 miles on it. we took it to the local dealership and were informed the power steering rack was leaking and would need to be replaced. it was fixed under warranty. just last weekend i came home and found another puddle under our van. we took it in again and were told it needed a new radiator this time. after the work was finished i talked with the service manager about the power steering rack and he stated they had replaced approximately 100 of them this winter. he said he could not believe dodge was not looking into this more thoroughly. needless to say, i did not take this information as very converting knowing my warranty will expire in about 4,000 miles. *nm | |||
| 01/02/2007 | 35649 | 2 | 07/27/2005 |
| The first time the power steering rack was replaced in jan 06 with 26,424 miles on the vehicle. i noticed power steering fluid was leaking which the dealer determined was a bad power steering rack. the same problem occurred again in jan 07 with 35, 649 miles on the vehicle. this time there was a distinct humming sound that caused me to bring the vehicle in for repair. i asked the dealer if this was a recurring problem and he stated it was not but reading other complaints, it certainly is not an isolated incident. *jb | |||
| 12/25/2006 | 48352 | 1 | 07/11/2006 |
| 1) leaking transmission fluid; noisy steering 2) no failure, promptly took to mechanic 3) replaced steering rack, front- end aligned. *nm | |||
| 11/08/2006 | 38256 | 1 | 07/12/2005 |
| This letter is in regards to a 2005 dodge grand caravan, which was recently serviced because of a failed power steering rack. the power steering rack was diagnosed as leaking due to bad seals and the unit was replaced. the power steering reservoir was also replaced because of a restriction of flow. according to dialogue with the dealership, it was determined that the screen in the reservoir was plugged, which caused the squeaking sound i was hearing. i believe the screen was plugged with debris generated by the failing seals in the power steering rack, since this is a recirculation hydraulic system. the mileage at the time of failure was 38,256 miles, and i believe this type of failure was premature. i also believe that the failure could have had serious consequences had i indeed lost all the fluid from the system prior to my discovery of the problem. i had the power steering rack replaced on my 2001 dodge caravan this year, but the mileage was considerably higher, around 80,000 miles. neither the previous owner nor i influenced the premature failure of the power steering rack, nor the plugged screen in the reservoir; even though the mechanics attempted to place the blame on me stating that the reservoir failure was due to improper maintenance. since i have had this same problem on a 2001 caravan, i feel that this problem is a design flaw, and should warrant a design change to avert future hardships by caravan owners. furthermore, there is no maintenance interval specified for this system at this mileage. power steering system failures are prevalent across their entire model lineup. i believe this steering problem should be investigated by the nhtsa. *jb | |||