1998 DODGE CARAVAN Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ON WET ROADS, THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN AND BOUGHT A CARFAX REPORT WHEN PURCHASING WHICH WAS CLEAN SHOWING NO ACCIDENTS, NO PROBLEMS. THE ONE RECALL ALERT ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL WAS TAKEN CARE OF PREVIOUSLY. THE CAR HAS GENERALLY BEEN DEPENDABLE, OTHER THAN ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH FAILS INTERMITTENTLY AND ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS GO OFF. ON JANUARY 6TH, 2015 I WAS SHOPPING NOT FAR FROM HOME AND UPON EXITING THE STORE PARKING LOT TO LEAVE (2-3 MPH) TURNING THE WHEEL NORMALLY WHILE BACKING UP FROM MY SPACE, THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL JUST FELL INTO MY HANDS LEAVING IT ATTACHED BY ONLY A FEW WIRES. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF THE UPCOMING FAILURE, NO SHAKING, NO WOBBLE, NOTHING.I AM A SENIOR AND WAS IN THE CAR ALONE. LUCKILY, SOME STRANGERS HELPED PUSH ME BACK INTO PARKING SPACE BY HOLDING AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE, AS IT WOULD NOT SNAP BACK IN. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER STATED THAT IN HIS CAREER HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS, MY EXPERIENCED MECHANIC SAID THE SAME. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP. THE ENTIRE COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED, THE CLOCK SPRING, ETC. AND EVEN WITH USED PARTS IT WILL BE COSTLY. I LIVE IN THE LA AREA WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON EVERY STREET. WHAT FRIGHTENS ME IS THAT I WOULD LIKELY HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, AND ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD FIRST PLANNED ON GOING TO A MALL VIA FREEWAY. THIS WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. HOW MANY MORE OF THESE STEERING WHEELS HAVE FALLEN OFF UNREPORTED? HOW MANY MORE ARE READY TO OCCUR TO SOME UNLUCKY DRIVER? *TR

Mileage: 150,677

THE BELT KEEPS SLIPPING OFF ON MY DODGE CARAVAN. THIS HAS BEEN CONTINUAL. THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF THESE COMPLAINTS. IT IS THE SERPENTINE BELT. I HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH TO THE MECHANIC. THEY TRY EVERYTHING, BUT WHEN IT IS WET, IT COMES OFF. I EVEN TRY NOT TO DRIVE IN RAIN, BUT AFTER THE RAINS, I DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE AND ITS OFF AGAIN., I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT SEEMS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS, AS IT IS VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. FORTUNATELY SO FAR, I HAVE NOT BEEN GOING AT SPEED DURING THESE INCIDENTS. I HAD THE TENSIONERS TIGHTENED AGAIN LAST MONTH, AND ITS OFF AGAIN. *TR

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY 98 DODGE CARAVAN KEEPS BREAKING. WHEN IT DOES, I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR DECEMBER 17, 2009 AND HAVE HAD THE BELT BREAK 4 TIMES SINCE THEN, CAUSING ME NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ALONG THE HIGHWAY WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY 98 DODGE CARAVAN KEEPS BREAKING. WHEN IT DOES, I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR DECEMBER 17, 2009 AND HAVE HAD THE BELT BREAK 4 TIMES SINCE THEN, CAUSING ME NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ALONG THE HIGHWAY WITH MY YOUNG CHILDREN. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

THE SERPENTINE BELT POPPED OFF MY 1998 DODGE CARAVAN, IT IS 02/10/10 -- THE DAY OF THE BLIZZARD. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE ON THE DAY OF THE BLIZZARD IN DECEMBER. THIS LEADS TO AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING THE WORST POSSIBLE DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN I TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN DECEMBER, TWO MECHANICS AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP BOTH IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY SAID IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN ICE OR SNOW GETS UP UNDER THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. LOSS OF CRITICAL STEERING CAPABILITY DURING THE WORST POSSIBLE DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR

Mileage: 250,000

NO ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 214,000

SUBJECT: DEFECTIVE SERPENTINE BELT DESIGN I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT A RECENT MALFUNCTIONING SERPENTINE BELT IN MY 1998 CARAVAN. THE BELT HAS SLIPPED OFF TWICE LAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. THE FIRST INCIDENT LEFT ME STRANDED OFF THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT ON DAMP PAYMENT (NO STANDING WATER) WHILE AT A REST STOP MANY MILES FROM HOME. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED ON NORMAL PAVEMENT AND DRIVING DURING RAINY DAYS, AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VAN HAS THE STANDARD 3.0 LITER V6 ENGINE WITH 88K MILES, BUT THE SERPENTINE BELT INSTALLED WAS LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD. TWO SETS OF PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS FOUND THE BELT, THE BELT TENSIONER, AND ALL RELATED PARTS OF THE SYSTEM IN GOOD WORKING ORDER (INCLUDING THE ENGINE MOUNTS). IN SUMMARY, THE SYSTEM WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE CONCERN WE HAVE IS THE DESIGN OF THIS SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY RELIABLE DURING THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. BUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS GREATLY DISTRESSING. NOT ONLY IS THE RANGE OF THE VEHICLE LIMITED TO A COUPLE OF MILES WITH A STRONG BATTERY, THE LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED STEERING MAKES THIS BOTH A SAFETY AND RELIABILITY ISSUE. *NM

Mileage: 880,007

I OWN A 1998 DODGE CARAVAN 3.3L AND LESS THAN 55,000 MILES, THE TENSIONER PULLEY WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE BOLT HOLDING THE TENSIONER IN PLACE WAS SHEARED IN HALF, THE BELT FELL OFF, AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP IMMEDIATELY. THANK GOD THIS HAPPEN IN THE SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT AND NOT ON FREEWAY, THE VAN BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL! HAVE THE VAN TOWED TO C&M AUTO SERVICE, HAVE THE SERPENTINE BELT, THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER REPLACED AND RE-ALIGN THE TENSIONER. THE BELT/PULLEY DESIGN ON THIS VAN IS FLAWED AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! IN BRAZIL, CHRYSLER DID A RECALL BACK IN 2000 - DUE TO SEVERAL ISSUES RELATED TO BELT/PULLEY SYSTEM ON THE CARAVAN AND GRAND CARAVAN MODELS.*AK

Mileage: 54,223

THIS VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLY PROBLEMS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. WHEN PRESSING THE HORN IT FAILED TO COME ON ITS OWN. ALSO, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF OUT. NO INJURIES REPORTED. HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HORN ASSEMBLY AND AIR BAGS WERE SEPARATED PROBLEMS, AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS OKAY. NO DETERMINATION ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS WAS MADE. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

EXPERIENCE LOST OF ENGINE POWER AND STEERING. BOLTS BROKEN AND REPLACE GASKETS. LOST STEERING WHILE DRIVING. *BF THE FRONT END APPEARED TO BE MUCH LOWER THAN USUAL AND THE BELT WAS HANGING BELOW THE CHASSIS. *SC

CONSUMER HAD THE POWER STEERING BELT REPLACED FOUR TIMES. EVERY TIME IT RAINED THE BELT FELL OFF. CHRYSLER REPAIRED FOUR TIMES AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. THE BELT FELL OFF AGAIN YESTERDAY WHEN IT RAINED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND WASS AWAITING REPAIR.*AK

Mileage: 100,601

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A GROANING NOISE.. THE DRIVER STARTED TO PULL OF F TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL. WHEN THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND CHECKED THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR HE NOTICED IT WAS DRY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD CORRODED THROUGH AND THE FLUID LEAKED OUT THROUGH THE HOUSING. *AK *NM

Mileage: 58,800

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, WITHOUT ANY WARNING CONSUMER LOST THE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DUE TO ONE SECTION OF THE STEERING PUMP IS RUSTED AND LEAKING FLUID. DEALER NOTIFIED. *LA

THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHEN SHE MADE A TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THEN TO THE LEFT. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK *PH *JB

Mileage: 54,000

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WE HAVE HAD THE STEERING RAC REPLACED TWICE. WE ALSO HAVE CONSTANT ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS WHAT WE ARE WONDERING HAS THERE EVER BEEN REPORTS ON THE FRONT SEATS (DRIVERS SEAT) SEPARATING AS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED 8/3/03 THE WELDING HAS SEPERATED AND THE SUPPORT BAR HAS SNAPPED COMPLETELY APART WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. *AK

ON MY WIFE'S 1998 DODGE CARAVAN, THE IDLER SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER ARM COMPLETELY BROKE OFF CAUSING ALOT OF NOISE UNDER THE HOOD, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND LOSS OF ALTERNATOR BATTERY RECHARGE. IT ALSO CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO THE OTHER PULLEYS. I'VE OWNED MANY CARS AND THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED ON OTHER MAKES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT CAN LEAVE ANYBODY IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE.*AK

Mileage: 91,929

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE AND NO WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ALL THE VEHICLES DASH LIGHTS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING WHEEL GOT REALLY HARD TO TURN. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD FALLEN OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

WHEN IT RAINS SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF. CONSUMER LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY PUT IN AN IDLER PULLEY. NEXT TIME IT RAINED IN IT FELL OFF AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND TIGHT TURNS, LIKE ENTERING/EXITING PARKING SPOTS.*AK

THERE IS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK DEALER TO REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP. *TT

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND MECHANIC INDICATED EXTERNAL CYLINDER GASKET WAS GONE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VAN HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, POWER STEERING LOSS, BACK WHEELS ON FIRE, COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE AND ENGINE WOULD SEIZE AND STOP. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, AND CONSUMER SAW SOMETHING HANGING FROM UNDER THE CAR, IT WAS SERPENTINE BELT. THEN, THERE WAS NO STEERING OR BRAKING.*AK

STEERING GEAR IN THE RACK AND PINION HAS BROKEN TWICE. IT WAS REPLACED AT 9 MONTHS OF OWNER SHIP AND HAS BROKEN AGAIN IN ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME SINCE LAST REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AT SLOW PARKING LOT SPEEDS AND CAUSES THE VAN TO WANDER ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER AND CHRYSLER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BUT REFUSE TO FIX PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT AND IDLER ARM BROKE WHICH CAUSE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

SOME PART OF THE TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. EVIDENTLY, A BROKEN PIECE MOVED INTO SUCH A POSITION AS TO JAM THE STEERING SHAFT. THIS OCCURRED DURING A LEFT TURN AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION FROM A STOP. THE STEERING JAMMED IN A LEFT TURN POSITION GIVING THE FEELING TO THE DRIVER (MY WIFE) THAT STEERING CONTROL HAD BEEN LOST. GIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER EFFORT BROKE FREE THE JAM CONDITION ALLOWING US TO PROCEED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE WRITER'S COMMENT WAS TO THE EFFECT THAT THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL. MY ATTITUDE IS THAT IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE IF THE DRIVER PANICS, OR THE JAM CAN'T BE BROKEN, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN. I HAVEN'T HEARD OF A REPAIR CAMPAIGN ON THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. OTHER THAN THAT INSTANCE, THIS VAN IS FINE IN EVERY RESPECT. THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT FAILED FOR THE 4TH TIME WHILE DRIVING. HAD HEARD A FUNNY NOISE PRIOR TO NO STEERING. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FIRST 2 TIMES WAS AT 35MPH. 2ND 2 TIMES WAS WHILE STARTING VEHICLE. BEEN TO DEALER EACH TIME TO HAVE BELT REPLACED.*AK POWER STEERING, WATER PUM, ALTERNATOR AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *YH

LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN CAUSED VEHICLE TO VEER INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND INFOMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO STEERING BELT TENSIONER NEEDING REPLACEMENT. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

DESIGN OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS TO HIGH CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY OF OTHER INSTRUMENT COMPONENTS AND INDICATORS. YH

POWER STEERING HOSE.

RACK AND PINION CAUSING NOISE.

POWER STEERING--LINE POWER 19587, FLUID POWER 18133, CLIP COOL 7433, TIE STRAP 81511, CLAMPNS 18701.

WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK

THE POWER STEERING RACK & PINION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. INITIALLY, WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER WHEN VAN WAS BROUGHT IN FOR 6,000 MILE SERVICE AND THEY ADVISED IT WAS NORMAL. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS WE BROUGHT THE VAN BACK IN FOR SERVICE REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. THEY THEN REPLACED THE PRESSURE HOSE. IT WAS FINE FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT THE NOISE CAME BACK, SO WE BROUGHT IT IN TO ANOTHER DEALER CLOSER TO HOME. THEY CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND ADVISED THE RACK & PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, SO THEY DID. AFTER A WEEK OR SO, THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. WE BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN, AND THEY TOLD US THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK & PINION AGAIN, AND SO THEY DID (LAST WEEK THURSDAY 8/5/99). THE NOISE/PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. I HAVE 2 FRIENDS WHO ALSO PURCHASED THE SAME MAKE/MODEL AND THEY ALSO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS (PRESSURE HOSE REPLACED). TODAY, HER VAN FAILED TO START (EVEN AFTER ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START). I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN FIND OUT IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. THANK YOU.

POWER STEERING HAS REGULARLY CUT OFF WHEN TURNING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS AND BACKING UP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER 10 TIMES. DEALER HAS REPLACED TIE RODS, POWER STEERING PUMP, BELT, TENSIONER, STEERING RACK,AND STEERING COLUMN. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND DEALER STATES IT DOES NOT DO IT WHEN TEST DRIVE IS TAKEN.

POWER STEERING HAS REGULARLY CUT OFF WHEN TURNING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS AND BACKING UP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER 10 TIMES. DEALER HAS REPLACED TIE RODS, POWER STEERING PUMP, BELT, TENSIONER, STEERING RACK,AND STEERING COLUMN. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND DEALER STATES IT DOES NOT DO IT WHEN TEST DRIVE IS TAKEN.

POWER STEERING HAS REGULARLY CUT OFF WHEN TURNING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS AND BACKING UP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER 10 TIMES. DEALER HAS REPLACED TIE RODS, POWER STEERING PUMP, BELT, TENSIONER, STEERING RACK,AND STEERING COLUMN. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND DEALER STATES IT DOES NOT DO IT WHEN TEST DRIVE IS TAKEN.

STEERING COLUMN REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS,THIRD REPAIR WAS DONE TO RACK AND PINION HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS ITH STEERING.

STEERING COLUMN REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS,THIRD REPAIR WAS DONE TO RACK AND PINION HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS ITH STEERING.

STEERING COLUMN REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS,THIRD REPAIR WAS DONE TO RACK AND PINION HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS ITH STEERING.

POWER STEERING HOSES FAILED. *YC

WHILE PARKING STEERING SPINDLE BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK.ET.

POWER STEERING FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

HEARD LOUD GRINDING NOISE, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING SHARPLY TO LEFT. THE LOSS OF POWER WAS SUDDEN. I SIMULTANEOUSLY DECELARTED ND LESSENED THE DEGREE OF TURN AND THE POWER RETURNED. HAVE MADE NO SHARP TURNS SINCE, THUS NO RECURRENCES.