2003 Dodge Caravan

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE NOISE WAS INSPECTED. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR, RACK AND PINION STEERING, AND SWAY BAR BUSHINGS. DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT WAS SEEKING A SECOND OPINION BEFORE MAKING ANY REPAIRS. *AK

MY 2003 DODGE CARAVAN, WITH 40K MILES, WENT TO THE SHOP TODAY FOR NEW TIRES. AT THAT TIME I ALSO ASKED THAT THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT BE CHECKED AND CORRECTED, IF NECESSARY. A SHORT WHILE LATER I WAS CONTACTED BY THE MANAGER STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DO A FRONT END ALIGNMENT DUE TO THE TIE ROD ENDS BEING SO LOOSE AND WORN OUT. WE LIVE ON A PAVED ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER IN A FRONT COLLISION OR EVEN HIT A CURB, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW PARKED AWAITING NEW TIE ROD ENDS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PUT SUCH JUNK ON A CAR IN SUCH A CRITICAL SAFETY AREA. I WONDER HOW MANY MORE DODGE CARAVAN'S HAVE A SIMILAR SERIOUS PROBLEMS? *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V386000 CONCERNING THE STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE SOLUTION CALLED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MAKE THIS NOISE BEFORE THE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. *AK UPDATED DEC 7 2005. *JB

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT. OVER A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR HAS HAD A STEERING PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE IS A WHINING NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE STEERING. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND CONTINUES FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MINUTES. THE NOISE GETS LOUDER AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, AND FEEL A SLIGHT VIBRATION UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. THIS IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN HE TURNS THE WHEEL. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED TWO POWER STEERING PUMPS, AND PROVIDED A REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK AND PINION, THE LAST TIME AT THE SERVICE DEALER THEY REPLACED A POWER STEERING HOSE AND INSTALLED AN NC FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. NONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS OR REPAIRS HAS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIRS HAS BEEN COVERED 50/50 BY THE CONSUMER AND THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER. AS OF THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2005, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED.*AK

THE CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2003 DODGE CARAVAN; SUCH PROBLEMS WERE A KNOCK IN THE TRANSMISSION AND 2 BRAKE JOBS. *JB THE TWO BRAKES JOBS OCCURRED WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE STEERING WHEEL KNOCKED (RECALL CAMPAIGN #04V386000), THE VEHICLE HAD BROKEN DOWN AT 8K MILES, THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS OFF, THE GEAR PANEL ILLUMINATED, AND THE WINDOW HAD BECOME LOOSE. 80% OF THE VEHICLES PROBLEMS WAS UNDER 10K MILES. THE ROTATION NOISE CONTINUED AND THE RUBBER LINING AROUND THE SLIDING DOOR WAS COMING OFF. OTHER PROBLEMS: WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK TO DRIVE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE, THE FRONT RIMS/HUB CAPS WERE DIRTY DUE TO EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE AROUND THE BRAKES, EVEN DURING NORMAL WASHING, THERE WAS A MILD RINGING NOISE IN THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DOOR RATTLED, THE REAR TAIL LAMP WAS DAMAGED, THE BRAKE LIGHT AND BACK-UP LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT, THE BRAKES WERE GOING BAD AGAIN, THE ENGINE WOULD SPUTTER DUE TO NO FUEL PRESSURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT, WHEN THE DRIVER DOOR WAS SHUT IT MADE A LOUD RATTLE SOUND, THERE WOULD BE A DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN GOING UPHILL, WHEN SITTING AT IDLE, THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND AS IF IT WERE REVVING BUT THE GAUGE DID NOT DISPLAY THIS. *SC *JB

2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LOCKED UP.*MR THE VEHICLE STEERING LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT A BELT HAD SHEARED OFF AND CAUSED A LEAK. SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE UPPER POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE AND BELIEVES THAT THIS RECALL IS RELATED TO THE PROBLEM HER VEHICLE HAD. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *NM