1998 Dodge Grand Caravan

The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist and then stalled. Additionally, the odometer failed to display the correct mileage and the speedometer failed to display the correct speed of the vehicle while the engine revved. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.

THE SERPENTINE BELT HAS COME OFF OF THE PULLEYS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN WET WEATHER, INCLUDING RAIN AND SNOW/SLUSH, ESPECIALLY WHEN A PUDDLE IS GONE THROUGH BY THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ON TWO OF THESE OCCASIONS, I WAS TURNING A CORNER WHEN THE BELT CAME OFF, LOST CONTROL OF MY STEERING AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR WHICH WAS STOPPED ACROSS FROM ME. THE BELT COMING OFF ALSO CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THIS ISSUE CAUSES A LOSS OF CONTROL AND WILL LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH. CHRYSLER CLAIMS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.. THERE IS AN UPDATED BELT/PULLEY KIT WHICH HAS A DOUBLE-SIDED-GROOVED BELT AND PULLEY WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BUT THE COST TO THE CONSUMER IS APPROX $400-500 SINCE CHRYSLER CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. HOWEVER, THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ON WET ROADS ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AS I DO, WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55-65MPH OR TURNING A CORNER AT AN INTERSECTION WHERE OTHER CARS ARE STOPPED. *TR

STRUT TOWER CORROSION-DRIVER SIDE-RUST AND METAL BREAKING UP-1998 GRAND CARAVAN-PURCHASED NEW-HAS 83,500 MILES- HAVE HAD BELT PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES-ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMIT FAILURE -RUSTED OUT POWER STEERING MECH. TOTALLY REPLACED-MANY BRAKE JOBS-AND ALSO HEADLIGHT INTERIOR SWITCH SEEMS TO FAIL AT TIMES. I NEED TO MAKE A DECISSION TO BUY A NEW VAN WITH "HAND CONTROLS" OR HAVE THIS VAN "HAND CONTROLS" INSTALLED. ME THINKS I NEED TO BUY A NEW VAN AND BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER MANUFACTOR. AS IT SEEMS LIKE CHRYSLER/DODGE IS NOT STEPPING UP TO ALL THESE FAILURES THAT ARE SEEN BY TOO MANY OTHER VAN OWNERS;OF THIS 1998 MODEL CARAVAN. SAW ON LINE A NEW REPAIR FOR THE STRUT RUSTING CALLED ""FUSOR #112B/MOPAR 05083855AA. CAN BE USED TO FIX THIS PROBLEMTHE TSB #23-044-02 THRU A COMPANY CALLED LORD CORP. LISTED UNDER THEIR OEM BULLETINS AND REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS USING FUSOR ADHESIVES. THINK I MAY USE THIS ON MINE. HOPE OTHERS CAN USE THIS ALSO. THANKS. *NM

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A RACK AND PINION STEERING AND OTHER PROBLEMS. CONSUMER DROVE OVER A ROUGH POTHOLE WITH A METAL FLATBED ON TOP AT A LOW SPEED. WHILE DRIVING AT A STREET AT 25 MPH CONSUMER MADE A RIGHT TURN AND THERE WAS POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE NOISE WAS EVIDENT ONLY WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, WHO SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FRONT ALIGNMENT , BUT THAT WAS ALL. HOWEVER, INSURANCE COMPANY NOTED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING /FRONT ALIGNMENT/ RADIATOR, AND THE TRANSMISSION PAN. ALSO, CONSUMER NOTED THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ON AND IT SMOKED AFTER DRIVING A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY. VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECENT FRONT END ALIGNMENT BUT NO OTHER REPAIRS. *AK

DURING THE COURSE OF A SHORT TRIP, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED COMPLETELY. THE FLUID DRAINED FROM THE SYSTEM THROUGH A HOLE CAUSED BY A RUST-THROUGH OF THE STEEL POWER STEERING LINES WHICH ARE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH THE SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES, MADE OF STEEL WERE EXTENSIVELY RUSTED.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN BEGAN TO SLIP AND STAY IN SECOND GEAR AROUND 50K MILES. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE COST OF REPAIR IS MORE THAN I COULD EVER AFFORD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS AND THERE IS NOT MUCH VARIATION IN PRICE. GENERALLY THE COST IS GOING TO BE FROM $16,000 TO $2,400. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR EITHER. I AM READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, SO WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL? THE DEALER SHOULD GLADLY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS SINCE THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS OCCURRING ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO ABSORB THE COST THEMSELVES. THEY WILL RECALL SOMETHING SMALL LIKE BRAKES OR FAN BELT. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIP OFF TWICE WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES OF WATER. BOTH TIMES MY ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED, BOTH FATALLY SERIOUS PROBEMS. WHAT IS THE DEAL? I DEMAND RELIEF! NO ONE IS GOING TO TRADE THIS PIECE OF JUNK WITH ME. WHAT IS THE DEALER WILLING TO DO?