2006 Chrysler Town and Country: loss of power steering

Filed Oct 22, 2014 · Electrical, Fuel system · 79,800 miles · OH

Driving vehicle on road, slowing down to turn right into driveway, turned on right turn signal - instead of the right turn signal coming on, the left turn signal came on. I turned it back off and tried once more - again with the same results. I made the right and vehicle immediately stalled. I could not turn my wheel, could not control steering, but luckily it was a driveway with no oncoming traffic. I was able to crank the engine and restart the vehicle and made it further into the driveway before the vehicle stalled again. Again lost steering control. Now vehicle will not start, simply turns over and cranks but no engine starting.

Filed Jul 30, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 88,542 miles · TX

First time this happened when I was slowing down to come to a stop. The van shut down. No brakes. No steering. Put vehicle in park and it started right up again. It happened a 3-4 more times after that with similar circumstances. No rhyme or reason to when it would happen. On june 12, it happened again. On june 19, I took it to a mechanic who checked it out and said he hooked it up to different computers and couldn't find anything wrong. He drained the power steering fluid and put in new fluid. Today, on 7/29/2014, I was driving to work and slowed down to make a right hand turn and the van shut down. I had no steering or brakes as I was turning and almost hit a car on the opposite lane of traffic. I was able to pull over, put van in park and start it up again. It scared me so much I was shaking. Something needs to be fixed. It is not normal.

Filed Jul 25, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 250 miles · TX

Issue #1: as I was driving on a rainy day and went through a puddle, I lost steering capability. The wheel just stayed in the same place that I was going in...imagine that happening while trying to turn...accident waiting to happen...I took it back to where I bought the vehicle and was told nothing is wrong with my van. I took it to another dealer and they said I have to go back to the place I bought it to get work done on it....for years I took it in to no avail...then as I made 60k miles I did a tune up on my van and changed the serpentine belt even though it did not need it and you won't believe it...my issue had went away...I didn't know I was supposed to go behind the maker and make sure my vehicle's nuts and bolts are secured on a new vehicle! Issue #2: the passenger side air bag has a recall, but local dealer won't fix it, my dealer won't fix it saying I passed my 36k warranty miles what gives? I need it fixed! Issue #3: as I was driving 65mph on a hwy, my van shuts off stunded I drift to the shoulder to restart and be on my way this has happened may times if I have anymore that the van key in the starter then it turns my ignition offi need this fixed this is an accident waiting to happen just like ford and just like the ones chrysler has just recalled.

Filed Feb 21, 2014 · Fuel system · 86,825 miles · VA

For 3 months now, everytime the vehicle is fueled, the engine begins to stall and sputter. This happened on 2/20/2014 at 5pm after leaving the fueling station and the car stalled in the middle of a turn through a heavy traffic intersection, I lost power steering at a critical point in the turn and crossed one lane and almost into a concrete wall before muscling the steering wheel into a safe spot to try to restart the vehicle. I have been seeing a lot of reports about a failure with the vapor liquid separator valve on the gas tank that allow liquid to fill the charcoal canister which inturn sends raw liquid fuel rather than vapor into the engine intake causing an extremely rich mixture causing the stalling and sputtering. This is happening after every refuel and I am seeing hundreds of chrysler owners complaining of the same problem. Chrysler denied ever hearing about this problem when I called their customer service number to inquire. Apparently the fix is to replace the fuel tank. Sounds like a very unsafe design flaw to me.

Filed Dec 30, 2013 · Steering · NC

While driving in the rain, lost power steering capability and could barely turn wheel to get out of harms way....this has happened several times...thought just a fluke...but consistency tells otherwise...don't think I would buy a chrysler product again...

Filed Aug 18, 2012 · Steering · 126,000 miles · CO

Rack and pinion steering failure. General whining noise had been occurring for 10-15000 miles, with no discernible loss of power steering fluid. Increased noise and banging noise, LED us to the rack and pinion steering failure.

Filed Jul 9, 2012 · Steering · 68,000 miles · IN

I was driving on the highway and my power steering went out. It was in the middle of winter with a storm coming in. I had to replace my power steering racking system, which coast me over $500. It is a issue that seems to be happening to many of these vehicles from this year. I also have issues with my power steering going out every time is rains or snows. This was happening well before I had to get the racking system repaired and is still an issue. This is a major safety issue that needs to be fixed.

Filed Jan 16, 2012 · Steering · OH

We had our rack and pinion replaced by chrysler over a year ago. It would become hard to steer whenever we would go over any puddles/snow. They say they replaced it, but it still does the same thing. Even when we leave it out in the rain over night, the next day it squeals and we can't move the steering wheel. It's the same thing, puddle, rain or snow, squeal and loss of steering anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. There is a definite design defect with this particular model and it will take someone dying because of it for them to recall this van. We also have always had a rubber burning smell from the front left tire side whenever we have a change in the temperature, around 30-40degrees, usually in wet/slush weather conditions. Very strange and nothing has ever been done about it nor can chrysler tell us what it's coming from.

Filed Jan 6, 2012 · Steering · 54,000 miles · MI

A loud whine started in the engine compartment and steering became difficult. Dealership stated that the rack of the steering system had leaked and lost the power steering fluid. The dealership stated this was a common problem. The rack and pinion of the steering had to be replaced.

Filed Oct 26, 2011 · Steering · 66,622 miles · OH

When driving in rain through a puddle (1" deep) my power steering went out when I tried to turn making it almost impossible to steer. Mechanic stated that it was likely due to location of the belt which can fail when wet and was a known issue with this model vehicle. Since then, this has occurred 3 times, always in rain. This is extremely dangerous as it makes it almost impossible to steer the vehicle. I was told there is no known fix for the problem.

Filed Sep 6, 2011 · Steering · ME

While driving during a rain storm I went through a puddle. I lost power steering for about 30 seconds. This has happened twice!!! It is scary and I will never buy another chrysler.

Filed Aug 22, 2011 · Steering · 70,115 miles · FL

While driving during a rain storm we went through a puddle. We lost power steering for about a minute. If this had happened on an interstate or mountain road it could have been very dangerous.