1999 Dodge Caravan: loss of power steering

Filed Jul 9, 2011 · Engine · 91,250 miles · FL

Dodge caravan 1999 serpentine belt dismounting upon driving through water. A dangerous and immediate loss of power steering, overheating, and loss of alternator output ( warning light on ) is noticed.

Filed Feb 22, 2011 · Engine · 45,000 miles · OR

I have had repeated shredding of the serpentine belt on my 1999 dodge caravan resulting in loss of power steering and systems shutdown (including engine) during driving. This is a serious safety issue and I have read numerous reports of the exact same failure. Brazil has recalled the dodge minivan for the same failures and dodge has made a modification kit (2005) for this problem but refuses to date to post a recall in the united states. I have replaced the belts 6 times and the tensioner 3 times in 60,000 miles. I have called dodge and they have refused to pay for the correction of the problem even though I had the last tensioner and belt put on at the dodge dealership although they used an old style tensioner not the new kit even though the new kit had been available since 2005 and I had the tensioner replaced in 2009.

Filed Dec 13, 2009 · Suspension · 120,000 miles · NY

Front strut mounts breaking causing loss of steering control.

Filed Oct 28, 2009 · Engine · WA

We own a 1999 dodge caravan. Three weeks ago we took it in for a check up at a certified mechanics shop. They informed us the tensioner was bent and serpentine driving belt needed replacing. We authorized them to make the repair. We have owned this vehicle since 1994 with no incident. Last monday we drove through standing water and the serpentine belt was thrown. We lost power steering not to mention that the driving belt powers everything else for the vehicle. Thankfully we were only a short distance out of town and were able to drive back to the mechanics shop. They informed us that indeed this is a problem dodge minivans have. In the last 2 days we have gone online and found many web forums where this has happened to 1,000's of dodge/chrysler owners going back as far as 2002. Dodge has never issued a recall for this known problem and potentially deadly flaw in their engine pulley design. We can buy an aftermarket new designed tensioner and belt at our expense manufactured by 2 separate companies, but dodge offers nothing to consumers who bought their vehicles thinking they are safe. We would like to see dodge/chrysler acknowledge this defect and recall these potential death traps off the road to fix this negligence on their part. Just because people are not dying in crashes because of this (or are they and we just never find out this was the cause) doesn't mean they should not be responsible.

Filed Jul 31, 2008 · Engine · 69,000 miles · CT

Belt comes off in wet weather. Sudden loss of power steering. Have replaced tensioner 4 times. Sudden loss of power steering in wet weather can lead to loss of control.

Filed Feb 4, 2008 · Engine · 133,000 miles · MT

99 dodge caravan in repair shop to have 4th or 5th belt tensioner & 7th serpentine belt replaced loss of power steering rendered vehicle dangerous, barely avoided accident dodge customer service denied any knowledge of problem with this part until, after second call & demanding to speak with manager, I directly asked: 'are there any publicly available notices, warnings, recommendations, etc, related to the 99 dodge caravan and serpentine belts or belt tensioner'. Finally, this 'manager' told me that there was a technical bulletin (available to repair shops, not car owners) which stated that the vehicle should not be driven in heavy snow (deepest snow it's ever been in was 3-4"). If the co. Had no idea, then why is there a factory-made part to correct it? And why is there no recall? Why is this information so difficult to get from the company, as their customer? This seems to be a failure both on the part of the company (for hiding, not repairing this serious flaw) and the government (for not forcing a recall, thereby putting the general public at risk of injury or death).

Filed Sep 19, 2007 · Engine · IL

I have a 1999 dodge grand caravan that the serpentine belt has come off of numerous times, because of a manufacture defect. Whenever the tension wheel gets splashed with water the belt pops off. You immediately lose power steering, it is so dangerous!! The car overheats. I have talked to many mechanics and this is a well known problem with that particular vehicle. I have spent much money to have it fixed and not to mention the stress. I have also researched this on the internet and found that they have recalled these vehicles in brazil because of the same problem.

Filed Jan 15, 2007 · Engine · 70,416 miles · TX

During a rain the serpentine belt fell off causing loss of power steering, water pump and other equipment. This is a serious safety issue, and dodge has a tsb out. But they are making no effort to correct this flaw. It seems that anytime water gets on this belt it will come off. How many crashes is it going to take before something is done to remedy this situation?

Filed Dec 1, 2006 · Engine · 115,360 miles · FL

1) pulley / tensioner / serpentine belt failure in a 1999 dodge caravan replaced 3 times. 2) driving in rainy weather, drove through a small puddle in the road and the belt came off the car leaving me stranded. No power steering, no oil pumping through the car, etc... 3) dodge claims they have no fix for the problem - we just have to keep putting on new belts and replacing tensioners. 4) http://www.topix.net/forum/autos/dodge-grand-caravan/ttrejj5uag0sp62tj - see this link for complaints all around the country on the same issue with this vehicle.

Filed Nov 3, 2005 · Engine · 85,000 miles · RI

I had pulley/arm tension replaced three times , on that third time I then found out there was a bracket made to correct the problem.but during the times of all these repairs (in the past two and half years of buying the van) I have had many breakdowns causing the van to be very difficult to manage(almost hitting a telephone pole once) no power steering or brakes and the battery quickly died out, the last two times my 16 year old was driving, not safe for an inexperienced driver! There were also several broken serpintine belt during this course also. I work in a hospital and have at times be called in any hour of the night and where I live that can be in the middle of a blizzard, actually it truely happened to me during the blizzard of 2005 here in ri (I have repair statements to verify the dates) its sad to know the when cars truely have problems consumers cant just be notified just for safety sake. I was told at the dealership that the information about the bracket was found on a service bulletin (? Dodge)and the same weekend the secretary at the service desk told me three other minivan were brought in due to their serpentine belts falling off. My neighbor who has a 1998 caravan has also replaced his tension/arm pulley. I never realized how much trouble one part could cause. But please just one more thing my van also was just worked on again , due to a component in the radiator the works with the transmission, well it ruptured causing my van to breakdown, I needed a new radiator and my transmission flushed.($$) hopefully this has not caused any harm to my transmission. Could it be realted to the previous problems?

Filed Jan 28, 2005 · Engine · 80,000 miles · TX

When driving 60 MPH on wet road the serpentine belt came off the engine pulley. This caused power steering assist problem, engine overheating, and stalling. Dealer was notified, but was unable to resolve this issue.

Filed Jul 8, 2004 · Engine · VA

Ltr fm thomas reiner (va) owner of a 1999 dodge caravan reporting defective idler pulley causing loss of steering. *mr