1998 Dodge Grand Caravan: loss of power steering

Filed Jun 27, 2022 · Electrical, Steering · 152,000 miles · WA

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.

Filed Dec 27, 2012 · Engine · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH over a puddle of water, there was a complete loss of power steering. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the contact discovered that the serpentine belt had become detached without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent auto shop where the serpentine belt was replaced. The failure recurred four times and the serpentine belt was either re-attached or replaced with a new one. The manufacturer was not notified of the recurring problem. The failure mileage was unavailable.

Filed Nov 9, 2011 · Engine · 108,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 dodge grand caravan. While driving approximately 45 MPH in rainy weather, the steering became difficult to maneuver and the brakes would not respond when depressed. The vehicle began to overheat and was driven to an independent mechanic for inspection. The mechanic advised that the serpentine belt detached from the vehicle. The mechanic replaced the serpentine belt and the tensioner. The failure recurred one month later and the contact was able to place the belt back in place. The failure recurred five times and only when driving in rainy weather. The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.

Filed Sep 9, 2010 · Engine, Steering · 90,200 miles · MA

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.

Filed Aug 28, 2009 · Engine, Steering · IL

Serpentine belt comes off when it gets wet such as driving through puddles or water from roadway when raining. Has happened several times over past few months. Replaced belt but still comes off. This results in loss of power steering making it very difficult to safely pull off road to safe location.

Filed Oct 3, 2006 · Engine · 151,300 miles · PA

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the power steering failed, followed by loss of vehicle power, illumination of all warning lights, and the rising of the engine temperature. The vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, who determined that the serpentine belt became detached due to water splashing up into the undercarriage. The mechanic replaced the belt, however the problem persisted. The service dealer mentioned that a splash shield kit was no longer available for the vehicle. Updated 10/30/06.

Filed Oct 15, 2005 · Engine · 102,900 miles · NY

While driving through puddles the serpentine belt which controls the steering and other accessories slips off. I have owned this vehicle since new and never had this problem before. Went to dealer he installed tsb bulletin 07-02-99 that consists of a bracket to stop the belt from coming off, but after I drove 7 miles in the rain it came off again. While at the dealer there were several other caravans towed there with the same problem, even a 2005. The dealer rep says this is a common problem because the water is splashed onto the belt tensioner and idler pulleys which are not grooved and just slips off. I did a web search at allpar.com, edmunds.com, etc. And found numerous complaints. This is a serious condition, people can be seriously injured or killed when they lose power steering control unexpectedly. I can't believe chrysler corp. Has allowed this condition to go unresolved for so long.

Filed Mar 31, 2005 · Steering, Suspension · IL

While driving at any speed power steering failed. Driver had difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle. Took vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the wheel bearing and the power steering belt needed to be replaced.

Filed Dec 22, 2004 · Engine · 94,596 miles · SC

The drive belt has repeatedly come off resulting in the immediate loss of power steering while the vehicle is in motion. I took the car to the dealership each time, but they were unable to determine the problem. Finally a different dealership identified the problem as a flexing engine mounting bracket. This problem is so common there is a chrysler service bulletin #07-02-99. This repair should be covered as a safety recall.

Filed Feb 11, 2004 · Engine · 59,900 miles · NJ

After driving through standing water, the serpentine belt slipped off, causing a loss of power steering control. The same thing had happened in june 2003, about three weeks after the dealer had replaced the belt and tensioner. The tendency for the belt to slip off after driving through water is a serious safety problem, which could easily lead to a loss of control of the car by a less experienced driver.

Filed Feb 8, 2004 · Engine · 54,000 miles · ME

We bought our 1998 dodge grand caravan se (3.3 liter) used from the original owner in 2000. At that point, the tensioner had been replaced once at least. Since then we have had the unfortunate and dangerous circumstance of being stranded on a major highway with our 3 children because of the tensioner belt falling off, not once, but twice. It coincided with rainy weather both times. I have read several other reports on the internet with other consumers having the same exact problem with their dodge grand caravans. This is a serious problem. This could lead to deaths very easily. We were lucky enough to get across 3 lanes of traffic, with no steering or power, and park in the break down lane while traffic passed by us at 75 miles an hour. We were nearly rearended a couple times, which would have meant our children would have been hit first, and I doubt that they would have survived that kind of impact. In the meantime, my husband literally stood in back of our van waving our detached serpentine belt in the air desperate for someone to help get us off of the busy and potentially deadly highway. The next 30 minutes were scary, I cried the entire time scared for the safety of my 3 young children (a newborn, a 2 year old and a 3 year old). The next time the belt fell off, luckily I was nearer to our home on a quiet street. I could only imagine what would have happened had I lost the belt while on a back country road in maine, in the middle of the winter, with my 3 children by myself. A family van should never lose it's serpentine belt 3 times in 4 years. With all the recorded statements from others who have had this same exact problem, several times over, there is ample proof that dodge is aware that there is a huge problem. Losing power, steering, etc. Is a major issue that cannot be ignored. We were lucky to survive our incident. There will come a day, if this situation is not resolved, where a person or whole family, will die because of this careless defect.

Filed Dec 11, 2003 · Engine · 78,000 miles · NY

Serpentine belt fell off the tension pulley, causing a loss of power steering. Tsb 6088784 was issued on the problem, which indicated that cause was rain/stagnant water, and snow.*ak 1998 dodge grand caravan experienced problem where serpentine belt fell off the tension pulley causing a loss of power steering, power brakes and engine failure. Chrysler corporation sent a memo to their dealerships addressing how to correct the problem. The memo also stated that this problem was not a safety issue.