2005 Dodge Grand Caravan: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Mar 4, 2010 · Steering · 55,000 miles · IL

Started hearing grinding noise when turning several months ago. Dodge dealership diagnosed it as faulty strut and spring and replaced. Grinding noise continued. Now, dodge dealership diagnosed as leaking power steering rack - want $1,100+ to replace.

Filed Feb 25, 2010 · Airbags · 50,000 miles · MI

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) driving in snow to work one morning, there came a squeal (alternator) then lights on dashboard on. After I made it to the highway which is plowed. The airbag light never came off. Took it in for repair and it was the passenger air bag. This year the same thing happened, the squeal and after a trip to repair a evg sensor the dealership informed me that I now have the driver's side and passenger side air bag sensors are corroded. I do have an extended warranty which does not cover this "environmental issue" and a complaint to dodge's 800# [xxx] declared it also an "environmental" issue not covered! [xxx] said that I should contact the road commission as they are the ones that put the salt on the road. I have not correct the problems as I don't believe it is an expense that I should pay for. I bought the van in 2005 with an extended warranty that was to cover all. I did some research on chrysler's past recalls on airbag sensor and believe that there is an issue with their products and the way they are installed.

Filed Apr 13, 2009 · Steering · 35,000 miles · FL

Power steering makes grinding noise. The noise doesn't happen all the time usually when driven alot. Took it to dealer they said they couldn't find any problem. I looked online and read that there are many complaints about this problem.

Filed Jun 26, 2008 · Steering · 35,000 miles · OH

I have a 2005 dodge grand caravan and when I have reach 35000 miles I notices that my power steering fluid kept get low, but I could not find any leaks to show me that I had a problem. This was doing the winter time in ohio with snow on the ground with made it even more strange that I did not see any oil leak in the snow showing me that I had a problem. Then when I reach 50000 mile my brake started squeaking and I knew it could not be my brake pads on the front because they had been replace about 18 month back. I just thought it was just some road grime that might have got on the rotor. When the sound did not stop I recheck the pad to make sure that they was still good and that when I found out that my steering boot was leaking and some of it was getting on to the on to the rotor. So by change I decide to check the internet to see it if anyone else had this problem and I was surprise to find out just how many people did. Therefore I discovered your site and again was surprise to find out how many complaint that you have had about this insure yet you still had not did anything about it. As I said the fluid is leaking on to the disc rotor meaning that this is a more serious problem not only this is a serious problem the complete failure of the steering:rack and pinion:rack, either way you look at it either you won?t be able to stop or you loose control of the vehicle which mean it is more serious than you or anyone else could even imaging and I can not believe that you have not did anything about it all because no one has died yet. If everyone knew just how unsafe this vehicle really is they would be getting rid of this vehicle as fast as they could because their family lives are at stake here not the builder, designer, or the president or ceo of chrysler but the people who entrust these very people with a safe product.

Filed May 29, 2007 · Brakes · 23,000 miles · WA

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 dodge grand caravan. While driving 35 MPH, the contact heard a loud grinding noise and the brake pedal went down to the floorboard. The dealer stated that the front brake pads were worn. The dealer replaced the brake pads and turned the rotors. Approximately three months later, the ABS warning light illuminated. The dealer stated that the vehicle needed front brake pads and performed the repair. While driving 25 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal and it went down to the floorboard, making the vehicle difficult to stop. He had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the brake line failed. The dealer replaced the brake line. Approximately two months later, the vehicle experienced the same failure. The dealer has not diagnosed the cause of failure. The current mileage is 55,000 and failure mileage was 23,000.

Filed Feb 19, 2007 · Body, Brakes · 27,750 miles · MD

I am concerned with overall quality control on this vehicle. I purchased this vehicle new to provide safety and comfort for my growing family. I was disappointed in the vehicles performance and gas mileage during the first several weeks of ownership. I returned the vehicle to the dealership and they replaced the oxygen sensor units that they said where defective. Several months later the heater/air conditioning blower went out. Next with less than 20,000 miles on the vehicle I had to replace the brakes. Now with less than 28.000 miles on the vehicle I noticed that the passenger side floor was soaked, the vehicle was making unusual sounds when turning and the passenger side door would not close automatically. At the dealership I found out that the rack and pinion steering unit had failed along with the the cable on the passenger side door. On investigation of the water leak the dealership found that the passenger side pillar had not been sealed properly to the roof causing water to run into the van and rot the carpet. While the vehicle is in for repairs the dealership is also replacing the heater/air conditioner blower which is making grinding sounds again.

Filed Nov 16, 2006 · Steering · 38,256 miles · MN

This letter is in regards to a 2005 dodge grand caravan, which was recently serviced because of a failed power steering rack. The power steering rack was diagnosed as leaking due to bad seals and the unit was replaced. The power steering reservoir was also replaced because of a restriction of flow. According to dialogue with the dealership, it was determined that the screen in the reservoir was plugged, which caused the squeaking sound I was hearing. I believe the screen was plugged with debris generated by the failing seals in the power steering rack, since this is a recirculation hydraulic system. The mileage at the time of failure was 38,256 miles, and I believe this type of failure was premature. I also believe that the failure could have had serious consequences had I indeed lost all the fluid from the system prior to my discovery of the problem. I had the power steering rack replaced on my 2001 dodge caravan this year, but the mileage was considerably higher, around 80,000 miles. Neither the previous owner nor I influenced the premature failure of the power steering rack, nor the plugged screen in the reservoir; even though the mechanics attempted to place the blame on me stating that the reservoir failure was due to improper maintenance. Since I have had this same problem on a 2001 caravan, I feel that this problem is a design flaw, and should warrant a design change to avert future hardships by caravan owners. Furthermore, there is no maintenance interval specified for this system at this mileage. Power steering system failures are prevalent across their entire model lineup. I believe this steering problem should be investigated by the federal safety agency.