2014 Dodge Grand Caravan: loss of power steering

Filed Jul 17, 2023 · Engine · IA

Ignition module failed, causing van to stall while driving. The stall forced the vehicle to lose power steering and it had to coast over to the shoulder to get out of traffic, this could’ve resulted in a crash or blocking traffic. This happened twice, once during a very hot day. The van was able to restart after about 30 minutes and finished the short distance to the destination. The second time was at night when temps had cooled 20 degrees and it stalled at approximately the same distance it had traveled the first time. That time it was not able to be restarted and had to be towed to a repair shop, where they tested and replaced the ignition module. No warning lights or indicators went off either time prior to the engine stall. The check engine light did not come on until the second time when it would not start again.

Filed May 23, 2023 · Engine · 140,000 miles · KY · crash

The contact owned a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while her daughter was driving at approximately 55 MPH the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the daughter lost power steering and crashed into a highway barrier on the passenger side. The contact stated that the damage was from the front fender to the rear fender. The contact stated that all the air bags had deployed. The contact stated that the daughter did not notice any warning lights. The contact stated that she had experienced the vehicle stall failure and that failure was intermittent and had occurred while she had been driving on three separate incidents. The contact stated that the police were on the scene and issued a report. The contact's daughter was not taken to a hospital emergency room and was only shaken up. The contact advised that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The contact was advised by the police that the vehicle was a total loss. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Filed Apr 21, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · OH

In October 2022 I was driving down a residential road and slowed to turn into a parking lot and all power was lost. Was able to safely maneuver car and stop in parking lot. Put car in park, turned off the ignition. Restarted car, seemed ok. Mechanic said nothing was wrong. Now it’s happened twice more (April 14th and 17th, 2023). Once when trying to accelerate and merge onto a highway, once when slowing down to turn into a driveway. Both times the van just seemed to shut down and lose power. Steering became very difficult. Both times van restarted and continued driving after the incident. Waiting on word from mechanic to see what may be wrong.

Filed Nov 7, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · MN

The vehicle has shut itself off multiple times. It is seemingly random and happens without warning. It has happened when driving at slow speeds but it has also happened when driving at speeds of up to 60 mph and the vehicle loses power. We need to maneuver through traffic while coasting to the side of the road with no power steering available until the car is restarted. The dash goes blank and the car is rolled to a stop. The key is turned off and back on and the car drives as if nothing is wrong. It has been brought to a mechanic and dealer. No one has successfully duplicated the issue and there is no code issued after it happens.

Filed Oct 29, 2020 · Electrical · 41,000 miles · WI

We own a 2014 dodge grand caravan with 41000 miles on it that has been stalling while driving at mostly in town speeds. No power steering assist , no power brake assist. This vehicle is equipped with hand controls for a disabled driver. With one hand on the steering wheel and one hand on the brake lever all you can do is coast to a stop. Yes the same failures as the 2008 thru 2010 grand caravans that were recalled. The ignition switch has a weak detent spring in it. We had the switch and both keys replaced at a local dealership in rural wisconsin that just happened to have the switch in stock. The service writer got into the vehicle and jiggled the key which shut of the ignition and stated yes this is a bad switch just like the recalled ones.. I have called chrysler asking for them to cover the cost of $977.91 and they just reply with " I am sorry but your vehicle is out of warranty"

Filed Mar 29, 2019 · Electrical · 68,000 miles · WI

Monday 3/25/19 10:55am car indicator lights briefly flashed while car was in motion during a turn and then suddenly died. No brakes, no power steering, absolutely nothing worked. Was able to turn car back on and get to parking lot. Same day after leaving(2:30pm) sitting at a busy intersection waiting on red light. Car dash lights again briefly flash and car turns off. Took about 10 min before I was able to start the car again. While sitting in a busy turn lane and not even having hazard lights work with kids in the car. Took car to get battery, alternator, and starter checked. All checked out good. Friday 3/29/19 while driving at 45 MPH(8:30 am) car dash lights briefly flash and car turns off. Again no power steering, brakes ect. Waa able to coast to side of rode. Couldn't even take the key out. Also took about 1.5 hrs before it would start again. Each occurance has also set clocks back to the 12:00 time. Research has shown me that it is a common problem with this vehicle and that it is the fuel pump relay. This part was recalled on durangos and jeeps but caravan did not make the list. Although per what I have read on this site and various others it is an obvious common problem. Vehicle is at 68,000 and is being taken in on sunday 3/31/19. Where I have already indicated to mechanic what I want replaced due to the fact it is not an easily replicated problem on command and there is no code to check. It seems like the best course of action to tell them to just replace it. This should be a recall matter.

Filed Jun 24, 2014 · Brakes, Engine · 17,488 miles · WA

We were driving 55mph on route 100 in maryland when the driver's knee bumped the key and the ignition moved into the off position. The engine turned off. The car lost power steering and brakes. We tried to restart the car while it was still in motion but it did not restore the power brakes or power steering. We pulled over and put it in park and turned off the ignition. We restarted the vehicle successfully. We then reproduced the event by bumping the driver's knee into the key again while parked, with the same results. This was a rental van from enterprise rental car in columbia, md.

Filed Jun 18, 2014 · Electrical · 12,000 miles · MI

We rented this vehicle in michigan to take on a family vacation to florida. On the way home, south of atlanta on I-75 in four lanes of traffic with the vehicle set on cruise control at 75 MPH, I noticed that the car ahead of me was getting more distance between us, when I looked down at my speed I realized that all of the gauges on the dash were at zero or in the off position, at the same time I noticed no throttle. Calmly, I put the hazard lights on and made my cost across the four lanes of traffic to the shoulder...... With what seemed to be no power steering. It was alarming to me that there was no tones or warning lights on the dash. Being aware of the gm ignition recalls that I had seen on tv, I looked at the ignition and it was in the off position, turned it and stared. Before we took off again I checked with my leg to see if maybe it was possible that my knee had bumped it, I am 6'2 and I couldn't come close unless I took my foot off the floor. We drove the rest of the way home and no more problems. The only thing I can assume it that the key had a pretty hefty plastic key tag from the rental company. I am telling my story now because of the recent ignition problems with chrysler I am learning about via news.