Dodge Caravan Steering Problems
Owners have filed 448 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Dodge Caravan across 19 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (65). The words owners use most often: “rack pinion” (13% of reports).
- 448steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 18mention a crash
- 11mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 18%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 59 of 448 complaints (13%)
- Serpentine belt: mentioned in 36 of 448 complaints (8%)
- Steering pump: mentioned in 31 of 448 complaints (7%)
- Tie rod: mentioned in 23 of 448 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Dodge Caravan at $1,300, and half of them between $1,200 and $1,500.
Based on 10 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 221 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 448 complaints, 18 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 11 an injury.
Dodge Caravan steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Caravan | 2 | 9% | 101,386 |
| 2012 Caravan | 1 | 1% | 127 |
| 2011 Caravan | 3 | 4% | 54,569 |
| 2010 Caravan | 11 | 6% | 57,400 |
| 2009 Caravan | 8 | 7% | 85,000 |
| 2008 Caravan | 4 | 1% | 100,000 |
| 2007 Caravan | 8 | 10% | 55,312 |
| 2006 Caravan | 27 | 16% | 60,000 |
| 2005 Caravan | 28 | 5% | 52,000 |
| 2004 Caravan | 6 | 9% | 56,000 |
| 2003 Caravan | 41 | 21% | 35,000 |
| 2002 Caravan | 36 | 15% | 46,000 |
| 2001 Caravan | 32 | 12% | 40,000 |
| 2000 Caravan | 41 | 9% | 83,500 |
| 1999 Caravan | 27 | 5% | 77,535 |
| 1998 Caravan | 42 | 7% | 100,301 |
| 1997 Caravan | 40 | 6% | 137,000 |
| 1996 Caravan | 65 | 5% | 59,000 |
| 1995 Caravan | 26 | 5% | 63,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections
Model years: 2002, 2003, 2004
Problem: On certain minivans equipped with 3.3 or 3.8l v-6 engine, the upper power steering cooler hose may split and cause a fluid leak.
Risk: Power steering fluid leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in an under hood fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the upper power steering cooler hose. This recall began on september 27, 2004. Owners should contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge caravan. The contact stated while driving at 25 mph, the power steering started to fail which made the vehicle difficult to steer. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the…
Started the vehicle one morning and drove up to a stop sign. I was in a city street making a left turn. Saw clear from both directions of any traffic.accelerated and the bas,esp light, and traction light came on. At this point the vehicle wanted to stall, lost power, and steering became difficult…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 dodge caravan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel ceased without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the serpentine belt was…
This morning at 7:58 am 7.16.2019, my car just stopped. Lost all power, could not steer, breaks became hard, no light came on indicating an issue. I was slowing down to go over a speed bump and the car just stopped. I put on my hazards and waited a moment restarted the car. Before that as i was…
I need to know it my vehicle has any recalls i'm having some major safety concerns about it.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Caravans have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 448 owner complaints about steering for the Dodge Caravan. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Caravan steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Dodge Caravan?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,300 (half paid between $1,200 and $1,500), from 10 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Dodge Caravan?
The most frequent phrase is “rack pinion”, in 59 of 448 complaints, followed by “serpentine belt” (36).
Other Dodge Caravan problems
See all Dodge Caravan problems.