2.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,008 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Dodge Grand Caravan steering problems

steering problem

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1996 Dodge Grand Caravan Owner Comments

problem #11

Apr 032011

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • 187,090 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Wife was driving 96 Grand Caravan le to college in the rain. When she arrived in the parking lot steering became impossible to turn so she pulled it straight into parking spot. Looked underneath and saw belt had come off. This happened once before but car was parked in driveway at home. As she started to reverse out of driveway steering became tough and car would not move. It was also raining at this time. This happened early January 2011. Around March 2010, again while it was raining, as my wife approached a stop sign the car began to become unresponsive and she had to guide it to the side. Since it was blocking the road police did come by and help push if off the road until the tow truck came to take it to the garage. New belt, idler pulley and tensioner was installed by mechanic. The most recent incident (April 2011) pulley and tensioner was replaced. Don't know if it will solve the problem. Luckily the speed was slow in all instances and no injury or damage was done...yet.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #10

Dec 212010

Grand Caravan

  • miles
I have a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan le 3.8. in the last 2 months the serpentine belt slipped off 2 times when it is raining outside or the van goes through a puddle of water. I have almost been killed twice. I have read that other Dodge owners have also had this problem. The wheel cannot be controlled when this happens, and my wife is scared to drive this car now. I think that Dodge has some explaining to do as they have been made aware of this defect, and are not taking any responsibility for this repeated serious safety fault.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #9

Oct 102003

Grand Caravan

  • 90,000 miles
1996 Dodge Grand Caravan - lifetime lubricated tierod end separated resulting in a loss of steering - the rubber seal deteriorated the grease was gone and the ball joint corroded to the point it fell apart - wife was parking the van at the time - could have been much worse she was 150 miles from home at the time less than a month later I saw another Dodge Caravan broke down on a highway right front tire not facing as it should - I suspect another tie rod end failure - now I know these bearings can be manufactured so they can not separate - aircraft rod end bearings come to mind - isn't a loss of steering a good enough reason to make a part so it cant fail?

- Custer , WI, USA

problem #8

Aug 132008

Grand Caravan

  • 154,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Strut tower, driver's side is extremely rusted - a hard bump will certainly push the suspension spring assembly through the top causing loss of vehicle control.

- Stow, OH, USA

problem #7

Dec 152002

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles
The serpentine belt that runs the car jumped off track the first Monday in October when it was raining. I first noticed my power steering went out. Then a few minutes later it over heated. So when I got under the hood to find out what the problem was, it was the belt it was not broken just off track. Had it fixed. The same thing happened again on October 25, 2003 some 3-4 weeks later. Again it was raining. The person who fixed it the 2nd time states that every time it rains and if I get water in my undercarraige it is going to pop off. This is very discouraging, I am the single mother of four young girls and I should not be afraid to drive my van when it is raining. Can someone please make some sense out of this for me.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #6

Jul 202003

Grand Caravan 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles
Consumer stated backing out of the driveway, there was a clunking noise, and the steering wheel became very hard to steer. Consumer experienced the same problem with their 1991 Dodge Grand Caravan - tensioner pulley.

- Jeanerette, LA, USA

problem #5

Mar 012001

Grand Caravan

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A piece inside steering wheel control unit broke. Also, air bags/ horn, and cruise control do not work. Has not contacted dealer yet.

- Pensucola, FL, USA

problem #4

May 172000

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Windshield wipers still engage by themselves originally repaired 05/99. Transmission went out AT30904 miles. Airbag light came on and horn stopped working had to replace click spring. Car stall while driving said it needed tune-up. When using ac or driving in rain and making a turn steering gets stiff and cannot control. Interior lights flash dealer could not duplicate. Power door locks lock and unlock by themselves. Had to replace axle due to it being bent when new transmission was put in. Had to get new tires because axle threw off balance. Keep replacing batteries. Drove car for 10 minutes and fan came on and stayed on after car was turned off.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #3

Mar 301997

Grand Caravan

  • miles
While driving the vehicle in wet conditions with A/C on, when turning left, the steering would lock up. The problem was not corrected. Vehicle has been sold.

- Christianburg, VA, USA

problem #2

Aug 071997

(reported on)

Grand Caravan

  • miles
Fuel system and steering problems.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #1

Jun 021997

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Sitting at a stop sign, proceeded to make a left hand turn when the steering locked. Applying pressure got the vehicle to return to steering. Intervals of stiffness 24 hours prior to this incident. Vehicle was towed and the dealers said there is nothing wrong with it.

- Shaker Heights, OH, USA

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