This problem has been the biggest pain in my ass and makes me thoroughly regret ever buying a dodge. The problem started with with a very (VERY) loud whining type noise when the steering wheel was turned while the car was cold. Ahaha...power steering. I take the van in to the dealer and they "can't duplicate the problem". Next trip I take the van to my regular mechanic. He diagnoses the problem as a leak somewhere in the power steering system because it's cavetating. After replacing the pump the problem went away for about a week. When it came back I took the van back to the dealer (hoping chrysler would man up and fix whatever was wrong with my van)...no such luck. They claimed the only problem my van had was that my mechanic put the wrong power steering fluid in the system and he is the reason for the problem. I leave the dealership and immediately go back to my mechanic and tell him what the dealership has said. By this point the back and forth between him and the dealership has seriously pissed him off so he orders the OEM power steering fluid they claim is the ONLY one to be used and replaces the complete rack and pinion...for free just to prove that nothing he has done has harmed the car. Well, after all these repairs, tears, temper tantrums, and nasty letter to chrysler the problem still persists. My only solution has been to make sure that if it is the slightest bit chilly outside (under 60 degrees) I have to warm my van up before I can drive it.

After having no problems with our fourth Caravan, I was surprised to hear a loud whining noise when I pulled into the parking lot after a 250 mile trip. I checked the PS fluid (since that was what was making the noise and it was up to the full level. After it cooled off (while we were in a funeral) it was making much less noise, so we drove home. Since then, it has been getting worse, so I went online to search for parts and read some of the complaints (and fixes) on here. Fluid is cheap, so I started with draining the system and replacing the fluid. The old fluid looks like chocolate syrup!!! While I had it apart, I looked at the filter in the bottom of the reservoir, it was completely clean. After putting new fluid in, I started it up, and by the time I had backed out of the driveway it was silent. We'll see if any permanent damage has been done to the pump, hope not since it costs a little more than the fluid, but is MUCH harder to replace! We have had great luck with our Caravans, we've had a 1991 with 255,000 miles before giving it away, a 1992 with 275,000 miles before giving it away, a 1996 that was totaled by a head-on collision with a Chevy SUV that my wife walked away from and now our 2006. Every problem has been easy to fix and the deepest I have ever been into the engines was under the valve covers to replace valve stem seals on our 91 3.0L. Can't beat the convenience and comfort of these things!