2000 Dodge Grand Caravan Steering Problems

Your serpentine belt may slip off the pulleys due to a manufacturing defect in an engine mount that causes misalignment. When this happens, you'll lose power steering (making the car hard to steer), your water pump (which can cause engine overheating), and your alternator (which can leave you stranded when the battery dies). This is particularly dangerous in cold weather or remote areas where you may not have cell service and could face long waits for a tow truck. Fixing this typically requires replacing the defective engine mount and ensuring proper pulley alignment.

Your serpentine belt has repeatedly come off the drive pulley, particularly during rainy conditions, though a mechanic was able to reinstall it each time. Additionally, the clock spring in your steering wheel failed, causing both your horn and driver's side airbag to stop working. The underlying causes of these failures were not diagnosed or repaired. Fixing these issues will likely involve replacing the serpentine belt and inspecting the pulley system, as well as replacing the steering wheel clock spring to restore horn and airbag function.

While driving at 35 mph, your steering wheel suddenly became hard to turn and you heard an unusual noise. Your battery and check engine warning lights came on, and the temperature gauge climbed higher than normal. You discovered the steering belt was loose, which likely caused the steering difficulty. The fix will involve inspecting and tightening or replacing the serpentine belt that powers your power steering system.

WHEN DRIVING (USUALLY ACCELERATING) THE ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING CAUSING DIFFICULT BREAKING AND STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND GETTING WORSE!!!!! THE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE TILTED UP BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. *TR

SIGNIFICANT RISK ? COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO POOR DESIGN (UNRESOLVED MANUFACTURER KNOWN ISSUE): DURING A MODERATE RAIN STORM, THE SERPENTINE BELT ONCE AGAIN SLIPPED OFF THE PULLEYS, WHICH DISABLED POWER STEERING, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO FIGHT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE). LUCKILY, THE VEHICLE HAD JUST LEFT A STOPLIGHT AND HAD ONLY ATTAINED ABOUT 20 - 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BEFORE HITTING ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN A VERY CROWDED PEDESTRIAN AREA OF DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO'S HISTORIC GASLAMP QUARTER. GIVEN THE REDUCED VISIBILITY FROM THE RAIN AND NIGHTTIME CITY ILLUMINATION, IT?S AMAZING THIS DID NOT RESULT IN PEDESTRIAN INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS OR DAMAGE TO WAITING TAXIS OR PARKED CARS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THIS VEHICLE IN THE RAIN, BUT THE FIRST IN WHICH TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OCCURRED. THE FIRST INSTANCE ALSO OCCURRED AT NIGHT, IN THE RAIN, WHILE WAITING IN HEAVY AIRPORT TERMINAL TRAFFIC. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SERPENTINE BELTS SLIPPING OFF IN THE RAIN CAN BE FOUND ONLINE IN DODGE FORUMS. A TECHNICAL BULLETIN WAS ISSUED FOR PRIOR MODEL YEARS BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2000 MODEL YEAR. ALSO OF NOTE, AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED IT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AS THE WATER PUMP WAS ALSO DISABLED BY THE LOSS OF THE SERPENTINE BELT. *TR

LEFT STRUT TOWER COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT AND SHOULD B RECALLED. *TR

STRUT TOWERS ROTTED OUT AT 90000 MILES, REPLACEMENT CAPS WERE PURCHASED FROM DODGE DEALER AND INSTALLED AS PER FACTORY TSB .... STRUT TOWERS ARE ROTTED BELOW REPAIR CAPS AGAIN.... APPROX. 150000 MILES NOW ON VAN, STRUTS ARE ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT HOWEVER THIS CAN NOT BE DONE DUE TO SEVERITY OF RUST DAMAGE....THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT... RESULTING IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION... CHRYSLER IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE ... THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES...NOT JUST A FEW HERE OR THERE - THE QUESTION SHOULD BE HOW MANY ARE NOT AFFECTED??? I'M ACTUALLY CONSIDERING SEARCHING FOR A LAWYER TO START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST CHRYSLER ...SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN COMES OFF EVERYTIME THAT IT RAINS. I LOSE POWER STEERING WHICH MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AND THE TEMP GAUGE JUMPS ALL THE WAY UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

DRIVERS-SIDE FRONT STRUT CAP RUSTED. THE RUST IS AT THE TOP OF THE STRUT CAP HOUSING AND HAS NOT BROKEN THROUGH YET. I WENT ON-LINE TO RESEARCH THIS ISSUE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME 2000 CARAVAN WITH THE VERY SAME ISSUE. SOME WITH EXTREME RUST. IF THIS FAILS DURING DRIVING, THERE IS A EXTREME HIGH CHANCE OF AN ACCIDENT. I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I AM NOT A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER BUT BY ALL ACCOUNTS, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. DOES IT TAKE ONE OR MORE ACCIDENTS BEFORE THIS BECOMES A RECALL ISSUE? *JB

STEERING BELT COMES OFF EVERY TIME IT RAINS. WE HAVE REPLACED BELT, TENSIONER TWO TIMES, AND HAD IT PUT BACK ON CAR AT LEAST 10 - 12 TIMES. WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL AS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A WET ROAD THE SERPENTINE BELT FLEW OFF THE PULLEYS. THIS MADE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP AND THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO ALL BECOME UNABLE TO WORK IN AN IMMEDIATE FASHION. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAPPEN OFTEN; MEANING SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR TO MANY CARAVAN OWNERS. MY MECHANIC SAID HIS BEST ADVICE WAS TO NOT DRIVE IN WET OR SNOWY CONDITIONS. THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD MAKE RIGHT BY INSTALLING A BELT GUARD TO HOLD THE BELT IN PLACE.

DRIVING ON A RAINY DAY. WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE AND IMMEDIATELY LOST MY POWER STEERING. MANAGED TO GET VAN INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT TO FIND MY SERPENTINE BELT HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND BELT REPLACED. *TR

MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN'S SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF THE PULLEYS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN. WE HAVE REPLACED THE TENSIONER, TENSIONER PULLEY AND THE BELT AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER DODGE OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN A AFTER MARKET KIT MADE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE PULLEY, BUT THIS IS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. I FEEL DODGE NEEDS TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH DODGE REGARDING THIS MATTER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, I LOOSE POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED, THEN BRAKES. SERPENTINE BELT WET FROM RAIN CAUSED POWER STEERING & BRAKES TO FAIL RESULTING IN VEHICLE FLIPPING ON ITS SIDE ON I-75. SERVICE DEPT SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING, ETC WAS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN WHEN BELT GOT WET. THIS WAS A NORMAL RAIN. VEHICLE WAS NOT IN HIGH WATER. VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY TOTALED. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2000 GRAND CARAVAN USED FROM CARMAX WITH 64,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD 3 INCIDENCES WHERE THE POWER STEERING BELT COMES OFF IN THE RAIN AND I AM UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. MY MECHANIC HAS SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS DEFECT WITH 1999 AND 2000 MODELS. I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN AND THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION! YOU NEED TO RECALL IMMEDIATELY. I AM EXTREMELY SCARED EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. PLEASE HELP IMMEDIATELY! *TR

WE PURCHASED NEW A 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WITHIN 2 YEARS WHILE I WAS DRIVING NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS GOING ON THE STEERING ON THE CAR WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING AND I ALMOST HIT A TREE. I FOUND THAT IT WAS THE SERPENTINE BELT. FROM THAT POINT ON I HAVE ALMOST HAD 2 ADDITIONAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE BELT EITHER WAS CHEWED UP OR CAME OFF. MY HUSBAND FELT THE EXPERIENCE YESTERDAY WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. THIS WILL BE THE 6TH BELT PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE BUT TO NO AVAIL. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BELT GOES AND YOU ARE TRAVELING 60-70MPH AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF THIS CAR. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO? I HAVE NOT COMPLAINED BECAUSE DODGE SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THEY HAVE ADMITTED TI ME THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE SERPENTINE BELTS. I DID NOT EVEN KNOW YOU EXISTED OTHERWISE YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD FROM ME LONG AGO AND WE MAY HAVE SAVED A LOT OF MONEY TIME AND LUCKILY NO LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST TO THIS POINT. THANK YOU. *TR

I OWNED 2000 DODGE INTREPID 3.2L VEHICLE(MILEAGE-106000). STEERING WHEEL LOF MY VEHICLE LOST ITS CONTROL ON WHEELS,WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON I75(TRYING TO CHANGE LANE).I HEARD CRUNKING SOUND AND SOMEHOW MANGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER.I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MAINTAINENCE SHOP AND CAME TO KNOW THAT RACK AND PINION SYSTEM GOT BROKE DOWN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.I WAS REALLY LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE SAVED. HOW CAN I TRUST THIS VEHICLE LATER ON,EVEN THOUGH I REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM.I FOUND SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE IN THIS WEBSITE.MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE DEFECTS? IF THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T TAKE NECESSARY ACTION IT WOULD LEADS TO FATAL ACCIDENTS IN FUTURE.

RACK & PINION WAS REPLACED 4/4/03...NORMAL NOISE SIGNALING A PROBLEM. ON 4/22/05, WHEN BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE RACK & PINION FAILED AGAIN AND THIS TIME BOTH TIRES WENT DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED...I HAD NO STEERING AT ALL. IT WAS EVEN HARD TO GET IT MOVED THE REST OF THE WAY OUT OF THE GARAGE TO GET IT TOWED, SINCE BOTH TIRES WERE FREE SPINNING. THE REPAIRMAN AT HOOVER CHRYSLER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A FAILURE. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED CHRYSLER TO LET THEM KNOW OF OUR SECOND RACK AND PINION FAILURE AND THE POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATION, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT PROBLEMS WHEN A CAR IS OLDER. WE DO NOT EXPECT LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS! *JB

THE POWER STEERING CONTINUES TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATES THE POWER STEERING HOSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER POWER STEERING PUMP RUSTED FROM INSIDE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $785.00. *AK *TC

THE CLOCKSPRING AND STEERING COLUMN IN OUR 200 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, INCLUDING SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY, YET STILL RATTLES AND MAKES NOISES. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE ZONE OFFICE THAT IT IS INDEED A SAFETY PROBLEM (RELATING TO THE AIRBAG) AND THEY RECOMMEND I CONTINUE TO GET IT FIXED EACH TIME IT BREAKS. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF OF IDLER PULLEY. BELT WRAPPED AROUND CRANKSHAFT PULLEY, WHICH MADE THE TIMING BELT SLIP. POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING MY 18 YEAR OLD SON TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER. ENGINE FAILED DUE TO TIMING OUT OF SEQUENCE.*AK COST TO REPAIR: $460 FOR TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT. BELT FAILED A SECOND TIME. IDLER PULLEY WAS REPLACED FOR $260.

NO SUMMARY. DT

WE WERE ON VACATION TO THE MOUNTAINS AND HAD JUST HAPPENED TO STOP AT A VISITORS CENTER. WE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CAR WOULD MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARDS BUT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING LEAVING US UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR. HAD WE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH OR IN THE MOUNTAINS ON SWITCH BACKS WHEN IT BROKE THIS COULD HAVE PROVED FATAL. THE DODGE DEALER SAID THE TENSIONER HAD BROKEN AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE PIECE. *AK *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*753523

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED. CONSUMER STATED THAT SEATBACK SHOULD NOT HAVE COLLAPSED SO THAT DRIVER COULD HAVE NECK SUPPORT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I AM SURE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BUT I AM UNSURE IF ANYTHING WILL BE DONE. IN THE MINIVAN THERE IS NO NEED TO STEP ON BRAKES WHILE CHANGING FROM DRIVE TO PARK OR REVERSE ETC. IT COULD EVEN BE DONE WHILE MOVING! I DO FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A HAZARD AS WELL AS A LIABILITY. PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH YOUR SUGGESTIONS.*AK

THE KNUCKLE TO THE TIE ROD BROKE IN TWO AT THE LEFT ARM, CAUSING ACCIDENT, CLAIM 22-V549-467. *SLC

VEHICLE WOULD START TO PULL TO LEFT WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAD REPLACED BRAKES AND TIRES, THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK. A BAD TIE ROD FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE PULL TO THE LEFT. *YH

I HAVE REPEATEDLY TAKEN THE VAN IN FOR REPAIRS FOR FUEL MILEAGE AND PINGING UNDER ACCELERATION AS WELL AS RATTLING IN THE STEERING COLUMN, INTERMITANT WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING INTERMITANTLY. THE MOST RESENT PROBLEM IS THE VENTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD CANNOT BE SHUT OFF WHILE THE HEATER IS ON, THIS CAUSES MY HEAD TO GET VERY WARM WHILE MY FEET ARE COLD. THE WIPER SWITCH, BODY COMPUTER AND MOTOR HAVE BEEN CHANGED AT 4 SEPERATE TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND THIS HAS NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE CAUSED THE VAN TO BE OUT OF SERVICE FOR 14 DAYS AT THE DEALER, NONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE LOST STEERING. VEHICLE END UP ON SHOULDER OF ROAD. THEN, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE HOME WITH A LOW POWER STEERING.*AK

AT 50 MPH ON A CURVE STEERING GEAR LOCKED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO FOLLOW CURVE SO VEHICLE CROSSED YELLOW LINE ,AS DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES, AND LUCKILY THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS ABLE TO MERGE LEFT. BRAKING ALLOWED THE STEERING TO RETURN AND SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY CONTINUE TO OUR HOME. 2ND PROBLEM CONSISTED OF CLUNKING SOUND WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS IN NEW GEARBOX SO IT WAS REPLACED @ 15,537 MILES.*AK

THERE IS A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. NLM