CHRYSLER: POWER STEERING RETURN LINES. INVOLVES INSPECTING AND IF NECESSARY REMOVING AND REPLACING THE GEAR TO COOLER POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE WITH A KEVLAR BRAIDED RETURN HOSE. MAY EXPERIENCE LEAKS IN POWER STEERING RETURN LINE, AT COLD START UP IN TEMPERATURES BELOW-40%C (-40%F) AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORTS OR NOISY POWER STEERING PUMP.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Dodge Grand Caravan steering problems
severe 22 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 22 steering complaints filed for the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 9 model years of Dodge Grand Caravan in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The steering and power delivery system in this 2009 Grand Caravan has real problems. Twenty-two owners describe engine stalls at speeds from 10 to 70 mph that kill power steering and power brakes at the same time, forcing them to wrestle the wheel to the side of the road. Many report the ignition switch moves out of Run position on bumpy roads; Chrysler's fix was to tell them to remove objects from their key ring. Dealers run diagnostics and find nothing—no codes, no reproducible failure. One owner had an ignition switch recall done and the problem still occurred.
Several owners hit separate issues: the steering wheel locks up hard without warning, making the vehicle nearly uncontrollable. The electronic stability system misfires when the steering angle sensor fails, causing the vehicle to swerve into opposing traffic or the brakes to slam on by themselves in traffic. One owner's repair bill for a steering angle sensor and realignment was $712.45. Another had warped brake rotors at 12,000 miles, causing steering wheel vibration when braking.
The core problem: owners with children in the vehicle are afraid to drive it. Dealers cannot fix what they cannot see. Chrysler opened recall cases but had no parts available for months. Multiple owners describe waiting four months or longer while being told the vehicle is safe to drive.
Same Dodge Grand Caravan steering reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Engine stall with loss of power steering and power brakes
Engine shuts off or power is lost while driving, disabling power steering and power brakes simultaneously. Loss of steering feel and brake function occurs with no warning. Vehicle requires restart or manual steering to reach safety.
When: Various speeds from 10 to 70 mph; some owners report it triggered by bumpy roads, hitting bumps during turns, or inclines; most without clear trigger pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off without warning; Power steering becomes disabled, wheel becomes extremely hard to move; Power brakes fail or brake function is lost; Vehicle coasts uncontrolled; Traction control light may illuminate; ABS light may illuminate; Some incidents involve ignition switch moving from Run to Accessory position on its own
Codes mentioned: No trouble codes found at dealer, Traction control code only, EGR valve code (one case, not confirmed as root cause)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce issue or find codes; one owner replaced EGR valve and spark plugs without confirmed resolution; Chrysler opened case but could not provide recall parts due to unavailability; some owners waiting months for recall parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V373000 (ignition switch recall); Campaign 11V139000 mentioned; owners report Chrysler told them vehicle is safe to drive and advised removing objects from key ring; parts unavailable for recall; Chrysler claimed no liability once owner notified of recall
Steering wheel seizure and loss of steering control
Steering wheel suddenly becomes extremely stiff or locked, making the vehicle very difficult to control. May occur during normal driving maneuvers with no warning.
When: At speeds of 10-35 mph; one case at 70 mph; some tied to turning maneuvers or curves
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel stiffens or becomes extremely hard to turn; Steering becomes locked or nearly locked; Vehicle difficult to control; ESP, BAS, and traction control lights may illuminate; Occurs without warning
Codes mentioned: Faulty steering angle sensor identified by dealers, Steering wheel position sensor failure
Repairs/costs cited: Steering angle sensor replacement in steering column; one case cost $712.45 including realignment; clockspring and steering wheel position sensor replacement resolved problem in other cases
Spontaneous vehicle swerving or pulling without driver input
Vehicle swerves into opposing traffic lane or pulls unexpectedly without driver steering input, as if compensating for an erroneous sensor signal. Electronic Stability Program may be misinterpreting steering wheel position.
When: While driving on curves or straightaways; one case on shallow left-hand curve
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle swerves into oncoming traffic lane without warning; Vehicle pulls or drifts to one side; Violent swerving; Left front brake chatters as if ABS engaging; ESP, BAS, and traction control lights illuminate
Codes mentioned: Faulty clockspring and steering wheel position sensor, Steering position sensor inside airbag clockspring failure
Repairs/costs cited: Clockspring replacement; steering position sensor replacement resolved issues
Brake engagement malfunction with steering angle sensor failure
Brakes apply automatically and vehicle comes to complete stop without driver brake input. Failure of steering angle sensor in steering column causes the ABS/stability system to engage brakes unexpectedly.
When: After ESP and traction warning lights illuminate; one case at 30 mph
Symptoms owners cite: ESP and traction warning lights come on; Brakes on both front wheels apply without touching brake pedal; Vehicle comes to complete stop in middle of street; Brakes will not release until engine shut off and restarted
Codes mentioned: Steering angle sensor failure in steering column
Repairs/costs cited: Steering angle sensor replacement and system realignment cost $712.45
Ignition switch inadvertent movement
Ignition switch moves from Run position to Accessory position on its own without driver input, typically triggered by road bumps or rough surfaces. Causes engine stall and loss of power steering and brakes.
When: Most commonly on bumpy roads; can occur while parked or driving
Symptoms owners cite: Ignition key/fob moves from Run to Accessory position; Engine stalls; Power steering disabled; Power brakes fail; No warning lights initially
Codes mentioned: No trouble codes
Repairs/costs cited: Owners advised to remove fob from key ring; some removed fob from vehicle entirely and keep in ignition only; one owner reported ignition switch stalled vehicle at dealer lot despite this workaround
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V373000 (L25 recall); Chrysler advised removing objects from key ring; recall parts unavailable at time of complaints; Chrysler claimed recall is for 2010 and up but 2009 vehicles have same issue
Warped brake rotors causing steering wheel vibration
Steering wheel shakes or vibrates when brakes are applied, particularly at higher speeds. Rotors become warped prematurely at low mileage.
When: Started at 12,000–13,000 miles; worsened over time
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking or vibration in steering wheel when brakes applied; Vibration worse at higher speeds; Intermittent at first, then becomes severe
Repairs/costs cited: Warped rotors replaced at 12,000–13,000 miles
Loss of acceleration and power steering after engine stall
After engine stalls, vehicle loses acceleration capability and power steering function. Vehicle may be limited to speeds under 45 mph until restart.
When: One case at 70 mph; one case at 30 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off; Vehicle cannot accelerate or accelerates only to 45 mph max; Power steering disabled; Everything electrical shuts off briefly; Traction control light may come on
Codes mentioned: No codes in most cases
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced spark plugs and EGR valve; issue recurred after restart
Loss of power without engine shutdown (power loss to steering and brakes)
All power control to steering, braking, and maneuvering is lost while engine appears still running. Distinct from outright engine stall; indicates potential electrical or drive system failure.
When: Multiple occasions while driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle decelerates on its own; All ability to steer is lost; All ability to brake is lost; Engine appears not to shut off; Complete loss of power to critical systems
Repairs/costs cited: No repair notes provided; owner states Chrysler refused to relate to recall because engine did not appear to shut off
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler and dealerships refused to relate to NHTSA Campaign 14V373000 because engine did not shut off; Chrysler stated no liability once owner notified of recall and parts unavailable
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I have been having an issue with my 2009 Dodge grand caravan wherein my "anti-skid" system is somehow activated and kills my engine and tightens up my steering while I am driving down the road. I am able to keep my cool and throw it into neutral and restart the van and put it back into drive and keep going. I have been fortunate that this has not happened in high speed or thick traffic. I am…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, the steering wheel seized and made the vehicle very difficult to control without warning. The vehicle was taken to dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate…
Had steering trouble with your 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan?
It's a meaningful issue. 22 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 60,000 and 93,000 miles, with the median around 85,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 93,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Dodge/Grand Caravan.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.