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Jusst returned fromm the Dodge dealer with my 2000 Grand Caravan. I told them about the inoprative ignition.  There I was informed that they could not duplicate the problem. They further stated that they were  not familiar with such ignition key failures.  Returned home.  Car is not sitting outside my garage with the key unworkable. Found this link and will try rubber mallet.  Hope it works because tomorrow I think I will apply that same tool the the Dodge service manager's head.    

Glad I found this site, but very angry over the situation!  I just purchased a used 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan over the weekend, it has 65,000 miles on it.  It has all the frills except no DVD player.  

Well, after owning the car for only 3 days, the key got stuck in the ignition.  After a few minutes of jiggling, it turned to the off position and viola!  Then it happened when I got to work today, but this time it took more effort to get the darn key out.

After work had to stop by the store, key came out no problem, except when I returned, key slid in, but wouldn't turn.  Called a friend, went home, got spare key and still no go.  

Of course now I'm reading this and my car is spending the night elsewhere.  I didn't want to break the key, but did think about hitting it (maybe should have beat the crap out of it).  I thought maybe it was a security glitch, but after reading, I'm a little relieved at the rubber mallet trick.  I'll try it tomorrow when my 'ride' comes to pick me up for work since I'm now car-less.

Seems to me that if the defect doesn't cause a life-threatening injury, they don't care.  What about those of us with small children?  

I really love the van, but if I'm going to have to drive around with a mallet, I'm going to make it worth my while and beat the crap out of the person who designed such a sh*tty ignition system.

I wonder if bombarding them with letters or phone calls will make any difference?  Probably not (we see they didn't do anything with the news of the dashboards caving in).

Looks like I'm going to have to keep a toolset in the van in just in case!  

And to think I had bought a 1997 Saturn SC2 with 120,000 miles on it and the belt tensioner broke after 161,000 miles, so I bought the van for a bigger 'Family' car just to drive until my Saturn got fixed (great on gas for going back and forth to work).

#%*&%!!!

Bee1973  

Got tired of banging away on the inserted key so I tried a fix. I bought a pressurized can of "Precision Electric Cleaner at Radio Shack  ($9.95). Wrapped a white shop rag under the ignition switch.  I inserted the thin plastic nozzle extension of the pressurized can as far as it would go into the key hole.  Shot lots of the preessurized cleaner in and sure enough some debris and black sludge looking stuff ran out on to the rag.  Repeated the proceedure several times.  Let it dry for awhile then after coating the key shaft with WD-40 inserted it in and out a few times.   Used to have to use the mallet regularly. So far the switch has turned O.K. for a new record of three straight days.   Still don't trust it. Keeping the rubber hammer in my 2000 Grand Caravan just in case.  

Yeah to the rubber mallet!  It worked like a charm and well now I have a weapon in the car, except it's a meat mallet so anybody messes with me, they are going to get tenderized!

LOL

Bee1973  

Add my 2000 Neon to the list of key-not-turning-ignition to the list. It happened on Dec 1'07 at night while at shopping center and a Michigan mini blizzard swirled around us while my wife and I went to start. I was ready to tow the car to the nearest Chrysler dealer when my son discovered this marvelous site. He brought the rubber hammer to the car's location and it started like a charm. We're going to try flushing the ignition switch with radio tuner cleaner and using a Teflon-silicon spray lubricant fix as mentioned in some of the posts and see if can get the car started without having to bang on the key every time.  

This make's Chryler products a no no for the future. I'm going to write to Consumer Reports and mention this site as evidence for a problem not being addressed.  

You guys are lifesavers (and wallet-savers too lol)

A year ago I had this issue on my 2002 neon (bought new) & called my dealership... they sent a guy around the house to 'realign the ignition cylinder' - which is probably a euphemism for use a mallet and they charged me about $150. Well two nights ago I went to pull the car into the driveway & again the key wouldn't turn. The dealer wanted me to tow the car in, then they'd look at it, so I could see a $200 price tag on the horizon.

I tried most of the listed solutions to no avail, and finally ended up here... When I got home, i tried the rubber mallet trick... it took me about a dozen light taps & then we were good to go! Now it takes 1-2 light taps for me to get the key in & once it warms up I'll try some of the suggestions with the cleaning solution & the graphite etc...

Now I'll call the dealer back & give them heck for not suggesting this in the first place & trying to bilk me for more money since it is obviously a chrysler issue.

Ahhh gotta love the inTernEts!  

Have a 2003 T&C...last night i had the key not turn problem. Tryed everything to no avail. Got a ride home...saw this forum...went back to van tapped on key a couple of times with my cell phone and it took right off. I am going to try the cleaning method today...if you are looking for the factory part and a discount price try here:http://www.chryslerpartsdirect.com/
here is the info
Mechanical Catalog - 2003 - Chrysler - Town-country
Electrical, Ignition system, Ignition lock, Ignition lock cylinder, Ignition lock cylinder, all models   $104.00 $84.24   $0.00 $84.24  

I have a 2000 Dodge Caravan, 127,000mi. A real reliable vehicle for many years. A couple of days ago I had trouble turning the key in the ignition, but it started after a few seconds of fiddling. Today it was a different story. No amount of twisting, turning or shaking would get the key to turn. I called the dealer and explained the problem. The service tech said they can fix it for approximately $300.00. That seemed a lot of money to me. I did a Google search and found all you people here on this forum that have the same problem. I bought a new rubber mallet. I'm good to go.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their experience.  

I have a 98 Grand Voyager and same problem, I tried the mallet/hammer trick and it worked   . I thought I was going to have to steal my own car.....  

I came here looking for hope and I get a rubber mallet for a temperary fix.LOL I left work today and guess what happened? Yup my key wouldn't turn in the ignition on my 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue that I've had a whole 3 or 4 months.I guess I should be thankful that I'm not the only one with the problem, but that's not helping me get to work!  

I can't express enough how happy I am to have found this site!  I have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport and the "key won't turn in the ignition" problem started about a month ago.  I would just pull on the steering wheel really hard back and forth and it would finally turn, that is until yesterday!  I tapped the mallet on the key a few times and yes it worked!  Again, thank you!!!!!  I would rather carry a rubber mallet around than spend a ton of money on a vehicle that is 9 years old!  

Darn the rubber mallet didn't work for me!!! I tried almost everything suggested here and nothing! The up side I guess was a guy who was looking at the car for me pulled open the middle console where the gear shift is and found almost $40.00!! Who ever owned the car before me....thank you I really needing that!  

Tried the mallot but it didn't on my 2002 Caravan. By the grace of God I got a locksmith to come out at 8:30 on a snowy Sunday evening. He got the ignition unstuck and cleaned and lubricated the barrel for $100 including the house call. He warned me about the mallot trick - as the newer keys have security chips in them than can get damaged by wacking the key too hard. He used the handle of a screw driver and tapped the key in rapid succession while jiggling the key backwards and forwards. He said that this it is a very common problem on 1998 - 2006 Chrysler/Dodge minivans. Who's up for a class action suit?  

Oh yeah I kept reading about the way to make it work but finally got to yours which said exactly how to do it....Thanks Saved $260 at least for today! and it worked just take im and whack the key and poof starts right up...very very cool!  

I have a 2000 Dodge neon, that had the same ignition problem. Steering wheel was locked up as well as the ignition. Tried everything, called AAA nothing was working! Eventually had to take a cab home from canada back to buffalo, then had it towed the next day. Saw this forum today about the rubber mallot. Thought it was a joke, but that thing really worked. Im so happy i dont have to worry about getting around anymore. Thanks for the post I am now a member of the Rubber Mallot Club!!