Hi i have a friend who has a Dodge van and when she steers hard the sterring is getting increasingly tighter. She does not appear to be losing fluid and does not have trouble during normal driving except when taking sharp turns or maneuvering into/out of parking spaces

Any ideas on what to check?

Check under the hood on the radiator support for a sticker that says something like "Dealer Service" or TSB Service or the like... There should be like 8 of them, IIRC.

Anyway, one of them is a TSB/non-recall dealing with suspension components knocking/clunking/tight steering... go to the dealer, tell them you would like them to check out anything relating to a technical service bulletin (even if it's not under warranty. She'll be thankful for that bill when something doesn't break leaving her stranded. In the bad part of town. At 3 am. With no cell phone.)