2002 Dodge Grand Caravan Brakes Problems

TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND QUICKLY FAILED. RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. NOTICED FLUID LEAK IN THE ROAD WHERE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *TR

INCIDENT OCCURRED AUG 2008. THE OWNERS MANUAL AND DEALER SERVICE MANAGER REPORT BRAKES REVERT BACK TO STANDARD BRAKES AND VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN. THIS IS NOT SO!!! IN MY FOLLOWING EXPERIENCE, WHEN ABS LIGHT COMES ON, VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I HAD FRONT DISK PADS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER 2 DAYS, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. OWNERS MANUAL, CONFIRMED BY SERVICE MANAGER REPORTS BRAKES DEFAULT BACK TO STANDARD BRAKES. NOT TRUE. BRAKES WERE SLIGHTLY ENGAGED AND OVERHEATING. I WAS TOLD IT MAY TAKE UP TO 5000 MILES FOR NEW BRAKE PADS TO "BREAK IN" AND NOT TO WORRY. APPLYING MY BRAKES RESULTED IN PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR AND A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS WAS LATER DETERMINED TO BE THE MASTER ABS MODULE. DEALER INSPECTION RESULTED IN A DEFECTIVE ABS SIGNAL SENSOR TO THE REAR LEFT BRAKE. REPLACEMENT CURED ALL OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE AND PERHAPS ALL OTHERS OF THIS TYPE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN WHEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. *TR

2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND REAR DRUM BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR FIXED 5 TIMES. *KB

AT 62,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. AFTER MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN IT ENGAGED, BUT BEGAN DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARD FROM 4TH TO 3RD. DEALER PERFORMED MAINTENANCE AND REPROGRAMMED THE MODULE WHICH RESOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 8,000 MILES. AGAIN, SAME THING HAPPENED THIS TIME DEALER JUST REPROGRAMMED MODULE. THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED FOR ABOUT 9,000 MILES AND AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN DOWN SHIFTING VERY HARD. WHEN DECELERATING THE CAR CLUNKS AND CATCHES.

I TOOK MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE MY BRAKES LOOKED AT. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY DID NEED REPLACED AND I AGREED TO THE SERVICE. I MENTIONED TO THEM THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON PERIODICALLY WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKE BUT WENT OUT ABRUPTLY AFTER THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THEY WENT AND CHECKED THE BRAKES CAREFULLY AND FOUND NOT ONE BUT TWO BRAKE CALIPERS WERE EITHER CRUSHED IN PIECES OR BROKE COMPLETELY IN HALF. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS AROUND 45,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS TOLD BY THIS SHOP AND THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I CALLED THEM THAT THIS WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. I WAS GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SAFETY PROBLEM AND WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN TO THE REMAINING TWO CALIPERS. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL ON IT, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I TOLD THEM THIS WENT BEYOND A "WARRANTY" ISSUE INTO A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PART WAS NOT WORE OUT, IT WAS DEFECTIVE (NOT ONE BUT TWO OF THEM) AND A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

BRAKE FAILURE EVERY 16000 MILES OR SO. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS 4 TIMES SINCE I HAD THIS VEHICLE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS TWICE SINCE PURCHASE BECAUSE THE ROTORS DELAMINATED. YESTERDAY THE VAN HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING. IT WAS LIKE THE FRONT BRAKES WERE NOT GRABBING. *AK

WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM COMPLETELY REPLACED ON OUR VEHICLE. IT HAD 26,100 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR. THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WORK WAS DONE ON 10/05/04.*AK I WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR CAR ACCIDENT ON 8/21/04 AND THINK THAT THE FAILING BRAKES HINDERED MY ABILITY TO STOP IN TIME.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN COLD WEATHER OR GETS WET, THE BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS AND THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO MOVE. HE HAD TO REMOVE THE REAR BRAKE DRUM IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NUMBER 10019632) AFFECTING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE HAS NOT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 72,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF

COMING BACK TO OHIO FROM OKLAHOMA ( VACATION ) GOT TO ST. LOUIS AND TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR, ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. GOT THE VAN SLOWED DOWN AND GOT OFF INTERSTATE 70, IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 9-9:30 AT NIGHT. SPENT THE NIGHT AT A MOTEL GOT UP IN THE MORNING AND TRIED TO PUT BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESEVOIR, SEEING THAT IT WAS LOW AND HOPING THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE FLUID WAS COMING OUT AS FAST AS I COULD PUT IT IN. HAD TO CALL CHRYSLER HOTLINE AND HAVE THE VAN TOWED INTO A CHRYSLER DEALER. THERE WERE NO PARTS TO BE FOUND SO WE HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN A MOTEL AND CALLED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY (FRIDAY). WAS TOLD PARTS WOULD NOT BE IN UNTIL MAYBE MONDAY AND ONE PASSENGER HAD A PLANE LEAVING SUNDAY TO GO TO LAS VEGAS AND THE OTHER PASSENGER HAD TO BE BACK TO WORK ON MONDAY MORNING. HAD TO FIND A CAR TO RENT TO COME HOME, RECEIVED A CALL AT 12 NOON ON TUESDAY JULY 13TH AND HAD TO SCHEDULE THE 2 DAYS OFF TO GO BACK AND PICK UP THE VAN AND RETURN THE RENTAL. HAD TO TAKE 2 DAYS OFF WORK, HOTEL BILLS, MEAL BILLS, GASOLINE BILLS, CAR RENTAL BILLS AND MISC.. ASKED FOR THE PART BACK AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SENT BACK TO THE FACTORY. *JB

MY VEHICLE HAS ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH ABNORMAL BRAKE WEAR. AT 17000 MILES THE BRAKES HUNG UP. THE FRONT LEFT ROTOR WAS COMPLETELY WORN AWAY. NEW PADS AND ROTORS. RIGHT FRONT CALIPER NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND WAS REPLACED. PRIOR TO THIS I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND BRAKES CHECKED 1500 MILES EARLIER--I HAD NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS VARYING AND IT WAS TAKING LONGER TO STOP THE CAR. MECHANIC HAD STATED THAT LEFT FRONT HAD A LITTLE OVER HALF OF BRAKE SURFACE LEFT. SECOND BRAKE FAILURE AT 34500 MILES. AGAIN, LEFT FRONT HUNG UP. TOOK THE CAR TO ARRIGO DODGE AND WAS TOLD I WAS LYING ABOUT FIRST INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH I HAD RECEIPTS. SERVICE REP TOLD ME BOTH BRAKES COMPLETELY WORN AWAY, EVEN THOUGH AGAIN THE PROBLEM PRESENTED WITH THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE HANGING UP. WAS TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT BRAKES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. CAR PULLED TO RIGHT AFTER BRAKE REPLACEMENT WHEN I CALLED DEALER AGAIN WAS TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BRAKES BEGAN SQUEALING - MOST NOTICEABLY LEFT FRONT AGAIN - WITHIN 500 MILES OF REPLACEMENT. LEFT FRONT BRAKE STICKS WHEN STARTING OFF, BRAKES SQUEAL, BRAKE FLUID SEEN LEAKING FROM RIGHT FRONT, BRAKE PEDAL ALREADY HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT, TAKES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DISTANCE TO STOP EVEN WITH STRONG FORCE APPLIED TO BRAKES. I HAVE NARROWLY MISSED HAVING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. CALLED DEALER, AGAIN TOLD IT WAS MY FAULT -- DRIVER HABITS THEY CALL IT. IN THE 25 YEARS I HAVE OWNED AND DRIVEN VEHICLES, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES BEFORE 38000 MILES OR HAD ANY PROBLEMS REMOTELY SIMILAR TO THIS. P. 245 OF OWNERS MANUAL STATES "IF EITHER OF THE TWO HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS LOSE NORMAL CAPABILITY ...THERE WILL BE SOME LOSS OF OVERALL BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. THIS MAY BE EVIDENT BY INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL DURING APPLICATION, GREATER PEDAL FORCE REQUIRED TO SLOW OR STOP..." WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE CORRECTLY ADDRESSED -- PEOPLE DYING BECAUSE OF THIS BRAKE FAILURE?*AK

VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR SMOOTHLY. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAKE A SMOOTH TRANSITIONS AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED DEALER, WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED .*AK

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING THROUGHOUT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES, REPLACED DISC, PADS, AND SENSORS, AT LEAST THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL RECURRED. ALSO, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

UPON FRONT END VIBRATION AND SQUEALING WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEEDED TO RESURFACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND PUT ON NEW BREAKS AT 23,000 MILES. THE STEERING GEAR AND HOSES WERE ALSO REPLACED AT 21,000 MILES. I FEEL THAT ANY MECHANIC WHO WAS TAKING THE FRONT END APART SHOULD HAVE NOTICED THE BREAKS WERE IN NEED OF REPLACING THEN.*AK

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON AFTER THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON DUE TO IT BEING BURNT OUT. *SC *JB

WE PURCHASED A 2002 GRAND CARAVAN SPORT USED. WHEN I PICKED UP THE VAN AFTER GETTING SOME RECALL WORK DONE AT THE DEALER, I TURNED ON THE AIR CONDIONER AND THE MOTOR DIED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THEY HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 70,000 MILES BECAUSE THE DRYER IN THOSE VANS IS KNOWN TO FAIL AND LOCK UP THE A/C COMPRESSOR. I BELIEVE THIS IS MORE THAT A PARTS ISSUE SINCE THE LOCKED COMPRESSOR KILLS THE MOTOR WHICH KILLS THE POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. DURING STOPPING OR IN AN INTERSECTION, THIS COULD BE QUITE HAZARDOUS. ALL THESE DRYERS AND POSSIBLY COMPRESSORS SHOULD BE REPLACED BEFORE SOMEONE IS IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

ON 4/17/02 I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE SALESMAN SOLD THE VEHICLE TO ME WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON, INFORMING ME THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY. IMMEDIATELY AFTER READING MY OWNERS MANUAL, I DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY. I MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE VAN CHECKED OUT AND SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT/SEAT BELTS/AUTOMATIC DOORS, ETC. THIS VAN HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR THE ABOVE REASONS. ON 7/24/03 THE ABS LIGHT ALONG WITH THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT IS STILL THERE AS OF TODAY'S DATE - 8/23/03. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER DIRECTLY ON 8/22/03 AND INFORMED THEM OF THE HAZARDOUS HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE - THE AIRBAG MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, THE SEATBELT TENSIONERS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, AUTOMATIC DOORS REPROGRAMMED, ETC. I INFORMED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, ARLENE, THAT I WAS AFRAID OF THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT WANT IT BACK. I WAS INFORMED BY "ARLENE" THAT THE VEHICLE PARTS HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT THE VAN WOULD BE FIXED. I DON'T WANT THE VAN "FIXED". IT DOESN'T STAY "FIXED"!! IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I DO NOT WANT TO BASE MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY ON THEIR IDEA OF A SITUATION BEING "FIXED" WHEN THEIR TRACK RECORD OBVIOUSLY STINKS. AM I GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AN ACCIDENT AND EITHER MYSELF OR, LORD FORBID, ONE OF MY CHILDREN ARE SENT AIRBORNE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD? I WAS INFORMED BY "ARLENE" THAT SINCE THE VAN WAS NOT IN THE SHOP FOR THE "EXACT DEFECT" EVERY SINGLE TIME, THAT I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A NEW VAN. I WOULD THINK THAT THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS SHOWN IT HAS CONSISTENT PROBLEMS, THE SEATBELTS OBVIOUSLY HAVE CONSISTENT PROBLEMS AND NOW THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS ARE ON - ISN'T THAT ENOUGH???? OR DO I HAVE TO DIE IN AN ACCIDENT FOR MY FAMILY TO GET A SAFE VEHICLE?. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKES ARE DEPRESED THEY MAKE A LOUD NOISE ,LOCK UP AND HESTIATE TO STOP. DEALESHIP CONTACTED.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ABS FAILURE CAUSED BY THE ROTORS DELAMINATING. *AK

BRAKES WOREOUT AROUND 23,000 OR 21,000 I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IT HAD 15,000 MILES ALREADY ON IT. THE BRAKES WERE WEARING OUT FASTER AND FASTER EVEN THOUGH I PUT NEW ROUTERS ON THEM. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE CALIPERS ARE DEFECTIVE. I THINK THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE BRAKES IS NOT EVENLY HANDLE BY THE FRONT AND THE BACK. THE FRONT HANDLES TO MUCH OF THFE WORK AND THERE IS TOO MUCH WEIGHT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN ON 10/6/01. WITHIN A WEEK I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND SWIFT DROP IN BRAKE PRESSURE WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND SAID COME BACK IF PROBLEM PERSISTS. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AT 5 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, AND THAT THIS IS THE WAY A GRAND CARAVAN "BREAKS IN" BY THE SERVICE MANAGE EVONA HARTZELL. I RETURNED MY VEHICLE AGAIN AT 6 MONTHS FOR A WEEK, A FACTORY REP DROVE MY CAR EXACTLY FIVE MILES AND DECLARED THE BRAKES IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER, HE DID NO OTHER INSPECTION. THE VAN WAS BACK IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ONE WEEK LATER FOR THE FOURTH TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL FOUR VISITS TOTALLING OVER 12 DAYS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY CLAIM THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THEREFORE NO REPAIR IS NECESSARY. AT 8 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP THE DROP IN BRAKE PRESSURE IS NOW OCCURING DURING THE BRAKING PROCESS AS WELL AS WHEN STOPPED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH DETAILED DOCUMENTATION AT YOUR REQUEST.*AK