There are 14 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravanin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
VAN LOSES BRAKES WHEN APPLIED OVER A POTHOLE OR OTHER ROUGH ROAD. IT TRAVELS FOR ABOUT 15 FEET THEN STOPS (REGARDLESS OF PUMPING THE BRAKE). IT BUILDS UP AFTER THE VAN STOPS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, OBVIOUSLY. PERHAPS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN A MONTH (9/16/2020 WAS THE LAST TIME). ALSO, DEALERSHIPS APPEAR TO GUESS WHEN REPAIRING THE PROBLEM, COSTING CONSUMERS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND APPROPRIATELY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SORE ANKLE, WHICH WAS EXAMINED BY A MEDIC, BUT THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
AFTER A RECALL ON THE STEERING WHEEL HARNESS REPAIR, THE DEALER BUD CLARY IN AUBURN, WASHINGTON (253-833- 2485. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON THE VAN FLASHED ON THE WAY HOME AND ONE OF THE BRAKES ACTIVATED. THIS NEVER HAPPENED PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. THIS HAD CONTINUED AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO WHERE THE CAR ATTEMPTS TO STOP ON THE FREEWAY GOING 60 - 70 MPH (DEPENDING ON THE SPEED ZONE) THAT COULD CAUSE A LOCK UP OR WORSE. THERE ARE NO CODES GIVEN TO INDICATE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING.
2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, APPROXIMATELY 119K MILES. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY LIGHT (ESC) COMING ON WHILE APPLYING LIGHT PRESSURE TO THE BREAKS. IT CAN HAPPEN DRIVING SLOW (THROUGH TOWN) OR ON THE FREEWAY. ONCE THE LIGHT COMES ON, NO NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IS SEEN WHILE DRIVING OTHER THAN CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF IF IT WAS ENGAGED BEFORE THE LIGHT COMES ON. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND PUT IN PARK, IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK (SUCH AS PUT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE), THE KEY MUST BE CYCLED. ONCE THE KEY IS CYCLED, EVERYTHING RETURNS TO NORMAL (ESC LIGHT IS OFF, AND THE SHIFTER CAN BE ENGAGED TO NEUTRAL, DRIVE, REVERSE ETC. SEVERAL MECHANICS CANNOT EITHER REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, OR FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. WHILE THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE RANDOM, MY WIFE AND I CAN BOTH REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM EITHER WHILE IN PARK (TAPPING ON THE BREAK) OR WHILE DRIVING.
SEVERAL TIMES THIS WINTER MY WIFE HAS WENT TO START OUR VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MISSED TIME AT WORK AND KIDS MISSING SCHOOL AS WELL AS 1 OCCURRENCE OF BEING STRAINED WHILE OUT SHOPPING. IT SEEMS TO EFFECT IT MOSTLY WHEN REALLY COLD OUTSIDE 30 OR BELOW. WE HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERE ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD ALL FOUR BRAKES REPLACED TWICE AND BOTH FRONT ROTORS AS WELL AS CALIPERS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING (20-30 MINS) THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE DRAGS CAUSING A VERY STRONG METALLIC SMELL TO ENTER THROUGH THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE VAN. MY WORRY IS THAT ONE DAY IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE AND MY VEHICLE WILL BE LOST IN THE FIRE.
PREVIOUS OWNER OF MY VEHICLE DESCRIBED PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES BUT SAID DEALER FIXED THEM. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE PADS TWICE AND NOW HAVE GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT BRAKE AREA. CAR IS UNDER 45,000 MILES. HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON BRAKES FOR DODGE CARAVANS ON THE INTERNET. WHY IS DODGE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM? BRAKES SHOULD NOT BE WEARING OUT THIS QUICKLY. THIS IS A COSTLY PROBLEM AND I THINK A RECALL IS NEEDED GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN.
WE HAVE A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WE ARE GETTING TO THE POINT THAT THIS VAN IS NOT WORTH THE STRESS. WE DID NOT GET THIS VAN BRAND NEW HOWEVER IT DIDN'T HAVE MANY MILES, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT 62,000 ON IT. LESS THEN A YEAR AGO WE HAD TO FIX ALL FOUR BRAKES AND ROTORS (AT 65,000 MILES) . LAST WEEK WHEN IT WENT FOR INSPECTION (AT 73600 MILES) IT WOULDN'T PASS BECAUSE OF THE ROTORS, SO ONCE AGAIN WE HAD TO GET THEM FIXED. WE ARE ON DAY 7 AND ARE ALREADY SEEING THE SAME PROBLEM AND KNOWING WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE THEM FIXED AGAIN! I CAN TELL BY HOW THE VAN IS SQUEALING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS AGAIN SOON. WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT OVER $1500 IN THE SAME REPAIRS IN LESS THEN A YEAR. I HAVE LOOKED UP DODGE VANS AND I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SERIOUSLY I HAVE A FAMILY AND IF THESE BRAKES AND ROTORS FAIL I WILL NOT BE HAPPY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THERE IS NO RECALL AFTER FINDING SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS VAN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL ODOR AND THE BRAKES SEIZED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER WAS SMOKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,703. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PREMATURELY. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE PADS BECAME METAL-TO-METAL WITH THE BRAKE ROTOR. THE CONSUMERS MECHANIC STATED THE BRAKE PADS WERE FROZEN ON THE CALIPER SLIDES, AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE THE SAME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROTORS FAILED, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE REAR AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED WITHIN THE ROTORS WHICH WERE WARPED AND CAUSED THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
EXCESSIVE NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION DURING NORMAL BRAKE APPLICATION. *TR
AFTER OWNING THE VAN ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE HANGING UP CAUSING OVERHEATING. I TOOK THE VAN IN AND THEY SAID IT WAS DIRT STICKINGTO THE CALIPERS SO THE LUBRICATED IT UP, BUT SHORTLY AFTER IT DID IT AGAIN. AT 56,000 KMS I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE BRAKES DRAGGING AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY SAID MY BRAKES WERE WORE OUT. I ONLY DRIVE HIGHWAY AND I AM AN INSTRUCTOR WHO TEACHES FUEL EFFICIENCY WHICH REDUCES WEAR ON BRAKES. THEY PUT NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS ON THE VAN AND 100 MILES LATER THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL IS OVERHEATING. THERE IS STILL RATTLES IN THE BRAKES. I TOOK THE VAN IN BEFORE SUMMER STARTED BECAUSE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR VENT IT WOULD NOT GO TO COLD, ONLY HOT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. I KNOW ANOTHER 2011 DODGE CARAVAN OWNER AND HE IS HAVING THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM. *TR
WE OWNED A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND AT 59,000 MILES, IT NOT ONLY NEED NEW BRAKE PADS (WHICH WOULD BE NORMAL), BUT TO OUR SURPRISE IT NEEDED NEW ROTORS AS THE ORIGINAL ONES WERE SO WARPED THEY COULD NOT BE USED FOR THE NEW BRAKE PADS. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD ADDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE ROTORS AND WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER HAVING OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VAN, THE LIFE LONG DEALER WE WORK WITH TALKED US INTO TRADING FOR A 2011 DODGE CARAVAN, ASSURING THAT THE BRAKE AND ROTOR ISSUE HAD BEEN RESOLVED. IT HAS BEEN ONE YEAR AND THE NEW VAN NEEDED NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS AT ONLY 19,900. I WAS INFORMED THAT DODGE/CHRYSLER ADDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (ONCE AGAIN), BUT THIS TIME I GOT TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE OF $50 (0-24,000 MILES). IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN BEFORE 36,000 MILES MY DEDUCTIBLE GOES UP. WHAT, I GET TO PAY FOR THEIR POOR PARTS PURCHASING? I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST DODGE/CHRYSLER PRODUCT I WILL OWN. THEY HAVE TRIED TO TAKE CARE OF US, BUT WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. TOO BAD THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO PROVIDE A QUALITY PRODUCT FOR CUSTOMERS AS THIS VAN IS A GREAT FAMILY VEHICLE, BUT WOULD HESITATE TO PUT MY GRANDCHILDREN IN IT. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026