2003 Dodge Grand Caravan Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE CONTACT HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,071.

I'VE HAD THREE BRAKE LINE FAILURES IN 2 YEARS (THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON 3/31/2006; THIS WAS THE BRAKE LINE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE SECOND WAS ON 11/22/2006; THIS WAS A REPLACEMENT PART WHICH I ORDERED FROM THE DEALERSHIP). THE BRAKE LINE ASSEMBLY ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL BREAKS AND LEAKS FLUID WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO FAIL WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE AT EACH OCCURRENCE. NOW, I HAVE HAD ANOTHER BRAKE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. IT WILL TAKE 5 BUSINESS DAYS FOR THE NEW ONE TO ARRIVE. I WILL KEEP THE OLD ONE WHEN THE CAR IS REPAIRED. *TR

2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE. I REPLACED THE OEM SET WITH A NEW AFTERMARKET SET. I ALSO REPLACED THE AFTERMARKET SET WITH ANOTHER SET OF AFTERMARKET ROTORS. *TR

BOUGHT VAN USED ABOUT A YR AGO - IS A 2003 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN- ISSUES SINCE PURCHASE NOT SATIFYINGLY DEALT WITH ARE ( BETWEEN END DEC 05 TO MID NOV 06- NOTICED BRAKES NOISES SINCE BOUGHT IT - SEVERAL CALLS AND A CHECK THEY SAID THERE WAS DUST MAKING THE NOISE - LESS THAN 9 MO LATER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE PADS AND ROTARS - THEY MADE EXCUSES THEY WEAR OUT - HAD THEY INFORMED ME THEY WERE WEARING OUT WHEN THEY FOUND DUST ID HAVE HAD THEM IN LONG BEFORE NEEDING ROTARS FIXED - SINCE NEW BRAKES AND ROTARS IN OCTOBER HEAR SAME NOISE AND THEY DISMISS IT. ALSO - HAVE TROUBLE WITH LIGHTS AND HEAT AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DIMMING AND SEEMING TO DIE OUT WHEN DECELERATING A LOT SINCE I BOUGHT IT - HAD IT IN AD CALLED SEVERAL TIMES - THEY SAY THEY CANT SEE ANYTHING WRONG ADN THAT DODGE WAS MADE TO DO THAT ? . NOT HAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE AND FEEL I AM OUT NEAR 20,000 - ALSO ABS LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER BRAKES REPAIRED THIS MONTH- COVERED ITEM BUT LESS THAN DEDUCTIBLE SO STUCK WITH NEAR 85 DOLLAR BILL - THEY SAID AGAIN THIS JUST HAPPENS - SEEMS THAT IS STANDARD ANSWER TO TROUBLE IT JUST HAPPENS - I DONT FEEL THE BRAKES JUST HAPPENED AND I AM SURE THE LIGHT TROUBLE COULD BE A HAZARD IF IT STALLED COMPLETELY ON A BUSY ROAD. DODGE SHOULD LOOK CLOSER AT THIER VEHICLES. AM ALSO GONNA CHECK OUT VEHICLE FOR THE OTHER TROUBLE STATED HERE IN REGARDS TO SEATBELTS AND CRACKS - HAVE CHILDREN AND THAT IS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - IF IT HAPPENS AND ANYONE IS HURT YOU CAN BET ILL BE RUNNING TO A LAWYER - SAME WITH THE DOWN IDLE WITH BRRAKEING AND ABS GOING OUT - JUST PRAYING FOR NO INJURIES - NOTE THAT PRINTOUT I RECIEVED TODAY HAS OLD OWNERS STUFF ON IT AND NOTICED THAT THE NOISE FROM TIRES AND FRONT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM THAY HAD IT IN SEVERAL TIMES ALSO FOR IT. OH - AND GUESS WHAT THEY CHARGE FOR A 2 INCH TRAILER HITCH BALL - 89.00!!! HAD I KNOWN THAT ID HAVE GONE TO WALMART AND PAID WAYYYY LESS. ALL FOR THE CASHOLA AN NOT THE GOOD OF TH CUSTOMER I SUPPOSE HUH? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AND THE PADS WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED BOTH SETS OF PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT WHEELS. UPDTATED 11/03/06. 8JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTERWARDS, WHEN THE ROADS DRIED OFF THE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND STATED THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS WET. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IF THE LIGHT ILLUMINATES THE ABS IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

DT: WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND THE CONSUMER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD. THE CONSUMER STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2005 AND IT VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A DEALERSHIP. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS ONLY DAMAGE TO THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *AK

PREMATURE FRONT BRAKE WEAR,FIRST SET OF BRAKES FAILED AT 12,046 MILES. THE LOW BRAKE SQUEELERS NEVER MADE NOISE AND THE BRAKES WORE METAL TO METAL INTO THE ROTORS. I REPLACED BOTH BRAKES AND ROTORS MY SELF AS THEY FAILED ON A FRIDAY NIGHT JUST BEFORE A 150 MILE DRIVE.I NOW HAVE 33,450 MILES AND THIS IS THE THIRD SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS.I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED TECH. THIS TIME I INVESTIGATED THE SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE SQUEELER TABS HAD BROKEN OFF FROM OVERHEATING.FURTHER THE LOWERCALIPER BOLTS ON BOTH SIDES SHOWED SIGNS OF HEAT DISCOLORATION. IN LOOKING FOR THE CAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS CAUSED BY LACK OF AIR FLOW TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE CALIPER AND BRAKES. LOOKING AT THE AIR FLOW SYSTEM TO THE BRAKES THE AIR IS TUNNELED VIA CUTS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT SKIRT AND TRAVELS BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE INNER PLASTIC WHEEL WELL.THERE IS AN ANGLED PROTRUSION IN THE INNER WHEEL WELL THAT DIVERTS THE AIR TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE WHEEL. IT APPEARS THE THIS PROTRUSION IS TO FAR BACK AND THE AIR IS NOT FLOWING OVER THE BRAKES AND CALIPER. AS A NOTE THE REAR BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED AND THE SELF ADJUSTERS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.PLESE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. I HAVE SEARCHED TSB'S,IATN (SPONSORING MENBER),RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS. IN TALKING TO CHRYSLER TECH'S THEY SAID THIS IS COMMON AND THE BRAKES AVERAGE 10 TO 12 THOUSAND MILES.THE PROBLEM CAN BE DUPLICATED EVEN AFTER NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS INSTALLED AND TRAVELING DOWN AN EXTENDED STEEP ROAD WITH BRAKING. THE BRAKES EMIT AN OBVIOUS ODOR OF OVER HEATING AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FADES.

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SHE CONTINUALLY HAD FRONT END PROBLEMS. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH AIR IN THE TIRES. CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL ODOR. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS REGARDING FUEL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER THREE TIMES BEFORE THEY COULD TELL HER WHAT WAS WRONG. THEY FOUND THAT BRAKES, AND ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT. *AK

I PURCHASED MY DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IN NOVEMBER 2002 AND SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ABS SENSOR REPLACED ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SIX TIMES. DESPITE THE CONTINUOUS PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS STATED THAT THERE CAN BE NO UNDERLYING CAUSE FOR THIS FAILURE. *AK

I PURCHASED 2002 GRND CARAVAN IN FEBRUARY 2003 FROM DODGE DEALER HAD 20K. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE SHOT BY DEC 2003 W/32K. I TOOK TO DEALER I PURCHSED IT FROM THEY SAID IT WAS MY PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO REPAIR AT MY COST. I REPLACED W/ NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AND OCT 2004 W/ 48K THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE SHOT AGAIN. I REPLCED FOR A 2ND TIME. OLD ROTORS & PADS WERE THROWN AWAY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AT 200 MILES DEALER REPLACED BRAKES AND DIFFERENTIAL. AT 900 MILES DEALER REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHEN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS GETS MOIST IT CAUSES THE ABS LIGHT TO STAY ON ,AND THE ABS BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENSIX TIMES IN TWO YEARS. *AK

CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW ON 12/20/02. ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING CHECKED BY DEALER. TS

THE BRAKE FAULT LIGHT INT HE CONSUEMR'S 2003 GRAND CARAVAN ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER HAD TEH FRONT BRAKES REPLACED BUT THAT DID NOTRESOLVE THE BROBLEM. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. *TS *NM***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED TWICE SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ALSO, THERE WAS A PRESSURE LEAK WHICH EFFECTED THE HYDRAULIC AROUND THE BRAKES. *AK