2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ABS, ESP, AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WERE REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.

AT ONLY 58,000 MILES, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULAR FAILED. CHRYSLER WARRANTY COVERS 70,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS, WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER VEHICLE BRAKE MODULES. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS WENT ON IN DASHBOARD. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP AS IT SHOULD WHEN THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM IS WORKING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING FAILURE IN WHICH THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE PARTS WERE REPLACED FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN WEEKS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SMOKE APPEARED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V351000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE SEIZED UP INTERMITTENTLY ON A TRIP. WOULD OCCASIONALLY FREE UP AFTER NOT USING BRAKES FOR A WHILE BUT THEN WOULD SEIZE UP AGAIN PRODUCING A LOT OF HEAT, A GRATING SOUND AND WEARING DOWN THAT PAD COMPLETELY.

REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER HAS SEIZED UP

JAN 2015 WAS DRIVING 40 MILES PER HOUR SLOWING DOWN FOR RED LIGHT ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND REAR LEFT SIDE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND RELEASED SHORTLY AFTER REPLACED BRAKE PADS. APRIL 2015 VAN FELT LIKE IT WAS DRAGGING FOUND BRAKE PADS WORN AGAIN. AUGUST 2015 SAME PROBLEM REPLACED PADS ROTOR CALIPER CALIPER BRACKET AND GUIDE PINS VAN RAN GREAT. TWO DAYS LATER SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE REAR LEFT SIDE WHEEL WELL, STOPPED TO CHECK IT WAS SO HOT COULD FEEL THE HEAT 6 INCHES AWAY. CALIPER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AFTER 2 DAYS (28MILES). WIFE LOVES THE VAN BUT THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING OLD FAST. BEING DISABLED CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FIXED EVERY 3 OR 4 MONTHS.

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS ON EITHER SIDE BECAME STUCK. I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS. THE CALIPER STUCK TO THE BRAKE PADS ON BOTH REAR WHEELS AND BECAME BURNED ON. THE VEHICLE REQUIRES NEW BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND CALIPER BRACKETS TO BE INSTALLED. THIS IS A HUGE FIRE HAZARD. I AM LUCKY THAT NOTHING CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED THE ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE REAR BRAKES WERE SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ROUTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

WHEN I PUT THE VAN IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. I BROUGHT THE VAN TO THE DODGE DEALER TO FIX IT. HE SAID A FEW CODES HAD TO BE DONE AND A FUEL INJECTION CLEANING. I WAITED FOR THE VAN FOR THREE HOURS AND IT WAS RETURNED TO ME AT A COST OF $263. I DROVE DOWN THE ROAD AND THE SAME NOISE WAS THERE AS IF IT HAD NOT BEEN TOUCHED. I BROUGHT THE VAN IMMEDIATELY BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE POWER BRAKE MODULE AND THAT IT WAS ON BACK ORDER. HE TOOK THE VAN AND TOLD ME TO GET A RENTAL. IT WILL BE TWO WEEKS THIS THURSDAY (RENTAL CAR TOTALING OVER $700) AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE VAN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ESP AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 127,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND RELEASED SEVERAL TIME BEFORE OPERATING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM AND THE BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED DURING THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON MY GRAND CARAVAN TWO TIMES SO FAR. I HAD TO REPLACE THEM AFTER APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES AND NEXT AT 44,000 MILES. I DO MOSTLY CITY DRIVING AND ONLY PUT AROUND 10K A YEAR ON THE CAR. CURRENTLY THERE IS A GRINDING SOUND. I WILL NEED TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER. AT LEAST THREE TIMES THE CALIPER STUCK AND YOU COULD SMELL THE BURNING OF THE BRAKE PAD. IN THE MOST RECENT INSTANCE THE HEAT WAS SO HIGH ON THE RIGHT DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BRAKE, THAT IT MELTED THE VALVE STEM PLASTIC CAP. I HAVE PAID NOW APPROXIMATELY 1,800 DOLLARS TO THE REPLACE BRAKES. AFTER THE LAST TIME I PAID FOR THEM TO INSTALL SOME SORT OF ADAPTER TO HELP WITH THE KNOWN BRAKE ISSUE ON THIS MODEL. OBVIOUSLY, IT DID NOT WORK. THE HEAT GENERATED IS VERY HIGH AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS WELL KNOWN AGAINST THIS MODEL YEAR AND CAR. ...UPDATED 10/7/2014 *JS

AS I WAS DRIVING, THE DASHBOARD ON THE VAN WENT ABSOLUTELY INSANE! THEN IT JUST SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. EVERYTHING IS LOCKED UP, EVEN THE BRAKES. IT WON'T EVEN LET ME TAKE THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION! IT STARTED WORKING AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM THE MONTHS OF OWNING IT!!! CHRYSLER IS NOT MUCH HELP AT ALL EITHER. THEY CAN MAKE A NICE CAR BUT THEY HAVE NEVER STOOD BEHIND THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE, I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED 3 CHRYSLERS IN A ROW! *TR

I SAVED 15,000 DOLLARS NOT EASY WANTED TO BUY MY GIRLFRIEND A MINIVAN AND THIS IS WHAT I GOT. 4 MONTHS LATER FRONT END STARTED SHAKING AND GRINDING SERIOUSLY CHECKED BRAKES IN REAR ROTORS LOOKED SHOT AND BRAKES WERE CRUMBLING CHECKED FRONTS SAME THING CHANGED THEM AND HAPPENED AGAIN 4 MONTHS LATER I DIDN'T KNOW BUY PURCHASING THIS VAN IT WOULD PUT HER AND THE KIDS IN DANGER SOMETHING NEEDS TO B DONE THANKS. ALSO THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THIS VEHICLE MOST LIKELY NEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND SOLD IT ANYWAY THEY SHOULD ALSO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED PREMATURELY. THE REAR BRAKES WERE ORIGINALLY REPLACED AT 41,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED SHORTLY AFTER THE REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE REAR CALIBERS NOT RELEASING. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE ON BACKORDER TO THE ISSUE BEING WIDESPREAD FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY, HENCE I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES FREQUENTLY OVER A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MILES. AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKE DRUMS, ONE OF THE BRAKE CALIPERS 'FROZE' (I.E. THE BRAKE PISTON STUCK IN EXTENDED POSITION) AND CREATED EVEN MORE OVERHEATING AND EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS. IN EXTREME CASES, THIS CAN CAUSE THE ROTOR TO LOCK UP WITH LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. IN MY OPINION, THE BRAKES DESIGN IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS CONFIRMED BY THE FACT THAT CHRYSLER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE/PARTS NOW SPECIFY A SEMI-METALLIC BRAKE PAD, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS OFTEN USED ON RACE CARS TO HANDLE THE EXCESS HEAT. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN A STRONG ODOR WAS COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OFF ON THE NEXT EXIT RAMP TO CHECK WERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM. THE BACK ROTOR FAILED (LOCKED UP), ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE, TURNING THE ROTORS WHITE HOT AND CAUSING THEM TO SMOKE. DROVE VEHICLE HOME AFTER A HALF HOUR AND VEHICLE WAS FINE BUT THIS KEEPS OCCURRING FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER 15 MINUTES. BRING VEHICLE INTO DODGE DEALERSHIP AND ASK WHY THE BRAKING SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING AND THE TOLD ME A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY ARE HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON THIS MODEL. THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS FOR $100 BUT I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES/ROTORS REPLACED. IT IS NOW TWO WEEKS LATER AND I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKES !!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLE AS THIS VEHICLE. FIVE RECALLS AND VARIOUS OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS POC !!!!!!!!!!! THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES OF THIS VEHICLE PLEASE GOOGLE AND SEE FOR YOURSELF. THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE NEED TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.....PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND HAVE THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES !!!!!!!!!!! I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE BUT LIKE MOST AMERICANS I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER NEW VEHICLE !!!!!!!! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE !!!! I HAVE BAILED OUT DODGE TWICE NOW AND NO MORE.....START PROTECTING THE CONSUMER AND NOT CORPORATE AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!! *JS

WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING OUR BRAKES EVERY 4 MONTHS OUR MECHANIC SAYS THE BRAKING SYSTEM FOR THIS VAN WAS DESIGNED TOO SMALL LOVE THE VAN BUT WILL TRADE IN FOR SOMETHING MORE SAFE WE DO HAVE 4 CHILDREN IN OUR VAN DAILY AND WITH THE BRAKES WEARING OUT SO QUICKLY WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES ARE GONNA GO OUT NEXT...VERY DISAPPOINTED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL OF SOME SORT. *TR

2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE RIGHT BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. MANY OF THE REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE WITH LESS 12,000/15,000 IN BETWEEN. UPDATED 09/17/13