There are 44 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravanin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
FRONT BRAKES STICK. HAVE REPLACED PADS, HOSES AND CALIPERS TO NO AVAIL.
BROUGHT NEW IN 09, FRONT ROTORS CUT DUE TO SEVERE VIBRATIONS..WAS TOLD I WAS NOT DRIVING ENOUGH (NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE)1,700 MILES., BAD VIBRATION AGAIN IN FRONT ..ROTORS CUT FRONT AND REAR. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD FRONT BRAKES AND REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING 12852 MILES, TOLD BY DEALER THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR!!!. I STARTED DOING MY OWN BRAKES AS I COULD NOT AFFORD THE DEALER ANYMORE AND THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN CHANGING THE BRAKES EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE, THIS IS CRAZY. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS CARS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS. I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AS THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER WAS BURNING UP AND WAS TOLD TO MY SURPRISE THEY SAID THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE SEIZED, THEY SAID THE FRONT CONTROLS THE REAR. THEY CHANGED THEM AND I PUT NEW ROTORS AND BRAKES ALL AROUND. REAR DRIVERS SIDE BURNING UP HOT AND BRAKES ALMOST TO METAL, TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD REAR CALIPERS NEEDED REPLACING. THEY CHANGED BOTH REAR CALIPERS AND I HAD THE REAR BRAKES REPLACE AGAIN. REAR DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER STARTED STICKING AGAIN BURNING HOT AND BRAKES WORN ALMOST TO METAL AGAIN, THEY REPLACED AND I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM 08-12 CARAVAN AND NONE OF THEM GOT ANY SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER OR DODGE. I TOLD THE TECH ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS AND ALL HE COULD SAY IS "IF ITS BROKEN WE WILL FIX, AND THATS ALL HE CAN DO" WITH NO FURTHER EXPLANATION. I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE VAN HAS 62,000 MILES AND I REALLY DON'T WANT MY WIFE DRIVING THIS VAN ANYMORE WITH THE KIDS, I FEEL IT'S SO UNSAFE AND HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT.
MY GRAND CARAVAN HAS 121,000 MILES ON IT. I AM HAVING THE REAR CALIPERS REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. (AT 68K MILES, 98K MILES, NOW 121K MILES). EACH TIME THE CALIPERS HAVE SEIZED UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,021.
THIS VAN EATS BRAKES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE NUMEROUS REPAIRS TO MY BRAKING SYSTEM DONE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 25,000 MILES AT GREAT COST. BRAKE CALIPERS FREEZE UP, ROTORS WARP AND PADS WEAR OUT FROM HANGING UP. BRAKES THEN BECOME DIFFICULT TO MODULATE AND VIBRATION CAUSED BY ATTEMPTING TO STOP FROM INTERSTATE SPEEDS MAKE VEHICLE CONTROL DIFFICULT.
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES FOUR TIMES IN ABOUT TWO YEARS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ONCE MORE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH FORCE, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AS IF THERE WAS A BLOWOUT OF A TIRE. *TR
EXITED HIGHWAY (70 MPH) THEN DROVE 55 MPH FOR 3 MILES TO OUR HOME. NOTICED HEAVY BRAKE BURNING SMELL THAT STAYED WITH ME UNTIL ARRIVED AT HOME. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL/BRAKE ASSEMBLY. HUSBAND(EX-ASE MASTER TECH) CAME OUT TO INSPECT AND NOTICED ALL OTHER BRAKES SEEMED OK IN TEMP BUT LEFT REAR WAS EXTREMELY HOT, SMOKING AND ROTOR WAS DISCOLORED FROM OVER HEAT(BLACK/BLUE). NO METAL ON METAL VAN WAS JUST IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES AND DEALER REPLACED FRONT PADS, ROTORS UNDER TSB WITH $100 DEDUCTIBLE. I WAS TOLD AT THIS TIME THAT REARS HAD APPROX 20% PAD LEFT. WAY TO SOON FOR REAR BRAKES TO WEAR OUT (BEFORE 36K MILES?) TOOK VAN INTO ROCHESTER HILLS CHRYSLER DODGE AND THEY STATED ISSUE WAS LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD STUCK IN SLIDES CAUSING OVERHEAT. THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE BRACKET/CLIP/PADS CLEARANCE IS TOO TIGHT AND DOESN'T TAKE MUCH CORROSION OR BRAKE DUST COLLECTING TO CAUSE STICKING PADS. I AM AWARE OF A NEW CHRYSLER BRAKE BRACKET DESIGN FOR THESE VANS AND THAT THEY ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT AND THAT THE REDESIGN HAS ADDITIONAL CLEARANCE TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. BUT INSTEAD I WAS CHARGED $174.80 FOR NEW PADS AND TURN BOTH ROTORS. I FEAR THAT THIS ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND WONDER IF IT WILL BE WORSE NEXT TIME (PAD/BRAKE FIRE, BRAKE/WHEEL LOCK UP OR POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL). THIS IS NOT SAFE ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE THAT IS PRIMARILY USED TO TRANSPORT KIDS, PEOPLE ETC. LOTS OF FAMILIES OUT THERE WITH THESE. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU.
UPON DRIVING I NOTICE THE BRAKES SEEMS TO BE STICKING AND OR CALIPERS SEIZING WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO CHANGING THE BRAKES /ROTORS MUCH SOONER THAN SUPPOSED TO ALSO BAD MPG ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING BETWEEN 18 K MILES 25 K MILES AND 38 K AND CURRENTLY 47 K MILES PLEASE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FROM CALIPERS STICKING AND BRAKING THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AND EATING THE PADS PREMATURELY THE CONCERNED CUSTOMER WILL WAIT FOR A RESPONSE BACK THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER WILL NOT TAKE THINGS SERIOUS UNTIL THEY WILL HAVE FATALITY ES THANKS MUCH. *TR
REAR BRAKES ARE NOT RELEASING COMPLETELY CAUSING THE BRAKES, ROTOR, BEARING, AND WHEEL TO BECOME SUPER-HEATED. DRIVER'S SIDE IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. THE BRAKES MAKE A SCREECHING SOUND, SMOKE AND SMELL OF BURNT RUBBER COME FROM WHEELS. IF WATER IS POURED ON THE WHEELS, IT VAPORIZES IMMEDIATELY. IT DOES NOT DO THIS WITH EVERY TRIP, BUT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. DRIVER'S REAR CALIPER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND BRAKE LINE ONCE WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. BRAKES ON DRIVER'S SIDE ONLY LAST 11,000 MILES. HAVE CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER, BUT DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY'VE HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE. I SEE MANY EXAMPLES SEARCHING THIS SITE AND OTHER SITES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. VEHICLE NOW HAS 71,000 MILES. *TR
DURING A SERVICE VISIT TO HAVE THE FRONT BRAKES REPAIRED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR PREMATURE FAILURE, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS ALSO NEEDED REPLACED, WITH THE ADDITION OF AN ADAPTER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS. THE MANUFACTURERS EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE REAR. THE PADS WERE NOT WEARING EVENLY, THE INSIDE PADS HAD WORN TO THE WEAR INDICATOR AND THE OUTSIDE PADS WERE WORN TO ONLY 50%. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEFT REAR ROTOR WAS WORN AT A MORE SIGNIFICANT RATE THAN THE RIGHT REAR ROTOR. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE REAR BRAKE STAYED ENGAGED. OVERHEATED WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED ANOTHER TIME APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES LATER. SUSPECT TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS APPLYING BRAKING TO THAT WHEEL. BRAKE RELEASED WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE PADS ON THIS VEHICLE FAILED COMPLETELY AT ONLY 34,000 MILES. NO TATTLE-TALE COMPONENT WAS ON THE ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS, SO THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE BRAKES WERE WEARING UNTIL THE BRAKE SHOES STARTING GRINDING ON THE ROTORS. WE HAVE NOTICED EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ON THE REAR WHEELS STARTING AT AROUND 7500 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FRONT BRAKES STILL HAVE 60-70% WEAR LEFT ON THEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY WORE PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT 31,000 MILES, HE WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE AT 45 PERCENT AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE ONLY AT 15 PERCENT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 31,000. UPDATED 01/18/12*LJ UPDATED 02/29/12
THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES AT 32,000 MILES AND NOW THE REAR BRAKES AT 34,900. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CHRYSLER VANS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES EVEN AFTER 60,000 MILES OR MORE. *TR
WE WERE ON A TRIP AND WHILE ON THE TRIP THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THE 36K WARRANTY. WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 75 MPH WHEN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A TERRIBLE VIBRATION AND VIBRATION NOISES. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF ON AN EXIT WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF THE VEHICLE MAKING THIS NOISE. AFTER WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE LEFT REAR TIRE SMELLED AWFUL LIKE SOMETHING BURNING. AFTER WE GOT IT TO THE DODGE DEALER THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CALIPER HAD FAILED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY STATED THAT OUR VIN DID NOT MATCH THOSE VEHICLES HAVING THE REAR BRAKE ISSUES. OBVIOUSLY WE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS THE OTHER VEHICLES. CHRYSLER DID AGREE TO COVER THE FAILED CALIPER, BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE WARPED ROTORS OR NEW BRAKES AND WOULD NOT COVER THE CALIPER ON THE RIGHT SIDE AS IT HAD NOT YET FAILED (EVEN THOUGH THE ROTOR WAS BADLY WARPED). THE ROTORS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND WOULD TAKE 3 WEEKS TO GET IN. WE WERE TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD YET CHRYSLER WAS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE CALIPER AS IT HAD NOT YET FAILED. WE REPLACED THE RIGHT SIDE CALIPER AT OUR COST AND BOTH ROTORS AND BRAKES AS BOTH ROTORS WERE WARPED BADLY....FROM DEFECTIVE CALIPERS...BUT SINCE ONLY 1 SIDE WAS LOCKING UP AND SMOKING THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE 1 SIDE. I DID NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY IN A VEHICLE THAT COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD AND BELIEVE THAT THIS IS TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE OF CHRYSLER TO PUT PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER AND NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE IT SINCE OUR VIN SUPPOSEDLY DID NOT FIT WITH THE VEHICLES THAT WERE DEEMED TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE DIRECTLY AND TALKED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS BASICALLY UNWILLING TO LOOK UP ANYTHING NEVER OFFERED TO TAKE ANY INFORMATION FROM US (NAME, VEHICLE INFO), BUT YET WAS VERY EAGER TO DISMISS THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE. THE DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,400.
REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND BREAK PADS AT 23K, VIBRATING SOMEWHAT. DEALER AT THAT POINT SAID BACK BRAKE PADS WEARING DOWN, WILL SOON NEED TO REPLACE AND SHAVE BACK ROTORS. AT 26K, SHAKING ON DRIVERS WHEEL,VIBRATING BADLY WHEN BREAKING WAS DANGEROUS. NEEDED BACK BRAKE PADS AND NEW ROTORS, ROTORS WERE WARPED. MY 4TH NEW CARAVAN IN 2 DECADES WAS A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT! ALTHOUGH, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FRONT BRAKES WERE ONLY $50 AND NOW THE BACK BRAKES $120 DEDUCTIBLE IS NOT ALOT, I SHOULDN'T BE PAYING TO REPLACE UNTIL 4-5 YEARS OR 40K-50K MILES LIKE OUR LAST 8 CARS! I GUESS IT'S BETTER THEN TRANSMISSION TROUBLE AT 50K ON MY 1ST CARAVAN. *KB
STEERING WHEEL SHAKEN AT 9000 MILES(WARPED ROTORS). DEALER REPLACED FREE DUE TO MILEAGE AND I HAVE 21000 NOW AND STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKEN LIKE CRAZY AGAIN. THIS VANS BRAKING SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS WHEN BRAKING WITH NO IDEA BRAKES ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF WARPING. THERE IS SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODELS BRAKES AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE HAVE DEATHS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 44 complaints
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 26, 2026