16 of the
341 complaints about the 2001 Dodge Caravan are about the
braking system — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
56,000 miles.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. HE USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND PUMPED THE BRAKES. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WORK BETTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND THEY STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE MASTER CYLINDER IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PEDAL NEVER WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPDATED 12/27/05.
NHTSA complaint #10143471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesPinckney, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DRIVING IN NORMAL WINTER CONDITIONS, LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF SNOW, NOT LESS THAN 20 DEGREES IN WEATHER, MY ANTILOCK BRAKES FROZE UP, CAUSING ME TO SPIN OUT. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR CRASH. $800 WORTH OF DAMAGE, BRAKE LINING FROZE TO DRUM. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS, DRUMS, WHEEL BEARINGS IN BOTH REAR WHEELS.
NHTSA complaint #10102998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesPinckney, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
DRIVING IN NORMAL WINTER CONDITIONS, LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF SNOW, NOT LESS THAN 20 DEGREES IN WEATHER, MY ANTILOCK BRAKES FROZE UP, CAUSING ME TO SPIN OUT. LUCKILY I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR CRASH. $800 WORTH OF DAMAGE, BRAKE LINING FROZE TO DRUM. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS, DRUMS, WHEEL BEARINGS IN BOTH REAR WHEELS.
NHTSA complaint #10102998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 83,000 milesMichigamme, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE VEHICLE HAD AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND PULSATED. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT NO PARTS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. THE CONSUMER WAS TOO NERVOUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING AND OR THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10092845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesDeming, WA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A CLANKING NOISE. THE BRAKE PADS/CALIPERS, AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. *AK THE NOISE PROBLEM WAS ON GOING AND WAS ONLY PRESENT UPON THE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE FROM LOW SPEED, BUT CURRENTLY IT ONLY HAPPENS FROM LOW SPEED, BUT PRESENT AT ALMOST EVERY BRAKE APPLICATION. TWO SEPARATE MECHANICS STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE NOISE WAS A COMBINATION OF CLANKING AND GRINDING. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10092657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesSAN Antonio, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE TOLD THE COMPRESSOR WAS OUT AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH. THE COST WAS 1100.00 THE BRAKES HAVE GONE OUT TWICE IN AN MATTER OF 6 MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10070488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Murrieta, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE NOISE STOPPED. WHILE ACCELERATING THE NOISE CONTINUED. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER, BOTH REAR CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CRACKS. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10064906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,000 milesN Syracuse, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE PULSATION: AT 9K MILES FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED BY DEALER, AT 18K MILES PULSATION RETURNED. WHILE BRAKES ARE PULSATING BRAKING PERFORMANCE IS DEGRADED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT 18,470 MILES AND THEY SAID IT IS "SAFE TO DRIVE". THEY GAVE ME THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPAIRING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10025975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Orleans, LACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10012410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesIrvington, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CONSUMER STATED, WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL-WHICH HAD LOCKED UP, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CONTACTED. MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED. STILL UNABLE TO TURN LEFT-NOT UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS WARM. THE CONSUMER IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE VEHICLE AND ADDS THAT THE WINDOW MOTORS WERE REPLACED(UNSURE IF PROBLEM), THE BRAKES DONE 3 TIMES, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS STEERING PROBLEMS. SCC
NHTSA complaint #8020779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prewerton, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN DRIVING ON WET OR SNOW ROADS, BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD WHEN APPLIED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN ON MARCH 28,2002 AT 35MPH, THE DEALER NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION AND ALSO STATED THAT POSSIBLY ABS ENGAGING AND CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE.
NHTSA complaint #8009954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prewerton, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN DRIVING ON WET OR SNOW ROADS, BRAKES FAILED TO HOLD WHEN APPLIED.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN ON MARCH 28,2002 AT 35MPH, THE DEALER NOTICED A SLIGHT VIBRATION AND ALSO STATED THAT POSSIBLY ABS ENGAGING AND CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE.
NHTSA complaint #8009954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Raceland, LA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
COOLING FANS SOMETIMES (MOSTLY IN COOL WEATHER) RUN CONTINOUSLY . FANS COME ON WHEN COMING TO A STOP.I BROUGHT THE VAN IN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE WASN'T ANY THING WRONG. MY FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 10,000 MILES ON 9/11/2001. BRAKE PADS WERE AGAIN REPLACED ON 12/26/2001 WITH APPR. 16,000 MILES ON MY SPEEDOMETER.
NHTSA complaint #757401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Independen, MO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TURN 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #561655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Leesburg, FL
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
CONSUMER APPLIED EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING WASHED. WHEN BRAKE WAS RELEASED LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS OFF. HOWEVER, FRONT AND REAR WHEELS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. DEALER STATED THAT PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO RUST BULD UP BETWEEN PADS AND CYLINDERS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #891045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Independence, MO
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
LANDMARK DODGE REALIGNED THE FRONT END AND REPLACED BOTH CALIPERS DURING A THREE MONTH TIMESPAN. THIS DID NOT ELEMINATE THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE, AND WAS ASKED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO CHAMPION CRYSLER FOR A SECOND OPINION. I DID THIS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS WAY OUT OF SPECFICATIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THEY RESET IT TO SEPCS. I THEN WAS ASKED TO TEST THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THEY HAD MADE A CHANGE. I DID THIS. WHILE TESTING THE VEHICLE A LARGE FORD PICKUP PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MY WIFE. SHE HIT THE BRAKES AND THE WHEELS LOCKED AND OUR VEHICLE MADE A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN WITHOUT HER EVEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AT THIS POINT I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO CHAMPION CRYSLER AND REFUSED TO DRIVE IT ANY LONGER. MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN TO LET THEM RIDE IN THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #746561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.