1,819 of the
14,200 complaints filed about the Dodge Caravan
are about the braking system —
13% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1993.
STARTED THE VEHICLE ONE MORNING AND DROVE UP TO A STOP SIGN. I WAS IN A CITY STREET MAKING A LEFT TURN. SAW CLEAR FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS OF ANY TRAFFIC.ACCELERATED AND THE BAS,ESP LIGHT, AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE WANTED TO STALL, LOST POWER, AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND ACCELERATED AGAIN TO ABOUT 20 MPH AND THE VEHICLE REPEATED THE STALLING AND HESITATED TO ACCELERATE, ONCE ABOVE 30 MPH ALL LIGHTS CONTINUED ON AND THE VEHICLE KEPT DRIVING ACCORDINGLY. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED UP AND DROVE FROM THAT DATE OF JAN.26,2021 THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONING CONTINUES. I FIND THIS TO BE A SEVERE MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND A DANGER TO ME, MY FAMILY, AND THE PUBLIC.
NHTSA complaint #11397912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS MORNING AT 7:58 AM 7.16.2019, MY CAR JUST STOPPED. LOST ALL POWER, COULD NOT STEER, BREAKS BECAME HARD, NO LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING AN ISSUE. I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO GO OVER A SPEED BUMP AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. I PUT ON MY HAZARDS AND WAITED A MOMENT RESTARTED THE CAR. BEFORE THAT AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR SEEMED TO FEEL LIKE THE ENGINE WAS FLUTTERING (?) OR LOSING POWER THEN GAINING IT BACK. THAT FLUTTER HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OF FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON INDICATING ANY ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND SEEN MANY, MANY POSTS WITH PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CAR JUST STOPPING, TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AND DEALER NOT BEING ABOUT TO FIND A CAUSE. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, IF THIS HAPPENS ON A BUSY ROAD OR ON THE FREEWAY SOMEONE COULD DIE!. THANK GOD MY KIDS WERE NOT IN THE CAR AND I DIDN'T GET HIT!
NHTSA complaint #11232249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAVELING 55 DOWN HIGHWAY SUDDENLY BRAKE ENGAGES AND BRAKE CAME UP ON DASH BOARD.BRAKE STAYS ON FOR A MINUTE OR SO THEN NOTICE THAT IT SOUNDS AS IF I AM OVER REVVING ENGINE. WHEN I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER I DID SO PUT IN PARK FOR A MINUTE WENT AGAIN AS SOON AS I REACHED OVER 35 IT STILL SOUNDED AS IF I WAS OVER REVVING ENGINE. WHEN I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER AGAIN I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AT THIS TIME THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS START GOING AND THE HORN IS SOUNDING OFF. I THEN GOT OUT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY WAITED FOR 5 MINITES RECONNECTED. I THEN PRECEDED TO GO AGAIN AND STILL SOUNDED AS IF I WAS REVVING ENGINE PUT 4 WAYS ON AND PRECEEDED HOME AT 25 MILES AN HOUR ON A SECONDARY ROAD. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES WHEN TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIND ISSUE THIS WAS WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #11175840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN. AFTER REFUELING, IF YOU FILL UP THE TANK ALL THE WAY THE CAR WLL COMPLETELY LOSE POWER ONCE YOU START DRIVING. THIS MAY HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A FEW MINUTES. YOU WILL LOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IF YOU HAVE ANY SPEED AT ALL, IT IS PRETTY IMPOSSIBLE TO SLOW DOWN. THERE ARE MANY OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF THIS PROBLEM POSTED BY MANY PEOPLE AT HTTP://M.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/GRAND_CARAVAN/ 2007/FUEL_SYSTEM/FUEL_PROPULSION_SYSTEM.SHTML
NHTSA complaint #11161092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE WHILE DRIVING SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE VAN SHUT OFF IT HOWEVER RESTART RIGHT AWAY.THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND COULD PUT HER LIFE IN DANGER IF SOMEONE HAD RUN INTO HER VAN BACK.
NHTSA complaint #11150805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR EACH TIME WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER CASSENS & SONS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP AT (618) 656-6070 (3333 IL-159, GLEN CARBON, IL 62034) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,184.
NHTSA complaint #11102815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THIS MINIVAN IN 2011. I DO NOT DRIVE MUCH SO IT CURRENTLY HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT. NONETHELESS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS 4 TIMES (MAYBE 5) SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. I JUST HAD THEM REPLACED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER, AND YET 7 MONTHS LATER, I HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. I HAVE ONLY PUT SOME 3,000 MILES ON IT SINCE THE LAST REPLACEMENT. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG. THE BRAKES BEGAN SQUEAKING AND VERY QUICKLY (LIKE A DAY OR TWO WITHOUT MY HARDLY DRIVING IT) TO THE ROTORS BEING GONE AS MY PEDALS ARE VIBRATING. I KNOW OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS HERE AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. NOT TO MENTION, INCREDIBLY COSTLY TO KEEP UP WITH THESE COSTS THAT I CANNOT AFFORD.
NHTSA complaint #11102675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO OPERATING, THE ABS AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COVERT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (8107 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758, (512) 371-6863), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11100066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON A DRY ROAD, THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WENT ON TO INDICATE THE CAR WAS SLIDING... THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, I HAD NO BRAKES, I HAD TO GLIDE TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN ONE DAY. I WAS ABLE TO GLIDE TO A STOP, SHUT THE VAN OFF, RESTART IT ONLY FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO STATED IT WAS A COMPUTER CHIP ISSUE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A DEALER TO GET IT FIXED FOR APPROX $1,800.00. I COULD'VE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND/OR KILLED MYSELF AND THOSE AROUND ME.
NHTSA complaint #11089932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT BRAND NEW WITH BAD BRAKES IN 2014 AND WAS NEVER INFORMED BY DEALER UNTIL STATE INSPECTION 2018. LIVES WERE ENDANGER, BECAUSE OF BAD BRAKES VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN FRONT TO REAR SIDE LIGHT PANEL DUE TO BAD BRAKES THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STATIONARY ON CERTAIN STREETS AND UNSAFE ON WET STREETS.
NHTSA complaint #11079745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL WITH A POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WITH A CRASH AND INJURY HAZARD. NO START ISSUES. TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY.
NHTSA complaint #11076857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE OWNED MY DODGE CARAVAN SINCE APRIL 2016 AND HAVE NEEDED 3 EXTENSIVE BRAKE JOBS TOTALING OVER $3,000 WHICH INCLUDED NEW PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. I HAVE READ ON OTHER SIGHTS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SAME VEHICLE. I AM ABOUT TO TAKE MY VEHICLE IN FOR THE FORTH TIME AND AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DRIVE MY FOUR CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE AND NEED IT TO BE SAFE. THAT IS WHY I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. NO BRAKES ARE NOT SAFE.
NHTSA complaint #11065246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS TAKING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND THE STEERING AND BREAKING SYSTEM COMPLETELY LOCKED UP ON ME ALMOST CAUSING US TO CRASH INTO A TREE. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IN THE EMERGENCY BREAK AND GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE. I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING NOR THE REGULAR BREAK. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #11053880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2017 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT A LIGHT. MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE FOR A SECOND AND THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD QUICKLY, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR END OF AN ACURA SITTING ABOUT 10 FEET IN FRONT OF ME.
NHTSA complaint #11048555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING RUBBER ODOR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE CARMAX DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION, TIPM, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
NHTSA complaint #11006096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIE RODS WENT IN THE FRONT. BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC I LOST THE BRAKES. PULLED OVER AND CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN. MECHANIC SAID THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACEMENT BUT BECAUSE ABS BRAKES, A NEW CYLINDER CANNOT BE FOUND. DODGE STOPPED MAKING THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE FAULTY.
NHTSA complaint #10993867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MYSELF AND TWO OTHERS JUST RECENTLY GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAGS DIDNT GO OFF . THANK GOD THAT WE HAD OUR SEATBELTS ON. A CAR CUT A BUS OFF ON HWY44 WWST IN INVERNESS FL, WE ALL HAD TO HIT OUR BRAKES AND ENDING UP HITTING ANOTHER CAR AT 30-40 MPH. WHEN MADE INPACK WITH THE OTHER CAR THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF LEADING TO INJURIES AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
NHTSA complaint #10984981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER, SAME PROBLEM, REPLACED POWER BOOSTER, SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH MAJOR COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO DATE BY HNTSA TO MAKE CHRYSLER DODGE FIX THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH ALL DODGE GRAND CARAVANS.
NHTSA complaint #10983185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.