57 of the 558 complaints about the 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan are about the braking system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 40,000 miles.
57
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN DRIVING (USUALLY ACCELERATING) THE ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING CAUSING DIFFICULT BREAKING AND STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND GETTING WORSE!!!!! THE STEERING WHEEL MUST BE TILTED UP BEFORE IT WILL RESTART.
NHTSA complaint #10573727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED AND FAILED. THEY HAVE RUSTED AND FAILED IN THE AREA JUST BEHIND THE ABS MODULE WHERE THE BRAIDED LINES ARE CONNECTED TO THE RIGID LINES. THE REST OF THE BRAKE LINES ARE IN FINE SHAPE. THE ONLY AREAS WHERE THEY ARE BAD IS WHERE THE BRAIDED SECTIONS CONNECT TO THE RIGID SECTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10560555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT: 123860 MILES. WHILE DRIVING THIS LOANER VEHICLE OF A FRIEND. I ENCOUNTERED A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED HYDRAULIC BRAKE FAILURE WHILE STOPPING. LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. MECHANICAL BRAKING WAS AVAILABLE. ASSESSMENT OF SYSTEM SHOWED NO LEAKS ON OR AROUND BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER OR ABS DISTRIBUTION MODULE. APPROXIMATELY 50MM OF SEVERE CORROSION OF THE TWO, RIGID STEEL BRAKE TUBING SECTIONS, ORIGINATING FROM THE SECOND JUNCTIONS OF THE FLEXIBLE HOSES TO THE RESPECTIVE RIGID STEEL BRAKE TUBING, THAT RUN ALONG THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME. WHEN THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS USED TO STOP, THE SUDDEN INCREASE OF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE CAUSED A STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE DEGRADED TUBING. THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID AND LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A NEAR COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN OF THE BRAKE LINE TUBING AND JUNCTION AND SHOW THE SEVERITY OF THE CORROSION. THIS COMPLAINT IS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODEL AND VEHICLE AND MODEL YEAR AS POSTED ON THE NHTSA.GOV WEBSITE.
NHTSA complaint #10531646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING @ 35 MPH I TRIED TO APPLY MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED AND OFF THE ROADWAY. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER MY VAN I HAD LOST ALL BRAKE FLUID. I WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND INFORMED THE BRAKE LINES BURST. THIS VAN HAS BEEN IN THE FAMILY SINCE 2003. EVERY YEAR THE BRAKE LINES MUST BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE. THANKS TO MY EXPERTISE I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT TODAY. WAS I LUCKY???
NHTSA complaint #10467707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE GRAN CARAVAN SPORT. THE CONTACT WAS BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME ABNORMALLY DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT, AS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE POWER BOOSTER YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE EXACT SAME AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06E022000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) ON THE 2000 DODGE CARAVAN BUT NOT FOR THE GRAND CARAVAN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,242.
NHTSA complaint #10376637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTI LOCK BRAKES WOULDN'T TURN ON, AS A RESULT I GOT INTO A FENDER BENDER.
NHTSA complaint #10345936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKES WOULDN'T TURN ON, AS A RESULT I GOT INTO A FENDER BENDER.
NHTSA complaint #10345936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FAILURE OF MY BRAKE LINES. THIS IS THE TWO BRAKE LINES LEADING TO THE REAR BRAKES AS THEY LEAVE THE "DISTRIBUTION BLOCK". THE CORROSION WAS NEAR THE JUNCTION AT THE HARD TUBING AND FLEXIBLE TUBING. THE PLASTIC CLAMP ACCUMULATES DIRT AND SALT AND CORRODED THE LINES. REMAINDER OF THE TUBING LOOKS OK. POOR ENGINEERING, A DEFINITE DESIGN FLAW. WERE IS THE RECALL? FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS USING A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH.
NHTSA complaint #10312511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN - NEED BRAKES FOR THE THIRD TIME - JUST LOST JOB OF 27 YEARS, CANNOT AFFORD. IS THERE A LITIGATION GOING ON?
NHTSA complaint #10203169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
LOST BRAKES ON 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH 58K MILES. ALL THE BRAKE LINES WERE BADLY CORRODED AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE FLEX TUBING AND THE SOLID TUBING. IT LOOKS LIKE DISSIMILAR METAL TO ME. THE BRAKE LINES SHOULD NOT RUST OUT IN THAT SHORT OF A TIME AND LOW MILEAGE ALL LINES WERE REPLACED. NOT BY A DODGE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10173167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
PARK BRAKE ASSY SLIPS ON ACTIVATION AND WILL NOT HOLD 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES WHEN APPLIED LEAVING POOR PARK BRAKE HOLDING POWER.
NHTSA complaint #10155492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, BRAKES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.*MR THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSED THEM THE REPLACE THE BATTERY THREE TIMES AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE IN FOUR YEARS. THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AND LEFT THE DRIVER STRANDED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE BRAKES FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENTS. MULTIPLE BRAKE COMPONENTS HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10089541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAD THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE REPAIRED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME MY CAR HAD APPROX 40,000 MILES AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE WAY I DRIVE THE CAR. NOT MORE THAN 6 MONTHS LATER THE BRAKES STARTING VIBRATING AGAIN AND I TOOK IT BACK TO BURLINGTON DODGE - WERE THEY TOLD ME, ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS DUE TO THE WAY I DROVE THE CAR AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD EXCEPT REPLACE THEM AGAIN. MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM WAS THE AIR CONDITIONING TOTALLY MALFUNCTIONED. I SAW SMOKE COME OUT OF THE DASH AND WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR THEY TOLD ME THE ENTIRE SYSTEM HAD COMPLETELY FAILED AND I HAD TO PUT IN A NEW A/C.
NHTSA complaint #10064560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE PADS.
NHTSA complaint #10052068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE PADS.
NHTSA complaint #10052068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANIC INDICATED THE INSIDE BRAKE PADS WAS CONTINUOUSLY WEARING OUT THE ROTORS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10048579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, BUT ONLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. TOOK VAN TO DEALER WHERE BOUGHT NEW IN SEPT. 2000 - GUPTON MOTORS IN SPRINGFIELD, TN. SERVICE REP SAID THAT'S NORMAL AND IT MEANS BRAKES NEED REPLACING. REPLACED BRAKES. ALSO, TIRES DON'T LAST AS LONG AS THEY SHOULD, EVEN UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. RIDING ON 3RD SET WITH LESS THAN 65,000 MILES. DEALER HELP? YEAH, RIGHT. WHAT A JOKE! LOCAL INDEPENDENT GARAGE DIAGNOSED CURRENT PROBLEM AS BEING MASTER CYLINDER LEAK. NEEDS REPLACING. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY SAY THEY KNOW OF NO PROBLEMS RELATING TO THIS. PARTICULAR DEALER DOESN'T CARE EITHER. TYPICAL, BUT THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT FUTURE SALES TO ME OR ANYBODY I TALK TO.
NHTSA complaint #10043415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHILE BRAKING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THERE WAS A CRACK INSIDE THE FRONT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10044536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE GETS DISCONNECTED CAUSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO ENGAGE ON MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SPORT.
NHTSA complaint #10030391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE FRONT WHEEL ROTORS WERE "PITTED AND RUSTED." THE CONSUMER CONSULTED THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS UNTIL ONE FINALLY TOLD HIM THE PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF "CHEAP MATERIALS." *PH
NHTSA complaint #10029548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE FRONT WHEEL ROTORS WERE "PITTED AND RUSTED." THE CONSUMER CONSULTED THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS UNTIL ONE FINALLY TOLD HIM THE PROBLEM WAS A RESULT OF "CHEAP MATERIALS." *PH
NHTSA complaint #10029548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VEHICLE WHEEL ROTORS RUSTED.*MR THE FRONT WHEEL ROTORS WERE "PITTED AND RUSTED" PREMATURELY, AND CONSUMER RECEIVED CONTRADICTING ANSWERS AS TO WHY AND HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH 27121 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10029609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10026672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE FRONT ROTORS RUSTED AND THE PADS WORE OUT BEFORE 50000 MILES. *NLM THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO NORMAL USE. PH
NHTSA complaint #10020032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
THE FRONT ROTORS RUSTED AND THE PADS WORE OUT BEFORE 50000 MILES. *NLM THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO NORMAL USE. PH
NHTSA complaint #10020032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PULSATED VIOLENTLY. THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS CONDITION, HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TOO MANY MILES ON VEHICLE TO PERFORM REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #565566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKES ON OUR 2000 GRAND CARAVAN GO OUT ON US ABOUT ONCE EVERY 3-6 MONTHS SINCE WE PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN JULY 2000. MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, BRAKES HAVE BEEN BLED, ABS PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND WE ARE NOW LEAKING FLUID AND READY TO HAVE IT SERVICED AGAIN. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE THAT I DON'T ALWAYS FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN. WE ONLY HAVE 17,800 MILES ON THE VAN, I WONDER IF WE DROVE IT MORE OFTEN IF WE WOULD BE IN THE SHOP EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY.THREE TIMES I HAVE GONE TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HAVE ALMOST ENDED UP IN THE NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREETS YARD. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VAN WAS PURCHASED HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO ACCOMODATE US AND WON'T EVEN GIVE US A GOOD DEAL ON A TRADE-IN SO THAT WE CAN GET RID OF IT.
NHTSA complaint #10003398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
BRAKES ON OUR 2000 GRAND CARAVAN GO OUT ON US ABOUT ONCE EVERY 3-6 MONTHS SINCE WE PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN JULY 2000. MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, BRAKES HAVE BEEN BLED, ABS PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED, AND WE ARE NOW LEAKING FLUID AND READY TO HAVE IT SERVICED AGAIN. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE THAT I DON'T ALWAYS FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN. WE ONLY HAVE 17,800 MILES ON THE VAN, I WONDER IF WE DROVE IT MORE OFTEN IF WE WOULD BE IN THE SHOP EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY.THREE TIMES I HAVE GONE TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HAVE ALMOST ENDED UP IN THE NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREETS YARD. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VAN WAS PURCHASED HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO ACCOMODATE US AND WON'T EVEN GIVE US A GOOD DEAL ON A TRADE-IN SO THAT WE CAN GET RID OF IT.
NHTSA complaint #10003398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
MY 7 YEAR-OLD SON WAS KILLED ON 12/21/02 BECAUSE MY 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WENT INTO GEAR WITH OUT STEPPING ON THE BREAK. THE VAN ROLLED DOWN A DRIVEWAY AND MY SON HAD HIS HEAD OUT THE WINDOW AND HE HIT A TREE AND WAS KILLED. GRANTED I AM PARTIALLY AT FAULT FOR LEAVING CHILDREN UNATTENDED FOR LESS THAN 2 MINUTES BUT THE VAN SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GO OUT OF GEAR WITH OUT STEPPING ON THE BREAK. THIS IS NOT A FAMILY SAFE VEHICLE. I KNOW FOR A FACT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS RAN INSIDE BECAUSE THEY FORGOT SOMETHING AND THE CHILDREN WERE LEFT IN THE VEHICLE. I JUST WANT DODGE TO BE MADE TO PUT THE SAFETY DEVICE ON THEIR VEHICLES SO NO OTHER CHILDREN ARE NOT HURT OR KILLED. THE 2003 DODGE NEON ARE ALSO THE SAME WAY. INSERT THE KEY ONLY AND THE CAR WILL SHIFT THRU ALL THE GEARS THANKS JILL
NHTSA complaint #10000634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON. DURING THE TIME OF THE LIGHT BEING ON WE EXPERIENCE A GRINDING/RUBBING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WILL RUB AND GRIND AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON. WE HAVE HAD THE R/F WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND WIRING REPLACED TWICE, WE'VE ALSO HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED ALSO. THERE ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS THAT FAIL TO GET FIXED OR THEY GET FIXED AND THEN REOCCUR LIKE. THE SPEAKERS IN THE FRONT BUZZ LOUDLY THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR WHEN IT IS DARK OUTSIDE SOMETIMES DIM AND FLICKER. JUST RECENTLY THE IGNITION SWITCH WENT DEFECTIVE FOR NO APPARENT REASON WE'VE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP OVER 6 TIMES AND IT IS GETTING OLD. I AM CONCERN ABOUT MY VEHICLES SAFETY NOW MORE THAN EVER BECAUSE IT TRANSPORTS MY WIFE, SON AND MY SOON TO BE BORN CHILD. I DON'T WANT TO BE CALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO FIND OUT MY FAMILY WAS IN A ACCIDENT OR MAYBE WORSE. I JUST WANT MY VEHICLE FIXED RIGHT ESPECIALLY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY CHARGED ME FOR THIS VEHICLE OR A VEHICLE THAT IS SAFER THAN MY CURRENT. I DON'T MIND PAYING A LOT FOR SAFETY BUT WHEN I PAY ALOT AND DON'T KNOW WHETHER I HAVE IT OR NOT IT ANGERS TO NO END. DT
NHTSA complaint #770089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.