10 of the 56 complaints about the 1999 Dodge RAM VAN are about the braking system — 18% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,000 miles.
10
Complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR METAL ON THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. THIS WAS NOTICED WHILE BEING INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED, BUT THE CONTACT REPLACED THE METAL BRAKE LINES. UPDATRED 05/02/06.
NHTSA complaint #10154601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
LEFT MY HOME FOR WORK AND GOT TO THE SECOND STOP FROM MY HOME AND DID NOT HAVE SUFFICEINT BRAKES TO STOP THE VAN. BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. FTER INSPECTING FLUID RESEVOIR, I DETERMINED THE FLUID LEVEL ALMOST EMPTY AND STARTED TO LOOK FOR LEAKAGE AT WHEEL CYLINDERS, ETC. FOUND FLUID BELOW THE ABS VALVING. IT APPEARS THAT THE BATTERY BEING RIGHT ABOVE THE VALVING HAS ALLOWED BATTERY ACID TO DETERIORATE THE BRAKE LINES. AT LEAST 5 LINES APPEAR TO HAVE CORROSIVE DAMAGE. LOOKS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10088216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. SCAN TOOL DATA SHOWED CODES FOR"ABS PUMP STALLED" WERE STORED AND ACTIVE. REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS MODULE AND THE ABS EHCU WERE REQUIRED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. VERIZON HAS HAD MANY UNDERHOOD FIRES IN THIS MODEL VAN WHICH ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA. VERIZON FEELS THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHICH WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND REPAIR BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.
NHTSA complaint #10086730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE HOSE HAS CONTINUOUSLY BEEN RUBBING ON UPPER CONTROL, VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING BRAKE FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #8005557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DRIVER WAS MAKING A PANIC STOP WHEN BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED, CAUSING REAR END CRASH. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP, BUT REAR DID NOT. IT TOOK DEALER 2 WEEKS TO FIX DEFECT. ALSO, THEY HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL CYLINDERS/ SPRINGS/ PADS AND TURN DRUMS.
NHTSA complaint #877782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM
DRIVER WAS MAKING A PANIC STOP WHEN BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED, CAUSING REAR END CRASH. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP, BUT REAR DID NOT. IT TOOK DEALER 2 WEEKS TO FIX DEFECT. ALSO, THEY HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL CYLINDERS/ SPRINGS/ PADS AND TURN DRUMS.
NHTSA complaint #877782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
DRIVER WAS MAKING A PANIC STOP WHEN BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED, CAUSING REAR END CRASH. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP, BUT REAR DID NOT. IT TOOK DEALER 2 WEEKS TO FIX DEFECT. ALSO, THEY HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL CYLINDERS/ SPRINGS/ PADS AND TURN DRUMS.
NHTSA complaint #877782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DRIVER WAS MAKING A PANIC STOP WHEN BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED, CAUSING REAR END CRASH. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP, BUT REAR DID NOT. IT TOOK DEALER 2 WEEKS TO FIX DEFECT. ALSO, THEY HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL CYLINDERS/ SPRINGS/ PADS AND TURN DRUMS.
NHTSA complaint #877782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
DRIVER WAS MAKING A PANIC STOP WHEN BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED, CAUSING REAR END CRASH. VEHICLE DID NOT STOP.FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP, BUT REAR DID NOT. IT TOOK DEALER 2 WEEKS TO FIX DEFECT. ALSO, THEY HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL CYLINDERS/ SPRINGS/ PADS AND TURN DRUMS.
NHTSA complaint #877782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
RECURRING BRAKE FAILURES ON FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER "REPAIRED" 2X PRIOR. ABNORMAL PAD WEAR -- INNER PAD, OKAY -- OUTER PAD GROUND DOWN TO BARE METAL. BRAKES PULL TO LEFT. DEALER UNCOOPERATIVE IN REPAIRING UNDER WARRANTY. WANTS US TO PAY FOR NEW PADS (EVEN THOUGH ONLY 5,000 MILES OR SO SINCE LAST REPAIR).
NHTSA complaint #730461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.