brakes problem
6.6
fairly significantTypical Repair Cost:
$271.00
Average Mileage:
34,131 miles
Number of complaints:
14 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace rotors and pads (10 reports)
- have local mechanic do the work rather than dealer (2 reports)
- not sure (2 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan factory pads wore out prematurely
2006Jun 01
Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 20,000 miles
We replaced the front brakes at a dealership at 20,000 miles. We justified this early repair with our trip out West, which we thought was hard on the van.
Currently at 32,850 miles, local brake shop just replaced back/rear brakes & rotors (5% brake pad left and into rotors) for $280.00 and told me to come back in 6 months to have my front brakes checked/replaced.
WHAT????
20,000 on a set of Chrysler brakes, brake dust on the wheels all the time.
No more Chrysler brakes for me! Chrysler/Dodge brakes are a joke!!!
2006May 01
Grand Caravan SE LTD 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 22,000 miles
A caliper was also frozen and replaced under warranty. Brake pads / rotors definitely have a short lifespan on this vehicle.
2008Jan 22
Grand Caravan SXT 3.3L
- Automatic transmission
- 37,000 miles
We have a 2005 Grand Caravan SXT - we bought this car as a replacement to a 2000 Toyota Sienna (which we NEVER had problems with). It won out over the other models because of all the great features (stow and go is awesome)...
The car has 37,000 miles and is in the shop for computer problems and low and behold its; third, yes third, set of front brakes. It is evident from all the internet research and the mechanic comments that this is a problem for the caravan- I am frustrated that the engineering causes this and that Dodge is not doing anything about it!!!! I will NEVER buy another dodge!!!!
2007Nov 19
Grand Caravan SXT
- Automatic transmission
- 25,000 miles
Bought new in 2005, 25k miles later...passenger side front caliber has rubbed into the rotor. Estimated cost is now $350 to replace brake shoes, calipers, and rotor. Not sure what if anything this warranty will cover...It is amazing how many others out there are having the same problem, it seems like a big issue, why no recall???
2007Nov 07
(reported on)Grand Caravan 3.3L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
I have replaced the rotor three times and the brake every six months. Brakes wear out unevenly always on the driver side way before the other side needs replacing! The bearings where replace at 36,000 mile at no cost to me. A recall has be made on a sensor for the air bags. Replace sensor for gas cost $350.00 (part was $250).No other [problems so far.
2007Nov 01
(reported on)Grand Caravan Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 48,000 miles
When the noise started, it was horrible immediately. I was afraid to drive the van because the brakes sounded so bad (not to mention completely embarrassed that my 2.5 year old van sounded so bad).
2007Aug 07
(reported on)Grand Caravan Sport 3.3L
- Automatic transmission
- 83,541 miles
The first set of Brake pads were replaced at 37,800 km. we have replaced them 5 times in the 134000km life of the van. No notice as to wear, they are fine for a bit, then all of a sudden, grind, growl, grate. We are fortunate in that our Brake shop stands behind their warranties on lifetime brakes and rotors. Have had to replace the rotors 3 of the 5 times. Also have a lot of black"soot" on the rims as well. Never had this before. This is our 7th Caravan. Never have we had such a problem with brakes and rotors. I see on the forum that there are others that have the same challenge. We have gone to the ceramic rotors and high grade brake pads. We like to camp and pull a 14 foot fiberglass travel trailer with this van. We have not been out once this year. Not wanting to chance going out with the trailer and not having brakes to stop with. I see that many others have the same challenge, what is Dodge doing about it??
2007Aug 04
(reported on)Grand Caravan SE Plus 3.3L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 36,000 miles
Disappointed in the premature wear. Great service from the dealer but no one mentioned the possibility of being covered under the warranty.
2007Jul 10
(reported on)Grand Caravan XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 30,000 miles
Terrible black dust on rims since we bought the van. Had brakes replaced at 31,000 miles at the dealership and it is still occurirng on all tires.
2007Jul 22
(reported on)Grand Caravan SE 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 16,156 miles
I had taken the van in for an oil change and service, and the service advisor told me that when they checked the brakes I only had 2% left! I told him he was crazy, that I only had 26,000 km on the van, but his response was amazing. He told me that the Grand Caravan gets on average 20,000 to 40,000 km on it with the factory installed brakes and for average city drivers like me it is very common for replacement to happen at the mileage I had! He then told me that when they replace the pads they use better parts than than Dodge puts on and I should get more mileage the second time around. I've never had to replace brakes before 60,000 km in the past. I had the work done, and hope to get better distance this time. Pretty sad if that's true, and if it's not true I just got ripped off by another Dodge dealer - either way, it's a lose lose for Dodge - definitely should have got a Honda, but those middle row stow and go seats are sure handy....
2007Apr 15
(reported on)Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 27,501 miles
The front brakes were totally shot. I had to replace the rotors and the brake pads. When I turned in my van for repairs, they also found that the generator box was defective and the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. All covered under the warranty except the brakes. I'm starting to hate this van except for the stow n go function.
2007Mar 08
(reported on)Grand Caravan SXT 3.2 V6
- Automatic transmission
- 13,635 miles
This van has been nothing but trouble since I purchased it new on 9/10/05. On 9/21/05 I took it in to Dependable Dodge in Reseda California, where I purchased it, because the driver side electric window would not open or close, Dependable Dodge said the regulator was bad and had to replace it. I was given a rental for two days. (I have the extended warranty that provides a rental car)
On 5/25/06 I took the van in to Dependable Dodge for a problem with the brakes at 10,662 miles. I also had a problem with the air conditioner which was making a squealing noise . I told them I heard a loud squealing noise when I applied the brakes. Dependable Dodge told me that the rotors were completely shot, they were metal to metal and that they replaced both the pads and the rotors under warranty because the car was less than a year old. Although they said they did it as a favor to me but the reason they were worn out was because of my driving habits. I called them several days later and informed them that the car was still making a squealing noise although it wasn't as bad as before and was told by Dodge that all cars make some noise in the brakes and that it was because they were new and I had to break them in. I continued to drive the van and although it didn't get worse, it didn't get better either. I was given a rental car.
On 8/29/06, at 13,635 miles, I took the van in again and told them that the van was still making a squealing noise in the brakes, they said they would check them out. I was told they were fine, at 50% and that again, all cars make some brake noise, it was normal. In addition to this, I had to leave the car in the shop so that they could perform numerous other repairs. There was an under body heater hose and a windshield wiper motor recall that needed replaced. The car was also making a buzzing noise and was hard to start if it was over 100 degrees in the summer heat. The rear AC had also stopped working and would only blow out hot air. They found a faulty H-Vac module and had to replace that. The driver side electric door would also not open and close unless it was done manually. Again I was given a rental car.
Today, 3/08/07 at 20,415 miles (only 9,753 miles after a complete rotor/pad replacement) I called Dependable Dodge once again for the same squealing noise that is coming from the brakes which by now, is very loud and was told “sorry, but your car is out of manufacturers warranty , if you want the brakes fixed you will have to pay for them. We already fixed them once for you for free“. I explained that the original problem has never been FIXED, I was told they had no record of any complaints, which is a lie, they just did not DOCUMENT them. I was told that it would cost $29 to have it checked out and that I would have to pay to have it fixed. Although after further discussion I was told that they would check them for free but if there were any problems I would have to pay to have them fixed. I was told the reason the brakes were bad again was because most of my driving was done in town.
Honestly, this van has been nothing but a headache from the very beginning. I have been inconvenienced and I feel that the safety of my family is being jeopardized by driving this piece of junk. I will never recommend this car to anyone, this was a very bad purchase and not worth the price or headaches that go along with it.
2006Dec 30
(reported on)Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 20,000 miles
Dodge could do alot better than they are doing on engineering. I am starting to not like them even more so.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Mar 16
Grand Caravan 3.3L V6
Bought a used van from Carmax and found that in less than a year I had to change the brake pads (the emergency brake light kept coming on and going off) took it to the dealership and they said the brakes needed to be changed (never had to change the brakes on any other car in less than 50,000 miles. But, I thought the previous owner had to be hard on them. Now one year later, I have to change the brakes out yet again. Luckily, I bought my Duralast Gold brakes from Autozone - they have a lifetime warranty, so Autozone is going to exchange them for free. This time, Ill either have the rotors turned/resurfaced or spend the $36ea to replace them. I'm really upset I have to change the brakes so often, I'm happy that Autozone is my savior, too bad for Dodge, maybe if they cared about their customers, they would do this for free...
morganjp94
Noble, OK, USA
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