This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I have a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan that has had repeated brake issues. The brakes wear out constantly, warping the rotors. Today, on the freeway, the brakes binded and it smelled like we were having an electrical fire until we realized it was our brakes smoking. The vehicle has 26K miles on it and the brakes have been replaced 3 times. We replaced the brake pads ourselves at about 12K miles after hearing a loud grinding sound and the van shuddering enough to shake your hand back and forth on the steering wheel when stopping at low speeds. It seemed to work for a week or two but the problems quickly returned. We then decided to have the rotors turned to see if this would fix the problem. It seemed to fix the problem again for a very short while. We then purchased and installed brand new rotors which again fixed the problem for a short while. Seeing as we had failed to fix the problem, we decided to take it to the dealership and have them fix our brakes. They of course said that the brakes were no longer under warranty but as a goodwill gesture they would repair the brakes for $50. They turned our front rotors again, stating that the shuddering was because the rotors were warped, again. As I drove away that day the van did the same shuddering. I immediately called the dealership and they stated that the back rotors were also warped and would need to be replaced. They did that and everything seemed fairly okay for a couple of weeks and then the grinding noise slowly came back and the shuddering has returned. It has only been 3 months since the whole brake system had been repaired! I hear a tsb has already been issued on the brake problems on this model with numerous consumer complaints. I will be taking the van to the dealer tomorrow to see what they say.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. During a routine inspection the technician noticed that the inside of the rear brakes were completely worn and that the outside brakes look brand new. A local mechanic stated that he has no idea what may have caused the brakes to wear on the inside and confirmed that the contact needed to replace the rear brakes. The contact is concerned of this usual safety issue and that a crash could occur. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 43,200.
Details: Uneven brake wear. Rear brake calipers, do not retract evenly. Caliper piston hangs up on one side. One side will be worn down all the way to metal and the pads on the opposite wheel will be barely touched. Dealer says nothing is wrong. Parts department says they are replacing many calipers due to this problem. Stability control masks the problem so it goes undetected until the sound of metal to metal contact is heard. Vehicle is inspected every 3 months and pads replaced when necessary. This is a manufacturing defect and should be covered under warranty. The dealer says after 12,000 miles they are not responsible.
2008 Dodge Grand Caravan brake problems that are costing a fortune to repair. Constantly having to replace brake pads, rotors and now calipers on a van with 67,000 miles on it. Everytime I take my van in for service, I am told that the brakes have to be repaired immediately because the vehicle isn't safe to drive. I have three small children and safety is my number one concern, but I can not afford to keep putting money into this vehicle that is less than 2 years old. The first brake repair work that had to be done was when the vehicle only had 21,233 miles on it. Since then, we are putting hundreds of dollars into brakes every couple of months.
Premature brake wear. Rear brake calipers, rotor, and pads, were replaced by the dealer at no cost at 19,000 miles due to rotors overheating. At 19,400 miles, front brakes began to shudder when applied. Dealer said the front rotor and pads need to be replaced at a cost of $390. The dealer says after 12,000 miles they are not responsible.
- Barrington, RI, USA
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I own a 2008 Grand Caravan SXT. I replaced the front brakes and left rotor on my van at 21,000 miles. Well, it is 44,000 miles and I need front brakes and a left rotor replaced again. I am learning that others are having the same problem. I was told by the dealer service manager that it was my driving wearing out the brakes.
I own a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan with 30K miles. I have already had to replace the front brake pads twice and the front brake rotors need replacing. I have found hundreds of complaints in the internet from customers with 2008 Chrysler minivans that report their brake pads and rotors wearing out at very low mileages and without warning. This is a serious safety hazard that may have already resulted in accidents.
Front and rear disc brakes after 22,000+ miles wear the semi-metallic pads to "dust, " breaking-up and going metal-to-metal damaging the disc rotors. Initial quote from walt's, a local chain of repair outlets is $978.
2008 Dodge Caravan...at last three oil changes have asked service staff to investigate ultra squeaky brakes (18K, 22K, 26K miles). Unable to determine source of extreme squeaking. Pads are 1/2 way gone on front and slightly more than that on rear. No way should this low mileage have brakes that are so worn and so squeaky.
Multiple problems with 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SE, van was special ordered at advantage Chrysler Jeep and Dodge, des plaines il from factory with mygig ves, we took delivery on Feb 2008, our sales guy quit before we even got the van. Sad. _____________ first problem was within first 6 mos. Loud whistle noise coming from windshield on warm and hot days at 60+ mph, dealer resealed but problem still same. __________________ brakes had to be redone after 14,000. This is a common problem, judging by all of the complaints, I was even more pissed off after getting a $500 bill and a dopey explanation from the shop manager at advantage Chrysler Jeep and Dodge. We took it in for a break inspection, they did all the work without checking with me first. _________________ the next thing to stop working was the passenger side sliding door auto lock. It no longer responds to electric or remote switch. We have to lock and unlock manually. They suspected a harness but did not have one in stock, 2 months for delivery of part, I had no time to go back. _________________ just recently Oct 2009 during a rain storm, the wipers stopped to function in any position, the wipers were turned on while the car was running, had to pull over shut off/on, then they worked fine. __________________ spouse also reported that radio stopped working, no audio or video temporarily, it also started to work after turning off then on of the key. _________________ we are '!@#$% at Chrysler / Dodge for putting out a car like that. We buy only american built cars to support our economy, and we get '!@#$% with countless repair bills. Get tour stuff together Chrysler / Dodge!!!!!!!
2008 Dodge Grand Caravan front brake pad and rotor replacement at 25K. First time I've owned a "new" vehicle needing front pad replacement so soon, despite light town driving.
I had a Dodge Grand Caravan that I purchased there less than a year before with brake noise. My wife complained on previous occasions but was told nothing was wrong. When they finally looked at it vehicle was out of warranty period and they said the repair would not be covered. It cost us $471.98 to replace front and back pads and resurface rotors. Was not informed that a tsb #05-006-08 had been issued. Part number recommended in tsb does not match part number on my invoice. Now they need replaced again a year later because they were making a squealing noise and overheating. When I took it in to a local mechanic, he said my left rear caliper is leaking and needs to be replaced. No calipers are available as they are on national backorder. I now have a van that is too dangerous to drive and no parts are available to repair it.
My brakes and rotors (front and rear) needed replacement on my 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT after only 16000 miles. This is less than half the usual expected lifetime of brakes. Dealer will not cover because it was over 12K miles. Dealer says 2008 and 2009 vans are heavier than earlier models, but they still use the same old brake system from earlier models. This doesn't sound safe or fair to me.
25,000 miles on our 18 month old Grand Caravan and the brakes and rotors are shot. No warning, no grinding, squeaking, nothing. I am reading hundreds of reports of people with the same problem. This sounds like a recall in the making. Chrysler is aware of the issue tsb# 05-006-08 but chooses to do nothing.
2008 Grand Caravan has been having brake noise for a while, dealer said they could find nothing. When rear brakes became metal to metal they replaced rear pads and rotors and told me fronts were fine. Upon leaving the fronts were still dragging, the next day I returned with a service bulletin saying they are to replace all pads and rotors so I feel Chrysler is trying to hide a major brake issue.
Brake pads and rotors warp and wear at an accelerated rate, Chrysler resurfaced the rotors and replaced the pads the first time at approx 8000 miles, then 7000 miles later the problem was back. Chrysler didn't want to provide assistance, but after being persistent they agreed to replace the pads and rotors with updated parts if we paid $50 of the bill. We were told this was a one-time good-will fix. 10,000 miles later we are starting to feel warped rotors again. Service adviser had the gall to suggest driver-error and improper braking.
Brake light flashed a few times. Within one week of light sporadically flashing the brakes started to grind, metal to metal. The van is only 14months old with 10,000 miles. Out of warranty because of time length (missed by only two months). Chrysler would not fix so had to repair at own expense. Brake pads replaced and rotors turned. Researched on-line and this is a very common complaint/problem on this make/model and year.
I purchased a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT used from a fleet service with approx 28K miles on it. I went to check the tires and brakes myself, and have discovered the brakes and rotors need replacing. The problem is, no metal is touching the rotors, yet they are wore on the outside edge down to the minimum thickness of 26.4 mm. The parts dealer won't turn them, so new ones have to be installed. This seems to be a premature wearing issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- La Quinta, CA, USA