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.
The front brake caliper has locked up repeatedly and causes severe heat build in the front wheel which could cause a fire and this has also happened to my buddy's wife's van too also the back brakes lock up after sitting the dealership told me this is common in Dodge. This has happened several times.
While driving in the parking lot of a store I experienced a total brake pedal failure. When I applied the brakes the van simply kept on going. I checked for the pedal and could not see it any longer. It had practically disappeared - only the top of the pedal was visible at the floor. After trying to stop the van with the gears, I hit the emergency brake and came to a stop. This was a life threatening situation. The car is now at the shop. The mechanics stated that a small part necessary for the brakes to function was missing. Apparently the part only costs $12. It has been ordered and will be replaced soon.
2003 Dodge Caravan thought it was great had little problems that I never thought much of until now, now that my vehicle has been in a shop and unusable for about 8 weeks. The horrible noise it made when starting it, the gear shift moving on occasion and the brake pedal going all the way to the floor until a slight burning smell but all these problems were occasional but now I have no vehicle it is sitting in the dealership for repair and I have no vehicle except for borrowing and renting to get children to school, and my children with eczema and allergies to doctors and if they need to go to the hospital. I am devastated and desperate how do I afford a new vehicle because I am getting tapped out. I also have no estimated date or price for repair.
Monday, March 12, 2007 I am planning to up grade my Caravan SE to a newer car and before I change to a new problem I what to solve my old problem!!! the Caravan to me is an excellent car on the highway very comfortable and stable. In 2003 I perches a new Caravan fist I researched to check on possible defects. With 18 thousand I was told I needed new brake pads at 20.000 the metal started to rub on the rotor. Interestingly only the inner passenger side shoes had excessive where. To me this was unusual on all my new cars I never needed brakes before 30 thousand. When I tried to put a new shoes, the only shoes that would fit was specified for. Disc brakes on the back model, which mine, have drums. And the brakes specified for drums on the back did not fit! I have tried to find out why my car has disc on front made for model that had disc on the back if mine has drums on the back"?? the car always skidded when brakes wear applied heavily to correct the problem I put the best michelins on the car. It dos not skid because of the michelins except the brakes do not stop the car!! now I have noticed the car dos not stop when you pot the pedal to the floor I put new brakes and rotor at sears and the problem seems to be a design problem! can you tell me how to correct the problem" before I get into a major accident!!! to me it seems only one wheel is stopping the car!!! and for a fairly new car this is a designer problem!!! this model car has bin made for all most 20 year and there is no risen for designer flows. If you cannot answer this simple problem I will not be acquiring any more Chrysler ore Mercedes products in my lifetime!!! thanking in advance.
: the contact stated that the brakes had a rust problem and grinded every time they were applied. The problem was due to the backer plate allowing water into the brake system. The brakes were serviced twice by an independent dealer and once by a service dealer. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was a lease and the brakes were out of warranty.
- Fairview Park, OH, USA
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Emergency brake will not engage. Looks like something is locked up inside the rear drum resulting in brakes to engage with high force with just light brake pedal pressure.
Purchased 2003 Dodge Caravan August 10, 2003. June 9, 2004 - 11,438 miles - brakes replaced, rotors resurfaced. October 23, 2004 - 16,533 miles - rotors resurfaced. March 5, 2005 - 21,887 miles - faulty brake pads replaced, rotors removed and replaced. September 24, 2005 - 29,609 miles - rotors resurfaced January 4, 2006, 33,071 miles - recommended brakes replacement and rotor resurfacing, dealership refusing to honor warranty for brakes with less than 12 month or 12K miles.
The consumer had several problems with his 2003 Dodge Caravan; such problems were a knock in the transmission and 2 brake jobs. The two brakes jobs occurred within one year. The steering wheel knocked (recall campaign #04V386000), the vehicle had broken down at 8K miles, the wheel alignment was off, the gear panel illuminated, and the window had become loose. 80% of the vehicles problems was under 10K miles. The rotation noise continued and the rubber lining around the sliding door was coming off. Other problems: When the vehicle would be taken out of park to drive, all of the lights would illuminate, the front rims/hub caps were dirty due to excessive leakage around the brakes, even during normal washing, there was a mild ringing noise in the vehicle, the front door rattled, the rear tail lamp was damaged, the brake light and back-up lights had gone out, the brakes were going bad again, the engine would sputter due to no fuel pressure, the vehicle would pull to the left, when the driver door was shut it made a loud rattle sound, there would be a delay in the transmission when going uphill, when sitting at idle, the engine would sound as if it were revving but the gauge did not display this.
While moving the car in the driveway I heard some loud banging noises. I stopped and looked in the driveway and found brake parts laying in the driveway from this car. Was towed to dealer.
My "brand-new" 03 Dodge Caravan has rusty and old parts inside. It has less than 3500 miles, and there are problems with the transmission already, the brakes make a slight noise, and the battery started corroding, too. When I called daimler-Chrysler, they would not give me specific information about my vehicle. I am questioning whether my vehicle is really new... I paid way too much for it to be acting this way - again under 3500 miles!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Britt, MN, USA