1994 Dodge Caravan Brakes Problems

WENT TO WORK ON APRIL 1, 2009 HAD BRAKES, WHEN I WENT TO GO HOME THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND ANTI BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, CHANGED FRONT BRAKES , DID NOT NEED IT , BUT DID IT ANYWAY, WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE BACK BUT THEY DID NOT NEED IT, BLED THE BRAKES, ALL WORKED FINE , THEN WENT OKLAHOMA APRIL 11TH , STAYED IN MOTEL AND BRAKES WHERE FINE, GOT UP NEXT MORNING AND WENT TO DO SOME THINGS AND AGAIN THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON ,STILL HAS PLENTY OF FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265693

Incident

Apr 1, 2009

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS COMES ON AND STAYS ON ,THEN THE BRAKES GETS HARD.VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. DRIVER HAD TO LET VEHICLE DECELERATE TO A LOW SPEED AND PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. MR

NHTSA ID

8021412

Incident

Oct 20, 2002

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR .THEN, VEHICLE STOPPED. ONCE GOING UP A HILL BRAKES WENT COMPLETELY OUT, CONSUMER COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

NHTSA ID

8011165

Incident

Jun 5, 2002

BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND BRAKE PEDAL WILL DROP TO FLOOR, BUT VEHICLE WILL STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A MASTER CYLINDER. THREE MONTHS LATER, MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8006310

Incident

Dec 4, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES PEDAL TO STOP OR TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE, BUT BRAKES WILL NOT OPERATE, AND CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002076

Incident

Jan 10, 2002

AFTER REPLACING BRAKES DROVE OUT OF DRIVEWAY, AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT COULD CAUSE BRAKES NOT TO OPERATE. *AK

NHTSA ID

890502

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

I LOST CONTROL OF THE VAN TRYING TO STOP INSTEAD OF HITTING THE TRUCK I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE GAS PEDAL SPED UP DODGE SAID ITS NOT THERE FAULT PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AND SEE IF THE VAN WAS TO BLAME ALSO THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK BECAUSE I HIT THE WINDOW BEFORE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED PLEASE HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID

745329

Incident

Dec 15, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN TRAFFIC, I RAN OVER A METAL OBJECT WITH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND SUBSEQUENTLY HEARD A THUD UNDER THE VEHICLE, BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OK. I DROVE ANOTHER 20 MILES @ 60 TO 70 MPH WITH NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS, UNTIL I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO GET OF AT MY HOME EXIT. AT THAT TIME THE CHECK BRAKES FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH ESSENTIALLY NO STOPPING ACTION. I FINALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE OBJECT THAT I HAD RUN OVER (A RELATIVELY SMALL METAL OBJECT)HAD HIT THE EXPOSED BRAKE LINES WHERE THEY CONNECT TO A PROPORTIONING VALVE ASSEMBLY ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN THE LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR WHEELS. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SMALL METAL AND RUBBER GARD TO PROTECT THE BRAKE LINES, THEY WERE INSUFFICIENT AND THE METAL OBJECT BENT THE GARD AND BROKE BOTH BRAKE LINES THAT CAME FROM THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER TO FEED THE REAR BRAKES. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS A DUAL MASTER CYLINDER, SINCE ONE CYLINDER FEEDS THE BACK RIGHT BRAKE AND THE OTHER FEEDS THE BACK LEFT BRAKE (WHILE ALSO FEEDING THE OPPOSITE FRONT BRAKE), THE FAILURE OF THE GARD TO PROTECT THE LINES RESULTED IN TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT IN A CRITICAL STOPPING SITUATION, OR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. MY FEELING IS THAT THE PLACEMENT OF THESE EXPOSED BRAKE LINES DRIECTLY IN LINE BEHIND THE FRONT WHEEL WITH RELATIVELY LITTLE PROTECTION, RESULTING IN COMMON MODE FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION, AND BETTER PROTECTION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. WITH AS MANY OF THESE SINILAR VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW MANY SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED. I ALMOST LET THIS GO BY WITHOUT REPORTING IT, SO I AM SURE THAT IT MUST TO HAVE HAPPENED MANY MORE TIME THAN THE NUMBER OF REPORTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED. THANKS, NORRIS CRAWFORD. *AK

NHTSA ID

743622

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON ITS OWN AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 85MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT PEDAL WAS LOCKED. SHE USED BOTH FEET ON BRAKE WITH NO RESULTS. THEN, PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO SLOW IT DOWN, AND VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, $ AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

883007

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

CONSUMER WAS MAKING A PANIC STOP WHEN ONE SIDE OF BRAKES LOCKED UP REAL HARD, THROWING VEHICLE TO ONE SIDE, LOSING CONTROL , AND HITTING A WALL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

881828

Incident

Feb 28, 2001

THIS CAR DESTROYS BRAKES AT THE RATE OF TWO FRONT SETS PER YEAR- OTHER VEHICLES OWNED BY US LAST 2-3 YEARS ON ONE SET OF BRAKES - BRAKES ON CARAVAN BEGIN TO GRIND - METALLIC SOUNDS AFTER 6,000 - 8,000 MILES HAVE COMPLAINED TO REPAIR SHOP AND REC. REPLACEMENT BRAKES FOUR TIMES - HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THE DESIGN OF THE DISC, ROTOR OR CALIPER ON THIS CAR IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT OR DESIGN OF VEHICLE - CAN YOU TELL ME IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE? THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. *AK

NHTSA ID

739430

Incident

Jan 2, 2001

CONSUMER STATES WHILE HAVING BRAKE WORK DONE, A FIRESTONE CENTER DAMAGED THE CV AXLE, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR OF THE CV AXLE THAT FIRESTONE SHOULD HAVE REPAIRED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

558510

Incident

Nov 6, 2000

PAINT ON VEHICHLE IS SLOWLY PEELING AWAY. FIRST IT WAS ONLY THE REAR DOOR AREA AND A SMALL PORTION ON HOOD NOW IT IS SPRED OVER ENTIRE VEHICLE. EACH TIME WE WASH OR IT RAINS THE PAINT IS PEELED AWAY SLOWLY. I KNOW THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND IT HAS NOT BEEN PAINTED EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT FROM OWNER. THIS IS DODGE PAINT. ALSO I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MINI VAN SAME COLOR AND SAME YEAR THAT PAINT IS NOT PEELING OFF OF. NEVER NOTICED TIL IT STARTED GETTING WORSE AND WORSE IN APPEARANCE. HAS THE PAINT JOB BEEN RECALLED??? BABY BLUE IN COLOR 1994 DODGE CARAVAN. ALSO THE WHEEL AREA HAS A OFF/ ON TYPE OF SQUEEK DOESNT SOUND ALWAYS. IT IS MORE LIKE OCCASSIONALLY- THE DEALER HAS TOLD US THAT MODEL JUST HAS THIS "SQUEEK" AND IT IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. HAS THAT ALSO BEEN RECALLED? AND THE BRAKE LIGHT LIT UP AFTER I HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS ON HIGHWAY TO AVOID A SEMI TRUCK. HAS SINCE BEEN FIXED BUT WAS IT ALSO RECALLED??? THE TRANSMISSION SLOWLY SHIFTS INTO DRIVE WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT WARMED IN WINTER MONTHS. IS THIS A PROBLEM AS WELL??? THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

732504

FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE WEARING UNEVENLY, CAUSING BRAKE CALIPER BRACKETS TO PREMATURELY WEAR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

871002

THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CRUSHING THE CONSUMER BETWEEN THEM, DESTROYING PELVIS AND KNEES. NLM

NHTSA ID

784635

Incident

May 1, 1998

THE REAR WINDOW WIPER FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-113. NLM

NHTSA ID

552153

Incident

Apr 28, 1999

WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TURNED THE CORNER, BRAKED JUST A LITTLE, AND IT DIDN'T TURN IN THE DIRECTION DRIVER WANTED TO GO. GOING UP HILL WITH A/C ON, GOT BEHIND A BIG TRUCK, WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO SLOW DOWN, AND VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

853059

Incident

Apr 15, 1999

ANTI SKID SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T GO OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

848429

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

TWO ABS PROBLEMS: 1) THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES INTERMITTENTLY AND PREMATURELY WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS COMING TO A STOP OR MERELY SLOWING IN TRAFFIC AND AT ALL SPEEDS - EVEN BELOW 15MPH. WHEN THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES, THERE IS SUDDEN PEDAL FADE ACCOMPANIED MOST OFTEN BY A GRINDING NOISE AND A NOTICEABLE SUDDEN SURGE FORWARD AS BRAKING IS REESTABLISHED. THE AFOREMENTIONED DEALERSHIP HAS THROWN NEARLY $800 WORTH OF PARTS AT THE PROBLEM OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS INCLUDING REPLACING A 'DEFECTIVE' RR WHEEL SENSOR AND THE ABS MOTOR SYSTEM AND RECOMMENDED MORE THAN $600 ADDITIONAL EXPENSES SUCH AS REPLACING THE TWO REAR DRUMS, HAVING NEW BRAKES INSTALLED AND BUYING NEW TIRES. (I HAD THE REAR BRAKES AND DRUMS CHECKED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO ASSURES ME THAT ALL ARE WELL WITHING SPECIFICATIONS. I DID BUY 4 NEW TIRES.)THE PROBLEM IS WORSE AFTER THE REPAIRS THAN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY. THE DEALER SAYS THAT CHRYSLER SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE ABS TO 'KICK-IN' ON ROUGH PAVEMENT. THE FACT THAT IT ALSO ENGAGES ON SMOOTH SURFACES AT SPEEDS UNDER 15 MPH DOESN'T SEEM TO REGISTER. 2) THE ABS LITE COMES ON AND THE SYSTEM DISENGAGES INTERMITTENTLY UNDER ALL ROAD CONDITIONS. TWO NIGHTS AGO, ON RELATIVELY SMOOTH PAVEMENT, IT DISENGAGED SEVEN TIMES IN A FIVE MILE STRETCH AT SPEEDS OF 35MPH OR LESS.

NHTSA ID

711091

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP -- REARENDED CAR INFRONT. BRAKES HAVE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO OPERATE - PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY TO FLOOR WITHOUT ANY STOPPING ACTION. UNKNOWN WHETHER THIS IS HYDRAULIC OR ABS PORTION OF THE SYSTEM. DEALER PROBLEM STARTED WHEN DEALER REPLACED PADS AND RESURFACED ROTORS AND CLEANED REAR BRAKES AT 87025 MILES. SINCE THEN THE BRAKES HAVE INTERMITTENTLY COMPLETELY FAILED 3 TIMES. HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD VAN BACK TO THE DEALER AND EACH TIME DEALER JUST SAYS "PEDAL GOOD" LATEST FAILURE ON 30 AUG 99, RESULTED IN REAR-ENDING ANOTHER CAR.

NHTSA ID

711035

Incident

Aug 30, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

844101

Incident

Jul 24, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. ALSO, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

844046

Incident

Jul 21, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER WAS COMING TO THE RED LIGHT, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND THEN THEY RELEASED. THE PUMP MOTOR FAILED THREE TIMES, AND THE ABS BRAKES BURNED OUT THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

830001

Incident

Nov 3, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER REPLACED SENSOR. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

829923

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

GOING ABOUT 45MPH & BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE. SUDDENLY A THIRD VEHICLE CUT OFF 2ND VEHICLE. SLAMMED ON BRAKES, CAUSING THE CARAVAN TO REAREND 2ND VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK

NHTSA ID

821460

Incident

Jan 5, 1998