Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Dodge Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 55 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 55, in the owner's own words
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 25 MPH THE DRIVERS SEAT ALL OF SUDDEN FELL BACK (THE TOP SEAT) AND WONT STAY UP IN POSITION. IT SEEMS THAT IT IS FAULTY DUE TO A MECHANISM NOT BEING ATTACH CORRECTLY. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE SEAT FIXED DUE TO HIGH COSTS. ALSO THE REAR CHASSIS BRAKE TUBE SEEM TO RUST EXTREMELY AND CREATE ITSELF A HOLE.
I WAS IN MY DRIVE WAY BACKING OUT TO GET ON THE THE ROAD. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I SAW A TRAIL OF FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND PARK THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE CAR I SAW A POOL OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE BREAK FLUID AND FLUID LEAKING FROM THE JUCTION TYPE BOX UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE JUST BEHIND THE FRONT TIRE. UPON FURTHER INVETIGATION VIA THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL. LUCKY FOR ME IT HAPPENED BEFORE I LEFT THE DRIVEWAY OTHERWISE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE COSTLY OR EVEN FATAL. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE SOUND WAS CAUSED BY THE BRAKES AND WAS DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID PIPE WAS CORRODED AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 170,000.
NEAR BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE FLUID LEAK AS A RESULT OF RUSTED BRAKE LINES RESEARCHED INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR BRAKE FAILURES DUE TO RUSTED BREAK LINES ON OLDER DODGE AND PLYMOUTH MINIVANS - NO SAFETY RECALL ISSUED BY NHTSA. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IT SEEMED AS IF THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE TENSION AND IDLE PULLEY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. FURTHERMORE, SHE NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE WHICH SHE PRESUMED WAS IN THE BRAKE AREA WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, HE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED HER THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 138,830. UPDATED 4/30/10 *CN TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 06/28/10*JB
I HAVE A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. I HAD BEEN FRIEND BORROW IT FOR THE WEEKEND . WHEN SHE RETURNED IT, SHE TOLD ME SHE LOST THE BRAKES. SHE BROUGHT IT TO A SHOP AND THEY FIXED THE BRAKE LINE. THEY TOLD HER THE WHOLE BRAKE LINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY BRAKES ARE VERY LOW. THEY ARE BELOW THE GAS PEDAL WHEN PUSHED TO STOP. I FEEL THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR. *TR
BRAKE LINES FAILED ON 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. CONSUMER THINKS THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL. *NJ WHEN THE CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY, HE LIGHTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT SOFT AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE BRAKING CAPABILITY. FLUID WAS FOUND ON THE GROUND . FURTHER INSPECTION SHOWED ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND THE OTHER WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE CORROSION WAS LIMITED TO THE STEEL TUBING DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE STAINLESS STEEL FLEX LINES. *JB
I PURCHASED A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO FROM ELITE MOTORS IN VICTORVILLE. THE CAR WAS NOT SMOKED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND HAD TO BE DONE SO ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER. THEY SAID THEY HAD A HARD TIME GETTING IT TO PASS AND THEN IT PASSED BUT WHEN I GOT IT BACK I SMOGGED IT AND IT FAILED. ELITE MOTOS SAID THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME ON RESOLVING THINGS BUT THEY NEVER DID. SINCE I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE THERE HAS BEEN A LOUD SLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED, TWO TIRES HAVE BLOWN, SEVERAL SETS OF FRONT BREAK PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, 2 BATTERY'S HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND WITHIN THE LAST MONTH BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES/MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER/CALIPERS/WATER PUMP/RADIATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. MY CAR IS AGAIN IN THE SHOP BECAUSE MY ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHTS HAVE COME ON, THERE ARE NO BRAKE LIGHTS, AND MY CAR WAS HESITATING AND LOOSING POWER INTERMITTENTLY WITH A CLUNKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT A FEW MONTHS AGO. I HAD ASKED GEIKO IF WHEN THEY DID THE BODY WORK - WOULD THEY ALSO LOOK FOR THINGS MECHANICALLY WRONG JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS O.K. THEY SAID THEY WOULD, THE SHOP (PERFORMANCE IN VICTORVILLE SAID THEY WOULD AND GAVE ME A BUSINESS CARD OF THE GUY THEY REFER THINGS OUT TO BUT THEY NEVER DID? POINT OF IMPACT IS LISTED AT 6. REAR. *TR
DT: CONTACT STATES VEHICLE CAN BE CHANGED FROM ANY GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CONTACT'S SON GOT INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS RUNNING. TOOK IT OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT HOLDING THE BRAKES, WHICH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING THROUGH A GARAGE DOOR. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN CHECKED TO SEE WHY THE VEHICLE WILL GO INTO GEAR WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKES.*AK
I OWN A DODGE BRAUN ENTERVAN.IN THE DESIGN OF THIS VAN BRAUN CUTS OUT THE FLOOR TO LOWER IT 10 INCHER.THE BRAKE LINES ARE REPLACED AND ARE LOCATED UNDER THE LOWERED FLOOR.THE QUALITY OF THE NEW BRAKE LINES ARE INFERIOR AND RUST THROUGH CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I TRIED TO TELL BRAUN OF THE PROBLEM BUT THEY WOULD NOT RETURN MY PHONE CALLS. *NM
I AM WRITING TODAY BECAUSE I PURCHASED A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN IN FEBRUARY 2005. EVERY MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES SERVICED. IN MARCH THE BRAKES WERE DUSTED OFF. AGAIN IN APRIL THE BRAKES AGAIN WERE DUSTED OFF ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. IN MAY THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE BRAKES I BELIEVE BOTH FRONT AND BACK. IN JUNE I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT GARAGE AND PAID TO HAVE THE BREAKS REPLACED AGAIN. THEN IN JULY THE CALIPERS AND BRAKES WERE REPLACED. IN AUGUST THE SAME GARAGE STATED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ABS NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I COULD ONLY HAVE THE BRAKES DONE AT THIS TIME. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 MINIMUM SO FAR REPAIRING MY CAR. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE ABS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS. ALSO I WAS TOLD THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AN ALIGNMENT NEEDED TO BE DONE, REAR SHOCKS, AND NEW TIRES. I NEED SOME ONE TO PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CAR. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE CARAVAN. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK FOR MAINTENANCE. HER HUSBAND JUST PUT NEW BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THEM AND EVERYTHING WAS GREAT. SHE LEFT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND NOW THE MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT SUGGEST HER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT SHE HAD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON HER VEHICLE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF IT HAS BEEN COMING ON RANDOMLY. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON WHILE THEY WERE TEST DRIVING IT AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. THE BRAKE FAILURE HAPPENED THE DAY AFTER SHE PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS JULY 8 AND THAT THE SOONEST THEY COULD GET HER VEHICLE IN WAS JULY 15, 2005. SHE HAD A RECALL ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , AND THEY WOULD NEVER CHECK THIS. BUT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE INSIDE LIGHT, STEREO, WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN, AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. WHEN SHE WENT BACK ON JULY 15TH THEY DID NOT EVEN TEST DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE MILEAGE WAS THE SAME WHEN SHE LEFT AS IT WAS WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
DT: CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH HER 2 LITTLE GIRLS. STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT BRAKES FAILED AND STEERING LOCKED UP. WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING LOT AND HIT TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WERE NO BRAKES IN THE VAN. *AK VAN. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - *NM
WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, THE TIRE PEOPLE SHOWED ME A LEAK ON BOTH REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS. THE FRONT BRAKE CYLINDER NOW ALSO HAS A SMALL LEAK FROM THE GASKET. THE MINIVAN HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED DECEMBER 2000. IT IS DRIVEN ON GOOD SUBURBAN ROADS.
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. DRIVER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK
THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, THE BRAKE LINE LEAKED, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, THE FRONT AXLE AND CALIPER PADS/ROTORS BROKE SPILLING BALL JOINT INTO THE STREET. *BF THERE WERE ALSO SCREECHING SOUNDS, ODOR(S), VIBRATIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THE A/C FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AT 8,000 MILES BRAKES FAILED. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK
1. SPALLING OF METAL OFF INNER SURFACE OF BRAKE ROTORS 2. RAPID BRAKE PAD WEAR ON PAD NOT EQUIPPED WITH WEAR SENSOR 3. REPLACEMENT OF PADS AND ROTERS - PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO, DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL UNTIL IT HIT A BRICK WALL AND STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK *LA
CONSUMER STATED ON AUG. 4 2003, DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DID NOT WORK EITHER. *PH
WHILE DRIVING, THE ROTORS EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*AK *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ROTORS WERE VERY STIFF, AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CUT THEM DOWN. *JB
LTR FR JOHN HARISIADIS (IL) REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEFECTIVE ROTORS USED ON CHRYSLER/DODGE MINIVANS, HE HAS EXPERIENCE W/ CHRYSLER/DODGE IN GETTING HIS 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN REPAIRED. CONSUMER FEELS THAT DEALERS ARE PUTTING DEFECTIVE ROTORS ON VEHICLE DELIBERATELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE A NOISE CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WERE "PITTED AND RUSTED". *TS THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE BRAKES. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE FRONT WHEEL ROTORS WHICH WERE PITTED AND RUSTED. THE CONSUMER NEEDED A LETTER FROM JOHN HARISIADIS WHO REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO DEFECTIVE ROTORS USED ON CHRYSLER/DODGE MINI VANS REPLACED. THE ROTORS DETERIORATED PREMATURELY WHICH CAUSED A NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *SCC *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ON THE DASH BOARD. THE DASH INDICATION WAS ILLUMINATED WHICH INDICATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON WHEN IT WAS RELEASED. *MR *CB *NLM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .