2002 Dodge Caravan Brakes Problems

THE STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCK WERE EVER I STOP ,INTERNAL CONTROL FAILURE, RADIATOR HEAT CONSTANTLY WHEN I AM DRIVING ,

NHTSA ID

10969351

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

2 mi

ON 6/5/14 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HWY AT 65MPH A DEER HAD BOLTED OUT IN FRONT OF MY 02 CARAVAN. I HAD REACTION TIME WITH HITTING MY BRAKES UNTIL MY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED & MY VAN CONTINUES SLIDING ON DRY PAVEMENT, I ATTEMPTED HITTING MY HORN BUT NOTICED THE SECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL THAT THE HORN ISS LOCATED WAS ROCK HARD & COULD NOT BE PUSHED IN EVEN THE SLIGHTEST. I ENDED UP HITTING THE DEER DEAD CENTER OF THE FRONT OF MY VAN, CRUMPLED MY HOOD, CRACKING MY RADIATOR, HEADLIGHT ASSEMLIES, GRILL & COOLING FANS. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. SINCE THIS INCIDENT MY BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME I PRESS ON THE BRAKES & COME TO A REST LASTING 30 SECOND OR LONGER & WILL GO OFF MOMENTS AFTER RELEASING THE PEDAL. APPROX MILEAGE 165, 000 ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY, DAYLIGHT & 100% VISIBILITY. *JS

NHTSA ID

10616608

Incident

Jun 5, 2014

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BRAKES FAILED TO DISENGAGE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THEY REPLACED THE ROTOR AND PADS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VIN NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10594341

Incident

Dec 7, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE BRAKING FROM 50 MPH, THE BRAKES LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE DRUMS WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT AND TURN BLUE. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS NOT A FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED WITH NEW DRUMS, ROTORS, AND BRAKES PADS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID

10346804

Incident

Sep 15, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

REAR BRAKE SEIZING UP AND UNABLE TO MOVE UNTIL SEVERAL ATTEMPTS FORWARD AND BACKWARD TAKE PLACE, THEN A LOUD NOISE AND IT IS FREED UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269080

Incident

May 12, 2009

Mileage

73,236 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A FLATBED TRUCK BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE LOCKED UP. THE DEALERSHIPS DIAGNOSTIC TEST DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE BRAKES WILL NOT RELEASE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME, AND CAUSES THE RIMS TO GET HOT, CAUSING THREE BLOWOUTS ON THE FRONT END. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM, BUT THE SHOES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES AND THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA ID

10150328

Incident

Feb 15, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

I HEARD A "BANGING" NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH. SO I CALLED MY DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPT FOR MULTIPLE OF REASONS AND THEY FOUND THE FOLLOWING ISSUES AGAIN WITH MY CAR; MY FRONT BRAKES (SHOE PADES, ROTOR'S TURNED) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT AND PREVIOUS TO THAT, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHOE PADES AGAIN AT 19,000 MILES?? ALSO AT 19,000 MILES, THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE "BUSHINGS AND LINKS" FOR THE FRONT END AND AGAIN AT 45,000 MILES TWO DAYS AGO. I AM STRATING TO WONDER IF THERE IS A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN THE TWO PARTS GOING PREMATURELY. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES BECAUSE DUE TO THE WEAR/TEAR ON THEM BECASUE THEY WERE UNSAFE. THE DEALER WON'T WARRENTY THEM, SO I HAD TO BUY NEW SET OF TIRES AT 19,000 MILES. I THINK THE TIRES WORN OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO ALL THE FRONT END PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING. THERE ALSO HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF "POWER STEERING" ISSUES WITH MY VEHICHLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN TWO RECALLS ON THE POWER STEERING UNIT AND HAD THE DEALER TAKE CARE OF THEM.(HAD THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WON'T WORK AND IT LEAKED ALL OVER MY NEW DRIVEWAY) I 'VE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR "POWER STEERING" LEAKING. THE LATEST NEW WAS THE A "BOOT" OF SOME SORT IN THE "RACK-AND-PINION STEERING" WAS THE CAUSE OF THE POWER STEERING LEAK AND THEY ALSO FOUND AN OIL LEAK ON THE HEADCASK COVER TOO. AFTER EVERYTHING WAS FINALLY FINIHSED (AFTER 2 DAYS) I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME BUT I AM GOING TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALSHIP BECAUSE NOW THE CAR IS SWAYING LEFT/RIGHT AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DID A FRONT END ALIGNEMENT BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK THEY HAD TO DUE TO THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146342

Incident

Dec 27, 2005

Mileage

19,000 mi

BRAKES ON 2002 DODGE CARAVAN LOCK WHEN PARKING BRAKE IS USED OVERNIGHT. WHEN RELEASING PARKING BRAKE IN MORNING, UNABLE TO MOVE VEHICLE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. IN ATTEMPTING TO DO SO TO GET MOVING, AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, CUSTOMER WILL HEAR A LOUD POP NOISE AND BRAKES FREE UP. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM, NOT JUST ONE TIME. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES WERE DIRTY. WAS CHARGED $168 WHEN WE DID NOT PROCEED WITH "REPAIRS" TO BE TOLD THAT A HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AND THAT THE BRAKES WERE DIRTY. WE KNEW THE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT! AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT DIRTY. HAVE NOT RETURNED TO THIS DEALER SINCE (KENDALL IN COTTAGE GROVE, OREGON). *NM

NHTSA ID

10144400

Incident

Sep 9, 2004

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IT FELT AS IF VEHICLE RAN OVER SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE SINCE LAST SUMMER, AND VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE WAS NOT CHANGED.*AK.. HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/PADS DUE TO BRAKE CALIPERS STICKING AND NOT RELEASING. THE TWO FRONT TIRES ALSO WORE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115767

Incident

Jul 23, 2004

Mileage

39,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED . THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115184

Incident

Aug 20, 2004

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. WE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP CHANGED FOUR TIMES. ON 7/22/03, WE BROUGHT THE VAN INTO WESTWAY DODGE BECAUSE IT MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING. THEY CONDUCTED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 19-006-02 AND INSTALLED A LONGER POWER STEERING HOSE. ON 7/31/2003, WE AGAIN BROUGHT IT IN TO WESTWAY, BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS MAKING A MOANING SOUND. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS LOW PRESSURE OUTPUT, AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. ON SEPTEMBER . 15, 2003 WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE POWER STEERING COOLANT LINE RECALL. AFTER THAT TIME, THE DEALER ADVISED US THAT IT WAS STILL MAKING NOISE, WE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED NOISE. AT TIMES, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. NOVEMBER 26, 2004, WE TOOK OUR VAN TO DEALER FOR UPPER POWER STEERING PUMP RECALL. WE BROUGHT IT TO MACK MASSEY DODGE AT 950 CROCKETT, EL PASO, TX 79922 FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE PUMP AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE. ALSO, FOUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK.....POWER STEERING PUMP WA SCHANGED FOUR TIMES, THREE OF THOS ETIMES WAS DURING RECALLS. DESPITE THE REPAIRS THE POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUED TO BE NOISY, AND STEERING WHEEL, AT TIMES, IS DIFFICULT TO TURN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103341

Incident

Jul 22, 2003

1. AFTER LEAVING MY 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN (APPROX. 48000 MILES) IN LONG TERM AIRPORT PARKING FOR 12 DAYS I DROVE TWO AND A HALF HOURS HOME. NOTHING OF ANY CONSEQUENCE HAPPENED ON THE WAY HOME. * 2. AT HOME I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STUCK ON THE ON POSITION. I DO NOT KNOW DURING WHAT PART OF THE TRIP THE BRAKE LIGHT GOT STUCK ON AND FORTUNATELY I DID NOT GET REAR-ENDED. HOWEVER, A BRAKE LIGHT THAT IS ALWAYS ON INCREASES THE RISK OF REAR END COLLISION. 3. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER. THEY SAID SOMETHING THAT SOME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD BEEN KICKED OFF OR ON AND SAID THAT I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE THE SWITCH KEEP THE BRAKE LIGHT ON LIKE KICK IT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IN FACT, NOBODY KICKED THE BRAKES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE CAR JUST MALFUNCTIONED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND CHRYSLER ARE UNWILLING TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE MAL FUNCTION. I WAS CHARGED FOR WHATEVER IT WAS THE DEALER DID TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOTE I LEFT THE OEM BOX ON THIS FORM ON THE DEFAULT SETTING OF "NO." I DID THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT OEM MEANS. PLEASE CALL IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WITH THIS SAFETY COMPLAINT. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ID

10086613

Incident

Jul 22, 2004

Mileage

48,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC REPLACED THE PADS AND BOTH FRONTAL ROTORS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067078

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN 20 MONTHS THAT I HAVE TAKEN MY 2002 DODGE CARAVAN EX IN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THE DEALER CLAIMS THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE ABS SENSORS FAILING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058842

Incident

Feb 19, 2004

I OWN A 2002 DODGE CARAVAN SE 3.3 LITER ENGINE. SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE,(BOUGHT IN AUGUST 2003) I HAVE HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES, HAD TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED & BALANCED 4 TIMES AND BECAUSE OF THE POPPING NOISE HAVE TO HAVE THE SWAY BAR BUSHINGS REPLACED AND HAVE A NEW ROTOR AND BRAKES REPLACED. THE VIBRATION DUE TO THE BRAKES WEARING AND ROTORS IS UNREAL AND KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THE BRAKE AND ROTOR PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN ONLY 15,000 MILES PUT ON THESE BRAKES AND ARE HAVING TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED INTO. THANK YOU. *LA

NHTSA ID

10054715

Incident

Dec 15, 2003

PUNCTURE IN GASOLINE TANK AND DEFECTIVE BEARING IN ALTERNATOR.*MR *CB THE BRAKES WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AS WELL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10043946

Incident

Sep 16, 2003

CONSUMER STATED ROTORS HAD UNEVEN WEAR. THE DEALER INSISTED THE WEAR WAS NORMAL. *AK THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF BRAKE FAILURE. ONE DEALERSHIP STATED THE BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKED WHICH CAUSED SEVERE PRESSURE ON THE ROTORS WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BREAK DOWN. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10031881

Incident

Jun 26, 2003

Mileage

19,000 mi