2005 Dodge Caravan Brakes Problems

2005 DODGE CARAVAN MINI VAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. *LD *JS

NHTSA ID

11053210

Incident

Oct 3, 2017

MYSELF AND TWO OTHERS JUST RECENTLY GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAGS DIDNT GO OFF . THANK GOD THAT WE HAD OUR SEATBELTS ON. A CAR CUT A BUS OFF ON HWY44 WWST IN INVERNESS FL, WE ALL HAD TO HIT OUR BRAKES AND ENDING UP HITTING ANOTHER CAR AT 30-40 MPH. WHEN MADE INPACK WITH THE OTHER CAR THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF LEADING TO INJURIES AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

NHTSA ID

10984981

Incident

May 9, 2017

Mileage

1,346,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY 2005 DODGE CARAVAN WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE MINIVAN FAILED COMPLETELY, SHUTTING DOWN MY POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, ALL DASHBOARD INDICATORS, AND ALL VEHICLE LIGHTS (INCLUDING THE FOUR-WAY FLASHERS). FORTUNATELY, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK IT TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC, WHO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. AFTER IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME, A DODGE DEALER MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LOCKING MECHANISM HAD FAILED AND SHORTED OUT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND WOULD COST $900 TO REPAIR. IT ALSO COST AN EXTRA $500 TO REPLACE THE MECHANISM THAT THE PART IS ATTACHED TO BECAUSE IT HAD RUSTED SO SEVERELY. THESE INCIDENTS WERE FRIGHTENING BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT A HIGHER SPEED OR AT NIGHT SINCE ALL MY LIGHTS WOULD HAVE SHUT OFF. I WOULD CONSIDER BUYING A NEWER WHEELCHAIR VAN IF THEY WERE NOT SO INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE.

NHTSA ID

10765276

Incident

Mar 16, 2015

Mileage

75,010 mi

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A DODGE CARAVAN FROM A DEALER AND SINCE PURCHASING IT, WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. OUR DOOR LOCK SYSTEM HAS STOPPED WORKING IN WHICH MY MOTHER WHO IS DISABLED AND CAN ONLY BE PUT ON ONE SIDE OF THE VAN RELATED TO HER STROKE, WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM WOULDN'T LET US OPEN THE DOOR AND WE LIVE IN TEXAS. WE HAD TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO TRANSFER HER TO THE OTHER DOOR. WE NOW CAN ONLY PUT HER IN ON HER "BAD" SIDE WHICH PUTS HER AT RISK FOR INJURY (AND US). AFTER THAT WE HAD PROBLEMS THAT STARTED WITH THE GAGES BOBBING UP AND DOWN AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING RIGHT HALF THE TIME. IT ALSO HAS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT COME ON AND THEN THE FRONT END SHAKES. WE HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, GROUNDING WIRES, CHECKED FUSES AND BATTERY AND CABLES. NOTHING HAS WORKED, BUT THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO GET CODES FROM UNTIL THE CAR WAS AT AN INTERSECTION AND DIED!!!!! NOW IT IS FREQUENTLY DYING WHEN WE ARE AT A STOP FOR RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS AND ...RECENTLY IT DIED WHILE I WAS YIELDING FOR A LEFT TURN. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CAR ACCIDENTS AND I NEARLY GOT T-BONED AT THIS INTERSECTION. EVEN WHEN THE CAR DIES, IT WOULD USUALLY START RIGHT UP UNTIL A MONTH AGO. NOW IT MAY START UP RIGHT AWAY OR IT MAY NOT START FOR 15-30 MINUTES AFTER IT DIES. IN TEXAS WE NEED THE AIR CONDITIONING. I AM NOW REFUSING TO PUT HER IN SOMETHING I CONSIDER A "DEATH TRAP". I AM NOW PUTTING THIS DOWN IN WRITING BECAUSE I HAVE NOW A CODE THAT SAYS IT IS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. FROM REPORTS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE SAME VANS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS IT ISN'T AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. AND NOW IF THIS VAN DIES AT A CRITICAL TRAFFIC MANEUVER AND I OR MY HUSBAND OR MOTHER OR CHILDREN BECOME INJURED, WE WILL LOOK INTO LEGAL ACTION.

NHTSA ID

10744821

Incident

Apr 30, 2015

Mileage

95,400 mi

AT FIRST MY CARAVAN STARTED EATING BRAKE PADS, CHANGING THEM APPROX EVERY 6-8 MONTHS...THEN, IT STARTED SHIMMYING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED OR GOING DOWN A STEEP GRADE...I HAVE CHANGED ROTORS 3 TIMES AND ALSO HAVE CHANGED CALIPERS & BRAKE LINES....IT HAS BEEN 6 MONTHS SINCE AND IT IS STARTING TO SHIMMY AND NOW IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS GOING FARTHER TO THE FLOOR, BRAKE FLUID CHECKS OUT FINE...I AM STARTING TO FEEL AFRAID OR SCARED THAT THE BRAKES MAY FAIL....CURRENT MILEAGE IS 94000....FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THERE ARE ALOT OF BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE CARAVAN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10511781

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

35,000 mi

FRONT WHEEL ROTOR AND BRAKE PADS BOTH NEEDED REPAIRED / REPLACED. THEY HAVE CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON PERIODICALLY AND NOISEY. AGAIN THEY ARE CAUSING ME CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451819

Incident

Feb 19, 2010

Mileage

20,000 mi

MY 2005 DODGE CARAVAN SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN AND OUT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE HE SERVICED 3 VANS LIKE MINE WITH SIMILAR ISSUE. WHEN HE LIFTED MY VAN AND STARTED THE GAS STARTED TO POUR. THE FORTUNATE PART WAS THAT I AM LUCKY THAT IT DIDN'T EXPLODE ON ME WHILE DRIVING. HERE IS THE WORST PART, I CALLED RANCHO JEEP CHRYSLER IN SAN DIEGO TO ORDER A NEW FUEL PUMP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS IS NATIONALLY BACK ORDERED AND IT WILL TAKE 3 TO A MONTH WAITING PERIOD AND NOWHERE AVAILABLE AS PER PARTS TECHNICIAN. IF IT IS BACK ORDERED NATIONALLY, WILL IT CONSTITUTE RECALL? THIS SITUATION IS A MAJOR SAFETY VIOLATION JUST WAITING A MAJOR EXPLOSION TO OCCUR. MY VAN ONLY HAS 50K MILES IN IT AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND ALWAYS SERVICE TIMELY. I AM HOPING THAT THE COMPANY WILL TAKE SOME ACTION IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT COSTLY LAWSUITS. I AM RECEIVING ALL MY RECEIPTS AS A PROOF WHEN SOMETHING HAPPEN. I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO COME FORWARD. MY SECOND COMPLAIN IS THE LOCK, IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE IF YOU MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL DOORS. I HAVE TO PULL OUT THE IOD FUSE EVERY TIME TO RESET, THIS IS ALSO A NATIONAL ISSUE BECAUSE I FOUND THIS FROM THE BLOGS OF OTHER DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS. MY 3RD COMPLAIN IS WHY IS MY FRONT BRAKES ALWAYS SHAKE NO MATTER WHAT I DO TO IT. I REPLACED BOTH ROTORS AND PADS 3X AND STILL WARPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447386

Incident

Feb 5, 2012

MY 2005 DODGE CARAVAN SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN AND OUT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG BECAUSE HE SERVICED 3 VANS LIKE MINE WITH SIMILAR ISSUE. WHEN HE LIFTED MY VAN AND STARTED THE GAS STARTED TO POUR. THE FORTUNATE PART WAS THAT I AM LUCKY THAT IT DIDN'T EXPLODE ON ME WHILE DRIVING. HERE IS THE WORST PART, I CALLED RANCHO JEEP CHRYLER IN SAN DIEGO TO ORDER A NEW FUEL PUMP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS IS NATIONALLY BACK ORDERED AND IT WILL TAKE 3 TO A MONTH WAITING PERIOD AND NOWHERE AVAILABLE AS PER PARTS TECHNICIAN. IF IT IS BACK ORDERED NATIONALLY, WILL IT CONSTITUTE RECALL? THIS SITUATION IS A MAJOR SAFETY VIOLATION JUST WAITING A MAJOR EXPLOSION TO OCCUR. MY VAN ONLY HAVE 50K MILES IN IT AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND ALWAYS SERVICE TIMELY. I AM HOPING THAT THE COMPANY WILL TAKE SOME ACTION IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT COSTLY LAWSUITS. I AM RECEIVING ALL MY RECEIPTS AS A PROOF WHEN SOMETHING HAPPEN. I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO COME FORWARD. MY SECOND COMPLAIN IS THE LOCK, IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE IF YOU MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL DOORS. I HAVE TO PULL OUT THE IOD FUSE EVERYTIME TO RESET, THIS IS ALSO A NATIONAL ISSUE BECAUSE I FOUND THIS FROM THE BLOGS OF OTHER DODGE CARAVAN OWNERS. MY 3RD COMPLAIN IS WHY ARE MY FRONT BRAKES ALWAYS SHAKES NO MATTER WHAT I DO TO IT. I REPLACED BOTH ROTORS AND PADS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447381

Incident

Feb 5, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE NOT REPLACED. HE BELIEVED THAT BECAUSE THE REAR BRAKES WERE NEVER REPLACED, IT WAS CAUSING THE MASTER CYLINDER TO FUNCTION INCORRECTLY AND PREMATURELY WEARING THE FRONT BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY BRAKE ISSUES AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY ALSO ADVISED HAVING THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ID

10334477

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

Mileage

12,000 mi

DESCRIPTION: I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 10 JAN 2010 WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 DODGE CARAVAN SXT. THE ACCIDENT WAS INITIALLY CAUSED BY AN INDIVIDUAL CARRYING FURNITURE IN THE BACK OF HIS PICK-UP TRUCK. THE FURNITURE FELL OUT OF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK FORCED MYSELF AND ANOTHER DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME TO SLAM ON OUR BRAKES. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED MY BRAKES HOWEVER THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE AND I SKIDDED INTO THE CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK THAT WAS TRAVELING IN FRONT OF ME. I LEFT TWO 50FT SKID MARKS (MY ESTIMATE) BEHIND ME. ULTIMATELY, THE FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM CAUSED ME TO IMPACT THE REAR OF THE SILVERADO. ADDITIONALLY, AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. I WAS LATER INFORMED BY DODGE/CHRYSLER, WHO I COMPLAINED TO, THAT BASED ON THE AREA OF IMPACT THE SENSORS WERE NOT DAMAGED, WHICH IN-TURN WAS THE DETERMINING FACTOR WHY THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY. AFTER CHECKING ALL THE RECALLS FOR MY VAN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR THAT DODGE FAILED TO INFORM US OF, IN ADDITION TO OTHER RECALLS.WE TOOK PLENTY OF PICTURES AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT TO SHOW ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE STATED IN THE COMPLAINT,DODGE MODEL: CARAVAN MODEL YEAR: 2005 MANUFACTURER: DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION MFR'S REPORT DATE: MAY 01, 2007 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V192000 EA06003 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06003 COMPONENT: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 270958 SUMMARY: MAKE: DODGE MODEL: CARAVAN MODEL YEAR: 2005 MANUFACTURER: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC MFR'S REPORT DATE: JAN 07, 2010 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V008000 RQ09003 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: RQ09003 COMPONENT: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 312442MAKE: DODGE MODEL: CARAVAN MODEL YEAR: 2005 MANUFACTURER: BRAKE PARTS, INC. MFR'S REPORT DATE: MAR 09, 2006 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06E022000 N/A NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10315561

Incident

Jan 10, 2010

Mileage

92,500 mi

100 % BRAKE FAILURE 2005 DODGE CARAVAN, CUSTOMER COMPLAINED OF LOWER THAN NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL, AFTER CORE BRAKE INSPECTION (PADS ROTORS LINES ETC) I DETERMINED WILL NEED NEW MASTER CYLINDER (NO LOCAL STOCK) CUSTOMER TOOK VEHICLE AND RETURNED ANOTHER DAY WITH ONE LAST STOP, THEN TOTAL MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE , WITH ME DRIVING AND ROLLED IN THE GARAGES BENCH WRECKING FRONT END PARTS , SHEET METAL ETC. NEW CHRYSLER MASTER CYLINDER INSTALLED ALL OK , BEWARE CHRYSLER OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM. IT WAS MY FIRST 100% FAILURE IN 35 YEARS OF WORKING ON CARS. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH 100 % FAILURE BEING ALLOWED. I HAVE OLD PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277096

Incident

Jul 13, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES 3 TIMES IT ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES. THIS LAST TIME THEY LASTED 6,000 MILES. THEY DEVOLEP BLUE HEAT SPOTS ON THE ROTORS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID WHEN DODGE TOOK WEIGHT OUT OF THE FRONT END THEY DECREASED THE SIZE OF ROTORS. I HAVE REPLACED THE OUTER TIEROD TWICE. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED DODGE REDUCING THE WEIGHT IN FRONT END. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261544

Incident

Apr 20, 2007

Mileage

20,000 mi

THERE IS PREMATURE WEARING OF BRAKES AND ROTORS. IF YOU GO TO THIS WEBSITE YOU WILL SEE HAW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE (GRAND) CARAVAN AND CARAVAN BRAKES. IT IS HORRENDOUS. YOU CAN SEE THIS AT HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/DODGE/CARAVAN/2005/BRAKES/BRAKE_PADS_WEAR_OUT_PREMATURELY.SHTML THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND PEOPLE SHOULD GET THEIR MONEY BACK. IT IS RIDICULOUS I SHOULD HAVE TO GET NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS SO SOON IN MY VEHICLE. IT ONLY HAS 50K ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253147

Incident

Dec 29, 2008

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5MPH ENGAGING THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. THE FAIURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID

10221694

Incident

Jan 12, 2008

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A DRAGGING SOUND WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 16,000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10187021

Incident

Mar 2, 2007

Mileage

16,000 mi

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG SENSORS OR MY AIRBAGS COULD HAVE DEPLOYED! I HAVE A 2005 DODGE CARAVAN SXT. THE BRAKES AND ROTORS FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE BAD TO THEY HAVE HAD TO BEEN REPLACED AND THIS WAS COSTLY! *NM

NHTSA ID

10171048

Incident

Oct 17, 2006

Mileage

30,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE THE DEALER DETERMINED THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DISCOLORED. BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE RESURFACED. VEHICLE HAD AN ALIGNMENT. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DISCOLORED, BUT THE CONTACT DECLINED TRANSMISSION FLUSH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10154409

Incident

Mar 31, 2006

Mileage

12,748 mi

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 15 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES WERE RUBBING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR INSPECTION TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR PERSONNEL DISCOVERED THE CALIPERS WERE EXTREMELY RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147990

Incident

Jan 17, 2006

Mileage

36,538 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE PADS WORE OUT, HE HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AT A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10145695

Incident

Dec 18, 2005