RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Grand Caravan Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
109
Latest Mar 2, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 1,157 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

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 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 109 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.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 109, in the owner's own words

BrakesSuspension
Filed Mar 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND FLUID WAS LEAKING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN

NHTSA ID
10691638
Incident
Feb 20, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
BrakesSuspension
Filed May 23, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED AND THE WHEEL CYLINDER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND TOLD THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,852.

NHTSA ID
10459460
Incident
May 20, 2012
Mileage
97,852 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 2, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP THREE SECONDS LONGER THAN USUAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY DIRTY REAR BRAKE SHOES. THE KNEE PADS, ROTORS, SHOES, DRUMS, AND MASTER CYLINDER WERE REPLACED. THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS CHECKED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,198.

NHTSA ID
10207752
Incident
Oct 15, 2007
Mileage
149,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 10, 2006

REAR BRAKE HYDRAULIC PROPORTIONING VALVE RUSTED THROUGH, LEAKING AGAIN. REPLACED THE SAME ITEM ON 2-21-01 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. RESULTING IN LITTLE TO NO BRAKING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10149939
Incident
Feb 9, 2006
Mileage
194,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 21, 2004

WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL INCREASED THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM. VEHICLE WENT IN ACCESS OF 85 MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES WAS REQUIRED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE OVER A DISTANCE OF ONE MILE. A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE FRONT BRAKES FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. *TC

NHTSA ID
10089445
Incident
Aug 22, 2004
Mileage
104,351 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 27, 2004

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER, AND SOMEHOW THE DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT A HOLE IN THE BRAKE DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT VALVE WAS WELDED IN THE WRONG SPOT, CAUSING THE VALVE TO WEAR OUT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. BRAKE DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE WAS REPLACED . *AK

NHTSA ID
10060951
Incident
Feb 24, 2004
Mileage
110,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

FOR 3 SUMMERS IN A ROW, WE HAVE HAD TO RECHARGE THE AIR CONDITION SYSTEM FOR IT TO ONLY WORK 3-4 WEEKS AT A TIME. OUR MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT ISN'T THAT THE AIR CONDITING UNIT HAS FAILED IT SEEMS TO BE LOOSING THE FREON SOME WHERE.THE LOCKS ON THE VAN TO THE TAIL GATE DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK CORRECTLY, 90% OF THE TIME YOU HAVE TO BEAT ON THE LOCK FROM THE OUT SIDE FOR IT TO UNLOCK. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE BRAKE PAD APPROX 3 TIMES AND THEY STILL SQUEAK AND SEEM TO GRAB AT TIMES.

NHTSA ID
10070396
Incident
Sep 15, 2001
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 20, 2003

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008830
Incident
Nov 4, 2002
BrakesHeating & air conditioningEngine+4 more
Filed Aug 21, 2002

AIR CONDITIONERCONDENSER/DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR/TIE ROD, TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE, AND O2 SENSOR WERE REPLACED. ALSO, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND FROM THE EXHAUST AREA. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. IN ADDITION, SERPENTINE BELT AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. *JB. *AK

NHTSA ID
567168
Incident
Aug 17, 2001
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed Aug 9, 2002

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED COMPUTER PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP WHILE BEING DRIVEN. NLM

NHTSA ID
567054
Body & structureBrakesTransmission
Filed Jun 27, 2002

TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 72000 MILES.*AK THE HINGES ON THE DOOR WERE REPLACED AND THE FRONT ROTOR WAS TURNED. *YH

NHTSA ID
8012786
Incident
Feb 24, 2001
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jun 27, 2002

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON/HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. DEALER STATED CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
8012783
Incident
Jun 1, 2002
AirbagsBrakesInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Mar 7, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
759041
Brakes
Filed Feb 25, 2002

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL, AND AT THE TIME OF ACTIVATION, WILL MAKES A LOUD NOISE. HAD CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004524
Incident
Feb 25, 2002
Brakes
Filed Jan 10, 2002

INTERMITTENTLY ABS LIGHT WILL STAY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. DELAER HAS NOT BENE ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001971
BrakesInterior & seatsTransmission
Filed Oct 4, 2001

BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A MOVE FROM MARYLAND TO GEORGIA, RESULTING IN FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS DURING RAINSTORM. ARRIVED AT DEALER ONLY 451 MILES AFTER EXPIRATION OF 75K WARRANTY. HOWEVER, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER WOULD ASSIST IN REPAIR COSTS. HAVE SUBMITTED TWO LENGTHY VOQ'S TODAY AS I AM FINALLY FED UP WITH THIS CHRYSLER PRODUCT AND THE FAILURE OF CHRYSLER AND THE NHTSA TO ENACT ADDITIONAL FORCED RECALLS OF THESE VEHICLES. THE TRANSMISSION, FUEL TANK, BODY CONTROL MODULE, CLOCK SPRING (WHICH RESULTED IN INOPERATIVE AIRBAGS), AND SUSPENSION PARTS ALL FAILED LONG BEFORE THEY SHOULD HAVE. ADDITIONALLY, A CURSORY SEARCH OF BOTH NHTSA AND OTHER WEB SITES REVEALS THAT THESE PARTS HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE. DESPITE BEING REPLACED BY A DEALER ONLY TWO YEARS AGO, THE STEERING RACK ON MY MINIVAN IS ALREADY FAILING AGAIN. I AM EXTREMELY UNIMPRESSED WITH BOTH THE QUALITY OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM CHRYSLER IN ADDRESSING REPEATED FAILURES.

NHTSA ID
752942
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+9 more
Filed Aug 20, 2001

BATTERY CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID INTO WIRING COVER AND AIR CLEANER HOUSING CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START, BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND BEGAN TO LEAK AGAIN APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, SEVEN MONTHS LATER THE BATTERY HAD TO BE BOOSTED TO START VEHICLE, AGAIN DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BATTERY WAS REPLACED A FOURTH TIME ALONG WITH A FAULTY STARTER. *SLC

NHTSA ID
562605
Incident
Oct 7, 1997
Brakes
Filed Aug 16, 2001

BRAKES DON'T RESPOND AND BRAKE WELL ENOUGH. ALSO, FRONT END PADS/ROTORS AND CALIPERS NEED REPLACING. DEALER STATED THEY PASSED INSPECTION WITH NO PROBLEM, AND IT WAS JUST WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
894488
Incident
Jul 1, 2001
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Aug 7, 2001

SLIDER DOOR LOCKS FAILURE-LEFT DOES NOT LOCK EVEN MANUALLY; RIGHT WILL NOT UNLOCK EXCEPT MANUALLY. A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED - ALWAYS SMELLED ANTIFREEZE UNTIL FAILURE. DODGE WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP DEFRAY MAJOR COST. WIPERS COME ON/OFF WHENEVER THEY WANT ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. CAN PUT INTO DRIVE/REVERSE W/O BRAKING. NUMEROUS OTHER MISC PROBLEMS-BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, FRONT END.*AK

NHTSA ID
750031
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Jul 30, 2001

DEALER SAID THEY JUST WEAR OUT AND CHARGED $325.00 TO REPLACE IT. I SAW ON THE LOCAL NEWS LAST NIGHT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, SO I JUST WANTED TO GET MINE ON THE RECORD. *AK

NHTSA ID
749466
Incident
Feb 15, 2001
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+2 more
Filed May 31, 2001

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
561413
BrakesTransmission
Filed May 11, 2001

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 60-65 MPH. WHEN CHECKED FLUIDS WERE ALL BUBBLING UP, AND TRANSMISSION WAS BURNED UP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES TORQUE CONVERTER WAS ALSO REPLACED, ALSO BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
888015
Incident
May 9, 2001
Brakes
Filed May 10, 2001

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND DRIVER HEARD A POPPING SOUND. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT BRAKE PADS HAD COME APART.*AK

NHTSA ID
887945
Brakes
Filed Apr 24, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
744449
Brakes
Filed Apr 11, 2001

MINIVAN'S DASHLIGHT WARNINGS FOR AIRBAGS/ABS(AND RELATED EQUIP:HORN/CRUISE CONTROL-INOPERATIVE) APPEARED. TOOK AUTO TO CHRYSLER DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. DEALER SERVICE DEPT.STATED DEFECTIVE ITEM: CLOCKSPRING DEVICE, AND NOT A WARRANTY COVERED PART/SERVICE PART, THEREFORE CUSTOMER LIABLE FOR REPAIR..

NHTSA ID
743879
Incident
Mar 23, 2001

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .