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 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 44 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 44, in the owner's own words
SERVICE BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, DIAGNOSED BY REPAIR SHOP AS A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. INSPECTION OF OTHER BRAKE LINES SHOWED HEAVY CORROSION. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (STRAIGHT LINE) ON A CITY STREET AND RETAINED MINIMAL BRAKING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT (NO COLLISION) AND 'LIMP' TO THE REPAIR SHOP. REPAIRS CONSISTED OF REPLACING THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES.
I APPROACHED A RED LIGHT HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT STOP. I HIT TWO CARS AND THE MEDIAN. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED NUT NOT THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAD MAJOR INJURIES INCLUDING BROKEN ANKLE, HAND, RIBS AND BREATHING. I SPENT 3 MONTHS IN THE HOSPITAL. *TR
1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DO TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES. *TR
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINES AND SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID NO STOPPING ABILITY EXCEPT EMERGENCY BRAKE (ONLY EFFECTIVE AT LOW SPEED). *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LINE FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS ALSO REPLACED ACCORDING TO A RECALL WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S CONSENT. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE HORN DID NOT OPERATE AND THERE WERE OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 59,492. UPDATED 08/19/09 *BF UPDATED 08/20/09.*JB
MY SON STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR UPON INSPECTION THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING RIGHT BEHIND THE BRADED PART ABOUT A FOOT BEHIND THE ABS UNIT THE OTHER REAR LIND IS IN BAD SHAPE AT THE SAME POINT. *TR
THE ABS VALVE ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS CLOSING CAUSING BRAKES TO GRAB WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL MECHANICS WITH DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT AGREE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND RECOMMENDED I CHECK TO SEE IF IT WAS RECALLED. IT IS, BUT NOT FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL. MECHANICS ALSO NOTED THAT THE DASHLIGHT SHOULD HAVE INDICATED A PROBLEM AND DID NOT, NOR WERE THEIR MACHINES ABLE TO DETECT THE EXACT PROBLEM. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PEDAL WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE AND ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
STRUT TOWER CORROSION-DRIVER SIDE-RUST AND METAL BREAKING UP-1998 GRAND CARAVAN-PURCHASED NEW-HAS 83,500 MILES- HAVE HAD BELT PROBLEMS SEVERAL TIMES-ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMIT FAILURE -RUSTED OUT POWER STEERING MECH. TOTALLY REPLACED-MANY BRAKE JOBS-AND ALSO HEADLIGHT INTERIOR SWITCH SEEMS TO FAIL AT TIMES. I NEED TO MAKE A DECISSION TO BUY A NEW VAN WITH "HAND CONTROLS" OR HAVE THIS VAN "HAND CONTROLS" INSTALLED. ME THINKS I NEED TO BUY A NEW VAN AND BE LOOKING AT ANOTHER MANUFACTOR. AS IT SEEMS LIKE CHRYSLER/DODGE IS NOT STEPPING UP TO ALL THESE FAILURES THAT ARE SEEN BY TOO MANY OTHER VAN OWNERS;OF THIS 1998 MODEL CARAVAN. SAW ON LINE A NEW REPAIR FOR THE STRUT RUSTING CALLED ""FUSOR #112B/MOPAR 05083855AA. CAN BE USED TO FIX THIS PROBLEMTHE TSB #23-044-02 THRU A COMPANY CALLED LORD CORP. LISTED UNDER THEIR OEM BULLETINS AND REPAIR RECOMMENDATIONS USING FUSOR ADHESIVES. THINK I MAY USE THIS ON MINE. HOPE OTHERS CAN USE THIS ALSO. THANKS. *NM
DT: 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AT 20 MPH AND SOMEONE WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. WHEILE SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ACCELERATED BECAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL CAME ON, AND HIT THE VEHICLE SITTING AT THE RED LIGHT FROM BEHIND WHEN WAS NORMAL BRAKING. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE ROAD WAS DRY AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. HAD NOT YET CONTACTED DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. CALLED THE POLICE, AND THEY TOOK A BREPORT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT. THE ONLY DAMAGE MADE WAS TO THE VEHICLES. *AK
MY CAR IS A 1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LE. IT HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW. REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE. FAILURE DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. DISSIMILAR METALS (STEEL AND STAINLESS STEEL) USED ON A JOINT (FLEXIBLE COUPLING) ON REAR BRAKE LINES. DISSIMILAR METALS JOINT CAUSED ELECTROLYTIC CORROSION AND FAILURE (RUPTURE) OF BRAKE LINE. THE BRAKE LINE JOINT WITH DISSIMILAR METALS DESIGN FLAW IS A TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN IN MANY OF THE DODGE AND CHRYSLER. THE POTENTIAL FOR A VERY HIGH NUMBER OF DEATHS AND MAJOR INJURIES DUE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW IS HUGE. *NM
1998 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE HORN. *MR THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FILLER NECK ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY THE HORN DID NOT OPERATE. THE AIR BAG HAD NEVER DEPLOYED. IN 2002 THE CLOCK SWITCH FOR THE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE TO HELP AGAINST THE CHARGE OF THE HORN REPAIR. *SC *JB
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE HORN NOT WORKING, AND THE BRAKE FAILURE. MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO DEFECTS. RECALL 04V480000 FOR CLOCK SPRING WAS ISSUED, AND CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *AK *NM
CONSUMER STATED THAT BRAKES VIBRATED AND MADE A LOT OF NOISE. SHE SOME TIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS GOING ON THIS FOR 4 MONTHS. *AK
ALMOST ALL OF THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED ONLY TO FIND THAT LESS THAN 1 YEAR LATER, JULY 2003, THE EVAPORATER IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $750.00.
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED FRONT END VIBRATED STRONGLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND CALIPERS. *AK
THE VEHICLES BRAKES WORE EVERY 3000 MILES. *NLM
WARPING OCCURS ON DISKS CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. DT
WHEN BRAKING IN A SUDDEN STOP IT CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE, PRIOR TO THE SIDE CALIPER FAILURE AT 34743, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, BUT WOULD GLIDE TO S STOP, STOPPING DISTANCE WAS EXTENDED, STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE, A SPRING WAS CHANGED BUT THE COLUMN IS LLOSE AGAIN, THE BRAKES OCCASIONALLY DEPRESS ON IT'S OWN, THE CONSUMER NOTICES THIS MORE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING A A LIGHT.*AK *MJ
WHILE WAITING ON A TRAFFIC LIGH VEHICLE REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AND UPON APPLYING BRAKES THEY WILL MOMENTARILY LOCK UP, AND HEADLIGHTS WILL GET VERY DIM. ALSO A NOISE WAS COMING FROM DASHBOARD AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
EMERGENCY BRAKE GOES RIGHT DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND DOES NOT HOLD VEHICLE ON INCLINE. FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITH ONLY 20000 MILES AND PADS ALSO REPLACED.
LOSS OF BRAKING OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH, DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
DIRT, SAND, AND MUD GETS ONTO THE ROTOR DISC AND THE BRAKE PADS AND CAUSES THE BRAKES TO SLIP AND ALSO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE MANUFACTURER ELIMINATED THE SHIELD ON THE INSIDE SO THAT DEBRIS CAN GET ONTO THE DISC AND PAD MUCH EASIER. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE ROTOR DISCS ARE WEARING PREMATURELY FROM THIS AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THE DISCS HAVE DEFECTIVE STEEL (AIR BUBBLES ENTRAPPED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE DISCS BECOME EXPOSED AT PITS THROUGH WEAR RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL BUILDUP OF DIRT AND WEAR).
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 .