2006 Dodge Grand Caravan Brakes Problems

My complaint involves more than one incident...it is the braking system on this vehicle. One incident was in Panama City Beach, Florida. My entire braking system locked up and I had numerous items replaced. Another more recent incident happened in Alabama. My left front brake heated up to the point it smelled like the vehicle was on fire. I have had several calipers and rotors replaced, numerous brake pads and not all of these repairs has been done by the same garage. I read complaints from others about the manufacturers brake system is too small for this style vehicle. They have experienced the same problems I have had. I bought this vehicle in 2015 and I have 155,000 miles on it. I have had to replace a water pump and spark plugs and wires, regular oil changes, etc. The only real problem I have had has been the brakes. I have spent almost $3,500 on brakes alone. I would think the braking system could be a very hazardous situation in the traffic of today. Please help me and others who are experiencing this problem with the braking systems on the 2006 Dodge Grand Caravans. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11603521

Incident

Mar 27, 2024

TAKATA RECALL 1. THE KEY FOB, AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED REAR DOOR HATCH DOES NOT STAY OPEN WHEN USING THE KEY FOB OR MANUALLY OPENING THE HATCH DOOR. IT HAS CLOSED NEARLY UPON MYSELF - THE OWNER, AND OTHERS - WITHOUT WARNING WHEN STOPPED, MOTOR OFF AND LOADING OR UNLOADING ITEMS. THERE IS NO WAY TO ASSESS WHAT CAUSED THIS AS IT GETS BELOW NORMAL WEAR. SINGLE PARTY USE, NO KIDS. THIS INCIDENCE STARTED 12/12/2016 2. THE FRONT BRAKES MAKE A SCRAPING NOISE AND WOBBLING OF STEERING WHEEL UPON COMING TO A STOP. THIS WAS MENTIONED TO THE DEALER EARLIER THIS YEAR AND BRAKES, PADS AND ROTORS WERE CHECKED AT DEALER, AND IT WAS STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. NEW BRAKE PADS WERE INSTALLED IN 2013. THE CAR MILEAGE IS 85241 MILES. THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN ROTATED, ALIGNED. THE CAR HAS REGULAR, ROUTINE MAINTAINANCE, THE BRAKES STILL SCRAPES AND WOBBLES THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING INCIDENCE.

NHTSA ID

10937738

Incident

Dec 12, 2016

Mileage

85,214 mi

ANTILOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS SYSTEM WAS OFF LINE AND NOT OPERABLE. NEXT DAY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THAN WENT OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES PLACING THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM OFF THAN ON AGAIN. I BELIEVE THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM OF THIS DODGE CARAVAN WAS/IS DEFECTIVE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631993

Incident

Jan 29, 2014

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 08/28/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHILCE LOST ENGINE POWER, BRAKES, AND STEERING. UPDATED 09/2/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10607699

Incident

Jun 5, 2014

Mileage

69,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A PUBLIC ROAD AT 35-40 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY SLOWER ON A LEVEL ROAD EVEN AS THE ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED. AT THIS POINT I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WAS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN NORMAL AND THE PEDAL FELT VERY HARD. THE PROBLEM GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND CAR WAS BARELY ABLE TO LIMP HOME. IT FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING IN DEEP SAND. I COULD NOT GO FAST ENOUGH FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT FROM LOW GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS LIT ON THE DASH PANEL. AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, IT APPEARED THAT THE CAR HAD RETURNED TO NORMAL AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON FIRST INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. I ENCOURAGED THEM TO CALL THE FACTORY FOR POSSIBLE ENGINEERING BULLETINS. AFTER THREE DAYS IN THE SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FACTORY HAD DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO A FAULTY BRAKE BOOSTER WITH THE COST OF REPAIR ESTIMATED AT $800. I HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS PREVIOUSLY, WHICH HAD TOTALLY DISABLED THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD TO BE FLATBED TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO DEALER RESOLUTION SINCE, AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, THEY COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO REPEAT THE SITUATION DURING TEST DRIVES. I FEEL THAT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON OUR LOCAL INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MORE SERIOUS SITUATION, PARTICULARLY IF THE BRAKES HAD BOUND UP TIGHTLY, AND IT MAY BE A SAFETY-RELATED ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586309

Incident

Apr 29, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

MY WIFE RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE ON A 2006 DODGE CARAVAN, GETTING READY TO DRIVE IT. THE PARKING BRAKE FOOT PEDAL FLEW UP VERY HIGH, HITTING MY WIFE'S HAND, BREAKING A FINGER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10340702

Incident

Jun 28, 2010

Mileage

18,891 mi

OUR 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH LESS THE 28,000 FELT LIKE IT WOULD NOT FULLY STOP WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES. I ALREADY HAD THE FRONT BRAKES DONE AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALER ROUTINELY FOR OIL CHANGE AND INSPECTION. SO I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRES SINCE THEY WERE GREATLY WORN (WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE @ THIS MILEAGE) WE CHANGED ALL 4 TIRES. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TO GET THE AUTOMATIC DOOR FAILURE LOOKED @ THEY FOUND THE REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND WHEN THEY WENT TO CHANGE THE PADS AND MACHINE THE ROTORS IT WAS SO BAD THAT EVERYTHING STARTED BRAKING ON THEM . MECHANICS OWN DESCRIPTION ON RECEIPT " CK. BRAKES ARE SCRUBBING IN REAR ROTORS WERE RUSTED TO HUB. PINS FOR PARKING BRAKE SHOES TO BACKING PLATE BROKE WHEN TAKING OFF. REPLACED BRAKE PINS & 2 BROKEN WHEEL STUBS. CHRYSLER HAS NO RESPECT FOR CUSTOMERS SAFETY. TIRES AND BRAKES ARE WORTHLESS, AUTOMATIC DOORS MALFUNCTION ALL THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES! NOT TO MENTION THERE CARS ARE LEMONS WATER PUMP BROKEN, ISSUES WITH AIR BAG, ENGINE LIGHT ON (5 TIMES) AND AIR CONDITIONING ALL THIS WITH LESS THEN 28,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WHEN IS GOVERNMENT GOING TO STOP GIVING THESE THIEVES BAIL OUT MONEY AND GOING TO DEDICATE TIME TO KEEPING US SAFE AND NOT ALLOWING CAR MANUFACTURES TO RIP US OFF! I AM A MOTHER OF 4 AND FEAR FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY NOT TO MENTION THAT THESE RIP OFFS REALLY HURT FAMILY'S FINANCIALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312340

Incident

Feb 18, 2010

Mileage

27,803 mi

NEAR FAILURE IN THE BRAKES ON MY 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WENT IN TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED AND TOLD THAT THE FRONT BREAKS AND ROTORS WERE DANGEROUSLY WORN AND NEAR FAILURE. REARS WERE 80% WORN. BRAKES WERE JUST DONE LESS THAN 20K MILES AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296728

Incident

Dec 22, 2009

Mileage

55,000 mi

I WEEK AGO, MY 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STARTED TO MAKE AN INTERMITTENT BRAKE NOISE; THE BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK FINE. THE CAR HAS 44279 MILES. I CHECKED THE FRONT BRAKES AND DETERMINED THAT THE ORIGINAL BRAKES AND ROTORS SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW MASTER CYLINDER AND QUOTED $390.90 PLUS TAX FOR THE REPAIR. THIS WAS 27 FEB 2009, THE IS . I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP MAY 2007. MY COMPLAINT IS THE MASTER CYLINDER SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED THIS EARLY IN THE CARS LIFE. IS THERE ANY OTHER RECORD OF THIS OCCURRING FOR THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL YEAR? SHOULD THE MANUFACTURE OR DEALER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF THIS REPAIR? *TR

NHTSA ID

10260283

Incident

Feb 27, 2006

Mileage

44,279 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HUMMING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE HUMMING SOUND OCCURRED EVERYTIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WEARING BEFORE THE BRAKE PADS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,200. UPDATED 12/22/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/23/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10249015

Incident

Oct 17, 2008

Mileage

30,200 mi

BRAKES CONSTANTLY SQUEAK AND ROTORS HAVE UNEVEN WEAR. TOLD BY DEALER WHEN I TOOK IT IN THAT BRAKES WERE FINE AND STILL HAD A LONG LIFE THIS WAS AT 12,600MILES. AT 20,000 MILES PROBLEM WORST AND NOW MORE THAN ONE YEAR WITH VEHICLE TOLD IT NEED NEW PADS AND A LEFT(PASSENGER) CALIPER. TOTAL COST $396 PLUS TAX. THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, HAD EXPIRED. I REPLACE THE CALIPER ON MY OWN AND NEW PADS. NOW AT 36,000 MILES SAME PROBLEM ON DRIVERS FRONT SIDE NEEDS NEW PADS AND STUCK RIGHT CALIPER. I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM UP TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A BAD DRIVING HABIT CAUSING THIS. BOTH TIMES TOLD FIX IT ON MY OWN OR PAY US(DEALER) TO FIX IT. I THINK THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM, YET THE DEALER WILL NOT GIVE ME A WRITTEN ESTIMATE UNLESS I HAVE THEM DO THE WORK. SOMETHING SMELLS!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10226567

Incident

Jan 2, 2007

Mileage

12,600 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 -20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER, PISTON, AND ROTOR. THE FAILURE CEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WEARING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,500.

NHTSA ID

10215985

Incident

Jan 25, 2007

Mileage

21,000 mi

OUR BRAKES HAVE FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. I TOOK MY VAN BACK TO THE SHOP THAT REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS IN MAY. THEY TOLD ME THE CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE, AS THEY WERE UNDER WARRANTY I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THE NEW ROTORS THAT WERE PUT ON IN MAY WERE DEFECTIVE, THEY REFUSED REPAIRS AND CHARGED ME $50. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205834

Incident

Oct 6, 2007

Mileage

35,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE VEHICLE WAS MODIFIED WITH HAND CONTROLLED BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN DEPRESSED. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO AVOID A CRASH, BUT ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE MODIFICATION COMPANY EXAMINED THE BLACK BOX AND CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKES DID ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAGS. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 4,500.

NHTSA ID

10193052

Incident

Mar 31, 2007

Mileage

4,500 mi