Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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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 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 63 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 63, in the owner's own words
While driving all electrical systems fail, warning lights flash on and off, power steering and brakes fail, all lights go out. Can shift to neutral and restart, drive on until it repeats.
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH ON A TOWN ROAD AND THE CAR RANDOMLY SHUT OFF. THERE WAS A TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT THAT CAME ON. ALL ELECTRICAL STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION, POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE CAR. WHAT IF I WAS ON THE HIGH WAY? WHAT IF I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION? MY WIFE DRIVES MY 3 CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES THIS PAST WEEK. NEVER DID IT BEFORE. AND I'VE ALREADY HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED THAT DODGE SENT OUT A RECALL FOR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND WAS SLOW TO RESPOND. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SQUEALING NOISE DETECTED. THE PARKING BRAKE, TPMS, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOOR DETACHED FROM TRIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 221,000.
FRONT BRAKES STICK. HAVE REPLACED PADS, HOSES AND CALIPERS TO NO AVAIL.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON A SHALLOW LEFT-HAND CURVE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, COMING OUT OF THE CURVE, ALL THE SUDDEN THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE (LFB) BEGAN TO CHATTER AS THOUGH THE LFB ABS WAS ENGAGING. THE ESP BAS AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. THE VAN VIOLENTLY SWERVED TOWARDS THE ONCOMING LANE. LUCKLY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC COME AT ME. I WAS ABLE TO OVER CORRECT WITH THE STEERING AND REGAIN CONTROL. I TOOK THE VAN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHICH DIAGNOSED THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR INSIDE THE AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING TO BE BAD. IT WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING VAN STOPS NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES ENGINE STOPS ALL POWER IS LOST. THE ONLY CODE THAT APPEARS IS TRACTION CONTROL.
BROUGHT NEW IN 09, FRONT ROTORS CUT DUE TO SEVERE VIBRATIONS..WAS TOLD I WAS NOT DRIVING ENOUGH (NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE)1,700 MILES., BAD VIBRATION AGAIN IN FRONT ..ROTORS CUT FRONT AND REAR. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD FRONT BRAKES AND REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS ROTORS NEEDED REPLACING 12852 MILES, TOLD BY DEALER THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR!!!. I STARTED DOING MY OWN BRAKES AS I COULD NOT AFFORD THE DEALER ANYMORE AND THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN CHANGING THE BRAKES EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE, THIS IS CRAZY. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS CARS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS. I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AS THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER WAS BURNING UP AND WAS TOLD TO MY SURPRISE THEY SAID THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE SEIZED, THEY SAID THE FRONT CONTROLS THE REAR. THEY CHANGED THEM AND I PUT NEW ROTORS AND BRAKES ALL AROUND. REAR DRIVERS SIDE BURNING UP HOT AND BRAKES ALMOST TO METAL, TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD REAR CALIPERS NEEDED REPLACING. THEY CHANGED BOTH REAR CALIPERS AND I HAD THE REAR BRAKES REPLACE AGAIN. REAR DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER STARTED STICKING AGAIN BURNING HOT AND BRAKES WORN ALMOST TO METAL AGAIN, THEY REPLACED AND I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM 08-12 CARAVAN AND NONE OF THEM GOT ANY SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALER OR DODGE. I TOLD THE TECH ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS AND ALL HE COULD SAY IS "IF ITS BROKEN WE WILL FIX, AND THATS ALL HE CAN DO" WITH NO FURTHER EXPLANATION. I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE VAN HAS 62,000 MILES AND I REALLY DON'T WANT MY WIFE DRIVING THIS VAN ANYMORE WITH THE KIDS, I FEEL IT'S SO UNSAFE AND HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL ONCE MORE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH FORCE, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ABS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED WERE UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT 'S HEAD IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, SPRAINED NECK, AND BRUISES TO THE FEET, ANKLES, AND TOES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
MY GRAND CARAVAN HAS 121,000 MILES ON IT. I AM HAVING THE REAR CALIPERS REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. (AT 68K MILES, 98K MILES, NOW 121K MILES). EACH TIME THE CALIPERS HAVE SEIZED UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,021.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V373000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
UPON DRIVING I NOTICE THE BRAKES SEEMS TO BE STICKING AND OR CALIPERS SEIZING WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO CHANGING THE BRAKES /ROTORS MUCH SOONER THAN SUPPOSED TO ALSO BAD MPG ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING BETWEEN 18 K MILES 25 K MILES AND 38 K AND CURRENTLY 47 K MILES PLEASE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FROM CALIPERS STICKING AND BRAKING THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AND EATING THE PADS PREMATURELY THE CONCERNED CUSTOMER WILL WAIT FOR A RESPONSE BACK THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER WILL NOT TAKE THINGS SERIOUS UNTIL THEY WILL HAVE FATALITY ES THANKS MUCH. *TR
THIS VAN EATS BRAKES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE NUMEROUS REPAIRS TO MY BRAKING SYSTEM DONE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 25,000 MILES AT GREAT COST. BRAKE CALIPERS FREEZE UP, ROTORS WARP AND PADS WEAR OUT FROM HANGING UP. BRAKES THEN BECOME DIFFICULT TO MODULATE AND VIBRATION CAUSED BY ATTEMPTING TO STOP FROM INTERSTATE SPEEDS MAKE VEHICLE CONTROL DIFFICULT.
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN, WHILE ALSO LOSING ALL ABILITY TO STEER OR BRAKE. ALL POWER CONTROL TO STEERING, BRAKING AND MANEUVERING WAS LOST, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE DID NOT APPEAR TO SHUT OFF. THE FIRST INCIDENT CAUSED MY WIFE TO END UP IN A DITCH WITH THE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. CHRYSLER AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT SAY THIS IS RELATED TO THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V373000/ CHRYSLER L25 RECALL BECAUSE THE ENGINE DID NOT APPEAR TO SHUT OFF. WHETHER PART OF THE RECALL OR NOT, THESE PROBLEMS ARE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. ADDITIONALLY, CHRYSLER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL AND WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE AN AVAILABILITY ETA FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY CHRYSLER THAT I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, AND AS SUCH, THEY HOLD NO LIABILITY FOR ME DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE. *JS
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. WORST FIRST. HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, MAINTAIN VEHICLE FAITHFULLY. AT APPROX. 70 K MILES THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT POPPED ON. CHECKED OIL. WAS NOT REGISTERING ON STICK. OVER THREE QTS LOW! ENGINE CONTINUES TO USE 3-4 QTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (3000 MILES). VAN IS ON ITS THIRD SET OF BRAKES. TIRES HAVE TO BE ROTATED VERY OFTEN BECAUSE THE FRONT RUINS TIRES QUICKLY. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE KEY FOB TWICE. BOTH TIMES IT HAS LEFT US STRANDED WITH NO WARNING. VAN IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR BAD MOTOR MOUNTS. GAUGE CLUSTER HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. HEATER HOSE "Y" CONNECTION BLEW APART WHILE ON VACATION AT APPROX. 75K MILES. (ENGINE DID NOT OVERHEAT). VAN IS ON ITS THIRD OR FOURTH BATTERY. POWER SLIDING DOORS CONTINUALLY HAVE PROBLEMS CLOSING. POWER STEERING PUMP WHINES SINCE 15K MILES. VAN CURRENTLY HAS 91K MILES. *TR
MY VEHICLE TURNED OFF AS I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME MY VAN HAS DONE THIS. IT IS CAUSED BY THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE SITED IN THE L25 RECALL. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VAN ALONE OR USING IT TO TRANSPORT MY 4 CHILDREN. I AM SEEKING A LOANER VEHICLE FROM CHRYSLER UNTIL MINE IS FIXED. *TR
WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 35M/HR IN LOW TRAFFIC, VAN STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH, THEN ABS SIGNAL WENT ON AND BRAKES WERE OUT. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE STREET AND THE VAN HAD COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I HAD 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THANK GOODNESS WE WERE NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC WAS LOW. THE VAN RESTARTED AND WE DROVE HOME. CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO HAD ME GET THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT, WHICH IS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD. WE BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OCCASIONALLY THE VAN WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY, WAS STRANDED SEVERAL HOURS AT A BASEBALL GAME, THEN IT STARTED. HAD IT PUT ON COMPUTER AT MECHANIC WHO CANNOT FIND ANY CODES COMING UP FOR REASON. VAN HAS HAD AT LEAST 5 EPISODES OF FAILING TO START ON FIRST TRY. SECOND TIME THIS MONTH, OCT. 29,2014. PULLING TO TURNING LANE TO GO DOWN OUR HOME STREET, WHEN AGAIN, STEERING STIFFENED, I LOOKED AT DASH BOARD, ABS LIGHT CAME ON, BRAKES OUT AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING SO I STOPPED BEFORE TURNING AND RESTARTED VAN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAD MY DAUGHTER IN CAR. AGAIN, THANK GOOD NESS NOT ON BUSY STREET WITH TRAFFIC OR HIGHWAY. I TRAVEL A LOT WITH CHILDREN AND I AM NOW AFRAID THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND A SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE WILL HAPPEN. DODGE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS IMMEDIATELY. *TR
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES FOUR TIMES IN ABOUT TWO YEARS. *TR
MY VAN TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING IT NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THIS DATE. IT ALSO WONT START AT TIMES AND I AM STRANDED ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO 30 MINUTES.POWER STEERING GETS STUCK SOMETIMES AND WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES. *TR
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
THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AS IF THERE WAS A BLOWOUT OF A TIRE. *TR
DRIVING 45 MPH AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF LOSING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED. HAPPENED AGAIN TWICE 2 DAYS LATER. THOUGHT IT WAS BAD GAS. FILLED UP AND ADDED HEAT. SEEMED TO BE OK FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS, BUT STILL WAS RUNNING HARSH. ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN 5/20 AND THEN AGAIN ON 5/21. DID SEE BRIEFLY A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ONE OF THE OCCURRENCES OTHERWISE NO CLUES. HAD ALREADY FILLED UP TWICE SO RULED OUT GAS. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND THE ONLY CODE HE COULD PULL UP WAS THE EGR VALVE AND MAYBE THE SPARK PLUGS, BUT COULDN'T GUARANTEE THAT WAS THE CAUSE. REPLACED PLUGS AND VALVE AND SO FAR THE ENGINE HAS NOT SHUT OFF AND THAT INCLUDES ONE 1000 MILE RT, AND TWO 200 MILE RTS SINCE THEN, BUT I'M STILL NOT TOTALLY CONVINCED. HOWEVER AFTER READING ABOUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ENGINES SHUTTING OFF, I THOUGHT I BETTER LOG THIS FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND THE EXPENSE I PAID TO REPLACE THE EGR AND SPARK PLUGS. *TR
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
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