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 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Brake lights turns off when parked and engine off. But even with the engine off and nobody in the car the brake lights turn on. A mechanic replaced brake light switch. Engine off and brake lights off. Later the brake lights turns on when engine off and nobody in the car. Replaced brake pedal assembly and still same problem. Is this a common problem with Dodge Grand Caravans? Mine is 2013 model.
Electrical system-intermittent failure. While driving or idling, the vehicle will randomly shut off. The vehicle has turned off randomly while being driven down the road with little to no warning, even while operating at high speed. When this happens, you are also left without power steering, ABS brakes, fuel pump, and literally anything that operates electrically. Sometimes it will turn right back on without the operator taking any action, but this is not always the case. There have also been times when it is not able to be turned back on for 20+ minutes. When it shuts down, power doors and windows are also inoperable and the side doors and back hatch cannot be opened either by pushbutton or manually, which compounds the risk of a serious collision with that of entrapment. This is especially dangerous given that they are a popular choice for families with children-like mine. My mechanic cited the problem as being the TIPM and said that this problem is endemic with these vans. A cursory internet search confirmed his claims. There are far too many anecdotes of people driving 80mph down the highway and all of a sudden having their vehicle stop operating completely while they are traveling at high speeds. This is a fatal accident (and huge products liability lawsuit) waiting to happen. A recall is absolutely imperative. My vehicle is available for assessment.
The TIPM fuse box under the hood has a malfunction which causes certain components to randomly start and stop working. This has caused the engine to stay running while the ignition is off, has caused the fuel pump to start and stop, has caused the ABS brake system to fail, and causes major component issues with lights and other electrical parts. This has been reported several times to Chrysler and Dodge for this year, but there is no recall or fix available.
The brake pedal when pressed does not reach the bottom, returns the foot. and does not stop I have to pump so that it brakes and does not turn on the brake light on the dashboard. It was checked by a private mechanic and he told me that it is very risky to drive the vehicle since in an emergency it will not stop. Even when I'm parking and I move the car it doesn't stop in a very short distance. It's like the brakes run out of air.
While driving at any speed there is a loss of power, and steering and brakes lock up.
Van will shut off without warning while driving on the freeway. Loss of power steering and brakes is a major safety issue! My wife had this happen twice now, both times in a near-miss accident on the freeway. There are no codes.
THE ENGINE IN THE VAN STALLED (SIMPLY SHUT OFF - DID NOT SPUTTER) WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED IN TRAFFIC. CONSEQUENTLY THE POWER ASSIST FOR THE STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. IN THAT SITUATION MY PHYSICALLY CHALLANGED WIFE WAS COMPLETELY UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VAN. THANKFULLY THE VAN ROLLED TO A STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE OR ANYTHING, OR GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND. AFTER PUTTING THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO "PARK" IT RESTARTED NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 15 MINUTES DURING THE SAME SHORT TRIP HOME. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS WHATSOVER BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ETC.) AN INTERNET SEARCH OF ABUNDANT IDENTICAL DODGE GRAND CARAVAN STALLING ISSUES INDICATES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS CURRENTLY TRYING TO EVADE - FOR FAR TOO MANY YEARS, TO THE DETRIMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
PULLING ONTO THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND EVEN WITH THE KEY IN THE ON POSITION THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. I REACHED ABOUT 5000 RPMS WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VAN WILL TRY TO TURN OVER FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AFTEE I STOP TRYING TO GET IT TO START.
I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT DOWN AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES, NEARLY LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD WAS FLAT AND STRAIGHT, CLEAR WEATHER CONDITIONS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECALL R03 (FORMERLY L25): IGNITION SWITCH MAY TURN OFF SAFETY PROBLEM ON OTHER CHRYSLER/DODGE MODELS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
LEFT SIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION, UNABLE TO OPEN IT NEITHER ELECTRIC OR MANUAL, NEITHER FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. THE ENGINE JUST TURNED ITSELF OFF IN FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, TWICE WHILE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION. GASKETS (Y CONECTOR BETWEEN HOSES) OF THE COOLING SYSTEM BLOWN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY , TOXIC ANTIFREEZE SPILLED OUT OF THE SYSTEM, DANGEROUS FOR PASSENGERS AND ENVIRONMENT. REAR CALIPERS JAMED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE AND UNUSUAL RUST. STEERING WHEEL JAMED FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING, BEING NECESSARY TO STOP THE CAR, TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND ON TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING(THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, AND IN THE CITY, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS). TRANSMISSION SHATTERS IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF DRIVING, BEFORE STOPPING,AFTER STOPPING, WHILE REDUCING THE SPEED OR ACCELERATING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, ONE OF THE BRAKE PADS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE TIRE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PAD WAS COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND PROTECTED BY A CALIPER ADAPTER TO AVOID UNEVEN WEARING OF THE PADS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. ...UPDATED 01/23/17 *BF
FRONT BRAKES ARE WEARING OUT UNUSUALLY FAST,(NOT LASTING A YEAR), ELECTRICAL OUTLETS STOPPED WORKING BRIEFLY, DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY
I HAD MY BRAKES CHANGED IN JANUARY WITH 49,000 MILES AND BY JUNE I HAD TO TAKE MY VAN BACK IN AND PADS WERE COMPLETELY GONE. SO IN 10,000 MILES I WENT THROUGH BRAKE PADS THAT SHOULD OF LASTED 50,000+ MILES. I HAD ALL ROTORS AND FRONT PADS CHANGED SINCE THE BACK WERE STILL GOOD FROM JANUARY AND ITS BEEN 2 WEEKS NOW AND MY BRAKES ARE SQUEALING ALMOST CONSTANTLY WHEN I AM BRAKING...NOT GRINDING YET BUT I AM SURE THATS COMING SOON!
LEFT YEAR BRAKE CALIPER SEIZED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO OVERHEAT. OCCURRED AT 34,000 MILES. REPAIR COSTS WERE $600. WITHIN TWO WEEKS IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SAME WHEEL. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM, TOP TO BOTTOM, TO SAFELY ACCEPT A MEN'S US SIZE 11.5 SHOE. WITH MY HEEL PLANTED ON THE FLOOR, I AM UNABLE TO FREELY PIVOT MY FOOT FROM THE THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE AND BACK AGAIN. THE TOP OF MY SHOE GETS FIRMLY STUCK TRYING TO MOVE BETWEEN THE TWO PEDALS. IF NOT COMPLETELY STUCK, MY FOOT MOTION IS IMPEDED AND SLOWED DOWN IN MANY OTHER WAYS. ONLY, WITH A LOT OF THOUGHT AND ADJUSTMENT OF MY FOOT AND HEEL POSITION AM I ABLE TO OPERATE THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT ALL. THIS LOW FOOT CLEARANCE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERS MY RESPONSE TIME WHEN I NEED TO HIT THE BRAKE IN AN EMERGENCY. IT REQUIRES A LOT OF EXTRA THOUGHT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AS WELL, TAKING ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE ROAD. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE (OR EVEN A THOUGHT) IN MANY YEARS OF DRIVING SEVERAL OTHER MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES. I OWN A 1999 GRAND CARAVAN THAT HAS PLENTY OF FOOT ROOM IN IT. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY NEED TO SPECIALLY POSITRON THEIR FOOT TO OPERATE THE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR. FOR SAFE DRIVING, REACTION TIME IS EVERYTHING. DODGE HAS DESIGNED THIS VEHICLE WITH CRAMPED FOOT-ROOM THAT CAN DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE TIME IT TAKES TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT THAT A FREELY AVAILABLE BRAKE PEDAL MAY HAVE AVOIDED. I HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEMS TESTING A NEWER DODGE CHARGER AND A CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. I AM MAKING THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS CRAMPED AND UNSAFE DESIGN IS A STANDARD THAT COVERS MANY CHRYSLER MAKES AND MODELS. THIS ISSUE AFFECTS ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY STARTING AND STOPPING THE VEHICLE. SEE 5 PICTURES WITH A SIZE 11.5 SHOE SHOWN. PICS 1-3 SHOW THE BRAKE POSITION AND HOW THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO PIVOT BACK ANY FARTHER FROM TO BRAKE. THE GAS POSITION SHOWS A NATURAL PIVOT POSITION WHEN GOING FROM THE GAS TO THE BRAKE. THE FOOT IS STUCK THERE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.
THE DODGE GRAND CARAVAN IS MADE WITH BRAKES THAT ARE TOO SMALL FOR A LARGE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKES TO WEAR OUT MORE QUICKLY THAN THEY WOULD WEAR OUT IF THE VAN WAS EQUIPPED WITH PROPER SIZE BRAKES FOR ITS WEIGHT. THE DODGE MINI VAN USES BRAKES THAT CARS 1/2 THE WEIGHT OF THE VAN USE. I BELIEVE THIS IS DONE INTENTIONALLY BY THE MANUFACTURER SO THE BRAKES WEAR OUT QUICKLY AND NEED REPLACEMENT MORE OFTEN THAN THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED IF THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED PROPERLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROTORS WERE DETERIORATING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,372.
WHEN I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE IT WAS OKAY THEN WHEN I STARTED DRIVING IT MORE AND MORE I DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO STOP I FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO ACCELERATE AND STOP ON ITS OWN AND IT FELL AS IF IT WAS DRIVING BY ITSELF I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH IT THAT'S THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED BUT IT FELT AS IF IT WAS CHANGING GEARS ON ITS OWN AND IT IS A MINIVAN WITH NO STICK SO I WAS FIGURING THAT THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY WRONG WITH IT AFTER READINGTHE REVIEWS I COME TO THE CONFIGURATION THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE NOW FOR OVER A YEAR AND FEEL THE SAME ISSUE AND THE VEHICLE I STARTED TO MAKE WEIRD NOISES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS IT IS STILL COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY BUT I'M NOT TOO SURE FOR HOW MUCH LONGER OR IF I COULD EVEN PICK UP THE COST IF IT WAS TO BREAK DOWN I AM TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED IN MY PURCHASE AND WILL NOT BUYA DODGE AGAIN TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED. *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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