1998 Dodge Grand Caravan Brakes Problems

Your brake system failed while driving on a city street, leaving you with almost no braking power. A repair shop diagnosed a ruptured brake line and found heavy corrosion on other brake lines as well. You were able to stop at a traffic light and drive slowly to the shop without a collision. The repair involved replacing all the hydraulic brake lines.

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.

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

THREE MONTHS AFTER INSTALLATION OF A NEW EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE, THE CABLE BROKE AND VEHICLE HAD A RUNAWAY. *LA TWO CABLES ON THE SAME SIDE BROKE IN THREE MONTHS. TWO DEALERS SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM WILL CONTINUE TO RECUR. (DODGE DUALLY) *SC

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

PARKING BRAKE RELEASED IT SELF WHILE PERFORMING TRANSMISSION OIL CHECK. *AK

BRAKING DISTANCE IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE, MOSTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT SPEEDS OF 60-65 MPH. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES, DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

WHEN APPYLING BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS STOPPED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *YH

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, SMOKE CAME FROM BRAKES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALSO, WHEN GEAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

SUDDEN STOPS RESULT IN GRINDING NOISES FROM THE ABS SYSTEM. NOTICED COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS.

EXITING HIGHWAY AT 43 MPH DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL 2 TIMES WITH NO BRAKING ACTION OBSERVED. SLOWED TO 35 MPH AND TRIED PEDAL 1 MORE TIME WITH NO STOPPING ACTION. USED TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMPRESSION TO SLOW VEHICLE. COASTED TO A STOP AND NOTICED SMOKE EMINATING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WITH THE "SMELL" OF BRAKES PREVALENT. NO INTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT ANY TIME. FIX: REPLACED REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AND SHOES (EXCESSIVE WEAR NOTED), AND DRUMS TURNED. PROBABLE CAUSE UNIDENTIFIED (EXCESSIVE WEAR UNUSUAL FOR HIGHWAY MILES DRIVEN - FRONT BRAKES ALL NORMAL) FELT TO ME LIKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE WITH RESULTING ZERO PRESSURE IN SYSTEM AND NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. *AK

AT 45,000 MILES BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RIVETS DIGGING INTO ROTORS. BRAKES WEAR OUT QUICKLY, BUT DEALER SAYS THAT THEY ARE NORMAL. *AK *ML

BKS FAILED IN NOV1999(19KMILES)RPLCD DVR ROTORS, PADS, CALIPER STICKING, DEALER GREASED WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, BACK BKS W/N ENGAGE,ADJTD. FEB2000(25.5K ML) FRT PADS WORN, CALIPER POPS WHEN PEDAL RELEASED. DEALER GREASED. MAY2000 BKS FAILED TO WORK, CUASED ACIDENT, DLR CLAIMS NOTHING WRONG. JUN2000 FAILED SAFTY TEST DUE TO REAR BRAKES NOT ENGAGING. *AK

CONSUMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISON, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, BRAKES DID NOT WORK, CAUSING HER TO HAVE HEAD-ON COLLISION. *AK *ML

FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPED AT 4700 MILES AND 27700 MILES AGAIN, AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE PADS. BRAKES ALSO PULLED TO THE LEFT, BUT DEALER NEVER COULD FIX THEM. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES ON NEW VEHICLE THE BRAKE PULLING TO THE LEFT FADED AWAY. *AK

EMERGENCY PARK BRAKE DID NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY; DRIVEN APPROX 1 MI UNTIL REAR RIGHT WHEEL LOCK-UP; SUBSEQUENT BOTH REAR DRUMS WARPED, SHOES RUINED- BOTH REAR DRUMS AND SHOES REPLACED AT COST OF $330.00. *AK

RIGHT REAR HYDRAULIC WHEEL CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF BREAKING POWER. THIS CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT DISC PADS WHICH RESULTED IN OVERHEATING AND WARPAGE OF FRONT ROTORS. REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED AS WERE FRONT DISC PADS AND ROTORS TURNED. DEALER STATED WEAR ON BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 12000 MILES.

NOT ONLY DID THE FRONT BRAKES FAIL AT 27,000 AND THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO WARRANTY THEM, THE DRIVER SIDE ROTORS ALSO FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. NO BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. *AK

THERE IS EXTREME PEDAL PRESSURE WHEN TRYING TO STOP, THE BRAKES AND WHEELS OVERHEAT, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE STICKS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. BRAKE REPLACED TO SOLVE LOCKING UP PROBLEM, BUT NEW BRAKES REQUIRE MORE PRESSURE, BRAKES FAIL AFTER EXTENDED DRIVING, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE NO LONGER WORKS. *AK *ML

FROZEN PISTON IN CALIPER CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON BRAKE PAD AND DAMAGED ROTOR. YH

MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER SEALS FAILED, RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE. YH

DESCENDING MOUNTAIN OUT OF YOSEMITE. FRONT BRAKES OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE. FLAMES VISIBLE THROUGH WHEEL SPOKES ON BOTH LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEELS. PUT OUT FIRE WITH WATER. VALVE COVER ON TIRE STEM MELTED BUT NO OTHER USER VISIBLE DAMAGE. DEALER INSPECTED BRAKES AND ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES TO HANDLE MORE LOAD, SAID EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS OK. I BELIEVE ANYTIME NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSES FLAMES IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

DRIVER EXPERIENCES RANDOM LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. QUICK RELEASE AND PUSHING ON BRAKE REGAINS PEDAL PRESSURE.