9.3
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $460
- Average Mileage:
- 69,700 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 3 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace rotors, pads, bearings & struts (2 reports)
- better quality brakes would help (1 reports)
Bought this 2004 Caravan second hand, one owner, you know old lady to church on Sunday. Had 24,000 miles.Great service for one year, then brakes started grinding.Checked pads, all gone. Fixed, one year later, grinding again..New rotors nad pads, akso inside bearings, struts and turn rotors. This year 2011, just got rotors replaced...Whatever, like I could change anything...
- bergberg1947, Ope, LA, US
My Dodge Caravan has rear drums & front calipers. rear drums are fine but front calipers are a major problem. The pads wear unevenly and the rotors eventually warp. I do my own brake jobs so my out of pocket costs haven't been too bad, I'm just annoyed with the poor quality of the brake design and Chrysler's refusal to correct it.This is my 3rd and last caravan- they all ate brakes, but this one is the worst. The company I work for leased about fifteen 09 Caravans and they all have problems with the brakes- two even had their tires fail from overheating after the dealer repaired the brakes. My company has now forced the lease company to take back the vans two years into a 5 year lease- we are going to Ford Escapes!
The only thing I have found that helps- NAPA Auto sells a set of pads made for the caravans that stop the uneven wear issue and improve wet brake issues. They also sell a heavier rotor assembly(expensive). It doesn't stop the warping, but they last much longer before they do.
Wish I could find some way to fit dual piston calipers on it- I feel that would solve the problem. Single piston calipers hang up too easily.
I am honestly surprised that Chrysler hasn't had a class action filed against them for this.
- James W., Hartford, CT, US
This vehicle goes through brakes too fast. I purchased this vehicle in August 2014 and the brakes were pretty good on the vehicle at time of purchase. Here we are 8 months later and I have had to change my brakes, change my rotors, and change my calipers. All of this was done on only the front end. The rear brakes seem to last much longer than the front.
- Brandy W., Crowley, LA, US