7.9

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$450
Average Mileage:
30,450 miles
Total Complaints:
120 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace calipers, rotors & pads (54 reports)
  2. replace brake pads (32 reports)
  3. not sure (12 reports)
  4. Dodge refused to cover the cost & lost customer forever (11 reports)
  5. replaced pads & turned rotors (5 reports)
  6. Dodge fixed without charge!! (4 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Dodge dealer.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #80

Dec 062010

Grand Caravan 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,000 miles

We have had this 2008 caravan 11 months... We replaced the brakes and had the rotors turned 3 months ago... Now here we are its time to do it all over again... I hardly drive the car... I'm a stay at home mom... So its not driven all the time... I absolutely can not believe I have to pay for this again... Where is the recall....

- Misty J., Snohomish, WA, US

problem #79

Jan 242011

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,311 miles

Disgusting junk! I cant wait to get rid of this frigging, gas guzzling, brake eating box! Owned this for not even a year and the rear brakes are metal to metal. I am a single mom with my three boys and don't have money to be feeding chrysler.I have to buy milk instead!

Worst purchase I have ever made. Experienced the same with the Magnum, and traded it in and got this piece of turd! I am not paying for this, Chrysler will be.

- pattacake35, Toronto, ON, canada

problem #78

Apr 012010

Grand Caravan LX 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Had a complete brake replacement at 40,000 miles. Wasn't covered under warranty due to mileage. Then got letter from Chrysler saying there was potential brake problems but wasn't a recall. I sent them a copy of my repair bill and they politely called me back and said they wouldn't pay for it. I at least asked them to give me a credit I could use towards a new van purchase. They refused that compromise as well. Chrysler knows they have a bad batch of brakes in those models. It stinks that they won't compromise something

- Charles H., Oregon, WI, US

problem #77

Nov 122010

Grand Caravan SXT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

need rear brakes went to midas had them do rotors and pads they pulled it out of the bay and now no brake pedal pressure right to the floor,they looked at it for awhile and couldn't figure it out and told me to tow it to the dealership.okay at the dealership the told me i needed front brakes and rotors i said i just had them done 8 months ago here he said ok lets put new ones on anyway ,ok they told me to come and get it still no pedal pressure,ok now they say midas screwed up calipers ok new calipers still no pedal pressure now its the master cylinder and its on back order may take several weeks are you kidding simple brake job gone tottaly wrong had brakes before i went there now i don't. why

- kier, East Rochester, NY, US

problem #76

Jul 152009

Grand Caravan 3.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,670 miles

fixed brakes and rotors in july 2009 22000 km have the same trouble now nov 20 2010 at57000 km it will cost around 8 or 9 hundred to fix very troblesome and costly this is a big problem

- ryles, Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada

problem #75

Sep 012008

Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles

This thing eats pads like crazy!!! WTF I have replaced the pads 3 time. It now has 45,000 and the lease is up. It need pads on the front again. F*ck it. They can replaced them.

This was one of many problems we have had on this van. It is a shame. These vans have the best features but they are made so cheap. We chose Chrysler (before the second buyout) to help America. To hell with that. We are buying a used Honda Odyssey when our lease it up. They may not have all the same features but they are built much much better. Shame on you Chrysler. You can do better.

- Jay V., Oakwood, OH, US

problem #74

Nov 042010

Grand Caravan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,200 miles

I was told in August 2010 that my front brakes were very lo and that the back brakes were still ok. I received the extended warranty letter stating it wold cost $100.00 deductible up to 36,000 miles to fix the front brakes. As I was gong to drive to Florida in October I had the front brakes replaced on 10-1-10 at which time the back brakes were checked again they still were ok. On 11-4-10 I started to hear a humming or screeching sound.I took it to the Dodge dealer where I faithfully have my van maintained and the service person said hat the back brakes were shot ad the rotors were gone and needed to be replaced. I thing this is awful since I only have 32,200 miles on my van. I never owned a car or van where brakes and rotors went like this. This problem should be covered by dodge since its seems its a problem they are having in several grand caravans. I love my van and I am not rich especially in todays economy. Please help! This repair cost me $374.00

- mjsadovynj, Trenton, NJ, US

problem #73

Jan 282010

Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,855 miles

Noticed a grinding sound up front approx 7 months after I got the van. Got new pads from NAPA and then when I removed the caliper on both side and measured the rotors for thickness noticed they too were out of spec. So I had to run back in and get 2 rotors. Easy jobs to do but a pain in the rear to do so soon.

Sometime in the late winter of 2010 I thought I'd have a look at the back brakes and I did and found out that those pads and rotors needed replacing. Again an easy enough job to do but a pain in the rear. THAT BEING SAID I DIDN'T KNOW THE REAR BRAKE PISTON IN THE CALIPER IS A SCREW TYPE PISTON AND MUST BE SCREWED IN TO RETRACT IT AND HAVING THE SPECIAL TOOL IS HANDY HOWEVER NOT NEEDED AS I JUST USED A PAIR OF NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS DUE TO IT BEING 1130 AT NIGHT WHEN I WAS DOING IT.

So sometime in early September of 2010 I had the front drivers side brake pads stick and cause the rotor, rim and tire to heat up very very hot! Got home let it cool and took it apart to inspect, piston retracted with the ol' c clamp with ease and the pads were cracked from overheating. Ordered in some pads from NAPA again and had to let it ride as was until I could get around to fixing it again. The caliper locked on again a few days later and then let off on its own. So I ordered in a new caliper assembly and changed that and the pads and things are braking smooth now. Knock on wood hopefully it continues that way.

Overall, this braking business is a major pain in the ass and for whatever reason it hasn't cleared itself up yet. Hoping that the Master cylinder isn't next (Sh*t I shouldn't have said anything lol.)

- josephalberta, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada

problem #72

Nov 072010

Grand Caravan SE 3.3

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles

13,000 miles and all four pads and rotors went. I heard squealing and reported it to my local Monro Muffler Brake. They said probably just a pebble in there with only 13,000 miles. They and I were shocked to find all four pads gone and rotors shot. It's hard to believe. What a piece of junk this car is. No wonder Chrysler is going under. My other car is Korean. I try to buy American for at least one vehicle out of a sense of patriotism, but NEVER a Chrysler product again! Ford and maybe GM for me from now on. Loved my Ford Fusion!

- idon'tlearn, Rochester, NY, US

problem #71

Aug 132010

(reported on)

Grand Caravan 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,552 miles

MY VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKES WORE OUT AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, I PAID FOR THIS BECAUSE MY DEALER WOULD NOT, HE MADE UP A STUPID EXCUSE, REAL POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I PHONED CHRYSLER CANADA AND THEY COVERED THE MOST OF THE COST AND COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE BRAKES WORN OUT SO SOON.

2010 AUGUST 9 WENT TO DEALER BECAUSE OF BRAKES MAKING A NOISE. HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED, COVERED BY A DEAL WITH CHRYSLER, VAN HAS 40000KM ON IT, THE DEALER SAID NO MORE WARRANTY TO COVER THIS AGAIN. EVERYBODY WHO OWNS A DODGE VAN CAN NOW EXPECT TO PAY $900.00 TO $1200 PER YEAR FOR NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VAN AND A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY. MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO LET THE GENERAL DODGE BUYING PUBLIC KNOW HOW COSTLY AND DANGERS THESE VAN ARE.

- stickles, Fredericton, N.B, Canada

problem #70

Oct 302010

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,000 miles

My wife and I purchased our new van at the end of 2007. It was our first new car we have ever had and probably my last. I will never buy another Dodge van again that's for sure. From the start we had problems with the auto sliding doors, got this fixed and it started back again, not that big of a deal. Well at 17000 miles my wife said her brakes were squealing. Well being the man I am I just figured she was overreacting and they had dust or dirt in them ( we live down a dirt road) Well two days later she pulled in the yard and had metal covering the front rims were the brakes were metal to metal! AT first I thought to myself, well she is just hard on brakes. She was leaving to go out of town that afternoon so instead of waiting around at the dealership I went and got pads and rotors and put them on, not hard to do , I did this for a living for 7 years before my current job. They lasted six thousand miles and I had to do it again! At this point I knew it was something with the car and not my wife. I am on the set number 5 on the front with 38000 miles showing! I have also had to put a set on the back at 260000. The last set didn't last 6000 miles. I can't get rid of it because I am way upside down on it, this is so frustrating, I am going up to the dealer I bought it from on Tuesday to see what they will do.

- Wesley G., Orangeburg, SC, US

problem #69

Oct 102010

Grand Caravan Stow And Go

  • 27,962 miles

Less then 50000 km 3 set of brake pads and all 4 rotors replaced......never again will we buy a dodge .Its a bit f*king st

- Dave B., Deer Lake, NL, Canada

problem #68

Sep 222010

Grand Caravan 3.3L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,529 miles

Replaced front brakes Nov. 2009 (pads, rotors, calilper, etc) $759.00; mechanic said poor quality brakes.

Phoned Dodge Canada - rear brakes (pads, rotors, caliper, etc.) repaired Sep. 22/2010. 41,085 km. I explained the brakes were squelling 6 wks ago, my father died August 12 and our son died August 22, 2010. Also, we have a handicapped daughter which I have had to drive everyday because DATS was not available as yet for her transportation needs. We bought a new van so that I would be able to accommodate both my father and our handicapped daughter. They said I was 1085 km over the limit. I told them if I would have had the opportunity to fix the brakes 6 wks ago, I would have done so. I can send the death certificates plus authorization about DATS for our daughter. There was absolutely no compassion. Fixing a car was not high on my priority list, especially since I thought we had the brake problem fixed a year ago; I did not realize the back brakes now needed fixing. We will never deal with DODGE again. Why did I replace my Montana van?

- Marlayne N., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

problem #67

Aug 112009

Grand Caravan LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,000 miles

My brake pad wore out at 21000 mi took it to the dealer they said it was not covered under warenty So I baught the parts at auto zone and fixed it my self. They wore out again at 42000 miles. I did the same. and again at 65000 mi. This time they explained that the new roters I was buying are designed for the ceramic pads I am putting on and they shouldn't wear down so fast. So far so good. 80000 miles not showing much wear.

I'm told this problem is caused by Dodge using the rotors designed for asbestos pads with ceramic pads. sence asbestis has been outlawed. This has been a real pain in the ass for me I hope dodge does better in the future.

- Drew D., Waxahachie, TX, US

problem #66

Jul 242010

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,000 miles

Well this is set # 3 including factory set. The back brakes were just about paper thin. for the small price of around $350 dollars in parts and the work of a friend. All rotors and pads were changed. And the fun continues.

- Thomas W., Covington, LA, US

problem #65

Aug 302010

Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

My car was inspected in December 2009 (23000 miles) and I was worried that I would need new brakes and rotors after reading posts on this forum. At the time, I was told that my breaks looked "good as new" - I'm usually pretty gentile with vehicles and their brakes, so I thought I got a good set. Fast forward 8 months and 8000 miles, and I was told that both front brakes and rotors were shot. I was pretty surprised as my driving habits have not changed. Fortunately Chrysler offered a "Front Brake Limited Warranty Extension" which allows front brakes and rotors to be replaced with a $50 deductible for vans with 12k-24k miles/12 - 24 months, or with a $100 deductible for vans with 24k-36k miles/24-36 months.

- disneyroadtrips, Forty Fort, PA, US

problem #64

Aug 272010

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,462 miles

O.K., so I replace my brakes, and rotors at 18000 and now they are shaking and making a squek noise at 25400. Is this normal??? There is a definate problem here.

- crapvan, Totowa, NJ, US

problem #63

Dec 102009

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

I drive my boys to school and then go to work, it is a 5 mile trip every day. How could breaks only last for 18000???? There really has to be something wrong with the way this van made for breaks to go this quickly on your vehicle.

- crapvan, Totowa, NJ, US

problem #62

Jan 082009

Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,000 miles

Original brakes completely gone at 24K miles!?! Really?!? Worst car I've ever owned. It's not like we stomp the brakes and slide to a stop every chance we get.

- firstandlastdodge, Williamsburg, VA, US

problem #61

Jun 202010

Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles

First set of brakes lasted less than 25K. Second set lasted almost 30K. Will not keep this van long enough to put another set on it. This is ridiculous.

- firstandlastdodge, Williamsburg, VA, US

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