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 #20

Apr 182009

Grand Caravan CE 3.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

As a proud Dodge owner of Grand Caravan 2000, I didn’t consider any other maker, but Dodge. Surprisingly, at the first turn out from the dealership, the blinker leaver did not return back, and kept on blinking. They fixed it. As I tried to adjust the mirrors – no adjustment from the inside! And this is not the lower package!

After less then 20,000 Km, I had to replace the brakes pads!

- mordechayzon, Thornhill, ON, Canada

problem #19

Aug 202009

Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

My Dodge Caravan has 26,000 miles on it. I went to get the oil changed (this time at adifferent location since the dealer lost their Dodge affiliation) and they told me there was only 6000 miles left on the brake pads. I just had the brake pads replaced and the roters resurfaced 6 months ago at 16,000 miles. Replacing brakes every 16,000 miles is totally unacceptable. Before it was just front brakes, now its all four wheels. There is something wrong with this picture.

- tsofky, Louisville, KY, US

problem #18

Aug 222009

Grand Caravan SE 3.3L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,400 miles

We've had this Piece for 14 months with only 10,400 miles on it and the front brakes went out. Called the dealer and warranty only covers parts for 12,000 miles or one year. We're Two months over the end of the warranty. This really burns!!!! There is no way we should have to pay almost $300 to fix the brakes on a car with 10,000 miles!!!

I will NEVER buy another Chrysler product as long as they're around! Cause at the rate this company is going they will go out of business before I go! Which is really sad to say because this is our 3rd Chrysler vehicle in 6 years.

- D S., Sacramento, CA, US

problem #17

Nov 282008

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,427 miles

Under lease at less than 20,000 km...not covered by warranty....no squealer noise....had to replace the front rotors and breaks just before Christmas! Single mom with 6 kids and I decided to lease so that I could not have to worry about this type of thing.....$450.00 later...I was devastated! Then 3 months later the back brakes and rotors went.....another $450.00....but wait theres more....power steering fluid pump blows...can't get to work...they didn't have a loaner vehicle available....thank goodness it was a recall...so they covered the parts and labour....but they didn't cover my day lost at work. Took them a week to fix it! Thank goodness they eventually came up with a loaner....But wait theres more....the accelerator is sticking to the floor....I moved the mat....happened 4 times for me and 3 times for my friend....took it in...they took it on a test drive....said the problem didn't duplicate for them....so its fine....I asked, "that's it...well are you going to be responsible if something happens to me or one of my 6 kids...." They stated...."Not our problem...we are not legally responsible...we didn't make the car!"....that was the dealerships statement!!!!!! Ask me how safe I feel driving a Dodge Caravan....let alone letting one of my kids....NOT AT ALL!!!!!!!!

- kbassett, London, ON, Canada

problem #16

Aug 242009

Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

I bought my first and last Chrysler product last year.. A 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan.

We bought it used as a Certified Pre Owned from a Dodge dealer with 18,000 miles on it for what we thought was a fair price. One year and 10,000 miles later the trouble begins....My wife was driving the van and all of the power accessories stopped working.. A trip to the dealer and they replaced a Totally Integrated Power module (sounds like an expensive part) under warranty.

2 weeks later the rear A/C stopped working and the brakes are making a sqealing noise..We took it to the dealer once again and they found a broken wire going to the fan motor( how did that happen?) and I also need all new brakes on the rear including pads and rotors for a cost of almost $500. I have had literally 50 cars in my life and have never had to replace rear brakes at 28,000 miles , in fact I have gone over 100,000 miles on rear brakes...they insist that this is not covered under warranty as brakes are a maintenance item.Seems totally unreasonable to me.. I had them repair the A/C under warranty and told them to leave the brakes. I have been working on my own cars for over 30 years and I have better than average mechanical ability.( I have completly restored my 68 Camaro by myself in my garage from the frame up) I decided to replace the brakes myself as pads were only $38 at the local Pep Boys, and rotors if needed are about $50 each. I took apart the brakes and discovered that the pads were only just down to the wear indicator and were not down to the metal. The rotors were very lightly grooved (normal wear) and well within tolerance to be machined at the local Machine shop for $15 each. The bottom line is the dealer lied to me, telling me that the brake pads were into the metal and wore a very deep groove into the rotors...Totally untrue!! The total cost to replace pads and machine the rotors was under $100..

- Todd S., Lake Forest, CA, US

problem #15

Aug 202009

Grand Caravan LX V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,300 miles

Here is what I'm going to send Dodge on their webpage. Wish me luck!!! Last year we purchased a new 2008 Dodge Caravan (van) from Frank Kent Motor Company, a Dodge Dealer. This was in mid-August. Our van has run pretty well and other than a few minor items that needed repair - interior - we've been pleased with it. Until last week. At 23,000 miles, BOTH front rotors had to be replaced and one of them had a small shallow groove in it, from the brake pad wearing against it - the metal backing of the brakepad. To have this done, it cost us a little over $550 total at Moritz Chrysler - Frank Kent is no longer a Chrysler-Dodge dealer. My wife and I have owned many vehicles since 1974 and I did a lot of the work on them myself, before I became disabled. I never owned or worked on any vehicle - including US Army ones - that needed any type of brake repair or replacement before the vehicle had reached 50,000 miles on the Odometer. Many vehicles reached 75,000 miles before needing brake work done on them. I have owned several Chrysler vehicles - from Dodge Dart, to Cherokee Jeep, to Dodge Colt and I've never seen anything like this at all! As a matter of fact, since my Marriage (8 years ago), my wife and I have owned 4 Chrysler vehicles. My wife is the sole driver and she treats our vehicle(s) very carefully. After some extensive research online, as well as talking with several different mechanics and car repair shops, I learned that this is an ONGOING thing with the 2008 Dodge Caravan. I guess maybe I consider myself 'fortunate' (if you could call it that) that our van made it to 23,000 miles before burning out the front brakes. Every single shop I talked with - the owners - said that this is CONSISTENT with the 2008 models that Dodge sold that year. Some van owners had front brake replacements after only 7,000 miles. The shop mechanic told me that the Master Brake Cylinder is designed to make the vehicle use the front brakes much more than the rear ones and it is NON-adjustable. This is UNSAT. It is also a FACTORY DEFECT and should be corrected with a recall. It is ridiculous to market a product with such SHODDY workmanship. I would personally be embarrassed that my name would be on such a product. Chrysler is supposed to be 'a vibrant new company emerging out of bankruptcy with a new and improved product', as we've been hearing on the news and in the advertisements. This is wrong. If you don't believe me, then visit: www.carcomplaints.com and search for "2008 Dodge Van Brake Repair" and you will see what I mean. Or use Google Search Engine for the same results. I am surprised that a Recall or Class Action Lawsuit has not been filed before now. However - and this is no threat, it is a promise - I am going to investigate possible class action regarding this matter unless I receive some kind of response from Chrysler to this letter. I wrote a letter to Chrysler last year about some other Customer Service problem and it was totally IGNORED. At this point in time, I am NOT impressed with either Customer Service, nor the product(s) that Chrysler sells. I'm not even going to discuss the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee we owned that kept cutting off and no other Chrysler Dealer in this area would touch it. The one that did, gave up after 3 trips to his shop in less than 3 months and told us "You're chasing a ghost and we're unable to figure out what's wrong with your vehicle. Don't bring it back to us because we CAN'T fix it." Up until this point, we had decided that we were going to stick with Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge vehicles 'for life', as we had been very satisfied with the vehicles we'd owned before the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Regardless, this will be the very LAST Chrysler product we will ever buy - unless something positive comes as a result of this letter to your corporation. I've already let family and friends know what has happened with both the 2004 Jeep Cherokee as well as this latest mess with the 2008 Dodge Caravan and they have decided they will not be visiting a Chrysler dealership anytime soon, either. Sincerely,

- madragana, Cresson, TX, US

problem #14

Jul 252009

Grand Caravan SE 3.3L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,166 miles

I got better mileage on my other Doge Caravans (1996,2001,2004) on what I am told are the same brake pads. I am loosing confidence in the Chrysler products. Family members had a similar problem on their vans.

- Aurel B., Pickering, Ontario, Canada

problem #13

Jul 152009

Grand Caravan 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,534 miles

The actual car is owned by my son-in law. Purchased new august 08. Same problem as discussed by other complaints. No assistance from Chrysler on repair bill. Also said back brakes only have 15% left on them. I am 60 years old and drove American made cars for years but never again. This van ia a piece of crap and just shows that this company should not have been given any bailout funds which they got recently. The brakes will be repaired and then the vehicle sold and of course the replacement vechile will not be a Chrysler.

- diamondon, Hamilton, ON, Canada

problem #12

Jun 092009

Grand Caravan SXT 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,000 miles

I have 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. I have had to replace front pads and rotors turned at 23000 miles not covered by warranty. Then the rear caliper guide pin gets sticks and ruins my pads and a rotor. Dodge told me not covered under the warranty that was with 27000 miles.

- Stacy R., Pierceville, KS, US

problem #11

Jul 012009

Grand Caravan Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles

This van SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Original plan was to purchase at end of lease or purchase another dodge van- NOT going to happen... Brakes completely gone at 15k miles, sliding door broken 2X's already, air conditioning has NEVER worked (last summer when the vehicle was brand new it "just needed a charge"- then only slightly cool air come out, this summer it has not worked at all.

Van is a TOTAL PIECE OF CRAP!!!!!

- Nicole N., Sterling Heights, MI, US

problem #10

Oct 152008

Grand Caravan SXT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,000 miles

I also had/have problems with my brakes. I had no warning I could not believe when the service station showed me my brakes on my new van not even scratch or a spill yet and yes they are all highway miles. I went to the customer service and picked up the brakes and had a friend change them. My car is currently at Dodge Service for the A/C and check-up so lets see what they find. Really disappointed with the Van I love it I just wish the parts and a/c and electronics would not break so quickly.

- Lynette S., Odenton, MD, US

problem #9

Jun 182009

Grand Caravan

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,000 miles

At 14000 miles my front brake pads and rotors had to be replaced as they were completely worn out. All Chrysler would say to me was that it was out of warranty after 12000 miles. I have a 2006 vehicle with 36000 miles on it and all of the brakes work great and it is not a Chrysler. Where is the recall on the 2008 Dodge Caravans?????

- Ronald L., Rockford, IL, US

problem #8

May 072009

Grand Caravan 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,000 miles

Brakes were worn out at 34,000 miles and 90% of our commute is highway miles. The brakes and rotors were replaced under warranty because one of the pads (drivers front inside) was metal to metal while the others were about 1/4". Now the van is back at the dealer shop getting the transmission rebuilt because there are 58 factory tranny's on back order. They also have to look at the brakes again because the drivers front rotor has a groove cut in it already even though the pad and rotor only have about 6000 miles on them since being replaced.

Update from Mar 12, 2010: Just had the van in the shop today at 62,000 miles to have the hub bearing and and gear shift cable replaced and they told me my front brakes and rotors need to be changed again! Piece of junk! Next vehicle will definitely not be a Dodge or Chrysler product! They have went to crap!

- mdennis, Maple Hill, KS, US

problem #7

May 022009

Grand Caravan SE 3.3L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,346 miles

click to see larger images

premature brake failure premature brake failure premature brake failure

The brakes were grinding on a 15 month old brand new off the lot vehicle. I brought it in for repair, assuming this is covered under warranty. Nope!

They lied to me and told me that the sound was just the 'squealer' indicating the brakes were getting low then told me it was going to be about $300 to repair. I chose to drive it home to repair it myself since I can get parts at a reasonable price.

It turns out that the brakes were completely worn out, and worn out unevenly. The squealer was never reached on the pad so there was no warning. The outside pad, which has no squealer, had worn down to nothing and was grinding on the rotor.

I couldn't get rotors for my van because they aren't available. Who manufactures rotors for a one year old vehicle? NO ONE!

I talked about this nonsense to the service manager at my dealer and he was not willing to pay for the repair. After some discussion he agreed to talk to Chrysler and then agree to do the repair for the cost of one rotor at $106. I'm sure the mark up on this part is at least 50%!! So Chrysler is still making money on me!

Chrysler provides no service to anyone. I love the interior of the van, but I hate the fact that it's a piece of junk that is falling apart after just over a year!!

- Christopher D., Burnaby, BC, Canada

problem #6

Jun 032009

Grand Caravan SXT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 25,000 miles

Took the van into the dealer last week for an oil change. They told me I needed new front break pads and that the left front rotor was metal on metal, ruined and needed to be replaced. I thought this was a little strange given the low mileage. I then started having flashbacks to when I purchased my new 2000 Ford Focus years ago and was in the shop getting rotors replaced every 30,000 miles, for which there was eventually a class action suit and recall. However, now the problem has been compounded by the fact that Chrysler is bankrupt and they can't even get the break pads. They're on "national back-order" and were supposedly shipped last week (according to the computer screen) but nothing has shown up and they can't find anyone locally that has them. And of course, the pads and rotors are "wear items" and not under warranty. Went through the same thing with Ford. Maybe Fiat will be a little more understanding. I guess I'm just a fool for trying to support an American brand... which is kind of silly since 95% of the car was probably manufactured out of the country. So I guess all I'm really supporting are the fat cat execs who probably drive Beamers and Porsche's...

- erick, Sacramento, CA, US

problem #5

Apr 132009

Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,860 miles

I'm very unhappy with Chrysler! I can understand having to replace the brake pads after 18,860 miles. However, it is absolutely ridiculous to need brand new rotors at this kind of mileage.

My wife took the minivan into a local repair shop. They were appalled by the condition of the brakes and after reviewing the mileage on the vehicle, suggested she call the local Chrysler dealership. They even offered to tow the vehicle to the dealership.

It would have been a waste....The Chrysler dealership said the brakes are only covered for 12,000 miles. They really didn't want to talk about the fact we needed new rotors after less than 19,000 miles.

FACT: In Chryslers effort to reduce cost, they continue to increase their parts purchases with LCC's (Low Cost Countries) such as China. In many cases, these low cost countries use inferior materials and manufacturing processes in their products. Also, these same countries are not subject to the same stringent quality requirements of U.S. suppliers. Trust me, I know as I have worked in the auto industry for 26 years.

Although no one can tell me the country of origin for the rotors on my vehicle, I can just about guarantee you the rotors are made overseas.

Chrysler needs to wake up and realize that consumers are not going to buy their vehicles if they continue to use inferior parts that end up costing their customers big money in the form of excessive repair and replacement charges!

- Tim H., Shelby Township, MI, US

problem #4

Mar 112009

Grand Caravan SE 3.3L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,000 miles

The brakes failed on my 2008 Grand Caravan already! It only has 16,000 carefully driven miles. The funny thing is all the Dodge dealers I called said that this was normal (apparently I'm stupid) and that they normally are only good for 9,000-10,000 miles. Every mechanic I have dealt with however, said that Dodge uses brake pads and rotors that were too soft, and that there should be a recall. A lot of mechanics have been saying the same thing. Screw you Dodge, where's the recall!

- Joseph D., Lititz, PA, US

problem #3

Jan 192009

Grand Caravan SXT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,000 miles

This van is a POS, this is the third set of brakes put on it, and twice the disks had to be replace.

Dodge would not cover this because it a wear items but when you have it back in 3 month intervals it has to be a problem.

All we got for Chrysler is it nopt covered, when it come time to replace this van I will be going to another brand.

- radrlv, Chicago, IL, US

problem #2

Oct 152008

Grand Caravan SXT 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

I have an 08 Caravan that got 30K on the brakes. I drive 35,000 miles a year so most of my driving is Hwy. I have had this job nearly 20 years and 5 different vehicles.. Chrysler has a problem and we need a bail-out!

- Bob R., Raleigh, NC, US

problem #1

Nov 042008

Grand Caravan SXT 4.0L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles

When the left front brake started grinding during low speed stops I took the van to the Dodge dealer right away. They had it 3 days and finally told me that at 15,000 miles the failure of the left front brake pads and rotor was not going to be covered by the factory warranty or the bumper to bumper 100,000 mile extended warranty. They wanted me to pay $270 to have the pads replaced and rotors turned. As a former master mechanic I knew that 15,000 miles of highway driving was not responsible for one set of front brake pads to fail. I didn't want a 6 month old vehicle with 15,000 miles on it with turned rotors. That's ridiculous!!!! The dealer refused to repair it under warranty and after spending 40 minutes on the phone with Chrysler Customer "Doesn't" Care they were not going to support their vehicle either. We bought this van in May just 6 months ago. I parked the van and we started driving the 07 Tahoe with 41,000 miles on it. The Tahoe has been driven just like the Van except for the fact that it does have the 41,000 miles on it with no brake maintenance so far. Dodge just lost me as a customer. Going back to Chevy!!!!

- Michael M., Brownsville, TX, US