7.5
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $690
- Average Mileage:
- 53,700 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 22 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replaced rotors and pads (21 reports)
- replaced pads and calipers (1 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Dodge dealer.
My brakes were all replaced Fall 2017 after repairing a caliper in the spring. Now brake problems again. Need repairs and Dodge knows of this issue with 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan vans. They changed their brake system on the next year, but never fixed the 2011. Parts are not big enough is what my garage told me. A lot of the 2011s have issues and need to replace shoes and pads every year. Lot of these vehicles carry families and Dodge should fix the issue with the brakes.
- Sharon Ann J., Minden, ON, Canada
2nd time we have had the brakes changed in 2 years. My wife is a slow driver and does not ride the brakes.
- mailhotca, Long Beach, CA, US
2011 caravan purchased new in 2011. Have had 5, count em', FIVE sets of pads and rotors, PLUS replaced the calipers and brackets, pads, and rotors TWICE all the way around and the vehicle has only 63000 miles. That's right, folks. SEVEN sets of pads and rotors plus all new hardware all the way around in 63000 miles. This is insane and Chrysler needs to step up and FIX THIS NOW. Repair(s) last(s) anywhere from 1000 miles to 15000 miles. Crazy, RIGHT? Totally unpredictable. Just replaced the entire assembly on all 4 corners less than 2000 miles ago and we are already metal to metal. We drive this thing like we are walking on eggshells and it doesn't matter. This is a safety and driveability issue. Chrysler IS aware of the problem yet still won't step up and do the right thing and fix the problem. I abandoned another manufacturer over similar treatment of our family with their defective death trap after being a loyal customer for 30 years of buying their product exclusively until their product almost got my family killed and I will leave Chrysler if they don't step up soon and fix this. It is no wonder Chrysler is on the ropes. Good luck with the "Pacifica". If it weren't for our lemon Caravan, I might have considered another Chrysler product. Heck, if Chrysler would just FIX IT, I would consider another Chrysler product but they won't even do that. If it wasn't so DANGEROUS and COSTLY, it would be a joke. STEP UP, Chrysler! Crooked cowards.
- jgenovese, Bel Air, MD, US
Nov 302016
Grand Caravan Crew 3.6L-Liter V6 24 valve Vv
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
Had to replace brake pads and rotors every year. The brake pads were only lasting 5,000-6,000 miles. I had just replaced them a couple months before and the mechanic said they weren't covered as faulty pads and that I was just hard on my brakes. I told him I drive slow and slow down 5 miles before a turn cause I know how bad my breaks are. He called me back and apologized cause he looked it up and there were over 25,000 complaints that the Dodge Grand Caravan breaks were only lasting between 5,000-10,000 miles. He said it was the car and not me.
- johnstonpa, Red Lion, PA, US
I've bought this Grand Caravan used 3 years ago. I have since put three sets of brakes (all the way around) and rotors on this van. The van has 80,000 miles. The more specific problem is the drivers side rear brake sticks and therefore continues to stay engaged on the rotor. This creates an AWEFUL squealing sound when driving as well as having to constantly replace the pads (and rotors if not caught early enough). In addition, the gas mileage is not anywhere near what the van should be producing.
DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM!!
- David T., Plainwell, MI, US
Premature wear out, only driver side rear pad. Have to replace the whole pair.
- Tony Y., EDMONTON, AB, Canada
This was the second time for the brakes being replaced. I can't find the first invoice for brake work
- Glen S., Novar Ontario, ON, Canada
My local Chrysler dealer, it was ridiculous, serviced front brakes, replaced one rotor on back plus calipers and pads on the back and cost 1200 dollars. Really ripped off. Last time they will ever service any of my vehicles. Charged me $471.77 for 2 hours labour.
- Glen S., Novar Ontario, ON, Canada
Bought my van new. At 14K miles replaced rear caliper, pads, rotors and adapters. At 20K replaced front pads and rotors. At 26K told I need front pads, rotors, calipers and hoses $600. Also need same on rear $675. That's almost $1300 more after 14K & 20K brake jobs.
Called Dodge Corp Complaint office. They checked into it and said that was normal wear & tear. Had a 2003 caravan and bakes lasted over 40K. Trading this in. I'm not spending $1300/yr for new brakes. Searched 2011 Caravan brake problems on Internet. Lots of complaints, but no help from Dodge. Having 2 complete brake jobs at less than 27K miles is NOT normal. I won't be buying any more Caravans.
- Jim C., Shrewsbury, MA, US
Have had to replace brakes and pads now twice on this vehicle. First Time after less than a year and second time just last month (May 2015) Was told by Stealership that this was normal wear. Sounds like so much bull to me.
- Ronny R., Malakoff, TX, US
My Grand Caravan need brake work of some kind at 20000 km. I have 66000 km on it and have had to do the back brake pads and rotors twice now. The front brakes have been replaced (pads and rotors) once and I have been told that I will have to do them in a month or two as well. The back calipers have seized again. Even the dealership says this is happening to much on the Grand Caravan's. The rotors seem to last just long enough to avoid being under warranty. This is not a cheap repair. Twice it has been around $1000. If I had this information about Grand Caravan's before I bought mine, I would never have bought it. I have a family member who bought the 2012 model and has the same problems. The problem still exist with the newer models so buyer BEWARE!!!!!!!
- Vance C., Etobicoke, ON, Canada
OK, so we had our van for one year. Bought it used, loved it. Once we hit the year mark rear brakes go out. About 40,000 miles on it. They didn't last like we were told. Fix them pain in the ass. Then one month later the front brakes stick. Coming home on a long drive shakes like crazy. Get home, very hot stinky tire. Smelt like it was on fire.
Took it back in, said they couldn't find anything wrong. They cleaned grease oils, everything for the front brakes. OK fine, that lasted two weeks. Now my front brake sticks again. This time on my way home about two away starts to shake. Get in the garage stinks tire is hot to the touch. Drive it the next day, worked fine. Called the dealership said they never heard of it happening again once they have cleaned it.
So I called Dodge Customer Service (what a joke). I wasn't looking for a refund, just do a recall THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I drive my children around in this van, if it happens again, Dodge better step up.
- Susan W., Colby, WI, US
My vehicle is high mileage, but it's mostly highway miles. I had my front and rear rotors turned once each, but my recent service visit revealed the front rotors were too thin and needed replacing, and the pads were worn. I think the pads had about 40,000 (mostly) highway miles on them which seems a little premature to me since I've been told over and over that the pads/rotors look great, even at my last service.
- Kevin B., Monticello, FL, US
Brakes have been an issue since the first day it was driven off the lot. Took it back to the dealer for the first oil change and asked if the thick black dust on the rims was a problem and they said no, it was normal brake wear. Finally I convinced them to do something about it and they replaced the rear calipers and rotors. Now 15,000 miles later the brakes squeak loudly on any long drive, heat up immensely, and they are telling me they'll probably need to be replaced again next spring. My wife is aggravated because she feels like we're getting poor gas mileage because the brakes are stuck on.
How can they say this is normal?
- Kevin B., Elkhorn, WI, US
Just one yr old and only 6000km and already warped rotors and worn out brake pads!
Dealer won't honor warranty because it's passed by 3 months. ONLY 6000km !!!!!!
- oazuelos, Montreal, Quebec, canada
Only one year and 3 months old and barely 6000 km and the brakes start vibrating like crazy. Called dealership, need to replace rear disks and break pads = 650$.
Called Chrysler Canada. After a week of negotiations they agree to pay for parts but not labor because guarantee was only for one year, but only had 6000km on it
One more year and 3 months exactly, van now has 18000km. The brakes start vibrating again. Same problem but this time it's the front and rear brake pads and disks that need replacing: 950$.
Again I call Dodge Canada to complain and again they agreed to pay for parts but not labor.
I wonder if I'm going to have to go through this every year.
A friend with the same van tells me he does go through this every year with this vehicle. WTF Dodge!!! Time for a recall and stand behind your product ! At least change the disk suppliers
- oazuelos, Montreal, Quebec, canada
I have a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan with 54000 miles and already had to change the rotor and brake pads twice. This does not seem normal to me, I don't brake that often, and have never had to change rotors on any of my previous cars; although it is the first used vehicle I owned, and I do not know the history before 29000 miles, but still the frequency at which have had to change the rotors does not seem right
1st car, 2000 Toyota corolla - Drove it for 130000 miles before selling it, never changed the rotor
2nd Car,2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid, drove it for 60000 miles before selling it, never had to change the rotor or brake pad
Are Dodge Grand Caravan terrible cars or is there another issue here?
- Jide D., Capitol Heights, MD, US
We were on vacation in Washington State and we had to have all 4 brake pads and rotors replaced. We were told it probably happened because of the way we drive the vehicle!! My response was that we also have a 2006 Dodge (Grand Caravan with 125,000 miles on it and we have never had this problem with that vehicle.
This is what happens when car parts are imported from foreign countries! We get junk!
- boclair, Gouverneur, NY, US
Seriously, this is a recurring thing. First time at 21700 miles. Now we are told by the Chrysler garage that we should have them done every 20000kmm wtf... We have had the car's brakes, pads and calipers seized and changed twice and now we are told that this could be a thing that is done every 20000km. If you keep the car for 200000 it's an extra $8,000 just in brakes.grrrrrr
I am regretting my purchase so much, I should have gotten a KIA. I am making sure that anybody that asks, I will for sure advise of all the problems that Dodge Grand Caravan of any year has.
There should be something done about this.
- Carolyn C., Laval, Quebec, canada
We have had our pads, pads and rotors and pads and calipers replaced a total of 5 times in 74000 miles in 8 years since purchasing the vehicle in 2012 with about 52000 miles on it.
We did pads and calipers twice in the last year. The calipers would seize up. Previous to that was pads twice, and then pads and rotors.
The last year of calipers and pads has been a total cost of
First time on 7/9/2019 = $885.62
Second time 2/12/2020 = $616.68
Total of just the 2 recent repairs is $1502.30
- Richard C., Hampstead, NC, US