2000 Dodge Caravan

LTR FR JOHN HARISIADIS (IL) REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEFECTIVE ROTORS USED ON CHRYSLER/DODGE MINIVANS, HE HAS EXPERIENCE W/ CHRYSLER/DODGE IN GETTING HIS 2000 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN REPAIRED. CONSUMER FEELS THAT DEALERS ARE PUTTING DEFECTIVE ROTORS ON VEHICLE DELIBERATELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE A NOISE CHECKED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WERE "PITTED AND RUSTED". *TS THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE BRAKES. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE FRONT WHEEL ROTORS WHICH WERE PITTED AND RUSTED. THE CONSUMER NEEDED A LETTER FROM JOHN HARISIADIS WHO REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION INTO DEFECTIVE ROTORS USED ON CHRYSLER/DODGE MINI VANS REPLACED. THE ROTORS DETERIORATED PREMATURELY WHICH CAUSED A NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *SCC *JB

MY 2000 DODGE CARAVAN WITH ONLY 29,450 MILES DEVELOPED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL ACCOMPANIED BY A DISCONCERTING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. PRIOR TO THE VIBRATION DEVELOPING, I NOTICED THE BRAKING POWER HAD DIMINISHED. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE BRAKE FLUID WAS BELOW THE MINIMUM LEVEL AND HAD TO ADD FLUID. THIS IMPROVED THE BRAKE PEDAL PERFORMANCE BUT THE STOPPING POWER WAS STILL SUBPAR. ALSO, WHENEVER I WASH THE VEHICLE THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BLACK BRAKE DUST ON AND AROUND THE FRONT WHEELS WHICH RAISES ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS FOR ME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN OUT AND THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RUSTED, PITTED, AND SLIGHTLY WARPED. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS OLD AND HAD ONLY 29,450 MILES, DAIMLER CHRYSLER REFUSED ANY WARRANTY CONSIDERATION ON THE BRAKES. I HAD TO PAY NEARLY $300 FOR REPAIRS. WHEN I CALLED THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CONSUMER HOTLINE, I WAS GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS CONDITION WAS CONSIDERED "NORMAL." THE MINIVAN IS DRIVEN GENTLY WITH ABOUT 70% OF THE MILEAGE BEING IN-TOWN DRIVING AND ABOUT 30% HIGHWAY DRIVING. ON PREVIOUS VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED, THE AVERAGE LIFE OF FRONT BRAKES HAS BEEN ABOUT 85,000 MILES. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE IF THE BRAKES ARE DESIGNED WITH SUCH POOR DURABILITY. *NLM

MY VAN HAS GONE THROUGH A LOT OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. I WENT IN FOR NEW BRAKES AND FOUND OUT MY MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACED. I HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES THAT NEEDED BRAKES, BUT THIS VAN NEEDS THEM MORE OFTEN. I AM CONSIDERING TRADING IN FOR ANOTHER MAKE AND MODEL VAN. IT'S COST ME A LOT OF MONEY. I AM NOT VERY PLEASED WITH THE DODGE CARAVAN SPORT. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770109

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND LOST CONTROL.*AK. CONSUMER COULD SMELL THE BRAKES AS THEY BECAME HOT. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND THERE IS POOR BRAKE RESPONSE. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS MAKING A HOWLING NOISE, THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS REPLACED. *JG