2003 Dodge Caravan

WHILE DRIVING IN THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL BRAKE PEDAL FAILURE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VAN SIMPLY KEPT ON GOING. I CHECKED FOR THE PEDAL AND COULD NOT SEE IT ANY LONGER. IT HAD PRACTICALLY DISAPPEARED - ONLY THE TOP OF THE PEDAL WAS VISIBLE AT THE FLOOR. AFTER TRYING TO STOP THE VAN WITH THE GEARS, I HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CAME TO A STOP. THIS WAS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE SHOP. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT A SMALL PART NECESSARY FOR THE BRAKES TO FUNCTION WAS MISSING. APPARENTLY THE PART ONLY COSTS $12. IT HAS BEEN ORDERED AND WILL BE REPLACED SOON. *TR

2003 DODGE CARAVAN THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT HAD LITTLE PROBLEMS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF UNTIL NOW, NOW THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN A SHOP AND UNUSABLE FOR ABOUT 8 WEEKS. THE HORRIBLE NOISE IT MADE WHEN STARTING IT, THE GEAR SHIFT MOVING ON OCCASION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR UNTIL A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL BUT ALL THESE PROBLEMS WERE OCCASIONAL BUT NOW I HAVE NO VEHICLE IT IS SITTING IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND I HAVE NO VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR BORROWING AND RENTING TO GET CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, AND MY CHILDREN WITH ECZEMA AND ALLERGIES TO DOCTORS AND IF THEY NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. I AM DEVASTATED AND DESPERATE HOW DO I AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE BECAUSE I AM GETTING TAPPED OUT. I ALSO HAVE NO ESTIMATED DATE OR PRICE FOR REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A FAULTY CALIPER. THE DEALER WILL NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE THE UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,634 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,628.

2003 DODGE CARAVAN BROKEN WHEEL STUDS/BOLTS CUSTOMER WANTS SOMEONE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ONGOING PROBLEM**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER STATED LAST JULY HE PURCHASED REPLACEMENT TIRES FROM COSTCO FOR HIS VEHICLE AND THEN HAD THE TIRES ROTATED IN DECEMBER FOR THE SAME VEHICLE. THEN THIS SPRING THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD THE FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND ONE WHEEL STUD, ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AGAIN AND THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC OF THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE STUDS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THEY COULD ONLY ROTATE 3 OF THE TIRES DUE TO THE FACT OF A POSSIBILITY THE STUDS WOULD BREAK AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE ROTATED THE REMAINING TIRE WHICH THE STUDS DID INFACT BREAK AND WERE REPLACED BY THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER STATED LAST MONTH CHRYSLER WAS REPLACING A WATER PUMP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE STUDS WOULD HAVE TO REPLACED YET AGAIN WHEN THE MECHANICS WERE REMOVING THE STUDS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE 2 STUDS HOLDING THE WATER PUMP IN PLACE ALSO BROKE OFF WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WANTED THIS ISSUE INVESTIGATED. EITHER POOR QUALITY BOLTS WERE USED BY CHRYSLER OR COSTCO WAS CARELESS WHEN TIGHTENING THE BOLTS. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE 2003 DODGE CARAVAN BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON JULY 19, 2003. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE RIGHT BRAKE CALIPER OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE ROTOR. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT IN DECEMBER 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRECISION TUNE AUTO CARE AT 10515-B CENTRUM PARKWAY PINESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28134. THE VEHICLE HAD 31015 MILES. THE ROTORS BEGAN TO SMOKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE PADS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WERE OVERHEATED BECAUSE THE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE THE SQUEAKER NEVER ALERTED THE CONTACT OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT EXPLAINED THAT ON SEVEN MONTHS LATER ON AUGUST 2006 THE BRAKES WERE INSPECTED DUE TO SQUEAKING. ON THE 20 MARCH OF 2007 THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED VIBRATION COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND THEN TAKEN TO PRECISION TUNE. THEY CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A BOLT MISSING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT DRIVER SIDE CALIPER HOUSING. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE MAJOR BRAKE COMPANIES TO BETTER SECURE THESE BOLTS ON TO CALIPER HOUSING UNITS TO AVOID ANY OF THESE BOLTS FROM COMING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUGGESTED SAFETY STANDARDS FOR BRAKES PADS, AND CALIPER INSTALLATION TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAPIR SHOP WOULD BE USING A LOCK TIGHT LIQUID ON THE MOUNTING BOLTS. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007 I AM PLANNING TO UP GRADE MY CARAVAN SE TO A NEWER CAR AND BEFORE I CHANGE TO A NEW PROBLEM I WHAT TO SOLVE MY OLD PROBLEM!!! THE CARAVAN TO ME IS AN EXCELLENT CAR ON THE HIGHWAY VERY COMFORTABLE AND STABLE. IN 2003 I PERCHES A NEW CARAVAN FIST I RESEARCHED TO CHECK ON POSSIBLE DEFECTS. WITH 18 THOUSAND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AT 20.000 THE METAL STARTED TO RUB ON THE ROTOR. INTERESTINGLY ONLY THE INNER PASSENGER SIDE SHOES HAD EXCESSIVE WHERE. TO ME THIS WAS UNUSUAL ON ALL MY NEW CARS I NEVER NEEDED BRAKES BEFORE 30 THOUSAND. WHEN I TRIED TO PUT A NEW SHOES, THE ONLY SHOES THAT WOULD FIT WAS SPECIFIED FOR. DISC BRAKES ON THE BACK MODEL, WHICH MINE, HAVE DRUMS. AND THE BRAKES SPECIFIED FOR DRUMS ON THE BACK DID NOT FIT! I HAVE TRIED TO FIND OUT WHY MY CAR HAS DISC ON FRONT MADE FOR MODEL THAT HAD DISC ON THE BACK IF MINE HAS DRUMS ON THE BACK??? THE CAR ALWAYS SKIDDED WHEN BRAKES WEAR APPLIED HEAVILY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I PUT THE BEST MICHELINS ON THE CAR. IT DOS NOT SKID BECAUSE OF THE MICHELINS EXCEPT THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE CAR!! NOW I HAVE NOTICED THE CAR DOS NOT STOP WHEN YOU POT THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR I PUT NEW BRAKES AND ROTOR AT SEARS AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM! CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM? BEFORE I GET INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT!!! TO ME IT SEEMS ONLY ONE WHEEL IS STOPPING THE CAR!!! AND FOR A FAIRLY NEW CAR THIS IS A DESIGNER PROBLEM!!! THIS MODEL CAR HAS BIN MADE FOR ALL MOST 20 YEAR AND THERE IS NO RISEN FOR DESIGNER FLOWS. IF YOU CANNOT ANSWER THIS SIMPLE PROBLEM I WILL NOT BE ACQUIRING ANY MORE CHRYSLER ORE MERCEDES PRODUCTS IN MY LIFETIME!!! THANKING IN ADVANCE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UNDER NORMAL, DRY CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TOO LOW TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK, AND THE BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT ENGAGE. THE BRAKE WENT FURTHER TO THE FLOOR AND MADE A SQUEAKING SOUND. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB

LTR FROM (OH) RE DEFECTIVE BRAKES ON HIS 2003 DODGE CARAVAN BELIEVES POOR JUDGMENT OF NHTSA AND DAIMLER CHRYSLER ALLOW THIS PROBLEM TO REACH THE MARKET. *TS THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKES AT 12000 MILES. THE DRUMS HAVE BEEN REMOVED THREE TIMES TO BE CLEANED. THEY ACCUMULATED RUST WHICH CAUSED SEVER GRINDING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *NM