2008 Dodge Caravan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SIDE CALIPER BRACKET CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WEAR PREMATURELY, WHICH CAUSED AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

REAR BREAK COMPONENTS (PADS, ROTORS, LR CALIPER) AT 30K ON 12/10/09. FRONT PADS REPLACES ON 1/14/10 AT APPX 31K: FRONT PADS AND ROTORS ON 4/2012 (3RD SET) AT 58K CALIPERS NOT FROZEN: THIS VEHICLE YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE 4.0 L ENGINE. ALREADY ENGINE NO LONGER AN OPTION: LATER MODEL YEARS (2010 AND LATER) HAVE LARGER CALLIPERS AND PADS. I TRULY BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE WAS REDESIGNED AND OFFERED WITHOUT CONSIDERATION TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS SO NEW THAT MY OWNER MANUAL DOESN'T REFERENCE THE 4.0 LITER ENGINE. THIS MODEL YEAR HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF PREMATURE BREAK WEAR. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE AND ROTORS WAS REPLACED AT 23,000 MILES AND FAILED AT 46,000 MILES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE BRAKES TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,050.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BEGAN TO WOBBLE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO REACH A TEMPERATURE OF 900 DEGREES AND WOBBLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS AND CALIPERS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 01/05/12*LJ UPDATED 01/11/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WOULD RETURN HIS CALL AT A LATER DATE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

VEHICLE IS A SHUTTLE VAN. VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL FIRMNESS FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR AND NOT RAISING COMPLETELY BACK UP. ALSO EXPERIENCED SUDDEN IDLE SPEED DROP FOLLOWED BY A NEAR STALL. VEHICLE SPEED APPROXIMATELY 55MPH. FOUND VACUUM BRAKE CHECK VALVE CRACKED WITH THE PIPE EXTENSION TO THE VACUUM BRAKE HOSE SNAPPED OFF. PLASTIC MATERIAL OF THE VALVE ITSELF HAD DETERIORATED, LEAVING A WHITE CHALKY RESIDUE. VALVE REPLACED AND VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH TOWARDS A STOP SIGN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND I HAD NO BRAKES. NONE, WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES COMING AND NO PEDESTRIANS CROSSING. HAVE DRIVEN FOR 40 YEARS AND NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. VERY VERY DANGEROUS. HAD VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER IN SPOKANE. DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS YET. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF A REDESIGNED BODY STYLE. MAYBE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CALIPER BRACKET CAUSED THE BRAKES TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND CAUSE AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE AND TIME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. ONE YEAR PRIOR THE THE FAILURE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE CALIPER BUT THE UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CALIPER BRACKET UNIT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

VEHICLE PURCHASED IN PUERTO RICO WITH 40,000+ MILES; REPLACED A ROTOR & ALL PADS ABOUT 65,000 MILES. COULD HEAR NOISES COMING FROM BRAKE MECHANISM (NOISES WENT AWAY UPON REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES WITH OEM PARTS). AROUND 70,000 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED LOCKING ITSELF WITHOUT WARNING, AT LEAST TWICE WITH KEYS INSIDE. IMAGINE A HOT DAY AND A CHILD IN A RESTRAINT SEAT AND THE CAR LOCKED. I DID NOTICE THAT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE POWER LOCK SWITCH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BECAME INOPERABLE. NOW AT 78,892 THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT ON THE BLINK (BLANK), EXCEPT FOR THE DIGITAL MILEAGE INDICATOR & 'GATE AJAR' . I STOPPED FOR GROCERIES & WHEN I WENT TO CRANK THE STARTER SOLENOID, NOTHING HAPPENS. HAD TO TOW HOME & AM TOLD THAT LOCAL DEALERS ARE CHARGING $1,000 TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER.... NO WONDER LESS & LESS PEOPLE ARE BUYING AMERICAN BRAND CARS. ANY SUGGESTIONS? I DO APPRECIATE THE NHTSA EFFORTS. THANKYOU! *TR