1999 Dodge Grand Caravan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. RETURNED BY USPS. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 2/13/2013 FAILED. *KB

I WAS COMING AROUND A TURN AND SAW A CAR MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN BY BRAKING AND THE VAN APPEARED TO ACCELERATE. I BARELY AVOIDED RUNNING INTO THE TURNING CAR BY SWERVING AROUND IT. I THEN FOUND THAT ONLY MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS WORKING. I GOT HOME AND MY NEIGHBOR HELPED LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE. THERE ARE 6 CONNECTIONS TO THE CAB. TWO ARE FOR LINES RUNNING TO THE REAR OF THE VAN. THEY HAVE 6 INCH SECTIONS OF FLEX TUBING BETWEEN THE SOLID TUBING. THE LEAK IS AT THE REARWARD CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE SOLID AND FLEX TUBING. BOTH REARWARD CONNECTIONS HAVE THE CORRODED SOLID METAL FOR THE FIRST FEW INCHES AFTER THE FLEX TUBING. I NOTED THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES ON THE 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN AND CARAVAN ON THE INTERNET. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT IT DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THE BRAKE LINE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

1999 AWD ABS GRAND CARAVAN, PERSONAL USE ONLY , NO TOWING, MILD NJ WINTER CONDITIONS. CAR PARKED FOR THREE DAYS AFTER EXTENDED TRIP (2,880 MILES OVER 3WEEKS)AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO PROBLEMS.ON SECOND LEG OF K-TURN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPOSITION CAR IN DRIVEWAY (SPEED LESS THAN 5MILES/ HR) BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY DEPRRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. INSPECTING BELOW THE VAN SHOWED BRAKE FLUID LEAK FROM A RUPTURED REAR BRAKE LINE CLOSE TO BRAIDED FLEX LINE CLOSE TO ABS MODULE. ALL STEEL LINES FOUND TO BE EXTENSIVELY CORRODED /RUSTED UP TO AND INVOLVING FIXTURES AT ATTACHMENT TO INNER BRAKE HOSES AT THE REAR, UP TO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FRONT WHEEL LINES AT THE ATTACHMENT TO FRONT HOSES. DODGE DEALERSHIP (AUTOLAND) TOTALLY HANDS-OFF IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS GLARING SAFETY ISSUE - "NO RECALLS, NO MECHANISMS TO REPORT THIS ISSUE TO CHRYSLER", MORE INFURIATING IS THAT NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS, THEY HAVE ALL BEEN DISCONTINUED....RIGHT AT THE TIME THAT MOST OF THESE CARS WILL BE NEEDING THE BRAKING PLUMBING CHANGED!!! MEANWHILE THERE ALL THESE TICKING TIME BOMBS OF CARAVANS OUT THERE WITH TENUOUS BRAKING ABILITY ONCE THESE DEFECTIVE LINES RUPTURE. PLEASE RECALL THESE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES, BEFORE SOMEBODY'S FAMILY CRIES!!! I SHUDDER TO THINK THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED DURING MY LONG ROAD TRIP. *TR

AS MY FRIEND WHO BORROWED MY VEHICLE APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION IN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED, CAUSING HER TO COLLIDE INTO A VEHICLE WHICH CONSEQUENTLY HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE REPORT CORRECTLY INDICATES NO OPERATOR FAULT, BUT RATHER A FAULTY BRAKE LINE WHICH BURST, LEAVING A POOL OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A BRAKING SYSTEM THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES TO FAIL SIMULTANEOUSLY. UNFORTUNATELY THE 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN DOES NOT HAVE SUCH A SYSTEM. ALL BRAKES WERE LOST, MY VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE (WHICH WAS TOTALED AND RESULTED IN AN INJURED DRIVER) WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. THE BRAKES THEMSELVES WERE INSPECTED WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BUT THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED AND CREATED THE INCIDENT.

SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF PULLEYS WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. LOST ABILITY TO STEER VAN. HEADED DIRECTLY FOR ANOTHER CAR AND COLLISION NARROWLY AVOIDED. BELT COMING OFF WHEN WET APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SERIES VAN, AND WOULD SEEM TO BE A VERY SERIOUS HAZARD. IT IS BEYOND ME WHY DODGE IS NOT REQUIRED TO RETROFIT A BETTER BELT/PULLEY SYSTEM (WHICH DOES EXIST AND IS ON THE MARKET). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH GOODYEAR ALLEGRA TIRES, LINE SIZE P205 75/R14 DOT PJKC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE OF THE TIRES FAILED BETWEEN 12,000 AND 26,000 MILES. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SEVERAL SMALL CRACKS ON THE TIRES PRIOR TO THE THEM FAILING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE DISTRIBUTOR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES. THE DISTRIBUTOR ALSO ADVISED THAT THE TIRES WERE NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,499 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,819.