Spongy brake pedal goes almost to the floor to stop the vehicle. I replaced master cylinder, same problem, replaced power booster, same problem. This is a major design flaw with this vehicle with major complaints across the country and nothing has been done to date by hntsa to make chrysler dodge fix this major safety issue with all dodge grand caravans.
Dodge Caravan spongy pedal problems
20 of the 10,018 owner complaints about the Dodge Caravan describe soft or spongy brake pedal, most of them for the 1992 model year.
- owner complaints
- 20
- worst model year
- 1992
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
Tl*- the contact had a problem with his brakes went to a midas shop. The contact later experienced the same issues with the brakes. Master cylinder was low, and the midas shops did not bleed the brakes . The contact feels that the vehicle still has a spongy pedal and that the midas shop never bled air out of the brake system.
Pressed on brake and it wouldn't move (hard pedal). Consumer drove off side of the road to stop. Dealer informed consumer there was a recall but consumer's vehicle wasn't on the list.
Height sensor valve, rear left brake (the actual date of the incident was january 5, 2003, however, the incident date segment did not provide the year 2003. Also, the number of failures section...once failure occurred, it continued) went to mechanic to find problem. There was another 1996 van there with the exact same problem (quite coincidental, which prompted this complaint). Mechanic said the height sensor valve needed replacement, could only be done by dealer due to the fact that it was a dealer part only and that the gas tank needed removal. The reason I am proceeding with this complaint is due to the fact that I had little to no warning that brake failure was imminent. During one trip (approximately 30 minutes total), brakes began to feel "spongy", then brake light came on, then total brake failure. Fortunately, we were on neighborhood roads without our three children in the vehicle. Van was inspected in september, no indication problem existed.
Brakes: proportional valve had failed. Consumer noticed that brake pedal was getting spongy. Then, had check on brake fluid, where brake light had come on, and had lost brake power. Mechanic said that brake fluid had been contaminated. Please provide more information.
Brought van to attention of dealer d/t driver's side seat was not at upright position, could not be returned to upright position. Dealer lubricated it, charged us $40. Did not solve the problem. Returned van to dealer after seeing similar reports reported on this site. Dealer set up appointment for van to be returned to have a bracket replaced. Unable to fix at our appointment d/t they hadn't ordered the part. Mechanic stated that van was unsafe to drive, kept van while awaiting part arrival several days later. Replaced bracket at third appointment. Seat markedly worse, "spongy" as well as reclined. Obviously no support, seat could be reclined by pushing with hand, no need to release lever. Dealer insisted car was safe to drive. Ordered additional parts. Unable to service car at fourth appointment d/t service department didn't have time. Did provide rental replacement. At fifth appointment, both seat track railings ("adjuster 23047006") were replaced; one was obviously broken. This solved the problem and seat now works properly and safely.
Prior complaint was filed around 10/02/00 reporting multiple brakes failures after years of intermittent ABS problems. My van was taken in for repairs to the ABS system. I picked up said vehicle about 4:30 p.m. On october 11th from bill bryan where they had replaced the ABS pump and piston package along with the ABS pump relay. By friday afternoon the brakes failed on hwy 27 when my daughter was driving home from wal-mart with three children in the van, ages 5 months, 9 years of age and 11 years of age. The ABS light flickered for awhile and all braking was lost. She creeped home at around 20 MPH where she picked me up from work. When she arrived at my work the ABS brakes had started back working again. I called the chyrsler dealership where the work was done and left a heated message on their voice mail since I was greatly upset by the risk my family had been placed in. I told them I was driving the van to them. The brakes were operational for about 5 miles but after the ABS warning light flickered on and off the lights stayed on and the brakes were gone. The brake pedal was hard at the time I dropped this vehicle off at bill bryan approximately 48 hrs after the repairs were made.
Brakes feel spongy, and sound like pressure is being built up. Abs and parking brake lights are on and will not go off.
While riving at any speed and applying the brakes the brake pedal is hard, and the ABS light keeps coming on, indicating that ABS brakes aren't working.
Vehicle was involved in a rear end accident due to brake failure. When brakes were applied, vehicle continued to move. Also, brake pedal was hard. Can the federal safety agency help in this matter.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
- What is wrong
- The master cylinder rear seal, between the hydraulic fluid and the vacuum reservoir, may not seal adequately allowing hydraulic fluid to be drawn into the power assist vacuum reservoir.
- Risk
- As the hydraulic fluid in the master cylinder reservoir decreases, the level sensor will detect the loss of fluid and illuminate the instrument panel brake warning lamp. Continued operation of the vehicle with the warning lamp illuminated can result in extended stopping distances.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder on all affected vehicles. Addendum (4-14-97): vehicles inspected per chrysler recall no. 707 and found to be outside the listed suspect master cylinder date code range, must now have the master cylinder primary piston replaced (chrysler recall no. 714).
Recall number 96V215000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
- What is wrong
- The ABS hydraulic control unit can experience excessive brake actuator piston seal wear causing pump-motor deterioration.
- Risk
- If this condition occurs, the ABS function could be lost and reduced power assist would be experienced during vehicle braking increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Dealers will test the vehicle's anti-lock brake system and repair the vehicles if necessary. Also the warranty on all ABS components will be extended to 10 years or 100,000 miles (except for the brake actuator piston assembly and the pump-motor assembly which will have a lifetime coverage). Owners will also be reimbursed for previous ABS component repair costs.
Recall number 96V099000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- The anti-lock brake system high pressure pump may be porous which will result in brake fluid leakage.
- Risk
- Fluid leakage eventually causes the loss of both theanti-lock brake system and hydraulic assist for the brake system, resulting inincreased likelihood of brake lockup and increased stopping distances, whichcould result in a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Replace the ABS high pressure pump and high pressure hose if the last six digits of the bar code label on the pump are between 052300 and 059262.
Recall number 92V030000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- The anti-lock brake system high pressure hose may leak or detach at its crimped end fitting resulting in the discharge of hydraulic fluid.
- Risk
- Fluid discharge eventually causes the loss of both theanti-lock brake system and hydraulic assist for the brake system, resulting inincreased likelihood of brake lockup and increased stopping distances, whichcould result in a vehicle accident.
- Remedy
- Replace the ABS high pressure hose with a hose of different design and construction.
Recall number 91V191000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages
- What is wrong
- The brake pedal pad attachment to the pedal arm may not have adequate strength due to mislocation of welds, and could break.
- Risk
- Failure of the pedal pad to pedal arm attachment resultsin loss of braking ability, and could result in an accident.
- Remedy
- Replace inadequate brake pedals with properly manufactured pedals.
Recall number 91V170000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: differential proportional valve
- What is wrong
- Incorrect screws may have been used in installing the load sensing brake proportioning valve to its bracket causing the clamping load to be less than intended.
- Risk
- This could result in inconsistent front to rear brakebalance with potential for rear brake skid under heavy braking conditions.
- Remedy
- Replace proportioning valve to bracket screws with proper length screws.
Recall number 90V145000 · Recall details
Questions about the Dodge Caravan spongy pedal
Which Dodge Caravan years have soft or spongy brake pedal problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1992 (6 complaints), 1993 (6 complaints) and 1991 (1 complaints).
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