1999 Dodge Grand Caravan: brake failure

Filed Jun 20, 2012 · Brakes · 137,017 miles · NY

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.

Filed Jul 3, 2010 · Brakes · 104,000 miles · WI

Loss of brakes due to rear brake line rusting out near ABS control at the stainless steel line connections..

Filed Jun 22, 2010 · Brakes · 102,500 miles · NY

Total brake failure on 1999 dodge grand caravan. Rear brake line ruptured were solid line meets braided line under driver side of car and near anti lock brake module. Loss of braking forced me to drive vehicle onto someone's lawn to avoid a rear end impact of a car making a left turn on a single lane road. Emergency brake was used to stop the vehicle. Failure was abrupt with no prior visual evidence of leaking on my driveway or in the parking spot of my workplace. Red brake light came on after it was too late. Rear brake lines were replaced with solid lines at a cost of $290.00. Repair was completed on 06/21/10.

Filed Apr 21, 2006 · Brakes · 36,000 miles · NY

1) travel to local oil change garage. 2) in parking lot the brake pedal went to floor of the vehicle with drastic loss of braking. 3) vehicle had to be towed home (cost $85.00). I replaced both rusted (one ruptured) brake lines (which ran from the ABS controller to the rear brakes) with auto parts store hardware ($41.00 lines & fittings, & $5.00 fluid) after being informed that rusting lines are not the manufacturer's responsibility and that manufacturer replacement lines are not stocked after 2 or 3 years. (this makes no sense to me as I would expect that brake line failures would not occur in the first few years of service.) I have also discovered that the lines running to the master cylinder show similar deterioration which will soon require their replacement as well. The lines are corroding in the immediate vicinity of the stainless steel braided hose sections which appear to be of metal differing from what the brake line itself is made from. Given that the failure is occurring in an area which appears to have dissimilar metals (an obvious failure point in areas using salt on the roads during winter - see articles covering "galvanic corrosion") the manufacturer should have made effort to keep this from happening and should offer some sort of repair / recall arrangement. Fortunately for me, this happened in a parking lot, not at seventy miles per hour on an interstate or in rush our traffic, but I'm sure that I'm not the only one riding around with this ticking time bomb on board. Could you do something about this?

Filed Sep 14, 2005 · Brakes · CT

1999 dodge grand caravan metal brake line burst and the consumer was denied a reimbursement for repair costs.*mr when parked consumer's wife put footon the brake and brake pedal went to the floor. She was left without brakes. If this had occurred on the highway and /or heavy traffic it could have resulted in serious injury or death. Vehicle was towed to a chrysler ealership, and consumer was informed that brake line burst. Consumer's request for reimbursement was denied because warranty expired. *ak

Filed May 31, 2005 · Brakes, Fuel system · PA

Dt: the contact owns a 1999 dodge grand caravan. He states that for the last two years all the gauges will go out while driving. The check engine light came on while the car was running. Also, while this problem was happening ABS brakes failed. Dealer said that the problem could have been the body control module. They could reprogram or rebuild it. The vehicle will not tabulate miles. He has known 1994's to do the same thing . They replaced the bcm, and a couple of years later it went out again. If consumer takes y fist and hits the dash the lights will come back on. This worked for a while but since the problem was happening more often this didn't fix the problem anymore. He checked the federal safety agency website for this problem and has seen other complaints listed but under different components. The car was actually falsifying mileage because it will not tabulate the miles correctly. He had the name and address of the 1994 dodge owner.

Filed Oct 25, 2004 · Brakes · PA

Had a complete check done on van before leaving for a long vacation trip. At this check it was found that the front brake pads needed replacement. We did so thinking this was normal maintenance. Less than two months later we noticed a squeaking noise from front of vehicle and within one day after trying to make a stop at a turning lane after going approximately 25mph the brake went to the floor. Took to garage and front brakes had gone to the rotors. We have been having them checked every four weeks due to the horrible squeaking noise we continue to hear.

Filed Oct 25, 2003 · Acceleration, Brakes · 51,230 miles · IN

I own a 1999 dodge grand caravan, sport edition. Yesterday while my wife was making a right turn on the street, the steering froze and the brakes failed. She went straight on the other side of the cross street and the van went dead. Upon starting the van again, the "service engine soon" light came up. The speedometer was unresponsive and somehow we brought the van home. This is probably the speed sensor that has gone bad again. Three months ago when I was driving the van on the freeway, the van went unresponsive and I had to pullover. Upon starting the van, it showed the service engine soon light and would not catch up highway speed. I had to drive at 35 MPH speed on freeway at very high engine revolutions and come home. The dealer replaced the speed sensor to fix the problem. The serious thing of the problem in this van is that the problem occurs suddenly while the van is in motion. Yesterday and three months ago it could have resulted in a fatal accident.

Filed Aug 30, 2002 · Brakes · NY

Brake failure due to a cracked master cylinder. Dealer and manufacturer has been notified. *ak

Filed Jun 22, 2001 · Brakes · TX

When taking a turn the brake pedal went to the floor. The next day as I was traveling on a feeder road as I applied the brakes for a red light I heard a gringing comming from front driver side of the tire. I immediately got on the phone with the dealer and notifed them. Car had to be towed to the dealer. This is not the first time this has happened. Vehicle has been in the shop approximately 7 times for this problem. It has had both front calipers replaced 4 times. Brake pads replaced about every 3000 miles and 2 master cylinders installed since jan. 2001. Brake pads are being crystilized and can be crumbled in hand like charcoal. Have had roators replaced and turned several times. Also keep losing brake fluid.

Filed Jan 23, 2001 · Brakes, Suspension · AZ

Excessive wear and tear on the pads at 13,000 miles. The service dept failed to inspect wheels and brakes. Then at 28,000 miles a total brake failure occurred. Additionally, a strut is defective.

Filed Jul 10, 2000 · Brakes · CA

When the brakes were applied down hill pedal went to the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance. Dealer will inspect the vehicle.