2008 Dodge Grand Caravan: soft or spongy brake pedal

Filed Apr 26, 2011 · Brakes · 26,500 miles · IL

The brakes on our 2008 dodge grand caravan sxt completely rusted at 26,500 miles. As of 5/26/2011. Prior to that (05/27/2010) the brakes rusted and locked at 19,844. The car had to be towed on a platform truck because tires, wheels assemblies were completely locked at that time. Brakes have been pulsating and started to make harmonic sounds in the most recent incident. Brakes were spongy with the pulsating creating vibration in steering wheel. Have formally filed a complaint to chrysler. Clerk at chrysler indicated unusual number of calls but no detail, just that they're experiencing problems with the brakes involving dodge caravan and town and country. Van is at dealer being repaired at this time.

Filed May 27, 2010 · Brakes · 8,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that the brakes felt very spongy when the pedal was applied and would fall further onto the floor board than usual. The dealer replaced the front brake pads and rotors under the factory warranty. The rear brakes began to exhibit the same failure and the dealer stated that a diagnostic test had to be performed before repairing the vehicle at the owners expense. The manufacturer advised the contact to have the dealer perform a diagnostic test and repair the vehicle. The contact assumed that the manufacturer would assume liability for the repairs; however, he was advised that the repairs would be made at his expense. The contact declined to have the vehicle repaired. He stated that the rear brake pads and rotors should have been replaced when the front brakes were repaired. There were no related recalls. The failure mileage was 8,000 and the current mileage was 24,200.

Filed Jul 17, 2009 · Brakes · 16,762 miles · PA

Brakes had to be replaced and rotors cut at 12,832 miles. Vehicle started shaking while braking and brakes are spongy. I took it to the dealer with 16,762 miles on it. They told me the rotor needed to be replaced. They tell me this is due to heating from the brakes.

Filed Apr 25, 2009 · Brakes, Electrical · 25,034 miles · NC · crash · 3 injuries

02/23/2009- purchased 2008 dodge grand caravan- on day of purchase I asked why brakes made a barking sound,was told because it sat in parking lot for a while. Odometer-19230the next day the van shut itself off while driving down the road. I could steer and the engine was running but I couldn't accelerate and all instrument lighting was off.I called sale auto mall the place I bought it and they said call back if it happened again. Sometime in march took it because the steering keep pulling me towards the curb. The service manager of sale auto mall test drove it with me in it and detected nothing wrong. 4/01/2009- took it in for oil change. 04/06/2009 brakes failed coming back from moorehead. Called sale auto mall, they referred me to dodge dealership in greenville, called them and asked for tow, they refused, they told me to bring it as far as I could. When I got there they said it wasn't under warranty and that it would be $370 to fix, I refused and they charged me $35 for looking at it. 04/08/2009-took it to boyd's he repaired brakes and rotors for $150. 4/20/2009- brakes spongy and sinking call boyd's referred me to dodge dealership in new bern, see them, service manager starts the test drive with me goes ten feet and hits brakes,stops car says I knowwhats wrong it's the master cylinder,asked me to get out,says he wants his brake man to check it out. Then thirty minutes later sends a man to tell me the part has to be order, he gives me my keys and tells me they'll call me when the part is in.4/23/09- dealership called me said part was in, could I come in today, told him I was at work, when could I come in he asked,I told him monday, he said fine. 04/24/2009- coming home from work going 40 on arrlington blvd.see a line of cars in front of me start to slow down, suddenly all cars in front slam on brakes to a dead stop,I slam on my brakes,but they go all the way to the bottom of floor and the rate of speed doesn't change.I hit the SUV in front of me at full speed. Help!

Filed Apr 1, 2009 · Brakes, Transmission · 1,583 miles · 00

I am writing to chrysler canada because we are very unhappy with our 2008 dodge grand caravan, one that I would classify as a runaway vehicle creating a potential safety hazard. Current odometer reading 25347 this vehicle went for its first service february 9, 2009 to a vehicle check-up peace of mind inspection. Primarily with an inquiry to check the brake system since the brake pedal felt somewhat spongy when applied. The inspection indicated the brakes pulsated because of a warped disk. The warped disk is most likely caused by high heat generated from prolonged braking. This appears to be in contradiction with the instruction in the 2008 dodge owner's manual page 334 under note: to select the proper gear position for maximum deceleration (engine breaking), simply press and hold the gear selector lever to the left (-). The transmission will shift to the range from which the vehicle can best be slowed down. This is clearly not providing the desired result. To assist the vehicle in maintaining control downhill, shifting the automatic transmission into 3rd gear (at 60 kph.) should enable the vehicle to maintain control without having to 'ride the brakes'. This is not the case; the electronics controlling the shifting system in the automatic transmission drops out of low gear (3rd) into high gear (d) under the slightest downhill momentum, thus making it impossible to control the speed of the vehicle. Page 337 in the 208 dodge owner's manual specifically warns that riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and possibly an accident. As we have experienced to our horror on numerous occasions driving on the west coast (vancouver island), while trying to maintain vehicle control on a downhill stretch of paved road, this 4 speed electronic transmission system is incapable of providing any engine braking assistance whatsoever. The only alternative is to ride the brakes to maintain vehicle control.