2012 Dodge Grand Caravan: brake failure

Filed Oct 26, 2024 · IL

While driving around 30mph, the van completely shut down. With nowhere to pull over on the right, and to avoid an accident, I turned left onto a side road. I quickly realized I had no power steering or brakes. I had 2 children in the vehicle and school had just let out. Luckily there was no accident. With no brakes, I just coasted until I came to a stop on the side of the road. I wasn’t able to move the shifter into park. After a few minutes, everything came back to life. I was able to shift to park, start it up and drive away. No warning lights came on. No check engine light. This situation could have become really bad, really quick.

Filed Dec 2, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · NC

While driving 55 MPH on the highway all the lights on the dashboard began flashing and the vehicle lost ALL power - No power steering, no brakes, no engine, nothing. Luckily I was going uphill in the mountains without any traffic and was able to eventually stop. Had there been a vehicle behind me, the results could have been fatal. The vehicle was towed to a nearby trusted shop. They are saying it needs a whole new engine. The problem is, even with a replacement engine, this could happen again with a new/rebuilt Chrysler/Dodge engine. Keep reading please. In researching, I found that this is a known issue with this and other Chrysler/Dodge models. There was a previous Class Action Suit in California settled regarding this issue that required all plaintiffs to file before December 2018. Sadly, I did not purchase the vehicle until 2019 and this issue did not occur until 2021. I'm hoping there is some way to make Chrysler/Dodge accept responsibility for this through a recall or another class action suit as I have read many complaints online regarding this issue. How many people have to die before somebody does something about this?

Filed Mar 19, 2021 · Electrical, Steering · 120,000 miles · PA

While driving my van, I attempted to turn left on a city street, when everything shut down on me. All of my dashboard lit up like a christmas tree. I had no steering, no brakes, it was frightening! I did have headlights, flashers, I couldn't access the side doors to ge my cane out. My back gate wouldn't open either so I could get my rollerator and walk to the business I was attempting to get to. I had to have my van towed and was told it's my electrical system and that many people have had the same issue. I would like to bring my awareness to this issue, for if I was on 95, my main highway and this happened, I would be dead along with my son. Attached is the dashboard, but the center bottom red light was flashing on and off. I'm told it's my security system light

Filed Dec 30, 2015 · Brakes · 51,661 miles · PR

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge grand caravan. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH and approaching a red light, the brake pedal was depressed but the brakes failed to respond. The contact had to applied excessive force on brake pedal in order for the vehicle to stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake pedal, the brake pump and the emergency brake needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 51,661.

Filed Oct 9, 2015 · Brakes · 18,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge grand caravan. While driving 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the brakes failed to respond. In addition, the vehicle failed to reverse. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the calipers needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 18,000.

Filed Jan 24, 2014 · Brakes · 27,048 miles · MA

Chrysler refuses to acknowledge a serious defect in the braking system of the dodge grand caravans. I purchased a new 2012 grand caravan from a dealership. On july 31, 2013, quirk dealership in braintree, ma replaced rear rotors on the van at 17,000 miles because "rear rotors were very marked up and had rust rings." on january 18, 2014, same dealership told me that rotors were pitted again at 27,000 miles and had to be replaced for $502.00 (out of pocket). When I protested that mopar parts should not fail in less than 6 months, the service person told me that "dodges are known for these problems." I contacted chrysler customer assistance to see if they would cover their defective parts and have been given the total run around. Chrysler offered me $60.00 off the price of the brake job but I declined because factory parts should not fail so quickly. I checked the internet (lemon law blog, car complaints, etc.) and found hundreds if not thousands of complaints similar to mine for premature brake failure in 2006-2012 caravans & town and country's. Chrysler is aware of this problem and is trying to avoid responsibility for repairing this known defect by passing the cost on to american consumers. A recall should be ordered for these vehicles based on premature brake failure that chrysler is deliberately ignoring.