Dodge Grand Caravan Complaints (2012)
584 consumer complaints on file.
- #10947722January 26, 2017ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE SHUTS OFF DURING DRIVING. DODGE DID I NEED A WHOLE NEW IGNITION SETUP. OTHER 2012 DODGE CARAVANS HAVE THIS AS A RECALL. VEHICLE ALSO WON'T SWITCH GEARS AND RPMS GO UP TO 6000 AT TIMES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10946200January 18, 2017SERVICE BRAKES
AFTER ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, MY BRAKES STARTED TO SCREECH A LITTLE. WITHIN DAYS, IT WAS A NON-STOP GRINDING. ON MY WAY TO TAKE IT TO THE GARAGE FOR BRAKE INSPECTION, SOMETHING FELL OFF OF THE VAN. THE REPAIRMEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A CALIPER ISSUE AND THEY COULD NOT EVEN LET ME DRIVE OFF THE LOT WITHOUT GETTING IT REPAIRED BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THAT DANGEROUS. $774.00 LATER, I HAD TO HAVE CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10939302January 3, 2017ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN SHOWED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT 67,000. I CHECKED THE CODE TO FND OUT P0303 IS A ENGINE MISFIRE. COULD BE IGNITION, PLUG, OR VALVE-CYLINDER COMPRESSION. I HAD THE ENGINE SERVICED AND THE LIGHT GOES OUT. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. I RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE TO INVESTIGATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALS THERE IS A BAD COMPRESSION ON CYLINDER 03. I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DODGE AND THEY COULD HAVE TOLD ME UP FRONT THAT THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CHRYSLER. THEY TAKE MY CAR INTO SERVICE AND FIND A LEAK ON CYLINDER 04 ALSO. THEY GONG TO REPLACE THE LEFT CYLINDER HEAD BUT NOT THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM. I AM LOOKING AT $3500.00 IF I CHOOSE TO REPLACE THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD. THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE DEFECT NO MATTER WHICH CYLINDER HEAD IS DEFECTED. MY WIFE LOVES THE CAR. SHE WANTS ANOTHER ONE. I TOLD HER THAT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE WE WOULD BE RIGHT BACK HERE IN 4 YEARS WITH ANOTHER 3.6L V6 PENTASTAR ENGINE. I AM TORN. DO I TRADE THE ISSUE BACK TO DODGE AND GET A 4.0L V6 PENTSTAR. I HAVE ALMOST PAID IT OFF. THIS SUX GREAT TIMES FLUSHED DOWN THE DRAIN BECAUSE OF A ENGINE DEFECT. I LOVE IT BUT I HAVE LEAVE IT. TOYOTA HERE I COME.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10937073December 22, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS VEHICLE, SENSORS, AND THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTS REGULAR ON A STRAIT WAY, AND UP SLIGHT HILLS, LOSES SPEED ,EXTREME LOSS OF FUEL MILEAGE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10935110December 13, 2016FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTING SEPTEMBER 2016 WE NOTICED OUR LIGHTS WOULD GO ON FOR NO REASON AND OUR DOORS WOULD OPEN ON ITS OWN. WE INITIALLY CHALKED IT UP TO OUR KEY BEING FAULTY AND REPLACED THE BATTERIES, BUT EVERY SO OFTEN IT KEPT HAPPENING. IN OCTOBER OUR BATTERY DIED, WE FIGURED THE LAST TIME WE CHANGED IT WAS WHEN WE ORIGINALLY GOT THE VAN SO MAYBE IT WAS JUST TIME AND REPLACED IT. THEN IN NOVEMBER OUR CAR WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY. IT STARTED WITH HAVE TO CRANK ABOUT 2 TIMES. ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING AFTER IT SAT UNUSED FOR A COUPLE HOURS, BUT THEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY IT WAS FINE. SOON THOUGH IT TOOK 5 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD START SO WE TOOK IT INTO TO OUR MECHANIC TO SEE IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE. NOTHING REGISTERED ON THE COMPUTER, WE FIGURED MAYBE OUR FUEL LINES WERE CLOGGED AND WE DID A FLUSH. IT FIXED THE STARTING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WE COULD HEAR OUR CAR CRANKING, BUT IT WOULD NOT START AND WE WOULD HAVE TO CRANK IT A COUPLE TIMES. THEN WHILE DRIVING OUR CAR JUST STOPPED. EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN, MIND YOU WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT ABOUT 45 MPH. THE WHEEL LOCKED AND LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE. WE TOWED OUR CAR TO THE MECHANIC WHO SAID NOW THE COMPUTER IS SAYING THE FUEL PUMP IS BAD. SO WE CHANGED THAT. OUR VAN WORKED PERFECTLY...FOR ONE DAY. THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT START. AFTER TOWING TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THE NEXT APPOINTMENT WAS IN JANUARY 2017 AND OUR VAN WOULD BE ON STANDBY. WE ARE FORTUNATE WE DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT THAT LONG TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT, BUT NOW THEY STATED WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY...AGAIN! THE PROBLEM WAS OUR TIPM. IT BASICALLY FRIED OUR BRAND NEW BATTERY. TOTAL COST FOR REPLACING JUST THE TIPM $1200!!!! THAT IS NOT INCLUDING $140 FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND $140 FOR A NEW BATTERY. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10930383December 7, 2016ENGINE
THE VEHICLE JUST STALLS WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS THE CASE YESTERDAY AND TODAY. I HAVE TO PUT IT BACK ON PARK IN ORDER TO RE-START THE ENGINE. THE LATEST INSTANCES ARE NOT THE FIRST TIME WE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. MY WIFE REPORTED IT AT LEAST A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP ONCE TOLD ME THAT WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE WEIGHT OF THE KEY RING AND WITH OTHER THINGS ATTACHED TO IT. SINCE THEN, I MAKE SURE TO DRIVE WITH ONLY THE DODGE KEY ON THE IGNITION, TAKING DOWN ALL EVERYTHING ELSE FROM THE KEY RING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10924130November 3, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND NOTICED FLAMES EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE DOOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V234000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10923906November 2, 2016ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED 911 WHEN THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED ON THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP THE FOLLOWING DAY, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 05/10/17*LJ CAR WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC WAS CONVINCED THERE WAS DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE RECALL AND DOOR FIRE. UPDATED 9/5/18*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10917287October 19, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SUSPECTED TIPM FAILURE CAUSING MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. 1. 9/1/16 FUEL PUMP DIED THEREBY IMMOBILIZING VEHICLE. VERY UNUSUAL FOR A CAR WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES AND NOT YET 5 YRS OLD. REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP, NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM CHRYSLER CORP, TOTAL OUT OF POCKET COST $826. 2. 10/1/16 MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES OCCURRED SIMULTANEOUSLY A) POWER DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER FUNCTION. THEREFORE OVER 20MPH SELF LOCKING DOORS NOT FUNCTIONAL. B) FUEL GAUGE READS COMPLETELY EMPTY BUT TANK IS DEFINITELY FULL. C) PARKING BRAKE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH NOT APPLIED. D) INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. E) SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR LIGHT ON. FOR ITEMS #1 & #2 VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BOTH TIMES. CURRENTLY NOT BEING DRIVEN UNTIL FURTHER REPAIR RESEARCH IS DONE AS ELECTRICAL ISSUES OF THIS NATURE CREATE AN UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10917337October 19, 2016STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10916635October 17, 2016SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, COMING TO A STOP, OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE FRONT BRAKES MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS OFF FOR A WHILE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10909477September 24, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY DAUGHTER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, ONE NIGHT AFTER COMMUNITY THEATER REHEARSAL, TO DRIVE HOME AND FOUND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND SHE HEARD RANDOM RELAYS CHATTERING THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE, HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOVE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED ON/OFF ALONG WITH DISPLAYING ERROR CODES OF: "NO FUSE" AND "NO BUS". THE FUEL PUMP COULD BE HEARD RUNNING, EVEN WITH THE KEY OFF AND SHE SAID THE VAN ACTED LIKE IT WAS POSSESSED. BASED ON ONLINE INFORMATION, I REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH WAS LISTED AS A TOP CULPRIT IN THE PROBLEM AND THAT SOLVED NOTHING. FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATED THE TIPM UNIT IS MOST LIKELY THE CAUSE AND WE FOUND THAT HER MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE IS PART OF A LAWSUIT FOR THIS PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10909331September 23, 2016SERVICE BRAKES
WE HAVE REPLACED THE ROTATORS AND PADS OUT OF POCKET 4 TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE. ANOTHER TWO WERE REPLACED IN WARRANTY BEFORE 36,000MILE. THE FIRST REPAIR MADE OUT SIDE OF WARRANTY WAS AT 37,000MILES. THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES CLENCH DOWN AND WON'T RELEASE. WE HAVE REPLACE THE HOSES, CALIPERS, ROTATORS, PADS AND BLEED THE SYSTEM FOR ALL WHEELS IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. THE BRAKES ARE CURRENTLY CLENCHED DOWN AND WON'T COME UP. THE MECHANIC NOW HAS TO GO INTO THE VEHICLE TO FIND WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG. BECAUSE HE HAS LOOKED AT THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAN'T FIND WHAT IS WRONG. FIRST DATE OF OCCURRENCE IS 12-2013 FOR OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR ON A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10907599September 19, 2016ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HOT. IN ADDITION, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALLOWING IT TO COOL DOWN, THE CONTACT CHECKED THE COOLANT AND NOTICED A SLUDGE LIKE SUBSTANCE INSTEAD OF COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10906813September 15, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY VAN SUDDENLY SHUT-DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED (70 MPH) WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED DUE TO ALTERNATOR FAILURE WHICH PLACED MY WIFE, MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY IN EXTREME DANGER OF COLLISION. LUCKILY WE WERE IN RIGHT LANE AND WERE ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART (NOTHING - NO SOUNDS, ONLY BRIGHT WHITEOUT OF DASHBOARD) - TOW WAS REQUIRED. SUDDEN SEQUENCE OF EVENTS - CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY ABS LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, ENGINE UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED / DECELERATED LEADING TO ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN AND DASHBOARD GOING TO TOTAL BRIGHT WHITEOUT. THIS ALTERNATOR FAILURE IS IDENTICAL TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN #14V634000 / FCA RECALL #P60. MY GRAND CARAVAN HAS UNDER 39,000 MILES - 3.6 LITER ENGINE / 160 AMP ALTERNATOR SAME AS RECALL FOR OTHER DODGE MODELS BUILT IN SAME YEAR AS MY GRAND CARAVAN. REPAIRS MADE FOLLOWING DAY (9/6/16) AT TYSON CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP / SHOREWOOD, IL - ALTERNATOR FAILURE, REMOVED AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10903064September 1, 2016POWER TRAIN
AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45 PM. AS I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON FAIRVIEW IN DOWNERS GROVE, IL MY VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND AT ONE POINT, I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT THE TRUNK. I BEGAN TO WORRY AS THERE WAS A LOT OF CARS IN FRONT AND NEXT TO ME. THE VEHICLE'S RPM STARTED TO GO CRAZY AND THEN AS I PRESSED THE GAS THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR ME AS I WAS ALONE. I THEN PUT MY HAZARDS ON BECAUSE I HAD TO TRY TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, I MANAGED TO MOVE MY CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A CVS BUT NOT BEFORE IT SHUT OFF ON ME. I HAD TO WAIT FOR 1 HOUR BEFORE THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND HE TOOK ME TO THE JACK PHELAN DEALERSHIP IN COUNTRYSIDE, IL. MY CAR HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THEN. I HAVE A RENTAL FOR 7 DAYS BUT AFTER THAT I HAVE NO CAR. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT CHRYSLER CAN DO FOR ME AS I AM NOT ABLE TO HAVE MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP COMMUNICATED TO US THAT THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY CAN TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE SHELVES. AT THIS MOMENT, I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION BUT THE DEALERSHIP CAN BE CONTACTED, JACK PHELAN DODGE, 5859 S. LAGRANGE ROAD, COUNTRYSIDE, IL 60525 (708) 352-5300. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE CONTACTING CHRYSLER CORPORATION TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10901977August 27, 2016POWER TRAIN
I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY NOT ALLOWING ME TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES. THEN ON A FEW OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY BECAUSE I REPLACED THAT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF FINANCING THE VEHICLE. THE LAST INCIDENT WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED, THE VEHICLE POWERED OFF, I COULDN'T SWITCH THE GEARS, THE BRAKES LOCKED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AS WELL. LUCKILY, THIS DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT THE VEHICLE DID STOP. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE KEY FOB AND POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT WORKING. I LOOKED IT AND APPARENTLY THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED IN JAN 2013 BEFORE I FINANCED THE CAR AND THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE STILL BEEN HAVING ISSUES BECAUSE I HAVE HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10899029August 26, 2016ENGINE
VERY LOUD TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS, CAUSING ENGINE HESITATION AND MISFIRE. FORTUNATELY I HAVE NOT GOTTEN STOCK ON THE ROAD BUTBI FEEL IS ABOUT TO HAPPEND.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10898492August 25, 2016ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE BLOCK (CONNECTION ROD) FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY BYSTANDERS THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,249.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10891814July 30, 2016SERVICE BRAKES
ON JUNE 30TH, 2016 MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON I-91 IN MASSACHUSETTS BETWEEN EXITS 14 AND 15. THE REAR BRAKES BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED (~65 MPH) AND NOT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. MINUTES LATER A THUMP WAS HEARD SIMILAR TO WHEN AN OBJECT OR ROADKILL IS RUN OVER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT ONE BRAKE PAD HAD BROKEN THROUGH/BEEN THROWN FROM THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL, AND BRAKE FLUID WAS POURING OUT FROM THAT BRAKE ASSEMBLY. WE EXITED THE HIGHWAY AT EXIT 15 AND DROVE SMALL LOW-TRAFFIC ROADS HOME. DODGE WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST IN TOWING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT. WE REPLACED THE BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS IN OUR DRIVEWAY. ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY BEFORE IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE FOR REPLACEMENT. THE CAR WAS THREE YEARS AND 10 MONTHS OLD, WITH ~48,660 MILES, AND ON ITS SECOND PAIR OF REAR BRAKE PADS. THIS IS AT LEAST THE 21ST COMPLAINT ON NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME COMPONENT (REAR BRAKE PADS ON 2012 GRAND CARAVAN WEARING TOO QUICKLY). DODGE REFUSED ASSISTANCE BOTH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND AFTER I FOLLOWED UP WITH OUR DEALER, WITH NO REASON GIVEN FOR THE REFUSAL. (CASE #29615622) GIVEN THE MANY OFFICIAL AND HUNDREDS OF UNOFFICIAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN REAR BRAKES, I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND PRESSURE DODGE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THIS PART. THANK YOU.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0