This is the fourth dodge caravan I have leased since 1997 and all 4 of them needed front rotors replaced (did pads too) between 20,000 and 34,000 kms. because of brake pedal pulsation. The pulsation was caused by intense build-up of rust on the rotors, most of which was on the inside! I changed the pads and rotors on this one at about 34,000 kms. and now have 79,000 on it and no pulsation and still good brakes!
I buy the best pads and rotors I can buy at my parts supplier (Parry Automotive, Orillia) and I get lifetime warranty on the parts. I am a licensed mechanic and I repair farm tractors and equipment for a full time job and I run a small repair business at home fixing cars so installation is no prob. My dealer told me that brakes are a wear item so there is no warranty, but after reading some other complaints where the dealer actually covvered the parts, I will look into this with Chrysler head office! I believe this is a caravan problem that Chrysler has to address! Read my next complaint about the rear brakes!!
I bought this van in March of 2006. After driving it a short time I noticed black residue on the front rims. When I stepped on the brakes a little harder than usual the brakes would pulsate. I am not a hard person on vehicles. The last van I had was a Plymouth Voyager. I put 214K miles on it and never had any black residue on the front rims ever.
I took the 2006 in for an oil change last June and was told I needed brake pads on it, so at 200.00 later I figured the brake problem was fixed. Well much to my surprise it is still doing the pulsating thing when I step on the brakes. I'm no mechanic, but I had my son look at it and drive it and he said that was not normal. I am taking it in to a Chrysler Dealer to get an oil change done on it and I am going to mention it to them and hopefully they will admit there is a problem with it and get Chrysler to fix it. If not I am looking at getting another vehicle and it won't be a Chrysler product I can guarantee that. To me a brake problem like that is just as serious as some of the other recalls they have had on other vehicles. I'm not the only person with this problem.
Ever since I bought my new van, the brakes would pulsate. I took it to the dealership and they told me they could not find a problem. At 11k miles though, I needed new brakes. There is still a pulsation that never went away.
- bucsbadgirl,
West Mifflin, PA, US
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This is the fourth dodge caravan I have leased since 1997 and all 4 of them needed front rotors replaced (did pads too) between 20,000 and 34,000 kms. because of brake pedal pulsation. The pulsation was caused by intense build-up of rust on the rotors, most of which was on the inside! I changed the pads and rotors on this one at about 34,000 kms. and now have 79,000 on it and no pulsation and still good brakes!
I buy the best pads and rotors I can buy at my parts supplier (Parry Automotive, Orillia) and I get lifetime warranty on the parts. I am a licensed mechanic and I repair farm tractors and equipment for a full time job and I run a small repair business at home fixing cars so installation is no prob. My dealer told me that brakes are a wear item so there is no warranty, but after reading some other complaints where the dealer actually covvered the parts, I will look into this with Chrysler head office! I believe this is a caravan problem that Chrysler has to address! Read my next complaint about the rear brakes!!
- fredj, Orillia, Ontario, Canada