The stock pads and rotors wore down to an inspection failure at less than 20k miles! I replaced stock rotors. Upgrading to better, ceramic pads and had the same problem. Kept a check on the temp. Of the brakes after driving. And they must be under sized. VERY HOT, for normal- no load driving!
Went to performance brakes.com (I think) and upgraded to Slotted & dimpled rotors for the front, with performance pads for the front and rear. Have gone over 30,000 miles!!!
That will be all though, due to an accident . I'm on this site looking for any new problems with the 2012 model Grand Caravan. I was a mechanic and work on cars as a hobby now.
The under sized rotors cause too much heat. This will dissipate the lube and cause binding and damage to the caliper. Causing more heat damage. An Aftermarket Upgrade is The Solution!! I will be getting another van very soon, and doing the same upgrade asap.
I will have to look into where I got them, because it's been awhile. I will start at Jeg's .com because they have quality aftermarket parts and good customer service.
I have had our minivan for almost 4 years, and have had to have the brake pads replaced 10+ times! Sometimes it seems like every 3 months they are failing and start to squeak. Thankfully my husband can fix vehicles or I would have had to get rid of this vehicle long ago! The brakes get so bad that they start to warp the rotors also, and then I always have issues with the calipers sticking! The whole brake system in these vans are crap!! Can't wait to trade this in. We usually sell our vehicles privately but we won't this time because we live in a small town and don't want to turn this problem over to someone we know. Let the dealership take care of it!
Having to replace brakes and rotors on a car that was less than 2 years old is insane. Dodge refused to fix the problem and blamed it on my driving. I went elsewhere and had it fixed. 6 months later I received a recall notice. Very frustrating. Have had to have the brakes 3 more times and am on my third set of rotors. Serious design flaws
2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. Brake problems. I bought this Van brand new off the Showroom floor in 2008 with 3 miles on it. Now, with 60K miles (under 10K per year) I have had to replace or turn the Brake Rotors 4 times. The Brake System is simply too small for the weight of the Vehicle. The Brakes build up too much heat and WARP. I do not use this Van for Hauling or Towing. The initial Problem started within a couple of years, and has consistenly reared its ugly head. The problem is most noticible on downhill grades. The Van shakes and shudders so bad that the driver is afraid of loosing control of the vehicle. Numerous trips to the Dealership are fruitless, they turn or replace the rotors, only to have it happen again within a few months. We have even had Brake Shops, Dealers, and mechanics try to convince us that it is perfectly normal for the brakes to shudder like that. Bull! My GM Products don't do it. I replaced the stock Rotors after numerous replacements and turnings with top of the line NAPA Ceramic Pads and Rotors, which were no help. Even these rotors are warped and ready to be either changed or replaced.
Again, brake pads wear. Problem is that this is a 5,000+ curb weight vehicle with insufficient stopping ability due to undersized brake system with too small of a caliper, brake and rotor size. The rotor are mere 10", when they should be at least 12". The vehicle weight of Dodge Magnum is the same, yet this car has 12" rotors, larger disc brake pads. This was the first year of the Grand Caravan model change to a larger model and it still appears to utilize the same brake system as the previous vans! What a joke!
I have not even gotten out of the 30 day warranty and this happened! Naturally electrical issues aren't covered, and this is looking like a 350-500 dollar issue! I have seen the same year/make on sites with the same problems. I don't understand why there hasn't been a recall!
This was the third time the brake pads, rotors or calipers were replaced. The next time after the initial brakes and rotors were replaced, the caliper stuck to the point where someone on the highway followed me off the ramp because of the smoke coming from my car. When I called the dealer for emergency service, they claimed it was a different issue and not covered. Never went back to that dealer.
Then last year brought it to nationwide brake company only to have issues 8 months later. I brought it to the local service center where most people in town bring their cars. When they went to flush the brake fluid they realized the it was not holding pressure. It took a Ford Service center to realize this! Anyway the master cylinder needs replacing and hopefully this will end my brake issues for some time.
Brakes getting done AGAIN! Replaced back brake pads. Cleaned up, and freed up the caliper slides. Now we have 95,667 miles on the van. 27,057 after having replaced all the rotors, and pads front and back with the top of the line pads.
No I AM NOT PART OF THE HAPPY DODGE FAMILY!!!!!! Yes, Dodge the 2008 Caravans do have a brake problem, plus several other problems!! Yes we have reported them!!! Yes you have denied to do anything about them!!!!! No this is not the end of my brake problems. I do know that brakes wear depending on how each person drives. Also if you do a lot of in-town driving, hauling heavy loads ect. I have 2 small children ( combined weight of the 3 of us 225#). I have put on 100,000 miles in just over 3 years, I do not do a lot of in town driving. I am 38 years old, and I have NEVER EVER had to replace breaks this many times!! So it is not my driving, it is the van.
No, I cannot afford to bring it to the Dodge service center for repairs every 6 months when they charge $100 to $200 above the others. I bring our other vehicles to our mechanic, and it is amazing, bakes were done 60,000 miles ago and they still work. I drive that vehicle A LOT because my van is in the shop!
Stock pads and rotors wore out on the front less that 30,000 miles. Backs were worn out by 35,000. Replaced with AutoZone pads and have lasted 40,000 more miles with no issues and should last another 40K+ miles. Problem was the cheap pads dodge put on to begin with. Do yourself a favor, and swap out the pads with aftermarket before they wear out and trash the rotors. The dodge pads are junk.
I heard an occasional grinding noise while stopping. After a few tests, my local mechanic said I needed new brake pads, rotors, and calipers for both front and rear. Make sure you catch this one early.
Replaced my first set of tires at about 40,000. Had the alignment done at that time too. At 50,000 and about a year later the new tires (with only about 10,000 mile on them mind you) are already showing threads... not treads, but threads!!!!! Before that I had to have the front brakes replaced due to a recall (rotors and pads) at a prorated cost. Shortly after that I had to replace the rear rotors and pads at full cost from my own pocket. It was metal to metal! I've never had a car have discs go bad, ever! Mine is an 08, I'm easy on my cars. The rear brake light cowling fell off as I went over a railroad track. It is, by far, the worse new car I've ever owned. I'm done with dodge.
Bought used with 96k miles, with new rotors,pads even new tires. Noticed awful mpg for the first 5k miles under 19mpg for highway, and about 8mpg in town. Always hearing a rubbing or dragging brake sound from the rear driver side. Dealership said that was good mpg, and was characteristic of this vehicle. Sad, because I have worked with various automotive manufactures as a technician and service writer and never had cars with issues like this unless they were over 20 years old and over 200k on the odometer. Now, with about 108k miles, front driver pads are down to bare metal, the passenger side has over 50%, moving to the back driver down to approx .07mm remaining and rotor is chewed to hell. going to the rear passenger side, about 70% remaining with minimal rotor wear present. After years of working on various cars, ATV, and motorcycles it is a "twin problem child". Calipers not retracting back enough and weak blend on the pads. I am now seeing if after market offers brembo or wilwood calipers for my van. If I have to up the sizes and get a larger tire/rims, maybe mopar might start doing the same. I don't drive erratic or race this van. It hauls my kids, wife and dogs in and around post. Taking trips out of town happens every few months, it shouldn't have to be a gamble if my van will do what its designed for.
We bought this hunk of crap 2008 Dodge Grand-Caravan in 2010 with 60k. Nothing but issues with the brakes from day one. First it was front pads and rotors. (220.00) 4 months later rear pads and rotors (230.00) 6 months later Rear calipers dead, and front pads and rotors (370.00) I have never owned such a POS car in my life. Stay away from the 2008-2009 models. Both Chrysler and Dodge.
Heard grinding in front left rotor like metal on metal. Then noticed a deep groove in the rotor on the outside. Thought it very strange that the brakes would be wore out at this mileage (have a '04 CTS with 108k that have NEVER had the brakes changed!!!) Upon removing the brakes it turns out that there was a chunk of junk in the pad material itself digging into the rotor! I've done mechanic for over 40 years and never seen such a thing! Talk about poor quality! Where did Dodge get these worthless pads? I don't even think China would put their name on them! About 10k later my rear disk brakes went out! Unbelievable! My son has the same vehicle (with smaller engine) and his went out before mine did in mileage. Clearly, this is nothing more than some knucklehead trying to save a few bucks by buying CHEAP BRAKE PADS! Really Dodge? Don't skimp on BRAKES!!!! I replaced them with Wagner pads & now have 82k on the van with the pads still going strong.
We purchased vehicle with @ 15K miles in May 2010 - In January 2011 at @ 30K miles we had to replace the brakes and rotors the WHOLE WAY AROUND. I spoke with 3 mechanics who 1) said rotors at this low mileage was unheard of and 2) this was a known problem with Dodge Grand Caravans.
Not normal to change all that after 45 000km. The car was used by my wife, not an F1 driver. This is not normal. Go for after market caliper and brake.
To all of you in Canada that are having issues with your brakes at low KMs and are not getting satisfaction from your dealership - help me help all of us. Dodge is also giving me the run around about my rear brakes. This piece of crap has left us on the side of the road 4 times. Twice we have been saved by our CAA membership and have been towed home. First rear brake lock up at 33218kms (repaired by dealer), second at 35375 (repaired at different dealer), third time - had no other option but to let it cool down and drive it home and the fourth time the rear brakes locked on was at 76522kms and this is where it is sitting at in my workshop because Dodge is telling me that this is normal and I should get used to it.
We don't have a "lemon law" here in Canada but we do have CAMVAP (1-800-207-0685). When I called they actually listened and cared that I am fed up with Dodge. They couldn't do anything for me because I am over 3yrs or 60000kms but they did suggest calling TRANSPORT CANADA (1-819-994-3328) and filing a complaint. Made sense to me so I called and had a very positive discussion with one of their Defect Investigators. He listened and took notes and he also asked me if I would be willing to send him copies of all of my notes, work orders etc, etc pertaining to the brake issue. Of course I will. I will be scanning all of my paperwork and sending it to his email.
Now listen up fellow Canadians - let's stop whining about the issue and let's act on it and try to force Dodge to change their tune. We all need to post on sites like this one and we also need to contact TRANSPORT CANADA and tell them how pissed we are and why. They are our voice and if we prove to them that there is a definite problem then they can FORCE Dodge to recall our piece of crap vans. Then and only then can we sell them with a clear conscience and buy Honda's.
Traveling with my two young boys, I heard an terrible noise as I stopped for traffic on the freeway in Ankeny IA. I pulled off the nearest exit and could hear my breaks grinding, it was 5pm. I found a Amoco that was open, and the guy stayed and repaired it. I had all the pads replaced 34,000 miles before this( with the really good ones that were still under warrenty). The pads were totally gone, I had to have front, and back, breaks, and rotors done. The back caliber was sticking, so he fixed that. I brought the pads home to return for the warrenty. The rotors were shot. $575. Now a total of $775 on brakes so far!Dodge denies that there is any problems with the brakes!!! I wonder if all the problems with the brakes heating up is causing the wheel bearings to heat up and go bad?? They did have to offer an extended warrenty on the wheel bearings.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The stock pads and rotors wore down to an inspection failure at less than 20k miles! I replaced stock rotors. Upgrading to better, ceramic pads and had the same problem. Kept a check on the temp. Of the brakes after driving. And they must be under sized. VERY HOT, for normal- no load driving!
Went to performance brakes.com (I think) and upgraded to Slotted & dimpled rotors for the front, with performance pads for the front and rear. Have gone over 30,000 miles!!!
That will be all though, due to an accident . I'm on this site looking for any new problems with the 2012 model Grand Caravan. I was a mechanic and work on cars as a hobby now.
The under sized rotors cause too much heat. This will dissipate the lube and cause binding and damage to the caliper. Causing more heat damage. An Aftermarket Upgrade is The Solution!! I will be getting another van very soon, and doing the same upgrade asap.
I will have to look into where I got them, because it's been awhile. I will start at Jeg's .com because they have quality aftermarket parts and good customer service.
- Keith W., Granville, NY, US