1997 Dodge Caravan

DURING THE TIME OF THE JUNE '01 FAILURE I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. MY FAMILY AND I HAD JUST ENTERED A LOCAL ROADWAY WHEN A DEER CROSSED IN FRONT OF US. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IT WAS LIKE STEPPING ON A ROCK. I WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE. THE BRAKES HAD JUST WORKED FINE AS WE ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND THEY WORK FINE AFTER THIS INCIDENT. I HAD NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN PREVIOUSLY. NOR DID I REALIZE AT THE TIME THIS WAS GOING TO BE A REOCCURING PROBLEM. ON OCTOBER 6, '01 I WAS TRAVELING ALONG A RESIDENTIAL ROADWAY WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME I WAS TRAVELING AT A SAFE DISTANCE AND GOING APPROX 45MPH. I SHOULD HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP. HOWEVER, I ONCE AGAIN WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY VAN NO MATTER HOW HARD I STOOD ON THE PEDAL! I BARELY MISSED OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, CROSSED OVER A SIDEWALK AND HIT A HOUSE THAT LINED THE ROAD. I ENDED UP IN AN EMPTY LOT BESIDE THE HOUSE I HAD HIT. MY SON SUFFERED BRUISING ON HIS UPPER LEGS FROM BEING BOUNCED AROUND AND I SUFFERED A CUT HAND AND CONTINUE TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY BACK. I AM SO ANGRY THAT MY CHILDREN 8 AND 1, AS WELL AS MYSELF WERE PUT IN DANGER BECAUSE OF AN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER NOT TAKING THE RESPONSIBLE POSITION IN NOTIFYING THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR PRODUCT OF A POTENTIAL BRAKING PROBLEM. I JUST HOPE A FAMILY ISN'T KILLED BEFORE CHRYSLER/DODGE WAKES UP TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE MANUFACTURING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT THAT COULD KILL FAMILIES. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF SUCH A BRAKING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT I USE TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!

ON JULY 19TH WE LOST ALL BRAKES ON OUR 1997 DODGE CARAVAN. THE NEXT DAY FULL USE OF THE BRAKES RETURNED. ON JULY 21ST WE ONCE AGAIN HAD COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. WE ARE ONLY OWNERS OF THIS LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VAN TO TIRES PLUS TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED. THE ONLY THING FOUND WAS SLIGHT WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES. WE HAD THEM REPLACE THE PADS BUT THE VEHICLE STILL HAD INTERMITTENT BRAKE LOSS. NEXT THE BLED THE LINES AGAIN AND WE HAD BRAKES AGAIN. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME AND DROVE IT FOR SEVEN DAYS BUT LOST BRAKES AGAIN ON THE 29TH OF JULY. THIS TIME THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BUT STILL BRAKES WERE INTERMITTANT. RIGHT NOW THE VAN IS AT JIM'S DODGE COUNTRY BEING WORKED ON. THIS TIME THE CLAIM IS THAT THE RIDE HIGH PROPORTIONING VALVE IS DEFECTIVE. WE USE THE VAN FOR OUR CHILDREN AND ALL THE TIMES WE HAVE LOST OUR BRAKES CHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENTS BUT WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY. OUR VEHICLE IS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR SO I THINK MECHANICALLY THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

BRAKES WOULD SHUTTER WHEN DEPRESSED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS CONSUMER INSISTED THAT PADS AND ROTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE TURNED INSTEAD OF REPLACED. ALSO, PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT SALE THESE PARTS. CONSUMER FEARED FOR SAFETY OF CHILD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE FRONT, DRIVER SIDE CALIPERS DO NOT RELEASE WHICH OVERHEAT THE WHEEL. ON TWO OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PADS HAVE SHEARED OFF, AND WHEN THE TIRES ARE REMOVED TO INSPECT, STUDS EASILY BRAKE OFF. SEARS AUTO CENTER BROKE OFF TWO STUDS AFTER THE 1ST INCIDENT, AND I BROKE OFF ONE STUD AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT ON JUNE 15, 2001. THE NEGHERBON SERVICE DEPT HAD REPLACED THE CALIPER KIT (SPRINGS AND TRACKS) ON 3/13/01. THE WHEEL GETS SO HOT THAT YOU BURN YOUR FINGER IF YOU TOUCH IT. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. THE OVERHEATING HAPPENS DURING TIMES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE USED OFTEN (BENICIA IS VERY HILLY), AND DOES NOT HAPPEN DURING HIGHWAY RIDES, WHEN THERE IS NO TRAFFIC. MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN THE BRAKES STARTS TO HEAT UP DO TO USE, THE CALIPER DOES NOT RELEASE AS FREELY, AND EVENTUALLY LOCKS UP AND DOES NOT RELEASE AT ALL (AFTER THE 1ST INCIDENT I HAD TO HAMMER OFF THE OLD BRAKE PADS/CALIPER ASSEMBLY FROM THE ROTOR). HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HELP IDENTIFY THE ROOT PROBLEM BEFORE THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS OVERHEATING WILL CAUSE A BLOWOUT OR A WHEEL TO COME OFF IF THE STUDS FAIL WHILE THE VAN IS BEING DRIVEN.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HORN STOPPED WORKING, MECHANIC STATED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK ALSO CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE RADIO THAT HAS BEEN WORKED ON FIVE TIMES AND REPLACED TWICE AND STILL DOESNOT WORK TO CONSUMER'S SATISFACTION, CONSUMER ALSO HAD BRAKES REPLACED, ALSO THE TENSIONER BELT ON THE TIMING BELT, ALSO THE WATER PUMP BROKE, ALSO TRANSMISSION WENT OUT.*JB