Dodge Caravan Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 536 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Dodge Caravan across 17 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (139). The words owners use most often: “brake pads” (10% of reports).
- 536service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 43mention a crash
- 20mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $710typical repair cost reported by owners
- 27%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Brake pads: mentioned in 53 of 536 complaints (10%)
- Stopping distance: mentioned in 39 of 536 complaints (7%)
- Rear brakes: mentioned in 31 of 536 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the Dodge Caravan at $710, and half of them between $450 and $1,250.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 165 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 536 complaints, 43 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 20 an injury.
Dodge Caravan service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Caravan | 1 | 1% | 280,000 |
| 2010 Caravan | 6 | 3% | 19,606 |
| 2009 Caravan | 5 | 4% | 37,859 |
| 2008 Caravan | 41 | 14% | 23,000 |
| 2007 Caravan | 5 | 6% | 20,000 |
| 2006 Caravan | 6 | 3% | 28,500 |
| 2005 Caravan | 14 | 3% | 30,000 |
| 2004 Caravan | 7 | 11% | 32,700 |
| 2003 Caravan | 31 | 16% | 30,000 |
| 2002 Caravan | 12 | 5% | 39,500 |
| 2001 Caravan | 13 | 5% | 55,000 |
| 2000 Caravan | 49 | 10% | 40,000 |
| 1999 Caravan | 44 | 8% | 102,875 |
| 1998 Caravan | 41 | 7% | 69,000 |
| 1997 Caravan | 66 | 9% | 96,183 |
| 1996 Caravan | 139 | 10% | 82,500 |
| 1995 Caravan | 56 | 11% | 126,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Model years: 1997
Problem: The master cylinder rear seal, between the hydraulic fluid and the vacuum reservoir, may not seal adequately allowing hydraulic fluid to be drawn into the power assist vacuum reservoir.
Risk: As the hydraulic fluid in the master cylinder reservoir decreases, the level sensor will detect the loss of fluid and illuminate the instrument panel brake warning lamp. Continued operation of the vehicle with the warning lamp illuminated can result in extended stopping distances.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder on all affected vehicles. Addendum (4-14-97): vehicles inspected per chrysler recall no. 707 and found to be outside the listed suspect master cylinder date code range, must now have the master cylinder primary piston replaced (chrysler recall no. 714).
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AND RADIO OPERATING, THE ABS AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COVERT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (8107 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758, [redacted]), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge caravan. The contact stated that the rear side caliper bracket caused the brakes to wear prematurely, which caused an increase in stopping distance and time. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear brake caliper needed…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 dodge caravan. The contact stated that he brakes failed to disengage after starting the vehicle. The contact stated that once the vehicle was turned on the brakes made a loud noise and the abs light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…
I replaced the brakes on my 2004 dodge caravan with duralast brakes from auto zone. There is a severe problem with the tolerances on the pads. I have been installing brakes for 50 years. There is a sever defect with these replacement parts. The pads will not allow the caliper to retract the pads…
Rear break components (pads, rotors, lr caliper) at 30k on 12/10/09. Front pads replaces on 1/14/10 at appx 31k: front pads and rotors on 4/2012 (3rd set) at 58k calipers not frozen: this vehicle year was the first year of the 4.0 l engine. Already engine no longer an option: later model years…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Caravans have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 536 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the Dodge Caravan. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge Caravan service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 1 safety recall list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Dodge Caravan?
Owners report a typical cost of $710 (half paid between $450 and $1,250), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Dodge Caravan?
The most frequent phrase is “brake pads”, in 53 of 536 complaints, followed by “stopping distance” (39).
Other Dodge Caravan problems
- Electrical System problems (1,216)
- Air Bags problems (1,059)
- Power Train problems (849)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (810)
- Steering problems (448)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (416)
- Latches/locks/linkages problems (354)
- Visibility problems (324)
See all Dodge Caravan problems.