Dodge Grand Caravan Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 354 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the Dodge Grand Caravan across 23 model years. The 2008 model year has the most (74). The words owners use most often: “brake pads” (11% of reports).
- 354service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 23mention a crash
- 8mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $910typical repair cost reported by owners
- 26%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 40 of 354 complaints (11%)
- Rear brakes: mentioned in 36 of 354 complaints (10%)
- Traction control: mentioned in 26 of 354 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes repair on the Dodge Grand Caravan at $910, and half of them between $770 and $1,250.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2024), 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 problems happen?
Based on 296 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 354 complaints, 23 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 8 an injury.
Dodge Grand Caravan service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Grand Caravan | 9 | 4% | 34,750 |
| 2018 Grand Caravan | 10 | 4% | 41,120 |
| 2017 Grand Caravan | 7 | 2% | 53,500 |
| 2016 Grand Caravan | 13 | 1% | 70,000 |
| 2015 Grand Caravan | 7 | 2% | 48,000 |
| 2014 Grand Caravan | 11 | 3% | 13,007 |
| 2013 Grand Caravan | 19 | 4% | 59,000 |
| 2012 Grand Caravan | 38 | 7% | 37,000 |
| 2011 Grand Caravan | 25 | 5% | 73,600 |
| 2010 Grand Caravan | 70 | 8% | 54,100 |
| 2009 Grand Caravan | 31 | 6% | 77,000 |
| 2008 Grand Caravan | 74 | 6% | 80,000 |
| 2007 Grand Caravan | 4 | 2% | 136,000 |
| 2006 Grand Caravan | 5 | 2% | 59,500 |
| 2005 Grand Caravan | 10 | 1% | 115,500 |
| 2004 Grand Caravan | 1 | 1% | 158,000 |
| 2003 Grand Caravan | 2 | 1% | 99,000 |
| 2002 Grand Caravan | 2 | 1% | 193,000 |
| 2000 Grand Caravan | 4 | 1% | 123,860 |
| 1999 Grand Caravan | 1 | 0% | 137,017 |
| 1998 Grand Caravan | 2 | 0% | 175,500 |
| 1997 Grand Caravan | 7 | 1% | 160,000 |
| 1996 Grand Caravan | 2 | 0% | 123,926 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper
Model years: 2018, 2019
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey, and 2019 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began September 29, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U86.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Model years: 2008, 2009
Problem: Eldorado national is recalling model year 2008-2009 amerivan mobility vehicles built on chrysler town & country and dodge grand caravan platforms vehicles. The rear brake lines may have been improperly routed and not secured properly during the alteration. If not routed and secured properly, the brake lines could rub against the vehicle causing a brake fluid leak.
Risk: A brake fluid leak could result in a loss of braking ability, possibly causing a crash.
Fix: Eldorado national amerivan dealers will inspect the vehicles and if the brake lines were improperly routed they will be correctly reinstalled free of charge. The safety recall began on october 13, 2009. Owners may contact eldorado national at 1-800-955-9086. These minivans have been altered into wheelchair accessible vehicles by eldorado. This recall is not being conducted by chrysler group llc and will not be performed at no cost by dodge or chrysler dealers unless they are also an eldorado national dealer.
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.
While driving, the engine shuts off, leaving the driver with no power steering or power brakes. All power is off. There is no warning or error messages on the dash of any kind. No warning at all. The last time this happened, I was able to coast to the side of the road to a stop. Once stopped, i can…
Unknown
The break calipers keep sticking and need to be replaced at least once per year. The stick and cause an awful black smoke. The last time they were replaced was almost a year ago to date.
I had recently decided to rotate my wheels and and I had gotten done I noticed that after a little while after I get down the road my speedometer, cruise control, abs, traction control stopped working and my parking brake light also came on now I do know the only thing that I done differently was…
I tried to stop the van and had no brakes. I went right through the intersection, luckily it was early in the morning with light traffic. It could have been deadly. The front flex brake line fitting rusted away and the brake line separated. There was no warning prior to the incident. I had it fixed…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge Grand Caravans have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 354 owner complaints about service brakes for the Dodge Grand 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 Grand Caravan service brakes?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list service brakes. 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 problems on the Dodge Grand Caravan?
Owners report a typical cost of $910 (half paid between $770 and $1,250), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the Dodge Grand Caravan?
The most frequent phrase is “brake pads”, in 40 of 354 complaints, followed by “rear brakes” (36).
Other Dodge Grand Caravan problems
- Electrical System problems (4,325)
- Air Bags problems (1,642)
- Power Train problems (1,410)
- Engine problems (1,027)
- Structure problems (907)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (743)
- Steering problems (701)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (583)
See all Dodge Grand Caravan problems.