NHTSA Complaint #10171970 — 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

PREMATURE FRONT BRAKE FAILURE-- WE PURCHASED OUR 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN NEW, IN LATE SPRING 2004. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES TWICE, ONCE AT 18,000 MILES, AND NOW AT 35,000 MILES. OUR DRIVING HABITS HAVE NOT CHANGED AND PREVIOUSLY (FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, WITH 5 DIFFERENT CARS) WE HAVE GONE 30,000 - 40,000 MILES BETWEEN BRAKE JOBS. THIS VEHICLE REPLACED A 10-YEAR OLD PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER WHICH HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE WEAR. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER SAYS HE HAS SEEN 2005 GRAND CARAVANS COMING IN NEEDING BRAKE JOBS AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES, BUT NOT 18,000 MILES. YET, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR CHRYSLER ADMITS THAT THERE IS A SYSTEM OR COMPONENT PROBLEM. I SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WERE, AT BEST, RELUCTANTLY HELPFUL. THEY HAVE AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS, BUT NOT THE LABOR. SO, I HAVE NOW HAD TO PAY, IN PART, FOR FRONT BRAKE JOBS TWICE IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS, AVERAGING LESS THAN 18,000 MILES BETWEEN THE REPAIRS. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IF CHRYSLER DOESN'T DO SOMETHING ELSE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHRYSLER PRODUCT I WILL OWN...AND I WILL NOT BE KEEPING THIS MINIVAN MUCH LONGER. *NM