NHTSA Complaint #10323755 — 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

VEHICLE: 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, IN USE FOR 20 MONTHS, 17000 MILES. UNEVEN BRAKE PAD WEAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM RATHER THAN A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ISSUE IS BASED ON WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND WHAT DID HAPPEN. HERE ARE MY OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIENCES (1) IF THE MALFUNCTIONING REAR WHEEL BRAKE CALIPERS ARE UNEXPECTEDLY LOCKING UP THE WHEEL THE OPERATION OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM (ESP) SAFETY SYSTEMS WILL BE COMPROMISED SINCE THE CONTROL COMPUTERS CANNOT FULLY UNLOCK THE REAR WHEELS ON SLIPPERY ROADS; (2) THE ROTATIONAL DRAG FROM LOCKING REAR WHEELS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXHIBIT VERY POOR STARTING TRACTION AND CONTROL ON SNOW AND A STRONG PROPENSITY TO GET STUCK ESPECIALLY IF THE REAR WHEELS WERE ON A LESS SLIPPERY SURFACE THAN THE FRONT WHEELS, IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO 'ROCK' OR PUSH THE VEHICLE FREE, TURNING OFF THE ESP AS RECOMMENDED IN THE OPERATORS MANUAL FOR STUCK SITUATIONS DID NOT HELP TO FREE THE VEHICLE; (3) THE DRAGGING ROTOR COULD OVERHEAT, REDUCE BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND CAUSE UNANTICIPATED DAMAGE TO BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS, MY REAR BRAKE COMPONENTS SHOW SIGNS OF WHAT LOOKS TO ME TO BE EXCESSIVE HEATING; (4) THE FAILURE OCCURRED ABOUT 5 MONTHS AND 5000 MILES AFTER FACTORY SERVICE INSPECTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS OR EXCESSIVE WEAR, THIS IS WELL UNDER CHRYSLER'S 12 MONTH OR 12,000 MILE INSPECTION INTERVAL RECOMMENDATION FOR BRAKES, THIS IS ALSO UNDER MY MORE STRINGENT 6 MONTH TIRE ROTATION AND BRAKE INSPECTION INTERVAL; (5) NONE OF THE ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS FOR THE ABS OR ESP INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEMS, NO AUDIBLE WARNING CHIRPING DEVICES SOUNDED, THE GRINDING NOISE OF THE IRREPARABLY DAMAGED ROTOR AND CALIPER ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS THE FIRST INDICATION OF BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. I AM TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THIS SAFETY DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY OUTSIDE OF THE STANDARD 12 MONTH 12000 MILE BRAKE WARRANTY. *TR