NHTSA Complaint #11072151 — 2012 DODGE DART

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE AT 42K MILES. PARKING BRAKE ON REAR WHEELS SEEMS TO HAVE STUCK IN CALIPER AND DOES NOT ENGAGE. WHEN PULLING BACK ON PARKING BRAKE HANDLE IN CAR, THERE IS LITTLE OR NO RESISTANCE. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE PADS WORE MORE QUICKLY THAN ANY OTHER PAD AND WERE ALMOST DOWN TO METAL ON INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT. ALL OTHER PADS HAD 1/3 TO 1/2 OF THE PADS REMAINING ON OTHER BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN A DRIVEWAY AT RESIDENCE AND BEGAN ROLLING BACK AFTER ENGAGING PARKING BRAKE. VEHICLE NOW MUST BE SET IN REVERSE (STICK SHIFT) AND PARKED ON FLAT GROUND. PARKING BRAKE NO LONGER HAS ANY BRAKING POWER TO HOLD VEHICLE IN PLACE AND PREVENT IT FROM ROLLING. PARKING BRAKE CABLE SEEMS FREE TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY WITH A ROTATIONAL CAME PARKING BRAKE ENGAGEMENT SEEMS STUCK AND HARD TO MOVE IN CALIPER. NORMAL BRAKING FROM USE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS UNAFFECTED, JUST PARKING BRAKE. ATTACHED IMAGE SHOWS THE CALIPER REMOVED AND THE AREA CIRCLED OF WHERE THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE ATTACHES TO THE CALIPER PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY.