NHTSA Complaint #753870 — 1997 DODGE CARAVAN

DURING THE TIME OF THE JUNE '01 FAILURE I DIDN'T REALIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. MY FAMILY AND I HAD JUST ENTERED A LOCAL ROADWAY WHEN A DEER CROSSED IN FRONT OF US. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND IT WAS LIKE STEPPING ON A ROCK. I WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE. THE BRAKES HAD JUST WORKED FINE AS WE ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND THEY WORK FINE AFTER THIS INCIDENT. I HAD NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN PREVIOUSLY. NOR DID I REALIZE AT THE TIME THIS WAS GOING TO BE A REOCCURING PROBLEM. ON OCTOBER 6, '01 I WAS TRAVELING ALONG A RESIDENTIAL ROADWAY WHEN A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME I WAS TRAVELING AT A SAFE DISTANCE AND GOING APPROX 45MPH. I SHOULD HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP. HOWEVER, I ONCE AGAIN WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY VAN NO MATTER HOW HARD I STOOD ON THE PEDAL! I BARELY MISSED OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, CROSSED OVER A SIDEWALK AND HIT A HOUSE THAT LINED THE ROAD. I ENDED UP IN AN EMPTY LOT BESIDE THE HOUSE I HAD HIT. MY SON SUFFERED BRUISING ON HIS UPPER LEGS FROM BEING BOUNCED AROUND AND I SUFFERED A CUT HAND AND CONTINUE TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY BACK. I AM SO ANGRY THAT MY CHILDREN 8 AND 1, AS WELL AS MYSELF WERE PUT IN DANGER BECAUSE OF AN AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER NOT TAKING THE RESPONSIBLE POSITION IN NOTIFYING THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR PRODUCT OF A POTENTIAL BRAKING PROBLEM. I JUST HOPE A FAMILY ISN'T KILLED BEFORE CHRYSLER/DODGE WAKES UP TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE MANUFACTURING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT THAT COULD KILL FAMILIES. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF SUCH A BRAKING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT I USE TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!