Complaint Review: Chrysler Corporation Daimler Chrysler Chrysler Motors Corporation - Auburn Hills Michigan

I own a 98 Dodge Caravan. When i replaced the front brake pads, i noticed one of the calipers had broken, and needed replacement.  I replaced both, and was about to bleed the brake lines, when i noticed fluid spraying out of the rear.  It turns out the brake line had ruptured, in the section where the brake line rests above the gas tank, due to rust on the line.  The hole was about the size of a pen tip.  When the brake was applied, the brake fluid would just spray out.  Thank God my wife and children weren't on the Hwy.  This is her vehicle, and always drives my children around.  I wonder what Dodge Chyrsler would say to me if my whole family had been killed.  I Will never purchase Dodge Chrysler vehicles ever again.  No wonder everyone buys foreign cars.

We have a 1998 Dodge Caravan with the same problem. The brake line has a pinhole where the line is welded to the braided line. My son called me this morning and says " Dad I went to move mom's car to get mine out and the brake pedal went right to the floor". He noticed this when he went to apply the brakes to shift the car into gear to move it. He was lucky that the car was not moving when this happened. My wife is also lucky that she stopped the car the day before without incident. I can't believe that Chrysler has not had more complaints about this problem. Mike Norton, Mass U.S.A.

If you own a 1997, 1998, 1999,2000,or 2001 Dodge, Chrysler or Plymouth Model Minivan PLEASE HAVE YOUR METAL BRAKE LINES INSPECTED ASAP!!!!! My wife was driving our 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan and was parked at a drive thru window with the car in Park. When she applied the brake to shift into drive, the brake pedal went to the floor, and all of the brake fluid was expelled onto the ground. The vehicle was unsafe to drive and we had it towed to a Chrysler dealership for repair. THe Chrysler dealership informed us that the brake lines had rusted thru and ruptured.The brake lines were replaced at our expense. I contacted Chrysler Customer Service on 3 different occassions by telephone and another 3 times by email to request reimbursment and to report this serious safety defect. CHrysler would not address this serious safety problem and stated that this vehicle was out of the warranty period, and was not eligible for reimbursement. They also stated that they have never had a complaint with a brake line burst on any of their vehicles,nor had they ever issued a Service Bulletin or Recall for this problem. I was appalled by Chrysler's lack of concern over this serious safety issue that could have resulted in seriuos injury or my wife's demise. The metal brake lines supplied by Chrysler on the 1997 to 2001 vehicles have a braided stainless steel vibraton sleeves welded to a steel brake line. The design of this brake line causes a bi-metal reaction between the steel brake line and the stainless steel braided section, which will result in corrosion of the steel brake lines. This corrosion usually results in a brake line burst after 4 or 5 years. This is a very dangerous condition and happens very unexpectedly. These brake lines are subjected to over 2500 lbs/psi when the brakes are applied. If you have a rusted area that is subjected to this high amount of pressure and apply your brakes in heavy traffic and/or at highway speed, you could face serious injury or death. Subsequent investigation of the US Dept of Transportation and NHTSA safety hotline and complaint website revealed at least 5 other complaints that I found without too much difficulty. CHRYSLER STILL MAINTAINS THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM OR A COMPLAINT REPORTED ON THIS ISSUE!!!!! I was informed that the 1996 CHrysler brake lines did not have the stainless steel braided segment. The 1997 thru 2000 Chrysler brake lines had the stainless steel braided sections. In 2001 Chrysler redesigned the brake lines and removed the stainless steel braided segments. My question is.... Why did they redesign this brake line and remove the stainless steel braided segments if they were not having a problem with the incompatibility of 2 different welded materials? If anyone can answer this question, or has knowledge of why Chrysler made this design change, please respond to this post. Also,if any other DOdge, Chrysler or Plymouth minivan owners have experienced a brake line burst due to corrosion, please respond to this post. PLEASE HAVE YOUR BRAKE LINES INSPECTED TO PREVENT AN UNEXPECTED INJURY OR DEATH TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILIES!!!!!!!

I once had a seatbelt issue and filed a complaint with the feds. Others must have as well because a recall was issued. The form is at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ If others complain too, a recall might be forthcoming especially if there is a safety risk involved.