Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
As my friend who borrowed my vehicle approached an intersection in ann arbor, michigan, the brakes completely failed, causing her to collide into a vehicle which consequently hit another vehicle. The police report correctly indicates no operator fault, but rather a faulty brake line which burst, leaving a pool of brake fluid on the ground at the scene of the accident. Most vehicles have a braking system that makes it impossible for both front and rear brakes to fail simultaneously. Unfortunately the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan does not have such a system. All brakes were lost, my vehicle collided with another vehicle (which was totaled and resulted in an injured driver) which subsequently hit the vehicle in front of it. The brakes themselves were inspected weeks prior to the accident but the brake line rusted and created the incident.
1) travel to local oil change garage. 2) in parking lot the brake pedal went to floor of the vehicle with drastic loss of braking. 3) vehicle had to be towed home (cost $85.00). I replaced both rusted (one ruptured) brake lines (which ran from the ABS controller to the rear brakes) with auto parts store hardware ($41.00 lines & fittings, & $5.00 fluid) after being informed that rusting lines are not the manufacturer's responsibility and that manufacturer replacement lines are not stocked after 2 or 3 years. (this makes no sense to me as I would expect that brake line failures would not occur in the first few years of service.) I have also discovered that the lines running to the master cylinder show similar deterioration which will soon require their replacement as well. …
1999 AWD ABS Grand Caravan, personal use only , no towing, mild nj winter conditions. Car parked for three days after extended trip (2,880 miles over 3weeks)at highway speeds with no problems.on second leg of k-turn while attempting to reposition car in driveway (speed less than 5miles/ hr) brake pedal suddenly deprressed all the way to the floor. Inspecting below the van showed brake fluid leak from a ruptured rear brake line close to braided flex line close to ABS module. All steel lines found to be extensively corroded /rusted up to and involving fixtures at attachment to inner brake hoses at the rear, up to the master cylinder and the front wheel lines at the attachment to front hoses. …
I own a 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan, sport edition. Yesterday while my wife was making a right turn on the street, the steering froze and the brakes failed. She went straight on the other side of the cross street and the van went dead. Upon starting the van again, the "service engine soon" light came up. The speedometer was unresponsive and somehow we brought the van home. This is probably the speed sensor that has gone bad again. Three months ago when I was driving the van on the freeway, the van went unresponsive and I had to pullover. Upon starting the van, it showed the service engine soon light and would not catch up highway speed. I had to drive at 35 MPH speed on freeway at very high engine revolutions and come home. The dealer replaced the speed sensor to fix the problem. The serious thing of the problem in this van is that the problem occurs suddenly while the van is in motion. …
I was coming around a turn and saw a car making a left turn in front of me. I tried to slow down by braking and the van appeared to accelerate. I barely avoided running into the turning car by swerving around it. I then found that only my emergency brake was working. I got home and my neighbor helped locate the problem. The brake fluid had leaked out through the brake line. There are 6 connections to the cab. Two are for lines running to the rear of the van. They have 6 inch sections of flex tubing between the solid tubing. The leak is at the rearward connections between the solid and flex tubing. Both rearward connections have the corroded solid metal for the first few inches after the flex tubing. I noted that there are a number of complaints about brake failure due to corrosion of brake lines on the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan and Caravan on the internet.
The rear brake lines failed on our 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. This vehicle has ABS. From the ABS unit to the rear brake distribution block, the twin brake lines are a combination of steel and steel braided lines. The entire lines are approximately 8 feet long. Of the 8 feet length, there is a section of flexible steel braided line approximately 7 inches long. At the junction of the steel line and the braided steel line, the line failed. There is not evidence of damage or abuse. The junction just failed. Luckily we were just pulling out of the garage when the brake pedal just went to the floor. Brake power was completely lost.
Total brake failure on 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. Rear brake line ruptured were solid line meets braided line under driver side of car and near anti lock brake module. Loss of braking forced me to drive vehicle onto someone's lawn to avoid a rear end impact of a car making a left turn on a single lane road. Emergency brake was used to stop the vehicle. Failure was abrupt with no prior visual evidence of leaking on my driveway or in the parking spot of my workplace. Red brake light came on after it was too late. Rear brake lines were replaced with solid lines at a cost of $290.00. Repair was completed on 06/21/10.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan. While driving approximately 45 MPH the contact depressed the brake pedal and noticed that it dropped to the floor board; however, the contact was able to stop the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle the contact noticed the brake line fractured. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing nor was it repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
Continuous brake problems/failures due to pitting & corroding of the front disc rotors. Rear brake drums not adjusting properly (have never adjusted). Rotors replaced by dealer and now require replacement again. Entire rear wheel braking system replaced, still not working correctly. Vehicle has never stopped correctly in four years of ownership. Is very dangerous and could cause an accident.
Dt: the contact's wife drove in the rain and the brakes would not work. She applied the brakes, but the vehicle would not stop. When she applied the brakes there was vibration in the front end of the vehicle. There were no warning lights indicating a problem with the brakes. The vehicle has been inspected, but they could not duplicate the problem.
Brake complaints in other Grand Caravan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the brakes of the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan, 13% of the model year's 432 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 98,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 4 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.