1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

ANOTHER 1998 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER VAN WITH THE REAR BRAKE LINES BROKEN. HAPPENED ON THE ROAD, BRAKES WORKED AND LESS THAN 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD WHEN DRIVER ATTEMPTED A TURN, BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME BY HUSBAND USING FRONT BRAKES ONLY WHERE THE BROKEN LINES WERE DISCOVERED. WITH NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE CORROSION, RESEARCH REVEALS MULTIPLE INCIDENTS ON MID TO LATE 90S' PLYMOUTH VANS WITH CORRODED OR RUSTED REAR BRAKE LINES. I WILL REPLACE WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS TO AVOID REPEAT FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING 30MPH, PANIC BRAKING WAS ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A VEHICLE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE ABS ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE SLID INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT; SUSTAINED NO INJURIES AND THE POLICE TOOK A REPORT AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE ABS FAILURE.

Mileage: 145,000

DT: CALLER GOT RECALL WORK DONE ON CLOCK SPRING, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON BEFORE IT WAS FIXED, AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS OFF , AND THE ABS LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT WERE ON, AND NONE OF GAUGES WORKED. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. DEALER SAID THEY COULD DO A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

DT: CONTACT WENT TO HAVE BRAKES CHECKED ON 8-3-05, JUST A ROUTINE CHECK, AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT LEFT FRONT CALIPER BOLTS WERE INCORRECT AND HAVE DAMAGED THE STEERING KNUCKLES. HE TOLD HER THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS SPINNING INSIDE THE KNUCKLES, WITHIN 7 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD. *AK

Mileage: 100,000

THIS IS A COMPANY VEHICLE. IT WAS USED ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK WITHOUT PROBLEM. THURSDAY IT WAS USED AGAIN, AND THE COWORKER WHO USED IT THIS TIME FOUND THAT THE BRAKES WERE JUST BARELY ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP FROM A SLOW ROLL. FORTUNATELY, HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY RETURN TO THE PARKING LOT WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHEN I CHECKED ON THE VEHICLE LATER THAT DAY I NOTED A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND UNDER THE REAR AXLE. THINKING THAT POSSIBLY SOME ROAD DEBRIS HAD PUNCTURED A BRAKE LINE, I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP, A DODGE DEALER. THERE THEY FOUND THAT ONE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. ALSO, THEY NOTED SIGNIFICANT RUST ON OTHER PLACES IN THE LINES. I HAD THE SHOP GIVE ME THE OLD LINES AFTER THE NEW ONES WERE INSTALLED. I HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR PHOTOGRAPHING OR PHYSICAL ANALYSIS. IT APPEARS TO ME TO BE A CASE OF DISSIMILAR METAL AND / OR CREVICE CORROSION AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE SOLID TUBE MEETS WITH THE WIRE MESH PORTION OF THE LINE. I THINK THIS REPRESENTS A TRUE SAFETY HAZARD, PARTICULARLY SINCE THIS IS A 1998 VEHICLE ON WHICH SUCH A PROBLEM SHOULD NEVER BE ANTICIPATED. THANKS FOR INVESTIGATING. BY THE WAY, THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE SNOW AND/OR WATER HAS RUSTED UP ONE OF THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. THIS ALSO SEEMS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. BUT I DON'T CONSIDER IT TO BE AS GREAT A SAFETY CONCERN. I THINK THAT A REASONABLY OBSERVANT DRIVER SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF WARNING IF A BRAKE IS DRAGGING, UNLIKE DRIVING OFF SOME DAY WITH ALMOST NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER BECAUSE OF A RUSTED OUT LINE. *NM

Mileage: 106,780

THE COMPLETE DASH CLUSTER GOES OUT. THEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON.*AK

Mileage: 54,500

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS SERVICED THREE TIMES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. *JB

Mileage: 56,228

WHEN APPLYING BRAKE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND VEHICLE IS WORKED PROPERLY. *PH *TS *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE PADS COMING OFF THE BRAKE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE DESIGN THAT CAUSED PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR.*AK

Mileage: 94,000

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES BRAKES WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING , CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS.*JB

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES - REPLACED BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL I HAD SPENT OVER $1200 ON THE PROBLEM IN THE COURSE OF SIX MONTHS. I WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT AUTOMOBILE REPAIR CENTERS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM INCLUDING FIVE STAR DODGE (DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR), PRECISION TUNE CENTERS, AND SEARS AUTOMOBILE CENTER. ALL OF THESE CENTERS REPLACED PADS AFTER I INITIALLY PURCHASED THE FIRST SET BECAUSE THEY WERE ON WARRANTY. HOWEVER, EACH TIME I HAD TO REPLACE AN ADDITIONAL PARTS LIKE ROTORS ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR. ULTIMATELY SEARS SAID THE CALIPHERS WAS THE PROBLEM. AGAIN I HAD TO REPLACE PADS AND ROTORS, AND NOW CALIPHERS. AFTER 3 TIMES COMING BACK FOR WARRANTY SERVICE AT SEARS AFTER THE CALIPHERS WERE REPLACED THEY DECIDED TO BUY THE PARTS AND WARRANTY BACK ON THE CAR AND HAVE IT TOWED TO ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER. THIS HAPPENED IN A 2 MONTH PERIOD OF TIME. MY BRAKES WENT OUT A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES ON THE LEFT SIDE. I WAS RIDING ON THE ROTORS. THE PADS JUST BROKE APART OR WORN OUT ON THESE OCCASIONS. WHEN MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW OF ANY MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. UPON INSPECTION OF MY CAR IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BRAKE HOSE HAD COLLAPSED ON THE CAR. I HAD TO HAVE PADS, ROTORS, AND A BRAKE HOSE REPAIRED ON THE CAR AT THE COST OF $500 ON THIS TRIP. THIS WAS ALSO THE DEALER I HAD DEALT WITH AT FIRST WHEN MY CAR HAD THE PREVIOUS TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES. THIS TIME I COULD TELL THEM IT WAS NOT THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS OR CALIPHER BECAUSE I HAD THOSE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. THIS PROMPTED THEM TO LOOK FURTHER FOR A SOLUTION. SO FIVE SET OF BRAKES LATER, MY CAR HOPEFULLY IS FINALLY SAFE.*AK

BRAKE COMPONENTS CONTINUE TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, THE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO WEAR AND THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE. NLM

BRAKE COMPONENTS CONTINUE TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, THE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES DUE TO WEAR AND THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE. NLM

WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES FAILED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER, DEALER STATED THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND REPLACED THE UNIT, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS COMPONENT FAILED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES FAILED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER, DEALER STATED THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND REPLACED THE UNIT, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS COMPONENT FAILED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. SHE APPLIED BRAKES, AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. BRAKES DIDN'T GRAB AT ALL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE.*AK

DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION CONSUMER NOTICED ROTORS WERE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE. *AK AS ROTOR RUSTED THE BRAKES STARTED TO FAIL. *YH

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE CONTINOUSLY WEAR OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE, THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED NEW ROTORS AND THAT THE CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING, THE CONSUMER AUTHORIZED THE WORK AND REQUEST THE FAULTY PARTS, UPON INSPECTION BY DEALER IT SHOWED THAT THE ROTOR AND WHEEL CYLINDERS HAD NORMAL WEAR BUT THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED REPLACING, CONSUMER BELIEVES THESE PARTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 2 YEARS. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH BRAKE PRESSURE WENT TO ZERO AND PEDAL HIT FLOOR, CAUSING A LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE , DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. CONSUMER FELT DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE SEAL OR CYLINDER HEAD. *AK

ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THEY RUSTED FROM INSIDE. DEALER HAS ADVISED CONSUMER TO REPLACE ROTORS. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMSTION. *AK

RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT BRAKE PADS WORN AWAY/ ROTOR DAMAGE TO BOTH SIDES. WHEN ASKED, THE MECHANIC AT MIDAS STATES VECHICLES THIS NEW AND WITH THIS LOW OF MILEAGE DON'T USUALLY HAVE THIS MUCH BRAKE DAMAGE, BUT LOTS OF PLYMOUTH VOYAGERS 98'S AND 99'S HAVE BEEN COMING IN WITH THIS SAME AMOUNT OR MORE DAMAGE. *AK

NEVER HAD THE BRAKES GO OUT SO SOON. WE DO NOT DRIVE HARD AND ALL THE NEW VEHICLES WE HAVE OWNED NEVER REQUIRED NEW BRAKES UNTIL AROUND 50,000 MILES. *AK

THE PADS WOULD BE GRINDING INTO THE ROTORS WHEN ABS BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED HARD TO STOP. ROTORS WERE CUT BY BRAKE SYSTEM AFTER BRAKING TO EXIT RAMP. TOOK TO DEALER AT LEAST 12 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEM. WAS INFORMED BY DEALER & MECHANIC NOT TO BRING VEHICLE BACK ON LOT. EACH TIME VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

THE PADS WOULD BE GRINDING INTO THE ROTORS WHEN ABS BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED HARD TO STOP. ROTORS WERE CUT BY BRAKE SYSTEM AFTER BRAKING TO EXIT RAMP. TOOK TO DEALER AT LEAST 12 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEM. WAS INFORMED BY DEALER & MECHANIC NOT TO BRING VEHICLE BACK ON LOT. EACH TIME VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

BRAKE CALIPERS ARE HANGING UP, DESTROYING THE BRAKE ROTORS. ALSO AND THERE IS SOME GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM VEHICLE. *AK

BRAKE PEDAL REACHES THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED BECAUSE THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. YH

AFTER MARKET DISC BRAKE PADS - TALON PART #591 - DISINTEGRATED AFTER LESS THAN 3,000 MILES. CAUSED SERIOUS DEGREDATION OF BRAKING ABILITY AND NEAR ACIDENT WITH THE MISSED STAOP SIGN FROM LACK OF BRAKING ABILITY.

WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR REVVED AND THE BRAKES COULD NOT HOLD THE CAR. I HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE SOLENOID THAT REGULATES THE IDLE SPEED GETS OUT OF SYNC AFTER A REAL HARD STOP. IT DOES NOT BACK INTO SYNC UNLESS THE VAN IS REVVED TO APPROXIMATELY 4,000 RPM OR THE COMPUTER IS RESET.