DRIVER EXPERIENCES RANDOM LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT. QUICK RELEASE AND PUSHING ON BRAKE REGAINS PEDAL PRESSURE.
1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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. DODGE DEALERSHIP (AUTOLAND) TOTALLY HANDS-OFF IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS GLARING SAFETY ISSUE - "NO RECALLS, NO MECHANISMS TO REPORT THIS ISSUE TO CHRYSLER", MORE INFURIATING IS THAT NO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS, THEY HAVE ALL BEEN DISCONTINUED....RIGHT AT THE TIME THAT MOST OF THESE CARS WILL BE NEEDING THE BRAKING PLUMBING CHANGED!!! MEANWHILE THERE ALL THESE TICKING TIME BOMBS OF CARAVANS OUT THERE WITH TENUOUS BRAKING ABILITY ONCE THESE DEFECTIVE LINES RUPTURE. PLEASE RECALL THESE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES, BEFORE SOMEBODY'S FAMILY CRIES!!! I SHUDDER TO THINK THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED DURING MY LONG ROAD TRIP. *TR