THE KNEE BLOCKER AIRBAG IN MY 05 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN OPENED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE AIRBAG IS BEHIND A STEEL PLATE HINGED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH. ATTACHED TO THIS PLATE IS THE HARD PLASTIC PANEL. THE AIRBAG PROPELLED THIS PLATE AND PANEL INTO MY SHINS, DISABLING ME, AND WHEN I BROUGHT MY LEGS BACK FROM THE PAIN, THE HARD PLASTIC PANEL DROPPED IN FRONT OF MY LEGS AND PREVENTED ME FROM RETURNING MY FEET TO THE BRAKE. HAD I BEEN SUFFERING FROM OSTEOPOROSIS MY LEGS WOULD HAVE BEEN SHATTERED AND I COULD NOT HAVE STOPPED MY VAN, HAD IT CONTINUED TO ROLL AFTER THE INITIAL COLLISION. *JB
2009
SERVICE BRAKES
EXITED HIGHWAY (70 MPH) THEN DROVE 55 MPH FOR 3 MILES TO OUR HOME. NOTICED HEAVY BRAKE BURNING SMELL THAT STAYED WITH ME UNTIL ARRIVED AT HOME. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL/BRAKE ASSEMBLY. HUSBAND(EX-ASE MASTER TECH) CAME OUT TO INSPECT AND NOTICED ALL OTHER BRAKES SEEMED OK IN TEMP BUT LEFT REAR WAS EXTREMELY HOT, SMOKING AND ROTOR WAS DISCOLORED FROM OVER HEAT(BLACK/BLUE). NO METAL ON METAL VAN WAS JUST IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES AND DEALER REPLACED FRONT PADS, ROTORS UNDER TSB WITH $100 DEDUCTIBLE. I WAS TOLD AT THIS TIME THAT REARS HAD APPROX 20% PAD LEFT. WAY TO SOON FOR REAR BRAKES TO WEAR OUT (BEFORE 36K MILES?) TOOK VAN INTO ROCHESTER HILLS CHRYSLER DODGE AND THEY STATED ISSUE WAS LEFT REAR BRAKE PAD STUCK IN SLIDES CAUSING OVERHEAT. THEY STATED THAT THE BRAKE BRACKET/CLIP/PADS CLEARANCE IS TOO TIGHT AND DOESN'T TAKE MUCH CORROSION OR BRAKE DUST COLLECTING TO CAUSE STICKING PADS. I AM AWARE OF A NEW CHRYSLER BRAKE BRACKET DESIGN FOR THESE VANS AND THAT THEY ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT AND THAT THE REDESIGN HAS ADDITIONAL CLEARANCE TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. BUT INSTEAD I WAS CHARGED $174.80 FOR NEW PADS AND TURN BOTH ROTORS. I FEAR THAT THIS ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND WONDER IF IT WILL BE WORSE NEXT TIME (PAD/BRAKE FIRE, BRAKE/WHEEL LOCK UP OR POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL). THIS IS NOT SAFE ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE THAT IS PRIMARILY USED TO TRANSPORT KIDS, PEOPLE ETC. LOTS OF FAMILIES OUT THERE WITH THESE. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU.
