Emergency brake pedal assembly failed when pedal was depressed. Vehicle has no emergency brake/parking brake until emergency brake pedal assembly is replaced. Vehicle is 38 months old and has 31,000 miles. Vehicle stationary, parked on grade. Had to block the wheels to ensure against roll back.
2014 Chrysler Town and Country brakes problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 14 brakes complaints filed for the 2014 Chrysler Town and Country, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Chrysler Town and Country in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Chrysler Town and Country has multiple unresolved brake complaints ranging from complete stopping failure and unintended acceleration to premature rotor wear, booster failure, and emergency brake assembly breakage. Dealers cannot diagnose many issues despite complaints, and Chrysler has denied warranty coverage in several cases.
Owners describe a range of brake failures on 2014 Chrysler Town and Country vans, from subjective performance issues to complete loss of stopping ability. The most serious complaints involve brakes failing entirely—pedals going to the floor with no stopping power, requiring emergency maneuvers to prevent collision. One owner reported sudden unintended acceleration while braking at low speed; another had brakes freeze up and the vehicle roll backward on a slope. Several owners report a recurrent "slip-slip" or pulsing sensation during normal braking that shops cannot reproduce or fix. Brake rotors are wearing excessively fast—one owner needed all four replaced before 12,000 miles, with independent mechanics concluding the damage was factory-related, not normal wear. Brake boosters have failed, forcing hard brake pedal feel and requiring expensive replacement. Parking brake and emergency brake assemblies are breaking repeatedly, with one assembly replaced twice by 30,000 miles. Owners also report disc brake rusting and rotor warping causing steering wheel vibration. Four shops and dealerships examined the vehicles but found no diagnostic codes, leaving owners confused about whether their cars are actually safe. One owner's brake fluid allegedly became contaminated; Chrysler denied warranty coverage. Owners express fear of brake failure during normal driving and feel the manufacturer is unresponsive to complaints.
Same Chrysler Town and Country brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of Brake Pressure / Brake Pedal to Floor
Brakes fail completely, with pedal traveling to the floor and vehicle unable to slow down during normal or emergency stops.
When: 20,000 miles (complaint #1); 65 mph highway driving (complaint #3); unspecified mileage (complaints #2, #13)
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal travels to floor with no braking response; Vehicle unable to slow or stop; No diagnostic codes appear
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostics found no fault codes; shops could not identify cause; complaint #3 involved alleged brake fluid contamination after customer oil change
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty denied in complaint #3, claiming brake fluid contamination occurred within 7 days of customer oil change
Intermittent Brake Slip / Pulsing Sensation
Brakes exhibit recurring slip-slip or pulsing feel during normal braking, as though brakes are catching and releasing repeatedly.
When: 20,000 miles (complaint #1)
Symptoms owners cite: Slip-slip sensation during normal stops; Pulsing feel when braking; Occurs at stop signs, traffic lights, parking lots; Worsens over time from occasional to constant; Not caused by ABS activation; Multiple drivers confirmed the sensation
Repairs/costs cited: Visited 4 times across 2 shops; no repairs completed; brake light never illuminated
Unintended Acceleration While Braking
Vehicle suddenly accelerates at high speed while driver applies brake pedal with foot planted firmly on brake.
When: Unspecified
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt acceleration during low-speed parking maneuver; Driver foot remains on brake pedal; Gas pedal not contacted; No warning signs beforehand; No warning signs after event
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership diagnostics found no fault codes
Brake Booster Failure
Brake booster fails, causing hard brake pedal feel, hissing air, vibration, and severely reduced stopping ability.
When: Highway driving (complaint #11); unspecified mileage (complaint #8, #10)
Symptoms owners cite: Hard, difficult-to-depress brake pedal; Hissing air from brakes; Vibration when braking; Almost unable to stop on highway; Headlights and windshield wipers also failed in one case
Repairs/costs cited: Brake booster replacement cost $600 (complaint #11); parts are on back order with no availability date (complaint #10)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists for 2015 Dodge Durango and Jeep Cherokee but not for Chrysler Town and Country (per owner complaint #11)
Parking/Emergency Brake Assembly Failure
Emergency brake pedal assembly fails, eliminating parking brake function. Failure occurs repeatedly on the same vehicle.
When: December 2016 first failure; December 2017 second failure at 30,000 miles (complaint #6); 38 months old / 31,000 miles (complaint #12)
Symptoms owners cite: Emergency brake pedal assembly breaks when depressed; Parking brake no longer functions; Vehicle must be blocked with wheels to prevent rollback on slopes
Repairs/costs cited: First replacement under warranty (December 2016); second replacement not covered, performed December 2017; cable broke while vehicle was parked
Brake Rotor Excessive Wear / Premature Replacement
All four brake rotors wear excessively fast and require replacement well before normal service life, with independent mechanics attributing damage to factory defect.
When: Under 12,000 miles (complaint #7); March 2018 inspection (complaint #5)
Symptoms owners cite: Brake vibration and shaking; Rotors show damage far beyond normal wear; Disc brakes rusted; Rotors need turning to clean rust
Repairs/costs cited: All 4 rotors replaced at owner expense under 12,000 miles; three independent mechanics confirmed factory defect, not normal wear (complaint #7); rotor turning/rust cleaning at owner expense (complaint #5)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty denied in complaint #7; Chrysler acknowledged damage but refused to pay (complaint #7)
Brake Rotor Warping / Steering Wheel Vibration
Front disc brake rotors warp under normal braking heat, causing steering wheel vibration and suspension noise.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Unusual shaking and vibration of steering wheel; Vibration of front suspension; Occurs during mild-grade braking; Happens under normal heat conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanics report manufacturer unwilling to correct problem
Frozen / Locked Brake Pedal
Brake pedal freezes or locks up after being released momentarily, preventing braking and causing vehicle to roll backward.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal freezes when foot is removed and reapplied; Vehicle rolls backward when brakes are locked; Occurs multiple times
Cold-Start Brake Stiffness on Hill
Brakes stiffen when vehicle is cold and parked on a steep uphill slope, becoming unresponsive to pedal pressure with grinding noise.
When: At startup on hill
Symptoms owners cite: Stiff brake pedal at cold start; Grinding noise when pressed; Occurs when car faces uphill on steep slope; Pedal unresponsive; vehicle rolls backward; Husband able to reproduce issue
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle rolled backward and crashed into parked car during incident
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler opening investigation; owner has dashcam video
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2014 Chrysler Town and Country?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2014 Chrysler Town and Country?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 10,000 and 38,000 miles, with the median around 30,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 38,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Chrysler/Town and Country.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.