2007 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. SINCE ABOUT 5,000 MILES THE VAN HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT RUMBLING/SQUEALING FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM, MORE PRONOUNCED AT A STOP, BUT ALSO AT LOW TO MID-SPEEDS. THIS PAST WEEKEND, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AT LESS THAN 10 MPH, THE ABS RUMBLED SO LOUD THE ENTIRE VAN SHOOK. WE THEN STOPPED THE VAN, PLACED IT IN PARK AND THEN BACK INTO GEAR (DRIVE). WHEN THE BRAKES WERE AGAIN APPLIED, THEY WERE ROCK SOLID (NO MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL) THEN THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A TREE VICE AN ON-COMING VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE ROLLED SLIGHTLY UP THE TREE, BROKE THE WHEEL FRAME CONNECTION PIECE, BENT THE SWAY ARM, BUCKLED THE FRONT QUARTER PANEL, AND EXPLODED THE TIRE. VAN CURRENTLY HAS 16K MILES. NO INJURIES. EVENT WAS WITNESSED BY THREE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BUT WITH THAT TYPE OF HIT ON THE TREE, SHOULDN'T THE AIRBAGS HAVE ALSO DEPLOYED? *TR