BRAUN Complaints

I FOUND THE RIGHT-REAR VALVE STEM BROKEN, WHILE TRYING TO ADD AIR. IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN WEAKENED BY CORROSION. THE SURROUNDING AREA OF THE WHEEL SHOWED NO SIGNS OF CORROSION. THE VALVE STEMS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE ALSO THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SENSOR (TPMS) SENSORS. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THE OTHER VALVE STEMS/SENSORS IN POOR CONDITION. AFTER THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED THAT THEY REPLACE THE OTHER THREE SENSORS, SINCE FAILURE APPEARS IMMINENT. THE SERVICE WRITER EXPLAINED THAT, WHILE THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE, THEY CANNOT REPLACE THE PART, UNTIL IT IS ACTUALLY LEAKING AIR; BECAUSE THE SENSORS ARE EXPENSIVE. I FEEL THIS IS SIGNIFICANT, POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE WHEN THE STEM/SENSORS BREAK, THERE IS AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE, TOTAL LOSS OF PRESSURE IN THE AFFECTED TIRE. IF THE STEM/SENSOR BROKE WHILE DRIVING, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR. THERE APPEARS TO BE QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM ON CHRYSLER-RELATED INTERNET BLOGS AND FORUMS. ALSO, IT APPEARS CHRYSLER KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, SINCE NEWER VEHICLES HAVE STEMS/SENSORS CONSTRUCTED OF A MORE ROBUST MATERIAL.

ON MAY 15, 2011, I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM LAPLUME, PA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I STARTED HEARING A LOUD NOISE AND RUMBLING, I SLOWED DOWN WITH SOME TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE (LUCKILY I WAS NOT GOING THE SPEED LIMIT BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUOUS RAIN) AND AS I SLOWED DOWN IT GOT LOUDER. I THOUGHT MY ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO DIE. I PUT ON MY DISTRESS SIGNALS, PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (PRETTY CLOSE TO THE FREEWAY), AND MY SISTER GOT OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO CHECK TO SEE IF ANYTHING WAS HANGING AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN BLOWN UP. I CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHICH ARRIVED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON. WHEN I GOT HOME AND CHECKED THE LAST FOUR NUMBERS ON THE TIRE FOR THE MANUFACTURER DATE AND IT READ--1005. WHICH I WAS INFORMED IT MEANT THE TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED ON THE TENTH WEEK OF 2005. MY VEHICLE IS A 2009 VEHICLE--PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2009 FROM THE ADVENTURE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN WILLOUGHBY, OHIO. *TR

IN JULY 2010 THIS INCIDENT FIRST OCCURRED WHERE DRIVING WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT APPX. 5-10MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE CAR STALLED. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWERBRAKES. THE ONLY LIGHT LIT ON THE DASHBOARD IS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AND IT IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. IN THE FALL OF 2010 THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED 2-3 TIMES AND ALWAYS UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY APPX. 10MPH AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION OR STOP SIGN. I BROUGHT THESE INCIDENTS TO THE ATTENTION OF CHRYSLER WHO SAID THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IN JAN./FEB. 2011 THE STALLING BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY APPX 3-4 AND AGAIN UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS;WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY AND APPROACHING STOP SIGN/DRIVEWAY ETC. CHRSYLER AGAIN COULD FIND NOTHING. IN MARCH 2011 THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR ROAD APPX. 35 MPH AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL CAR AND MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY IT RESTARTED. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP STATES AT THIS POINT THAT POSSIBLY IT IS MY "KEY CHAIN" THAT IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE KEYLESS COMPONENT.(I HAVE 1 KEY ON IT) I REMOVE KEY AND REMAIN INCIDENT FREE FOR APPX. 6 - 8 WEEKS UNTIL TODAY. MY 15 YEAR OLD SON WHO IS A PERMIT DRIVER HAD THE INCIDENT OCCUR WHILE GOING DOWN HILL AT APPX. 15 MPH. WITH HIM BEHIND THE WHEEL AND ME IN THE DRIVER SEAT. WE WERE ABLE TO FINALLY STOP THE CAR AND WITH ME BEHIND THE WHEEL NOW WE RESTARTED THE CAR! THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

CAR LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING IF KEY IS BUMPED OR IF CAR HITS A BUMP KEY IS EASILY PUT IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION AND CAR LOSES ALL POWER. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE KEYCHAIN WAS BUMPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER TIME WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25MPH. THIS IS EASILY DUPLICATED BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION AND IT LOSES ALL POWER. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WILL HAPPEN.

MY 2010 TOWN AND COUNTRY SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON MAIN ST. . COASTED TO A STOP BLOCKING THE LANE SINCE I COULDN'T EVEN PULL OVER. VEHICLE HAD POWER, BUT WOULD NOT MOVE. CALLED WRECKER, BUT EVENTUALLY ABLE TO RESTART CAR AND DRIVE IT (AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS). POLICE PROVIDED TRAFFIC CONTROL UNTIL CAR WAS MOVED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME WHEN THE CAR STOPPED. INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT CHRYSLER IS INITIATING A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THE RECALL IS BY VIN AND MY VIN IS NOT RECALLED. THEY REFUSED TO LET ME TALK TO SOMEONE WHO COULD CHECK FURTHER. I TOLD THEM MY SURVIVORS WOULD SUE THEIR PANTS OFF WHEN THE CAR DIES AGAIN AND I AM KILLED, BUT OF COURSE, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE STUPID THING. *TR

WHILE ON VACATION WE RENTED A 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINI VAN FROM ENTERPRISE SAN ANTONIO INT'L AIRPORT LOCATION. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 04/05/2011. WE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO LAREDO TEXAS. AFTER 4 DAY DRIVING THE VAN, WE PARKED IT AT THE LOCAL MALL, GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WALKED INTO THE MALL WHEN THE RENTAL VEHICLE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND, WHICH WAS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD EXPLODING, A CLOUD OF SMOKE THEN APPEARED, AND SECONDS LATER THERE WERE HUGE FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS. LUCKILY WE HAD JUST EXITED THE VEHICLE SO WE WERE NOT INJURED OTHER THAN BEING TRAUMATIZED BY THE ENTIRE EVENT. THERE WAS NO SIGNS THAT THERE WAS ABOUT TO BE AN EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT OVERHEATED, AND THERE WERE NO SMELLS IN OR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WE HAD SIMPLY PARKED THE VEHICLE RIGHT BEFORE IT EXPLODED. THE LOCAL POLICE DEPT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE VERY QUICKLY TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE. CHRYSLER AND OUR PERSONAL INS COMPANY HAVE COMPLETED AN INSPECTION OF THE VAN BUT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO DISCLOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE TO OUR FAMILY. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AND ARE AFRAID THAT ANOTHER FAMILY MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY AS WE WERE TO ESCAPE THIS MALFUNCTION WITHOUT PHYSICAL HARM. I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER BY SOMEONE. WE AND OTHER FAMILIES DESERVE ANSWERS THE BIG CO WON'T GIVE US. *TR

4TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 65MPH WHEN MY 2008 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN BEGAN CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR HORN WAS BLASTING CONTINUOUSLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE MOVING BACK AND FORTH AND THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM WAS GOING ON AND OFF. I HAD THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT REPLACED BUT THIS IS STILL HAPPENING. NOT SURE WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 CHILDREN 3 YEAR OLD AND 1 YEAR OLD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE HOSE THAT CONNECTED THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR TO THE FIRE WALL WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSING FREON TO LEAK. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE HOSE BY USING PARTS FROM A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. UPDATED 01/03/12

MY 2010 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY ENGINE CONTINUES TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD MY VAN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES NOW FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE YET TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS DOES NOT OCCUR ON A CONSISTENT BASIS SO THE DEALERSHIP IS HAVING TROUBLE DUPLICATING THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEY CAN NOT POSSIBLY FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS SINCE 9/2010. NOW AFTER HEARING ABOUT THIS RECALL, I WAS HOPING TO GET SOME RESOLUTION TO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER CORP (1-800-853-1403) AS LISTED IN CAMPAIGN, I WAS TOLD THAT WHILE THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN INITIATED THEY ARE NOT YET APPLYING IT TO THE VEHICLES. IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL HAVE TO EXERCISE MY RIGHTS UNDER THE LEMON LAW TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A SAFE VEHICLE. THEY ASSIGNED ME TO A CASE MANAGER, WHO THEN TOLD ME THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM MUST BE DUPLICATED FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT. HERE WE GO AGAIN AND MY YEAR TO PURCHASE DATE IS EARLY MAY. *TR

IN NORMAL NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING, ALL DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP AT THE SAME TIME, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURNED ON, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WENT TO ZERO EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, AND MOST DISTURBINGLY, MY ELECTRIC DRIVERS SIDE SEAT STARTED MOVING FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN AND BREAK. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, BUT I WAS LUCKY. THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, AND AGAIN. IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID IT WAS A "FRAYED AND CHAFFING" ELECTRICAL HARNESS. I HAD TO REPLACE IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO AVOID THE SITUATION. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I SHOULD DO DIFFERENTLY, AND THEY SAID NO IT WASN'T MY FAULT. I ASKED IF THEY SHOULD BE INSPECTING ANYTHING ELSE TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND THEY SAID THAT WAS A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I ONLY HAVE 39,000 MILES ON MY VAN, AND THIS WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. IF A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER WAS IN THE VAN, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE PROBLEM. WHEN THE DRIVER SEAT STARTED MOVING BACK AND FORTH WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND TRYING TO BREAK, IT WAS DISCONCERTING! *TR