1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

MAR. 03 AT 79,000 MILES, RATTLE IN FRONT END. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AND LINKAGES. 7/04 AT 98,000 MILES SAME NOISE AND SAME DIAGNOSIS BY SAME DEALERSHIP: BUSHINGS AND LINKAGES ARE WORN. PARTS ARE STILL ON CAR. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT, AND PLACED A SHIELD AROUND IT TO PREVENT IT FROM FALLING OFF. *AK

BOLT SECURING THE HYDRAULIC PUMP TO THE TAILGATE BROKE OFF ALLOWING THE PUMP TO POP OFF. TAILGATE FELL CLOSED, IT WILL NOT REMAIN OPEN WITH ONLY ONE HYDROLIC PUMP. A PORTION OF THE BOLT IS LODGED IN THE BODY OF THE VAN.*AK

THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR AND TWICE IN ONE WEEK THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN WET WEATHER. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WITH HER 4 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF YOU LOSE, AMONG OTHER ITEMS, THE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY DEALER FOUND THE SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM (ONLY AFTER I TOLD HIM THE TSB NUMBER) BUT WOULD NOT SHOW IT TO ME. A CALL TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLY GOT ME AN OFFER TO SELL ME THE SERVICE BULLETIN. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT AN INCORRECTLY DESIGNED IDLER PULLEY BRACKET. I BELIEVE THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE, MADE WORSE BY THE MANUFACTURERS UNWILLINGNESS TO SHARE ITS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE CUSTOMER.*AK

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THE DRIVER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE. THE HORN STOPPED OPERATING AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINED ON. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD AN AIR BAG FAILURE WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO STOP FUNCTIONING. *NM

THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THE 1996-98 MINIVANS FOR THE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. DEALER SAYS THAT MY VAN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL AND CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IS OF NO HELP EITHER. MY 1998 T&C EXHIBITS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHER MINIVANS AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECTIVE DEVICE (AIRBAG LIGHT, CRUISE & HORN NOT FUNCTIONAL). THE AIRBAG AND HORN ARE SAFETY DEVICES AND MUST BE REPLACED/REPAIRED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART AT MY OWN EXPENSE. WHY IS MY VEHICLE NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL? IT HAS THE SAME MANUFACTURED DATE, SAME ISSUES, SAME DEFECTIVE PART... I EXPECT CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR ($233.94). *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED. MISSED A RECALL BY 5 DAYS. *JB

OUR 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVAN HAS HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING BELT FALLING OFF WHEN THE VEHICLES DRIVES THROUGH STANDING WATER (OR SNOW). WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND A CHRYSLER DEALER IN AN EFFORT TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. EACH OF THEM (INCLUDING THE DEALER) HAS TOLD US THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVANS, BUT THAT CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY RECOMMENDED FIX. WE CONSIDER THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH WE HAVE PUT-UP WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS.*AK

FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE DAYS AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS USED. TRANSMISSION LOCKED INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. REBUILT TRANSMISSION COST $1500. GOT IT BACK AND 4 DAYS LATER THE FAN TO COOL THE ENGINE WENT OUT. IN THE SHOP ANOTHER 2 DAYS COSTING AN ADDITIONAL $180.00. FEEL LIKE I AM HEMMORHAGING MONEY ON THIS CAR. LEFT DRIVERS WINDOW SWITCH DOESN'T WORK AT TIMES AND WINDOW GETS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION.

FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD, HAD TO TURN AROUND AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK UP WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. HAD TO BE TOWED. AGAIN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON AUGUST 23, 2003. IT IS JERKING WHEN I GO INTO REVERSE OR FORWARD. WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED TO GARAGE. LAST DECEMBER WAS COMING OF AN EXIT AND BOLT BROKE OFF FROM STEERING THAT GOES INTO THE TRANSMISSION