2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

ON SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2007, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF MY BRAKES UPON STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AT A FOUR-WAY CONTROLLED INTERSECTION. A PICK-UP TRUCK ON MY RIGHT SIDE HAD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND HAD BEGUN TO PROCEED THROUGH WHEN MY 2000 TOWN & COUNTRY LXI BRAKES FAILED AND WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. FORTUNATELY, THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAD MY MINIVAN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE BRAKE LINES WERE BOTH SEVERELY CORRODED/RUSTED, ONE TOTALLY THROUGH THE METAL, THE OTHER NEARLY SO. BOTH WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER 600.00. THE CORROSION PROBLEM IS ELECTROLYSIS, THE RESULT OF THE JOINING OF TWO DIFFERENT METALS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRAKE LINES. THIS DESIGN FLAW RESULTED IN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY LOSS OF THE BRAKES. MY MECHANIC CAN COMMUNICATE HIS FINDINGS IF NEEDED TO YOUR PERSONNEL. THE FACT THAT THE PARTS SERVICE HE USES STOCKS THIS ITEM IS TELLING IN THAT THERE IS AN APPARENT NEED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LINES ON A REGULAR ENOUGH BASIS TO STOCK THE PARTS. I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER WITH THIS INFORMATION. I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO INSTIGATE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AS I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE THAT COULD RESULT. 24 HOURS BEFORE THIS BRAKE FAILURE, I WAS DRIVING THE FREEWAY FROM MILWAUKEE TO OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN AND BACK WITH MY 17-YEAR-OLD FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH FOR HIS ADMISSION TO THE MUSIC BUSINESS PROGRAM IN THE FALL OF 2007 SEMESTER. WE WERE IN BLOWING SNOW ON A COMPLETELY SNOW-COVERED HIGHWAY THE ENTIRE DISTANCE. IT IS TRULY A MIRACLE THAT NO HARM CAME TO ANYONE. WE LOST OUR TWO OLDEST SONS, AS TEENAGERS, IN A DEADLY CAR CRASH AND WOULD NOT WISH THIS TRAGEDY ON ANYONE. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY CLOSE CALL FOR OUR FAMILY AND I HOPE THAT NO DEATHS HAVE TO OCCUR BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED. THIS DESIGN FLAW IS ONE THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AS WELL AND DESERVES CLOSE SCRUTINY. THANK YOU FOR ANY ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL IT BEGAN TO TIGHTEN AND THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. ALSO, THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57.000. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MOST UPSETTING THING IS THE TREATMENT HE RECEIVED FROM THE DEALER. UPDATED 07/25/07 *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE V2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT POPPING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED ON FOUR OCCASION. THERE WAS HEAVY RAIN AND WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH UNDER HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING AREA. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD COME OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THE BELT AVAILABLE FOR INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT WILL BE CALLING THE MANUFACTURER OF CHRYSLER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IF THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN, ONE DAY THE SERPENTINE BELT WILL POP OFF AND HE WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND SOMETHING DRASTIC COULD HAPPEN. THIS VEHICLE HAD 62,500 MILES, AND WAS NOT SURE HOW MANY MILES WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT POPPED OFF THE FIRST TIME. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE ALL REPAIR ORDERS AVAILABLE FOR THIS INVESTIGATION. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THE BELT WAS OKAY PER DEALER AND REINSTALLED. THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED INVOICES OF REPAIR. UPDATED 05/04/07. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT POPPING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ON FOUR OCCASIONS DURING HEAVY RAIN AND WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH UNDER HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD INTO A PARKING AREA. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD COME OFF AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLEWAS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THE BELT AVAILABLE FOR INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT WILL BE CALLING THE MANUFACTURER OF CHRYSLER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT FELT THAT IF THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ONE DAY THE SERPENTINE BELT WILL POP OFF AND HE WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND SOMETHING DRASTIC COULD HAPPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD 62,500 MILES AND WAS NOT SURE HOW MANY MILES WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT POPPED OFF THE FIRST TIME. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE ALL REPAIR ORDERS AVAILABLE FOR THIS INVESTIGATION. *AK

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY AND STATED THAT THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVER TURNED GRAY AND CLOUDY. THIS INTERFERED WITH THE AMOUNT OF ILLUMINATION IT DISPLAYED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY COULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER SET UP A RECALL. *AK UPDATED 1/26/2007 - *NM

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OF THE SEAT BELTS COMING UNLATCHED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, OR SEEMING TO BE LATCHED CORRECTLY AND THEN FINDING OUT MILES LATER THAT IT POPS OUT AND MAYBE WASN'T LATCHED CORRECTLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE 4 CHILDREN, RANGING IN AGE 2-11, AND WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE SEATS. I HAVE ALSO READ ONLINE WHILE INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE, THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THAT DEATH HAS OCCURRED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL OF THESE SEAT BELTS WHEN THEY ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE? I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU, DAIMLER CHRYSLER, REPLACE ALL OF THE SEAT BELTS IN THE CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY OWNED BY US, LISTED ABOVE, FREE OF CHARGE, TO SHOW YOUR GOOD WILL IN THIS SITUATION. IT WOULD BE DISASTROUS FOR THIS ISSUE OF THE SEAT BELT UNLATCHING ITSELF IN A WRECK TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND LEAVE US WITH AN INJURED OR DEAD CHILD OR ADULT. I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL STAND UP AND BE RESPONSIBLE AND FIX THIS ISSUE. 119134 MILES 2000 TOWN & COUNTRY LXI. *NM

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF PROBLEMS WITH MY POWER SEAT MEMORY SYSTEM(MY SEATS WOULD SWITCH TO A SETTING THAT WAS NOT PROGRAMMED BY MYSELF), I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND ADVISED THEM OF MY SITUATION. THIS UNWANTED ADJUSTMENT COULD BE REPLICATED BY PRESSING THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON MY FOB. I BEGAN UNLOCKING MY VAN WITH MY KEY. I ADVISED MY DEALER AGAIN. THIS PAST JUNE, WHILE OPERATING MY VAN ONTO A FREEWAY, THE SEAT BEGAN TO CHANGE POSITIONS AND THE MIRRORS READJUSTED. MY CHILDREN AND A FAMILY FRIEND OBSERVED THIS ACTION AS IT OCCURRED. I GRABBED HOLD OF THE WHEEL AND READJUSTED ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS WHILE STILL MAINTAINING CONTROL. THIS PROCESS HAS RECURRED ON AT LEAST FIVE OCCASIONS. UPON RETURN FROM OUR VACATION, I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT MY OPTIONS WERE TO DISCONNECT THE AUTO-SETTING OR RETURN THE VEHICLE WHEN A PARTICULAR COMPUTER WAS RETURNED TO THEM. MY VISIT COST ME SEVERAL HOURS AND A BILL OF OVER $98.00. CURRENTLY I AM ABLE TO MANUALLY ADJUST THE SEAT AND MIRROR. *NM

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN POPS OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP. VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO SAFELY DRIVE TO A STOP WITHOUT POWER STEERING. BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED. TENSIONER HAS BEEN REPLACED. PULLEYS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. DEALERS AND PRIVATE SHOPS HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IS WRONG, BUT OWNERS DO- THE TENSIONER GETS OUT OF ALIGNMENT! GOODYEAR AND GATES HAVE BEGUN TO MARKET KITS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD DO A RECALL. JUST "GOOGLE" TO SEE HOW MANY OWNERS ARE AFFECTED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! THE INCIDENT DATE I LIST IS THE LAST OF 4 INCIDENTS IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVER TURNED A GRAY COLOR. THIS INTERFERED WITH THE AMOUNT OF ILLUMINATION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE COVERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/20/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER A LONG TRIP THE DRIVER HAD A HEADACHE. UPON INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PIPE THAT RAN FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD TO THE EXHAUST WAS LEAKING. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE PIPE WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.