2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

AT 69800 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHUDDER BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH. AT FIRST THIS HAPPENED FAIRLY INFREQUENTLY. IT KEPT HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. NOW AT 74500 MILES IT OCCURS EVERY TIME WE USE THE VAN. *JB

COMPLAINT INVOLVES A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LTD AWD MINVAN 3.8L ENGINE. DURING ITS ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION, MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE FLYWHEEL WAS CRACKED. I HAD BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO A) HAVE IT INSPECTED B) CHECK A METALLIC NOISE THE ENGINE HAD WHEN THE A/C WAS ON. VEHICLE PASSED THE SAFETY INSPECTION, HOWEVER HE INFORMED ME THE FLYWHEEL WAS CRACKED AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL FIXED. IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF IT FAILED COMPLETELY IT COULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION WITH THE TRANSMISSION CASE BEING BLOWN APART - NOT A GOOD THING WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS USED PRIMARILY BY MY WIFE WITH OUR CHILDREN AS THE MAIN CARGO. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED WHICH COST APPROXIAMATELY $560. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE TOWER WAS CLEANED AND A PROTECTIVE COATING WAS APPLIED. THE RUST CONTINUED TO FORM AND HOLES WERE NOW PRESENT. *AK UPDATED 9/22/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS OBSERVED TO BE LEANING INWARD. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT DETERMINED THE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY FRACTURED, AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.

2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXI ALL WHEEL DRIVE: 01/2003 FAILURE AT THE BATTERY, WILL NOT TAKE A CHARGE (BATTERY REPLACED) 06/2005 BATTERY LEAKING ACID AND DAMAGED WIRE HARNESS THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR REPLACED $260.00 THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR REPLACED **AGAIN** $72.00 NEW BATTERY $71.00 SENSOR MAP $80.00 WIRING ENGINE $837.00 LABOR $504.00 A REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH MOPAR BATTERIES HAS COST ME $2000.00 2 LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO CONTACT THE LOCAL CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE AND CHRYSLER THEMSELVES DIRECTED ME BACK TO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. NO SATISFACTION WITH THIS COMPANY OR MOPAR PRODUCTS. *JB

I TOOK MY 2000 CHRYSLER MINI VAN TO THE CONYER, GA DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHY MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND MY HORN STOPPED WORKING AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MAN THAT I WOULD BE CHARGE $89.00 JUST FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH ALL MINI VANS DATING BACK SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE MY HORN IN MY VAN WASN'T WORKING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A IMMEDIATE RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILL. *JB

1) NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE LED TO 2) THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTING AND SEPARATING UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 3) I NOTICED THE RUSTING AND SEPARATION AND I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR WITH A "STRUT TOWER REPAIR KIT". THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN CHRYSLER/DODGE MINIVANS FROM 1996-2000 AND THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #23-044-02 ABOUT THE CONDITION AND REPAIR. IF LEFT UNDIAGNOSED AND UN-REPAIRED, THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. DUE TO THE # OF INCIDENTS & REPAIRS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECT. CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR OR REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIR.*JB

I AM EXPERIENCING CORROSION PENETRATION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LIMITED MINIVAN. THE BODY OF THE VAN INCLUDING THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT TOWER IS ABSENT OF ANY CORROSION. I JUST BECAME AWARE OF A SERVICE BULLETIN CHRYSLER ISSUED ON OCTOBER 14, 2002 FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM (BULLETIN # 23-044-02). IT SEEMS APPARENT TO ME THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME AND SHOULD HAVE AS A MINIMUM ALERTED OWNERS TO THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM BEFORE IT MAGNIFIED ITSELF. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER NOW SHOULD INCUR THE COST FOR REPAIR OF THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT.*JB

SUDDEN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID RESULTED IN ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. INTERNET SEARCHES ON THIS VEHICLE PROVIDED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS 2000 TOWN & COUNTRY VAN. IT HAS 56,000 MILES. ALSO REPORTED LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID AND DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY BRAKE FLUID DRUMS (POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE). INFORMED CHRYSLER REGARDING THIS MATTER BUT THEY REFUSED WARRANTY COVERAGE, RESULTING IN EXPENSIVE REPAIR WORK OVER $600 FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID AND BRAKE PAD REPAIR WORK. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY $325. DEALER REPORTED FREQUENT PROBLEMS WITH MOTOR. DEALER INFORMED 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES ISSUE RELATED TO REPLACEMENT OF MOTOR SO GLASS CAN FUNCTION CORRECTLY. REQUIRED TO FUNCTION TO PASS DE SAFETY INSPECTION. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE, THE HYDRAULIC GAUGE DID NOT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND BUCKLED. FAULTY AND DANGEROUS HYDRAULIC TIRE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND CAN CAUSE VERY SERIOUS INJURY. *NM

WE OWN A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LIMITED MINIVAN. THE MIDDLE ROW OF SEATS ARE REMOVABLE. FROM TIME TO TIME, WE REMOVE AND REINSTALL THE SEATS PER THE DIRECTIONS IN THE MANUAL. AFTER EACH TIME WE REINSTALL THE SEAT, WE ENSURE THAT THE SEAT IS SECURE BY MAKING SURE IT CAN'T DISENGAGE. DESPITE THIS, THE MIDDLE SEATS PERIODICALLY DISENGAGES SPONTANEOUSLY, POPS OUT, AND TIPS FORWARD OR BACKWARD WITH OUR CHILD IN IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE STOP THE CAR, PULL OVER, AND PUT THE KID IN A DIFFERENT SEAT. THEN WE REINSTALL THE SEAT WHEN WE ARE AT SAFER SPOT. WE TEST AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THE INSTALLATION IS SECURE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THEN, A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS LATER, THE SEAT POPS OUT AGAIN. THE MOST RECENT SUCH INCIDENT IS DATED BELOW. *JB