1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

A TALL BEVERAGE GLASS WAS PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER OF THE VAN. SINCE THE AIR CONDITIONING ON/OFF BUTTON IS POSITIONED IN LINE WITH THE CUP HOLDER, THE BUTTON WAS UNKNOWINGLY PRESSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WAS DISABLED WHICH CAUSED THE VAN TO BECOME EXCESSIVELY HOT AND THE PERSON INSIDE SUFFERED A HEAT STROKE. THIS IS A BLATANT DESIGN FLAW!!!!!

I REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND PUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH AND THE VAN QUIT ON ME. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD SMELL GAS. GAS WAS LEAKING ALMOST ONTO THE MUFFLER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE FUEL LINE SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING SO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST LINE. I THANK GOD THAT THE VAN DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE. *TR

EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: RUSTY MCPHERSON STRUT TOWER ATTACHMENT POINTS, A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN CHRYSLER AUTOS. THE PART THAT RUSTS OUT IS PART OF THE CAR'S REINFORCED UNIBODY SHEET METAL. BOTH THE FRONT LEFT AND FRONT RIGHT STRUT TOWERS ARE RUSTED, BUT THE LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) CRACKED OPEN UPON HITTING A POTHOLE, MAKING A 1.5" X 4" HOLE IN THE STRUT TOWER ATTACHMENT. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL TO WANDER OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, SINCE THE STRUT WAS NO LONGER SECURELY ANCHORED TO THE CAR, MAKING THE CAR TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHAT WAS DONE: I PURCHASED A CHRYSLER STRUT TOWER REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLED IT. NOTE THAT THESE ARE AVAILABLE AT MOST AUTO PARTS STORES. THIS IS AN INDICATION OF HOW WIDESPREAD A PROBLEM THIS IS WITH SOME CHRYSLER MODELS, AS WELL AS THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS WIDESPREAD SAFETY DEFECT, THOUGH THERE SHOULD BE ONE. CHRYSLER WILL ONLY REPAIR THIS DEFECT FOR FREE UNDER THEIR REGULAR WARRANTY. THEY CHARGE APPROXIMATELY $900 FOR THE REPAIR. I GREW UP IN A "CHRYSLER FAMILY." BETWEEN MY PARENTS AND MYSELF, WE'VE OWNED ABOUT TWENTY CHRYSLER, DODGE, PLYMOUTH AND IMPERIAL CARS AND TRUCKS, BUT AFTER ALL OF THE NUMEROUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR, I'VE SWORN OFF CHRYSLER FOR GOOD. THEIR QUALITY CONTROL IS ABSENT. *TR

ENGINE SUDDENLY TURNS OFF WHILE ON HIGHWAY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON AND OFF WITHOUT TURNING SWITCH, USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE LOCKING OR UNLOCKING DOORS. 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTY, ENGINE STOPPED, AND SO DID POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AROUND CURVE CAUSING DRIVER TO RUN OFF ROAD INTO FIELD. POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY ACCORDING TO LOCAL HOSPITAL, AM TO REPORT TO NEUROLOGIST ASAP. MECHANICS CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ABNORMALLY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEFROSTER ALSO FAILED AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS DETACHED. THE CONTACT REATTACHED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED 3 TIMES AND ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOULD REATTACH THE SERPENTINE BELT HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 187,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LXI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK IF YOU PULL THEM OUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN THEY DON'T STOP. EVEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE DRIVER BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD DROP TO ZERO INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STOPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. SM.

THE STRUT HOUSING ON MY 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN&COUNTRY ARE BOTH RUSTING AND WILL SOON RENDER MY VAN INOPERATABLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS THE WORST AND THERE BOTH GETTING WORSE. I WILL BE IN DANGER IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 164,000. UPDATED 9/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BAD CONNECTION AT THE END OF THE WIRING HARNESS. UPDATED 09/14/10*JB