1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

FUEL RAIL IS CRACKED. THERE IS A RECALL ON VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. FUEL LEAKS FROM O RINGS OF FUEL RAIL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK *JB

LARGE FUEL LEAK AT THE FUEL INJECTION CROSSOVER TUBE/INJECTION RAIL. "O"RING FAILURE ...COULD LEAD TO MASSAVE ENGINE FIRE AND LOST OF VEHICLE.......DEALER CLAIMS NOT UNDER RECALL STATUS...SEE NHTSA REPORT # 00V268000. *AK

VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED; TOWED TO NEAREST CHRYSLER SERVICE. TECHNICIAN REPORTED FUEL INJECTION LINE FASTENER FAILED AND LINE DETACHED FROM FUEL PUMP. PUMP CONTINUED PUMPING FUEL, CREATING FIRE HAZARD. *AK

THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FULL, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE VENT TUBE ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK WAS CRACKED AND THE ENTIRE TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB

RECALL 00V268 000/FUEL LEAKAGE: VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING FUEL RAIL LEAKAGES. CONTACTED DEALER, INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *YH

WHILE TRAVELING OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE LOSS OF STEERING OCCURED TWICE AND THE DEALER INDICATED THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE A/C BELT FAILURE AND FAILURE TO INSTALL SPECIAL BRACKET BY THE MANUFACTURER. *YH

HORN FAILS TO WORK ALONG WITH AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT THAT DOESN'T TURN OFF; TRANSMISSION OF THE CAR HAD TO REPLACED IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE CAR ACTS RATHER SPORADIC, RADIO TURNS OFF AND ON BY IT SELF; AIR CONDITIONING NO LONGER WORKS/ HOSE FAILED RADIATOR , AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED

THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. WHEN TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT SERPENTINE BELT AND STEERING BELT TENSIONER ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK

OUR PROBLEM RESIDES (AS WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND NUMEROUS MECHANICS) WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ACTIVATOR SWITCH. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THE WIPERS COME ON (NOT TURNED ON) ALL BY THEMSELVES WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE. TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM, THEY USUALLY DON'T WANT TO TURN OFF EITHER, DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT TURNING THE SWITCH ON & OFF AND EVEN SHUTTING OFF AND RE-STARTING THE ENGINE NUMEROUS TIMES. EVENTUALLY, YOU CAN GET THEM TO SHUT OFF. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM WITH FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTENCES WHOM ALSO OWN CHRYSLER, DODGE AND/OR PLYMOUTH MINI-VANS AND MOST OF THEM REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. EVERY CHRYSLER DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND REPAIR SHOP MECHANIC I'VE TALKED TO IS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOW PROGRESSED INTO WHAT I NOW CONSIDER A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SAME ELECTRICAL SNAFU IN THE STEERING COLUMN IS NOW AFFECTING THE ELECTRONICS (I'M GUESSING) WHICH CONTROL THE SHIFTING IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IF, WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, IT BEGINS TO RAIN, AND YOU TURN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS; THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT DOWN INTO LOW GEAR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON WET PAVEMENT. IT WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW UNLESS YOU BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP; SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RE-START IT. ONCE AGAIN, NOT A SAFE MANEUVER ALONG A BUSY HIGHWAY. BEGINNING AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT BACK INTO LOW AS SOON AS YOU ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT GROUND SPEED FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO REACH "DRIVE". NEEDLESS TO SAY, WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH DAMAGE OR STRAIN AND WEAR THIS IS PLACING ON THE TRANSMISSION NEEDLESSLY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I SEE THIS MORE AND MORE, NOT JUST AN INCONVENIENCE, BUT A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS MINI-VAN IF RAIN OR SNOW IS FORECASTED FOR THEDAY. I'D BE VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY IF POSSIBLE.*AK

I WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VAN COULD HAVE BURNED UP THOUGH IF I HADN'T CAUGHT THE PROBLEM OF GAS LEAKING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE DEFECT WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTICEABLE, IT DIDN'T CAUSE OBVIOUS ENGINE OR OPERATING DIFFICULTIES AND THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE ON BOARD TROUBLE WARNING SYSTEM. I CAUGHT THE PROBLEM WHEN I DROVE INTO MY ATTACHED GARAGE, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND GOT OUT OF THE VAN.. I SMELLED GAS, BACKED THE VAN OUT OF THE GARAGE, RAISED THE HOOD WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND OBSERVED THE RAW GAS POURING OUT OF TWO PLACES ON THE ENGINE. AS IT WAS THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND I LEFT THE VAN OUTSIDE AND USED OUR OTHER CAR. I'M A REALTOR WITH CENTURY 21 AND AN ASSOCIATE IN OUR OFFICE HAD HIS DODGE MINI-VAN CATCH FIRE AND BURN UP LAST YEAR AND NOW I WONDER IF THIS ISN'T A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SERIES CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. MY HOME COULD HAVE BURNED TO THE GROUND HAD I NOT OBSEVED THE GAS SMELL AND GOT THE VAN OUT OF THE GARAGE. HAD WE BEEN ASLEEP IN THE HOUSE MY WIFE AND I COULD HAVE BOTH BEEN BURNED TO DEATH. EVEN IF WE WERE JUST DRIVING AND HAPPENED TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE VAN WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO CATCH FIRE FROM THE LEAKING GAS AND WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN IT. WE'RE BOTH IN OUR 70'S. THE REPAIRS COST $221.47 AND BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEMAND FOR THE REPLACEMENT FUEL RAIL & INJECTOR O-RINGS IT TOOK THE DEALER SEVERAL DAYS TO GET THE PARTS FROM CHRYSLER. DOES THIS NOT SUGGEST THERE'S A PROBLEM*AK