1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES ON THE FREEWAY. AS SHE WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY, SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO SLOW DOWN NORMALLY. SHE FELT PRESSURE FROM THE PEDDLE, BUT THEN THE PEDDLE WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH NO EFFECT. SHE PUMPED THE PEDDLE AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME, BUT AGAIN IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH NO EFFECT. SHE THEN HAD TO CONCETRATE ON AVOIDING OTHER CARS, BUT FINALLY REAR ENDED A TRUCK. AFTER THE MINIVAN WAS REPAIRED, WE HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED BY TWO SERVICE CENTERS. THE SECOND SERVICE CENTER IS THE ONE LISTED IN THE REPORT AND IS THE ONE THAT REGULARLY SERVICES OUR MINIVAN. WE ARE WONDERING WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENCES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED?

TRANSMISSION FAILED,A/C FAILED, WIPERS WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, SPORADIC ELECTRICAL FAILURES

ENGINE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEERING THE CAR DUE TO THE LOST OF POWER ASSISTANCE.

MY MECHANIC INFORMS ME THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE RUSTED AND DEEPLY PITTED. HE THOUGHT THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED. THE OUTSIDES ARE OK.

AT 20K AND 40K MILES I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING WHEN CORNERING ON WET PAVEMENT. THE STEERING WOULD SEIZE WHILE IN THE TURN SO I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA WHEN THIS OCCURED AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. ON BOTH INSTANCES I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY CHRYSLER DEALER. THEY INITIALLY REPLACED THE TENSIONER WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING BELT IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR 20K MILES. AT 40K MILES THEY ONCE AGAIN REPLACED THE TENSIONER THINKING IT WOULD CURE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BELT AGAIN AS WELL. NOW I EXPECT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVERY 20K MILES AS IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING UNIT IS LOCATED BESIDE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND APPEARS TO BE PRONE TO WATER PROBLEMS. WHEN I ASKED CHRYSLER WHO WAS GOING TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS EVERY 20K MILES FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALER AND HE WOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION MILEAGE AND WARRANTY TO MAKE THAT DECISION. THEY IMPLIED THAT I AM THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. IF THIS IS THE CASE THEN I CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES.*AK

TRANSMISION: INTERNAL FAILURE. TRANSMISION REPLACED. WATER PUMP: LEAKING AND BELT TENSIONER BEARING FAILED. BOTH REPLACED. CIRCUIT PANEL: INSTRUMENT PANEL (GUAGES) WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CIRCUIT BOARD REPLACED

SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF PWR STEERING SECOND OCCURANCE; FIRST WAS AT 44K MI. MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MFG SHOULD BE FORCE TO REDSIGN PART & RECALL

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD MISS REPEATEDLY DOWN THE ROAD. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS TRANSMISSION. *AK

AS I WAS ABOUT TO TURN A CORNER I HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT HAD LOCKED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TENSIONEER, DRIVE BELT AND POWER STEERING PULLEY HAD ALL COME APART. I LOOKED AT THE PARTS AND SAW A SHEARED BOLT ABOUT 5/16" IN THE ASSEMBLY. SHOULD THE WHOLE SYSTEM BE DEPENDENT ON SUCH A SMALL BOLT? IS A CARS STEERING SUPPOSED TO FAIL AT 74156 MILES? IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. I THINK THE STEERING SHOULD BE SOMEHOW MECHANICALLY ASSISTED SO THAT WHEN IT FAILS IT SHOULD BE EASIER TO STEER THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE OUT OF TRAFFIC.

PROBLEM IS NOTED ON VERY HOT DAYS, NO PRIOR WARNING WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. UPON APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL STALL AND DIE OUT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK