1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

RECALL 99V216. AFTER RECALL WAS REPAIRED VEHICLE'S PROBLEM WORSENED. WHEN FUEL TANK WAS FILLED THERE WERE FUMES ENTERING INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, AND FUMES COULD BE SMELLED FROM OUTSIDE. DEALER HAS SINCE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

THE TOWER WHICH SUPPORTS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT IS RUSTING THROUGH. THIS IS THE ONLY RUST ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AGREES THAT THIS WILL SOON BE A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN THE STRUT COLLAPSES INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE VEHICLE MIGHT SUDDENLY GO OUT OF CONTROL.I HAVE NOTIFIED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER OF THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE DECLINED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I HAVE PHOTOS AND COPIES OF LETTERS SENT TO DAIMLER-CHRYSLER MOTORS CORPORATION.IT IS POSSIBLE THAT OTHER TOWN & COUNTRY VANS OF THIS MODEL YEAR MAY BE FAILING IN THE SAME WAY AND THEIR OWNERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL HAZARD.

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE IS FINE, WHEN SLOWING ON EXIT RAMP THE VEHICLE STALLS, LOSING ALL POWER COMPLETELY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE VEHICLE STARTES IMMEDIATELY AFTER FAILING EXCEPT ON ONE OCCASSION IT REQUIRED HALF HOUR BEFORE RESTARTING. *YH

THIS IS A RECALL FOR CARS MADE PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER, 1996. WE RECEIVEDOUR CAR ON 9/1/96, SO IT WOULD SEEM THAT OUR CAR QUALIFIES. SINCE THE CAR NOW IS EXHIBITING THE SIGNS SHOWN IN THE RECALL NOTICE (#665), IT MAKES SENSE THAT OUR CAR ALSO HAS THIS DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

REPORTING THE BOLT ON THE ENGINE PULLEY BROKE OFF AND CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE; VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENCE REPAIRS SHOP AND INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DEFECTED PART. DEALER/MFR'S WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:

THE CONSUMER WAS SMELLING GASOLINE, AND VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. FUEL TANK WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND IT WARPED. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING AND JUST EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*AK

FUEL LEAKAGE IS OCCURRING DUE TO WARPING UP NEAR THE TOP OF FUEL TANK WHERE THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SPRING IDLE ARM BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING PULLEY TO BREAK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

REF. 727308 VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, PCM AFFECTED BY RADAR INTERFERENCE IS POSSIBLE CULPRIT. AFTER NEW FILTERS AND PLUGS THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO STAY RUNNING BUT IT SHUTTERS WHEN RADAR INTERFERENCE IS ENCOUNTERED, ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE PCM WITH REBUILT, PROBABLY WILL RE-OCCUR IN FUTURE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SHOULD GET A RECALL. WHEN VEHICLE DIES IT IS VERY HARD TO HANDLE, DUE TO WEIGHT ON THE FRONT OF THESE VANS.