2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

05 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN LIMITED PURCHASED 5/22/05 WITH 25 MILES ON ODOMETER FROM DICK HANNAH CHRYSLER JEEP IN VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON.[XXX]. ON 03/14/06 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PLUS THE COMPLAINT THAT HEADLAMPS AND DASH LAMPS ARE PULSATING WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. RESPONSE FROM DEALERSHIP WAS COMPARED TO ANOTHER LIKE VEHICLE. BOTH ARE DOING THE SAME. CONTACTED TECHLINE..TOLD NORMAL OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE 3/20/06 AND RECEIVED NO HELP. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BACKING ALARM WAS INAUDIBLE TO THE DRIVER. THIS CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT WHILE BACKING; THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AND NO REPAIRS ARE AVAILABLE.

COMPLETE FAILURE OF VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION TIME: ABOUT 3:45 PM PLACE: LONG MEADOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN ROCHESTER HILLS, MI 48309 VEHICLE: 2005 TOWN & COUNTRY - [XXX] MILEAGE 11,700 1. AFTER ARRIVING IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT, MY WIFE SLOWED DOWN TO TAKE A TURN TO PARK IN A SPOT. 2. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED AND STOPPED. 3. SHE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STARTED. 4. SHE TRIED TO TURN AND PARK AT THE SAME SPOT ON LEFT SIDE. THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND AND VEHICLE KEPT MOVING IN STRAIGHT DIRECTION. 5. SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES REPEATEDLY WITH NO RESPONSE. 6. SHE ALSO TRIED TO STEER VEHICLE TOWARDS EMPTY SPACE WITH NO RESULT. 7. SHE PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARKING; IT MADE SOME LOUD NOISE BUT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. 8. THERE WAS A STEEL GATE RIGHT IN FRONT ABOUT 40-50 YARDS FROM WHERE SHE STARTED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED IN THE GATE AND STOPPED. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE STEEL GATE AND THE VEHICLE. 9. I ARRIVED AT THE PLACE ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES LATER. I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE BUT DID NOT TRY TO MOVE/REVERSE IT. 10. SCHOOL AUTHORITIES INFORMED THE POLICE ABOUT THE INCIDENT. 11. AROUND 5 P.M. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BODY SHOP OF GOLLING CHRYSLER JEEP IN BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN 12. NEXT MORNING (MARCH 10TH), MS SHEILA FROM GOLLING CHRYSLER BODY SHOP CALLED ME . AS PER HER, THE FUEL PUMP OF THE VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS AND THAT EXPLAINS THE PROBLEM WITH BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEM. SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER STALLING AND VEHICLE MOVED IF THE FUEL PUMP WAS BROKEN. SHE ALSO INDICATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AT DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS ROUGHLY ABOUT $2,000 DOLLAR OF BODY DAMAGE. 13. CHRYSLER HAS INITIATED AN INTERNAL SPECIAL INVESTIGATION. I HAVE RECEIVED NO RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION OR ANY HELP FOR THE HARDSHIP BEING FACED. *JB UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS

ALL LIGHTS, DASH, HEADLIGHTS ETC., WILL CONSTANTLY FLICKER WHEN USING ACCESSORIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN USING SEAT HEATERS. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND EVENTUALLY TOLD ME IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT INTERMITTENTLY, BUT WOULD COME BACK ON. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART HAS BEEN ORDERED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE CONTACT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME. UPDATED 03/17/06. *JB

TAKING OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT ON A FLAT ROAD THE REAR VENT WINDOW OF MY 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY, WHICH WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, JUST FELL OUT. IT HIT THE GROUND AND SHATTERED ALL OVER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE, BESIDES THE DAMAGE TO THE VAN FROM THE WINDOW COLLIDING WITH IT. *NM

PURCHASED 2005 TOWN AND COUNTRY SHORT WHEEL BASE IN MARCH OF 2004. IN FEBRUARY 2006, WITH LESS THAN 24,000 MILES STARTED HEARING CLUNKING NOISE IN LEFT FRONT END AND ON COLD START THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE FROM ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER, IDENTIFIED SQUEALING NOISE AS A LEAKING RACK AND PINION GEAR - SAID LEAK WAS INSIDE SINCE I SAW NO EVIDENCE OUTSIDE - DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION UNDER WARRANTY - SERVICE WRITER STATED THEY HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON OTHER T&CS. CLUNKING NOISE ATTRIBUTED TO WORN FRONT SWAY BAR CUSHION - REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SERVICE WRITER SAID THEY HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, AND THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE A DESIGN FLAW. WILL HOLD ON TO THE PAPERWORK. *JB

THE REAR SLIDING DOOR ON OUR 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY HAS FAILED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR MORE THAN 12 INCHES. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A VAN SO THAT WE CAN TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN. THE DESIGN APPEARS FLAWED. THERE IS A CHEAP PLASTIC CHAIN CARRIER THAT CONTAINS WIRING AND RIDES IN THE DOOR TRACK. THIS HAS BLOWN APART, CAUSING THE CAR WIRING TO BE EXPOSED AND SUBJECT TO WEAR IN THE DOOR TRACK. ALTHOUGH WE ONLY HAVE 54000 MILES ON THE CAR, CHRYSLER SAYS THIS IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM (I.E., WE'VE JUST USED THE DOOR TOO MUCH). THEY WON'T FIX IT, EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR ON THE OTHER SIDE IS BEGINNING TO HAVE PROBLEMS TOO (BUSHINGS FALLING OFF, ROUGH CLOSING, ETC). IT LOOKS TO US LIKE THE WHOLE SLIDING DOOR CONCEPT AT CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE RETHOUGHT. WE CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONES WITH THIS PROBLEM. FOR US, OPENING AND CLOSING THIS DOOR ARE THINGS OF THE PAST UNTIL WE CAN COME UP WITH THE $300 QUOTED TO US BY THE DEALER, JEFF WYLER IN NEWPORT, KENTUCKY, FOR A REPAIR THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW. CONTACTING CHRYSLER'S CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS (SINCE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE WITH KIDS RIDING IN THE BACK) GOT US NOWHERE--IN FACT, THEY ALSO STONEWALLED FOR A WHILE ON REPLACING THE SOLENOID ON THE TRANSMISSION--WHICH WAS LEAKING, INDICATING TO US THAT CHRYSLER'S LEGENDARY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ARE STILL NOT FIXED, EVEN ON ITS MOST RECENT VEHICLES. WE'VE OWNED THREE CHRYSLER VANS, MEANING THE CHRYSLER HAS MADE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY OFF OF OUR FAMILY, BUT THIS IS THE LAST ONE WE'LL EVER BUY. *NM

TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS ARE NOT CORRECTLY CALIBRATED ON BY '05 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINI-VAN. MY DEALER REFUSES TO CALIBRATE THEM. THEY INSIST THAT I OVER INFLATE MY TIRES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE MIS-CALIBRATED SENSORS. *JB

1-REPORTED VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL BETWEEN 20-50 MPH [2-POSSIBLE EXHAUST LEAK, I WAS GETTING SLEEPY AFTER 20-30 MIN DRIVE TIME, I USE RECYCLE MODE ON A/C DUE TO HAVING ASTHMA [ 3-REPORTED NOISE FROM THE MUFFLER/EXHAUST AREA[4- A/C COMPRESSOR MAKES A LABORING NOISE [5-VIBRATION AND A GROWLING NOISE IN REAR SUSPENSION, AXLE OR TRANSMISSION[6-TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP OR JERK INTO AND OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 15-45 MPH. SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DUPLICATE ANY OF MY CONCERNS BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN MY MILEAGE OUT WAS THE SAME AS MY MILEAGE IN SO I'M NOT SURE IT WAS EVEN DRIVEN. THREE[3] DAYS LATER I CAME IN AND ASK FOR SOMEONE TO DRIVE WITH ME AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE BEFORE WE HAD GONE A MILE, AT THAT TIME HE THOUGHT IS WAS JUST A LOOSE SPARE TIRE BUT WHEN I CAME BACK THAT AFTERNOON I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUT THERE WAS NOT ONE IN TOWN AND AS SOON AS IT CAME IN IT WOULD BE REPAIRED. IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY ORDER ON THURSDAY JAN 19,2006 AND RECEIVED ON JAN 26,2006. CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED ON JAN 27,2006 AS WELL AS EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET. [7-ON THIS DATE I ALSO REPORTED ON JAN 26,2006, WHEN I WAS BRAKING TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN RIGHT THE CAR ENGINE SURGED FORWARD AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF CAR-NOTHING WAS LISTED ON THE SERVICE COPY AS CAUSE OR WHAT WAS TESTED FOR THE ENGINE SURGING WHEN BRAKING.[8-REAR BRAKES HAVE CRYSTALLIZED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST. AM GETTING OTHER PRICES AT THIS TIME. *NM