1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC HEADLAMP COVERING THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH AND REQUIRED THE USE HI-BEAMS FOR PROPER VISION AT NIGHT. UPDATED 7/18/2006 - *NM

1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TS THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE BELT AND TENSIONER WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOISY. THE HANDBRAKE DID NOT HOLD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEVER AND CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE SWAY BAR LINK WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS NOISY. THE REAR HATCH LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM

STRUT TOWER CORROSION ON DRIVER'S SIDE APPEARS TO BE SEVERE ENOUGH TO BREAK THROUGH AND CAUSE HANDLING PROBLEMS. MY FEAR IS THAT IT MAY BREAK THROUGH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT APPEARS THERE ARE MANY INCIDENTS LIKE THIS AND THAT MAY BE CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

WATER FROM UNDER THE CAR AND INTO ENGINGE DURING CAR WASH AND RAIN CAUSES SERPINTINE BELT TO FALL OFF, RENDERING CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. DRIVING ON WINDING WET ROADS AT SLOW SPEED IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS IF THE BELT FALLS OFF. BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND ADJUSTED. MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS INSTALLING A NEW ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET, BUT REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT. *NM

I HAVE 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXI WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN FEBRUARY 1998. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THE LENSES COVERING BOTH HEADLIGHTS ARE FADED AND HAZY FROM AGE AND/OR ELEMENTS AND I HAVE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF NIGHTIME VISION BECAUSE THE ROAD AND SURROUNDINGS ARE NOT ILLUMINATED WELL. I WOULD NOT CONSIDER THIS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND WOULD LIKE TO MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THEM (TALKED TO THE DEALER LAST WEEK AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COST ABOUT $150 PER. NAPA TOLD ME TODAY THEY WERE $239 PERFORM THEM.) BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP. *NM

A MONTH AGO MY 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN EXPLODED & BURNED. I WAS LUCKILY NOT HURT BUT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO TELL ME THE FINDINGS OF THEIR INSPECTION REPORT. I REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS. THEY SAY I HAVE TO GET AN ATTORNEY & SUE THEM TO HAVE IT RELEASED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THIS AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A SERPENTINE BELT PROBLEM. SHE REPLACED THE BELT THREE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE FIRST PROBLEM EMERGED WHEN THE BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHEN THE BREAKAGE OCCURRED. THE NEXT TWO TIMES THE BELT ITSELF DID NOT BREAK, IT CAME OFF THE PULLEY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ALL THREE TIMES.*AK

CHRYSLER TOWN COUNTRY HEADLIGHT COVER DULL AND CLOUDY CAUSING VERY POOR VISIBILITY. *JB

I TOOK MY VAN TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VAN SWERVES (JUMPS) AND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVER SIDE, IT IS SO CORRODED AND SEVERE THAT THE METAL IS PERFORATED AND STARTING TO TEAR ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STARTING TO RUST. HE SAID IF THE TOWER GIVES WAY, I WOULD LOOSE TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VAN. IF IT WAS NOT HIDDEN, I WOULD HAVE NOTICED IT LONG BEFORE IT GOT THIS BAD. HE SAID IF THE DESIGN HAD BEEN DONE PROPER AND THE ELECTRO COATING DONE CORRECTLY, THIS DEFECT SHOULD NOT OCCUR BEFORE 10 YEARS. I CONTACTED MY UNCLE WHO FOUND THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. INFORMATION ON THE CHRYSLER WEBSITE ISSUING TSB NUMBER 23-044-02 ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM FOR VANS BUILT FROM 1996 TO 2000. HE ALSO FOUND 14 PAGES OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEMS THEY HAD IN FINDING THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AND THE EXPENSE THEY HAD TO ENDURE TO HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE. I CAN PROVIDE DIGITAL PHOTOS TO YOU IF THEY ARE NEEDED. FROM ALL THE REPLIES THAT I PRINTED, IT SEEMS CHRYSLER IS UNWILLING TO FACE UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING PEOPLES LIVES IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEIR VEHICLES. I AM HOPING YOUR OFFICE LOOKS INTO THIS MATTER SO CHRYSLER CAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT AND NO ONE PUTS HIS OR HER FAMILY IN JEOPARDY AS I UNKNOWINGLY HAVE. THIS DEFECT IS GOING TO COST ME MONEY I REALLY DO NOT HAVE, BUT MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PAYING SOME BILLS RIGHT NOW.*JB

THANKFULLY THEY HAVEN'T FAILED YET, BUT THE STRUT TOWERS ARE RUSTED VERY BADLY. MUCH MORE RUST THROUGH WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO COMPLETE STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE STRUT TOWER (WHICH WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY). DAIMLER CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL THESE FAULTY STRUT TOWER MOUNTS DUE TO THEIR LACK OF PROPER RUST PROTECTION AS THEY CAN LEAD TO A MAJOR PROBLEM (AND LIABILITY SUIT).