1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

LTR FM (CT) CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HIS DAUGHTERS DEFECTIVE 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY, THE TIE ROD FELL OFF. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED MOST AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS HAVE ELIMINATED THE GREASE FITTINGS THAT MOST TIE ROD ENDS USE. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE RUBBER GROMMET THAT ENCLOSED THE BALL AND ROAD SURFACE WATER LEAKED IN AND CORRODED THE BALL AND ENCLOSURE. AFTER THE BALL AND SOCKET HAD EXPERIENCED SUFFICIENT REDUCTION, IT FINALLY SLIPPED OUT OF THE ENCLOSURE AND DROPPED TO THE GROUND. *JB

SERPENTINE BELT DERAILS WHEN DRIVEN IN RAIN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. REPLACE BELTS AND TENSIONER PULLEY, STILL HAPPENS. LOTS OF POSTS ON THE WEB FROM PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE EVEN AFTER HAVING THE TSB FOR THE IDLER PULLEY DONE. IT'S AMAZING THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT BY THIS DEFECT. *NM

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, PEDAL SANK ALMOST TO THE FLOOR INDICATING A FLUID LEAK. BRAKES BARELY WORKED AT ALL AND LIMPED TO CHYSLER DEALER WHO FOUND RUPTURED RIGID BRAKE LINE WHERE IT JOINS TO A SHORT BRAIDED FLEXIBLE SECTION. TWO LONG RIGID BRAKE LINES THAT RUN NEARLY THE LENGTH OF THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED AND AS REQUESTED OLD PARTS WERE RETURNED TO ME. ONLY IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA WHERE THE FLEXIBLE LINE JOINS THE RIGID LINES WAS THERE SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. ONE OF THE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND RUPTURED AT THIS POINT. THE REST OF THE RIGID LINES WERE FREE OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH 100,000 MILES IN A RELATIVELY LOW SALT ENVIRONMENT, THERE SHOULD NOT BE SEVERE CORROSION AT THIS TIME CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. THE JOINT AREA BETWEEN THE FLEX LINE AND THE RIGID LINE IS A DESIGN FAULT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE REPLACED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PERFORMING A NORMAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AT THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE LEFT FRONT STRUT AND STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO HARSH WINTER WEATHER AND ROAD SALTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

WHILE DOING GENERAL CAR CARE (CLEANING THE BATTERY) I NOTICED SEVERE RUST ON THE LEFT STRUT TOWER AT THE SPRING SEAT. THE AREA IS SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND IF IT FAILS WILL CAUSE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO MOVE INTO CONTACT WITH THE CAR BODY AND PREVENT NORMAL STEERING TO AVOID COLLISIONS. SECONDARILY, SUSPENSION DAMPERS CANNOT BE REPLACED SINCE THE STRUT COULD NOT BE RE-ATTACHED. POOR DAMPER CONDITION OF COURSE AFFECTS THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ON IMPERFECT PAVEMENT. *JB

STRUT TOWER HAS SEVERE RUSTING THAT MAY LEAD TO A COLLAPSE ON THE FRONT TIRE. *JB

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JULY 14, 2005. WHEN THE WEATHER TURNED COLDER, I WOULD BACK THE VEHICLE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND IT WOULD FAIL TO ENGAGE INTO DRIVE FOR 25 TO 30 SECONDS. AT TIMES IT WOULD ALSO FAIL TO ENGAGE AFTER MAKING A FULL STOP. I BELIEVED THIS TO BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THEY WERE USING A "NEW AND IMPROVED FLUID". THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IT HAPPENS ON HIS NEW CAR ALSO. IF WHAT HE SAYS IS TRUE I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE AREN'T MANY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION? I USED A NOVEMBER DATE AS THE INCIDENT DATE, BUT IT HAPPENS MANY TIMES. *JB

I HAVE CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND BOTH OF DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS STOP OPERATING. I HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW LAST YEAR. *JB

1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LIMITED MINI-VAN. OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SLIDING DOORS HAVE DETERIORATED AND HAVE FALLEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER TRIED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS REFUSED BY DAIMLER-CHRYSLER STATING THAT THE HANDLES WERE NOT PART OF THE LATCH ASSEMBLY. THE DOORS ARE NOW UNABLE TO BE OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE, MAKING, IN MY OPINION. THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE. THE COST OF REPLACING BOTH HANDLES WITH LABOR IS APPROXIMATELY $500.00. *JB

THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER ON A 99 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY HAS RUSTED THROUGH LOSING SUPPORT FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER. HAVE CHECKED OTHER 99 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB