2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UNDERHOOD STRUT TOWER IS RUSTED. THE DEALER ADVISED HER NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THAT CONDITION BECAUSE A CRASH COULD OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS A KIT TO CORRECT THE DEFECT; HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THE LABOR COSTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

BRAKE LINE FAILURE WHERE FLEXIBLE STAINLESS STEEL BRAKE LINES ATTACH TO STELL SOLID LINES. SOLID LINES ARE CORRODED WHERE THEY MEET. *TR

IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER MINIVANS - WHENEVER THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN AND THE WATER PUDDLES IN THE STREET, THE SERPENTINE BELT SLIPS OFF AND ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE IS LOST. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE STATED THAT THIS HAPPENS TO ALL CHRYSLER MINIVANS (DODGE AND PONTIAC MINIVANS AS WELL) AND HAS OCCURRED SINCE THEY STARTED MAKING MINIVANS. EVERY TIME THERE IS A HEAVY DOWNPOUR HE HAS A LOT FULL OF CHRSLER VANS THAT NEED THEIR BELT PUT BACK ON. I CALLED MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER IN URBANA, IL AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. SHE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE TWO OF THEIR OWN SERVICE VANS ARE OUT OF COMMISSION DUE TO THE RECENT RAIN. SHE AGREED THAT EVERY TIME IT RAINS HEAVILY, THE BELTS COME OFF THESE VANS. I CALLED CHRYSLER AUTOMOTIVE AND SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. ABOUT THE PROBLEM. SHE CHECKED AND TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND BECAUSE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. SINCE CHRYSLER WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS KNOWN PROBLEM UNTIL NHTSA ISSUES A RECALL, PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. WHAT COULD BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN FOR PEOPLE TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON CROWDED ROADWAYS AND INTERSTATE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. AS OF JANUARY 10, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINES FOR THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO SPRAY FROM THE BRAKE LINES. AS OF JANUARY 10, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 111,800. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY SLIPS OFF WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH PUDDLES RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, COOLING AND ELECTRICAL. THIS EVENT STRANDS US WHERE EVER WE HAPPEN TO BE. *TR

AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DOWNWARD SLOPING DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT ENTRY INTO THE STREET. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES REVEALED RUST/CORROSION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FLEXIBLE STAINLESS STEEL SEGMENTS WHICH ARE LOCATED ABOUT 1 FOOT TO THE REAR OF THE ABS MODULE. ONE OF THESE SECTIONS HAD RUPTURED CAUSING THE LOSS OF BRAKING. I HAVE REMOVED THE LINE FROM THE ABS MODULE AND CUT IT ABOUT A FOOT FROM THE RUPTURE. I HAVE PRE-REMOVAL PICTURES OF THESE AREAS AND THE AFFECTED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE RUPTURED LINE AND TO THE OTHER REAR BRAKE LINE AS IT LOOKS THAT ONE WILL FAIL SHORTLY IF USED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL, HER CHILD'S SEAT BELT UNBUCKLES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE HER CHILD DID NOT WEIGH ENOUGH. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT AFTER 50 MPH, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. IF SHE TRAVELS BELOW 40 MPH, THE SEAT BELTS WOULD UNLOCK DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE CHILD. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO INSTALL A TETHER STRAP, BUT SHE ALREADY HAD ONE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

IN 2005 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE FRONT SEAT HEATING ELEMENTS. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO BRANDOW CHRYSLER AND THE ELEMENTS WERE SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED. 9/30/07 THE REPLACEMENT ELEMENTS FAILED AND THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BRANDOW CHRYSLER AND THE HEATING ELEMENTS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. CHRYSLER HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I WILL NOT PUT ANYONE BACK INTO THAT CAR. *TR

WHILE VEHICLE WAS HAVING OVER $1000.00 IN UNEXPECTED REPAIRS FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS (SHATTERING DRIVE PLATE, $550.00 EXHAUST CROSSOVER PIPE) IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH STRUT TOWERS HAVE RUST PERFORATION AND ARE STRUCTURALLY UNSAFE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT ALL CHRYSLER MINIVANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1996 AND 2000 EXPERIENCE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGED, AND WELL CLEANED AND WAXED. I AM ALWAYS PARTICULAR ABOUT WASHING ROAD SALT OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLES FREQUENTLY. I AM PARTICULARLY UPSET THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS THE NERVE TO CHARGE ME OVER $1000.00 TO FIX THE DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLE. WITHOUT THIS REPAIR MY VEHICLE IS DANGEROUSLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS ALERTED TO THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT KILLED MY FAMILY. *JB

VEHICLE MAKING LOUD WHISTLING NOISE, TWO DEALERS UNABLE TO LOCATE SOUND. WHILE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT FOR ANOTHER REPAIR, DISCOVERED THE EXHAUST CROSSOVER PIPE IS CRACKED. THIS IS A $550.00 DEALER ITEM ONLY PART. DEALER STATES COMMON PROBLEM, PART IS OFTEN REPLACED. I HAVE TO PAY $550.00 PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE THIS PART. *JB