1996 Chrysler Town And Country complaints

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A 45 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, IMPACT WAS ON FRONT OF DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WIPER WOULD COME ON WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION, INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER / MFR'S WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *SLC

THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN, BEARING PIN FOR THE CENTER SPIDER GEARS CRACKED MORE TOWARD ONE END OR CLOSER TO AN END VS. AT THE CENTER, THE NOW TWO PIECE PIN PROTRUDES FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL CAGE AND WEARS THROUGH THE CASE ON THE BELL HOUSING SIDE ,AND A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK APPEARS THAT IS EXTREMELY SIMILAR TO A FRONT SEAL OR FRONT PUMP LEAK. ONCE THE HOLE IS PRESENT THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN SEGMENTS STRIKE THE EDGE OF THE OPENING AND WEAR THE HOLE LARGE ENOUGH FOR THE LONGER OF THE TWO SEGMENTS TO PROTRUDE AND STOP THE ENTIRE DRIVE LINE, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND FRONT WHEELS AND AXLES INSTANTAINIOUSLY. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT 25 MPH, AND WAS LIKE HITTING A BRICK WALL. THE TRANSMISSION IS A 41TE. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE STATED COMPLETELY OFF THE RECORD THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A LARGE INFLUX OF THIS FAILURE IN THESE VEHICLES WITH THE 41TE WITH MILEAGE AVERAGING 65000, AS LITTLE AS 15000, AND AS MANY AS 100000. IF WE WERE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE PIN LET LOOSE AND LOCKED THE DRIVE LINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNCONTROLABLE DUE TO THE LOCKED FRONT WHEELS. CHRYSLER HAS CHANGED THE DESIGNATION OF THE A604 TO THE 41TE IN A CHEAP ATTEMPT TO SEPARATE LITIGIOUS ACTION IN PROGRESS BY OLDER VAN OWNERS, FROM THE OWNERS, OF THE NEWER OR LATEST BODY STYLE. THE 41TE IS THE SAME DESIGN DEFICIENT TRANSMISSION AS THE A604 WITH AT DIFFERENT DESIGNATION (ULTRADRIVE AUTOMATIC). HAVING PURCHASED REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS FOR TWO OF THE THREE CHRYSLER MINIVANS WE HAVE OWNED, AND HAVING LISTENED TO

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK CORRECTLY OR DON'T COME ON AT ALL. DEALER HAS FAILED TO FIX. HELP!!! THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I CANNOT SEE TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FOR MONTHS, THE NUMBER OF TIMES WAS A GUESS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH, REPAIRED THE WIRES, AND REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. NONE OF THESE REPAIRS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEY DID REFUND SOME OF MY MONEY BUT I STILL CANNOT DRIVE SAFELY. CHRYSLER CORP. SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND REPAIR AT NO CHARGE TO ME. THANK YOU. *AK

SEE SERVICE BULLETIN # 083695 REV A NHTSA SB046495. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, WIPERS COME ON AND OFF. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE MALFUNCTIONING WIPERS BUT COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER POINTS OUT THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *YH

WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PRIOR SYMPTOMS, CAR SLIPPED INTO A "NEUTRAL-LIKE" STATE WHILE CORNERING AT 5-10 MPH. COULDN'T GET BACK INTO ANY GEAR, FORWARD OR REVERSE, AALTHOUGH TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER OPERATED NORMALLY. AAA TOWED TO MY NORMAL SERVICE SHOP -- THEY ADVISED ME XMISSION WAS "SHOT" $1880-2200 REPAIR ESTIMATE. TRANSMISION SHOP CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS AND DID REBUILD FOR $950. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS OF FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, AND HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE CUSTOMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR VARIOUS POSSIBLE CAUSES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *YH

FAILURE WAS PRECEEDED BY A LEAK 10 DAYS BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION. *AK

O - RINGS ON FUEL TANK FAILED ALSO; CHRYSLER TOOK NO PART IN $500 REPAIR OF TRANSMISSION;WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMING ON BY THEMSELVES AGAIN LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER. *AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TWICE FOR FUEL LEAK RECALL 00V268000, AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT WAS FILLED WITH FUMES WHILE DRIVING. *AK

THIS PART IS FAILING ON ALOT OF VANS ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT O MOSER DODGE . WHEN THIS PART FAILED WE WERE TRYING TO WARN ANOTHER CAR THAT PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US BY USING THE HORN THATS WHEN WE HEARD A POP AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU LOSE YOUR HORN,AIRBAG,AND CRUSE CONTROL. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFTY ISSUE AND A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AS THERE IS NOTHING AN OWNER CAN DO TO CAUSE THIS CONDITION. THE DEALER WOULD NOT RETURN THE OLD PARTS WHEN ASKED TO DO SO. HOPE YOU LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO OCCUR ON THESE VEHICLES AND CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO MY KNOWLEDGE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING. I STRONGLY THINK THAT IN THE RIGHT CODITIONS IT WOULD CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD. THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE KNOWN TO BREAK THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN AND SHATTER THE CASE ALLOWIN FLUID TO COME IN CONTACT WITH A HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. I WOULD BE MY OPINION THAT THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

ALMOST EVERYTIME WHEN DRIVING THE VAN AT AROUND 40 MPH, ENGINE SPEED AROUND 2000 TO 3000 RPM, AND SUDDENLY REDUCING THE SPEED DUE TO TRAFFIC CONDITION, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME DISENGAGED AND COULD NOT ENGAGE AGAIN IF I PRESSED THE GAS PADDLE AND WANTED TO RESUME THE SPEED. RELEASED THE GAS PADDLE COMPLETELY THEN RE-PRESSED IT WOULD NOT HELP. SO THE VAN EVENTUALLY WOULD COME TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, OR GO BACKWARD IF IT IS UP-HILL. ONLY IF I PRESSED THE GAS PADDLE VERY HARD AND MADE THE ENGINE FREE-RUNNING REACH 4000 RPM, THE TRANSMITTION COULD SUDDENLY ENGAGE AGAIN, WHICH CAUSED A VERY ROUGH ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM BECAME MORE AND MORE SERVER AND FREQUENT WITHIN A MONTH (NOW ALMOST EVERY TIME I SLOW DOWN THEN ACCELATE, AND IT ALSO HAPPENS AT VERY LOW SPEED). I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I WILL BRING THE VAN TO A DEALER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WONDER IF THIS PROBLEM COULD BE TREATED AS SAFETY DEFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *AK

THERE IS A CRACK IN THE SEAL OF O-RING WHICH CAUSED GAS TO GUSH OUT ONTO MANIFOLD OF ENGINE. MECHANIC REPLACED O-RING SEAL.*AK *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT. GARAGE WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE FUMES. CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL. ENGINE BLOCK WAS SOAKED WITH GAS. HAD HEARD OF CHRYLER FUEL RAIL PROBLEMS BUT DEALER SAYS NONE PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE.

FUEL INJECTION RAIL SEALED ORINGS LEAKING FUEL. SAME AS CAMPAIGN #895 WITH VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS APPLY EXCEPT FOR VIN #. THIS VIN # SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE OTHER VIN# THAT APPLY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PROBLEM DESCRIPTION MATCHES EXACTLY. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V268000

THE VEHICLE STALLED ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *SLC

VAN HAS STALLED OVER 90 TIMES SINCE MAY 2000. STALLS AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER HAS HAD VAN REPEATEDLY AND SAYS NEITHER THEY NOR CHRYSLER CAN HELP.CAN YOU??? SEE ALSO THE OTHER 10 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEB SITE WHICH COMPLAIN OF STALLING IN OTHER 1996 TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVANS: ODI ID 865007 (JULY 7, 1999), 868143 (AUGUST 18, 2000), 543747 (JAN. 7, 1999), 537782 (JULY 6, 1998), 531844 (DEC. 6, 1997), 543747 (JULY 11, 1997), 853349 (MARCH 31, 1997), 531944, 537664, 727335, 727308. *AK

IDLER PULLY BROKE,LOST POWER STEERING, COOLING, ALSO BROKE PULLEY ON POWER STEERING PUMP. $500.00. *AK

THE SEAT BELT IN THE INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEATS LOCKS UP AND THE CHILD CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT USING THE EMERGENCY RELEASE. THE LEFT SEAT IS PERMANENTLY STUCK AND THE RIGHT SEAT OCCASIONALLY RELEASES. CHRYSLER HAS RECALLED 1995 AND SOME 1996 MINIVANS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR BECAUSE THEY SAY MY CAR WAS BUILT AFTER THOSE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL PERIOD; HOWEVER, THE TAG ON THE CAR SEATS STATES THEY WERE ASSEMBLED IN 1995. WHEN I TOLD THIS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAL PALAZZOLA HE ONLY SAID THAT I WAS NOT IN THEIR COMPUTER FOR A RECALL.

TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING.... DEALER SAID TO FIND PROBLEM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO OPEN CASE [ FOR $ 600+ ]... THEY SAID TO GUARANTEE "ANY" TRANSM WORK, THEY WOULD ONLY DO A TOTAL "REBUILD". I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTEE FOR 70MTHS/70,000 MILES I WAS 3,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTEE... CALLED CHRYSLER AND GOT NO HELP... THIS "REBUILD" COST $ 638.93 IN PARTS / & 1,100.00 IN """LABOR""" = $ 1,779.11

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT WARNING. LOSS OF ALL POWER IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO LOCATE AND CORRECT PROBLEM WHICH HAS OCCURRED ABOUT NINE TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED, THE DEALER AND CHRYSLER WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. WE CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY CONCERNS.*AK

MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES ON THE FREEWAY. AS SHE WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY, SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO SLOW DOWN NORMALLY. SHE FELT PRESSURE FROM THE PEDDLE, BUT THEN THE PEDDLE WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH NO EFFECT. SHE PUMPED THE PEDDLE AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME, BUT AGAIN IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH NO EFFECT. SHE THEN HAD TO CONCETRATE ON AVOIDING OTHER CARS, BUT FINALLY REAR ENDED A TRUCK. AFTER THE MINIVAN WAS REPAIRED, WE HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED BY TWO SERVICE CENTERS. THE SECOND SERVICE CENTER IS THE ONE LISTED IN THE REPORT AND IS THE ONE THAT REGULARLY SERVICES OUR MINIVAN. WE ARE WONDERING WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS TYPE OF BRAKE FAILURE AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENCES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED?

TRANSMISSION FAILED,A/C FAILED, WIPERS WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, SPORADIC ELECTRICAL FAILURES

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YH

NO SUMMARY

AIR BAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL APPARENTLY ELECTRICALLY LINKED

ENGINE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEERING THE CAR DUE TO THE LOST OF POWER ASSISTANCE.

MY MECHANIC INFORMS ME THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE RUSTED AND DEEPLY PITTED. HE THOUGHT THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED. THE OUTSIDES ARE OK.

AT 20K AND 40K MILES I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING WHEN CORNERING ON WET PAVEMENT. THE STEERING WOULD SEIZE WHILE IN THE TURN SO I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA WHEN THIS OCCURED AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. ON BOTH INSTANCES I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY CHRYSLER DEALER. THEY INITIALLY REPLACED THE TENSIONER WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING BELT IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR 20K MILES. AT 40K MILES THEY ONCE AGAIN REPLACED THE TENSIONER THINKING IT WOULD CURE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BELT AGAIN AS WELL. NOW I EXPECT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVERY 20K MILES AS IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING UNIT IS LOCATED BESIDE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND APPEARS TO BE PRONE TO WATER PROBLEMS. WHEN I ASKED CHRYSLER WHO WAS GOING TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS EVERY 20K MILES FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALER AND HE WOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION MILEAGE AND WARRANTY TO MAKE THAT DECISION. THEY IMPLIED THAT I AM THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. IF THIS IS THE CASE THEN I CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR SECOND TIME WHILE MINIVAN WAS BEING DRIVEN.*AK

TRANSMISION: INTERNAL FAILURE. TRANSMISION REPLACED. WATER PUMP: LEAKING AND BELT TENSIONER BEARING FAILED. BOTH REPLACED. CIRCUIT PANEL: INSTRUMENT PANEL (GUAGES) WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. CIRCUIT BOARD REPLACED

SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF PWR STEERING SECOND OCCURANCE; FIRST WAS AT 44K MI. MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MFG SHOULD BE FORCE TO REDSIGN PART & RECALL

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD MISS REPEATEDLY DOWN THE ROAD. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS TRANSMISSION. *AK

AS I WAS ABOUT TO TURN A CORNER I HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL FELT LIKE IT HAD LOCKED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TENSIONEER, DRIVE BELT AND POWER STEERING PULLEY HAD ALL COME APART. I LOOKED AT THE PARTS AND SAW A SHEARED BOLT ABOUT 5/16" IN THE ASSEMBLY. SHOULD THE WHOLE SYSTEM BE DEPENDENT ON SUCH A SMALL BOLT? IS A CARS STEERING SUPPOSED TO FAIL AT 74156 MILES? IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. I THINK THE STEERING SHOULD BE SOMEHOW MECHANICALLY ASSISTED SO THAT WHEN IT FAILS IT SHOULD BE EASIER TO STEER THE CAR TO A SAFE PLACE OUT OF TRAFFIC.

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

PROBLEM IS NOTED ON VERY HOT DAYS, NO PRIOR WARNING WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. UPON APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL STALL AND DIE OUT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *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.

RECALL 99V216 CONCERNING FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE GEARS LOCKED UP, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, CLAIM # 05-4538-992. NLM

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CLAIM # 18-0396-219. NLM

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM # 23-1398-184. NLM

CONSUMER FEELS FIRE STARTED IN THE TRANSMISSION, CLAIM # 33-S335-708, NLM

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM # 20-5363-506. NLM

WHILKE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH ONLY DAMAGE TO THE WIRING, CLAIM # 15-3024-211. NLM

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED UNDER THE HOOD, CLAIM # 13-7055-925. NLM

THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT A NEW STARTER HAD BEEN INSTALLED, CLAIM # 32-V339-978. NLM