1996 Chrysler Town And Country complaints

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM # 38-J770-264. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE IS FINE, WHEN SLOWING ON EXIT RAMP THE VEHICLE STALLS, LOSING ALL POWER COMPLETELY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE VEHICLE STARTES IMMEDIATELY AFTER FAILING EXCEPT ON ONE OCCASSION IT REQUIRED HALF HOUR BEFORE RESTARTING. *YH

THIS IS A RECALL FOR CARS MADE PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER, 1996. WE RECEIVEDOUR CAR ON 9/1/96, SO IT WOULD SEEM THAT OUR CAR QUALIFIES. SINCE THE CAR NOW IS EXHIBITING THE SIGNS SHOWN IN THE RECALL NOTICE (#665), IT MAKES SENSE THAT OUR CAR ALSO HAS THIS DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NO SUMMARY

REPORTING THE BOLT ON THE ENGINE PULLEY BROKE OFF AND CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE; VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENCE REPAIRS SHOP AND INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DEFECTED PART. DEALER/MFR'S WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:

THE CONSUMER WAS SMELLING GASOLINE, AND VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. FUEL TANK WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND IT WARPED. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRED. *AK

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST, NOW ON ALL THE TIME

FUEL LEAKAGE IS OCCURRING DUE TO WARPING UP NEAR THE TOP OF FUEL TANK WHERE THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING AND JUST EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*AK

TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINE WAS STRIPPED OUT BECAUSE OF METAL FATIGUE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SPRING IDLE ARM BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING PULLEY TO BREAK, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

PCM - COMPUTER PART FAILING DUE TO RADAR INTERFERENCE- COMMON PBM

REF. 727308 VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, PCM AFFECTED BY RADAR INTERFERENCE IS POSSIBLE CULPRIT. AFTER NEW FILTERS AND PLUGS THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO STAY RUNNING BUT IT SHUTTERS WHEN RADAR INTERFERENCE IS ENCOUNTERED, ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE PCM WITH REBUILT, PROBABLY WILL RE-OCCUR IN FUTURE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SHOULD GET A RECALL. WHEN VEHICLE DIES IT IS VERY HARD TO HANDLE, DUE TO WEIGHT ON THE FRONT OF THESE VANS.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH PANEL COMES ON AND STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME NOW. OCASIONALLY, IT GOES OFF. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY IN CASE OF A CRASH. *AK

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR OR SO THE TENSIONER ON THE ENGINE'S SERPENTINE BELT BROKE, CUASING THE LOSS OF ENGINE COOLING, ALTERNATOR, AIR CONDITIONING AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, POWER STEERING. WITH NO POWER THE CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER. BOTH TIMES THIS ITEM FAILED I WAS DRIVING; IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING SHE COULD NOT HAVE STEERED THE VEHICLE -- THE EFFORT REQUIRED IS TOO MUCH. BOTH FAILURES WERE AT LOW SPEED; HAD IT BEEN IN TRAFFIC REQUIRING STEERING, THIS MIGHT WELL HAVE LED TO ACCIDENTS. THE TENSIONER BOLT (INTEGRAL WITH THE TENSIONER) BREAKS BECAUSE THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF SHEAR PRESSURE ON IT. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE OF HIGH ENOUGH QUALITY FOR THIS APPLICATION. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A STRONGER BOLT. I AM CONSIDERING WHETHER MY WIFE SHOULD CONTINUE DRIVING THIS CAR; I CONSIDER IT DANGEROUS. *AK

1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 62,038 MILES, NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER FOR WHICH THEY HAVE NOT ASSUMED ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. 2. WIPERS COME ON INEXPLICABLY. PER "LEMON AID" WEB PAGE, THIS PROBLEM IS REPORTED TO BE WIDESPREAD WITH CHRYSLER VANS. 3. POWER DOOR LOCK ON RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS AND WILL NOT OPEN AUTOMATICALLY, EITHER VIA DRIVER CONTROL OR REMOTELY. *AK

CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE INSIDE OF GARAGE, AND WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC SAID THAT FUEL TANK, WHICH WAS PLASTIC, LEAKED FUEL. *AK

WHEN VAN WAS BEING CHECKED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START, A MECHANIC FOUND A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. OWNER CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER TOWN & COUNTRY VANS. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK STARTER MOTORS FAILED. *YH

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TWICE REQUIRING TOTAL REPLACEMENT EACH TIME. IT TOOK THE DEALER 3 TRIES TO GET THE LAST REPLACEMENT INSTALLED PROPERLY. WE SOLD THE VAN SINCE WE DON'T FEEL WE CAN DEPEND ON IT. *AK

IN MY OPINION THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED DUE TO IMPROPER STRESS RELIEF. A PICTURE OF THE FAILED CLOCK SPRING CAN BE SEEN AT HTTP://HOME1.GTE.NET/JMOGENS1/CLOCKSPRING/MVC00113.JPG I HAVE OTHER PICTURES AT THAT SITE OF THE DISASSEMBLED CLCOK SPRING. NOTE THE BEND WHERE THE CONDUCTORS BROKE NEAR THE POINT WHERE THE RIBBON CABLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER STRESS RELIEVED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SNAP, AND THEN CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND LOST POWER STEERING. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER CAR, AND SAW TENSIONER BELT WAS HANGING. SECOND TIME AFTER A CAR WASH, CONSUMER PUT CAR IN REVERSE, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THERE WAS A SNAP, AND CLICKING LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE, AND IT WAS HANGING AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER SAID THEY HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM A LOT WITH THESE VEHICLES. BOTH INCIDENTS, THE TENSIONER BROKE CAUSING THE BELT TO BREAK ALSO. *AK

STARTER AND ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ENGINE OFF. DEALER REPLACED STARTER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS TO FIRE. THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO COSUMER.*AK

WE PURCHASED OUR TOWN AND COUNTRY VAN NEW AND HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH DIFFERENT COMPONMENTS OF THE VAN. THIS PROBLEM WAS THE ICING ON THE CAKE. ALTHOUGH THE VAN HAS 111,000+ MILES, WE WOULD NOT EXPECT TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF A PROBLEM ALREADY. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE COST OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT CHRYSLER DEFINITELY HAS A PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ADMIT OR MAKE RIGHT WITH CONSUMERS. CORPORATIONS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, NOT BE ABLE TO SWEEP THEM UNDER THE CARPET. WE ARE AWAITING ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIR OF OUR VEHICLE. I WILL CONTACT CHRYSLER TOMORROW TO VOICE MY DISSATISFACTION. I HAVE RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES ON THIS VEHICLE--NONE OF WHICH INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE WILL STALL. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS COMMON. DEALER WAS INDICATING THAT THROTTLE BODY SHOULD BE CLEANED EVERY 30,000 MILES. VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND LOST ALL POWER IN THE STEERING AND BRAKES. ENGINE STALLS WHEN STARTING, AND THROTTLE BODY REQUIRES CLEANING EVERY 9000 TO 10, 000 MILES. *AK *ML

DRIVER SIDE STRUT FAILED TWICE. BOTH TIMES RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE INTERMINTENTLY RESULTING IN DEGRADED VISIBILITY DURING RAIN STORMS. BATTERY EXPLODED WHILE STARTING VEHICLE SPREADING ACID THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE ENGAGING CAUSING CAR TO LEAP FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC.

5 TIMES IN LAST 2 DAYS, THE POWER ASSIST HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (19-01-97) RELATING TO THIS ISSUE. AS THIS CAUSES YOU TO LOOSE CONTROL OF AUTOMOBILE, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION TERRIFYING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT, AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OUT, WINDOWS FOGGED UP, AFFECTING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, BELT TENSIONER DID NOT WORK.*AK THE BELT TENSIONER BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME CAUSING LIGHTS, POWER STEERING AND THE ENGINE TO FAIL. *YH

WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AND IN GEAR CONSUMER PRESSEED ON GAS AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, IT DIED OUT. *AK

WE WERE DRIVING 35MPH WHEN THE VAN JERKED AND BEGAN GUSHING TRANSMISSION FLUID. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE ROAD.*AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE ENTIRE SEAT ASSEMLY TO ROTATE BACKWARDS ABOUT 20 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. I GOT INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT THRU THE LEFT FRONT DOOR AND, AS I REACHED BACK TO GRAB THE SHOULDER BELT, THE SEAT ASSEMBLY LURCHED BACKWARDS. IT WAS AS IF THE SEAT HAD TURNED INTO A ROCKING CHAIR. THE SEAT BACK AND SEAT CUSHION WERE FIXED AT ABOUT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE, BUT THE WHOLE SEAT ASSEMBLY COULD BE ROTATED BACKWARDS ABOUT 20 DEGREES FROM THE VERTICAL. THE RECLINE AND TILT FEATURES STILL WORK, BUT THE SEAT WILL NOT MOVE ALL THE WAY BACK AND IT CANNOT BE RAISED OR LOWERED. I CHECKED UNDER THE SEAT AND THERE WERE SEVERAL PIECES OF WHAT LOOKED TO BE A SHATTERED METAL FLANGE OR BRACKET OF SOME TYPE. OBVIOUSLY, A PIECE OF THE SEAT ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE SEAT TO ROTATE BACKWARDS IF ONE PUSHED ON THE TOP OF THE BACKREST OR ACCELERATED QUICKLY WHILE SEATED IN THE MOVING VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER IN MAY 2000 FOR NHTSA RECALL 99V216000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 845 REPAIRS CONCERNING FUEL PUMP FAILURE. CONSUMER WAS STILL EXPERIENCING A FUEL LEAK WHEN FILLING UP THE GAS TANK TO FULL, EVEN AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AND 3 ATTEMPTS WERE MADE AFTERWARDS TO FIX IT. *AK

RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED. YH

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL OF A SUDDEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON, NO WARNINGS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS ERRATICALLY ACTIVATE. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON FAST, SOMTIMES SLOW, AND THEY ARE HARD TO DEACTIVATE. *AK

UPON REAR IMPACT CONSUMER DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMERS SUSTAINED BROKEN FINGER, UNOCCUPIED CAPTAIN STYLE SEAT BROKE OUT OF ITS ANCHORING DURING ACCIDENT. NLM

FUEL INJECTION RAIL IS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

AFTER RECALL REPAIR OF THE FUEL TANK SEAL PACKAGE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING AROUND THE AREA OF THE FUEL TANK UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. NLM

AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT LET OUT COOL AIR. ALSO, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO 3RD GEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *AK AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR AND COMPRESSOR FAILED. *YH

RECALL NUMBER 99V216000 CONCERNING FUEL LEAKAGE. REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, FUEL CONTINUES TO LEAK. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER'S FOR CHECK UP AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER NOTED THAT AIR BAG SPRING CLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *ML

WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VAN SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. LEAKED FLUID, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE; HAD A NOISE ON GEAR SELECTION AND DELAY BEFORE ENGAGING INTO GEAR , BLAMED ON LOW (1QUART) LEVEL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID; CONTINUED TO HAVE A SLOW LEAK AS EVIDENCED BY FLUID ON GARAGE FLOOR; STILL NO REASON FOUND; TRANSMISSION FAILED ON HIGHWAY 476 AT 60 MPH; NOW BEING REPLACED BY SAME DEALER WHO COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THE LEAK CONTINUED. THIS WILL NOW COST US CLOSE TO $2500.00 TO REPLACE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE DEALER AND THE VAN'S PERFORMANCE. THE ISSUES HAVE CONTINUED ON WITH THIS VAN, NEVER COMING TO RESOLUTION UNTIL NOW WITH THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION.

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED CAUSING THE WIPERS TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AFTER RECALL REPAIR (99V-216) OF THE FUEL PUMP MODULE FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. YH

AIRBAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER FELT THAT AIRBAG MAY NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND , AND THEY FOUND THAT CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

WHEN MAKING A TURN WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON VEHICLE WILL SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK CONDENSATION FROM THE A/C WAS FALLING ON THE ELCTRICAL COMPONENT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DIE THIS OCCURS BECAUSE OF THE FLAW IN DESIGN. SLIDING DOOR STICKS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. HAZARD DEVICE FAILED. HORN MALFUNCTIONS. AIR BAGS FAILED. *YH

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A WOMAN TO TURN. LOUD NOISE. CHRYSLER REPLACED BELT TENSIONER AND BRACKET DRIVE BELT.

RAW FUEL LEAKS OUT OF FUEL TANK (POSSIBLY UP TO 1 GALLON BEFORE STOPPING)STRONG FUMES AS RESULT, DUE TO ROLL OVER VALVE NOT CLOSING OFF FILLER NECK AFTER REFUELING. TO AVOID SPILLAGE, OWNER MUST NOT FILL COMPLETELY. DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER TURNED ON WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

POWER LOCKS....LOCKS YOU IN, CANNOT OPEN THE DOORS. LOCKS YOU OUT, CANNOT OPEN THE DOORS. DOES NOT LOCK ALL THE DOORS AT ONCE, USUALLY LEAVES PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR UNLOCKED. HAVE HAD SYSTEM REPLACED, IS NOW WORSE THAN ORIGINAL. ALSO, SETS OFF ALARM UNNECESSARILY. ...... - WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ONE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TURNING CORNER, TURNING ON TURNING SIGNALS, OR WITHOUT ANY JUSTIFICATION. VERY STARTLING, AND EXTREMELY DISTRACTING WHEN DRIVING AND THE WIPERS JUST COME ON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. *AK