Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
THE MCPHERSON SHOCK TOWER ASSEMBLY ON OUR 1996 TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN ARE PREMATURELY RUSTING OUT. THERE IS A VERY REAL POTENTIAL OF SEVERE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE DEVELOPING. A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT COUOLD OCCURR.
WHILE DRIVING, PRIMARILY AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THERE WAS A CLUNKING SENSATION. . *AK *CB *NLM
STRUT TOWER ASSEMBLY IS COMPLETELY CORRODED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT, YET CHRYSLER WILL NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY.*AK
THE VEHICLES PLASTIC TANK COLLAPSED ON THE INSIDE. THIS RESULTED IN INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL READING. *NLM THE DEALER REPLACED THE PUMP AT NO CHARGE BUT THE SENDING UNIT IN THE TANK HAS THE SAME READING. THE DEALER HAD THE FUEL TANK DOWN, AND STATED THAT THE TANK WAS SAGGED, AND POSSIBLY CAUSED THE FALSE READING. CHRYSLER SENT OUT LETTERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. *SCC
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION BLEWOUT, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CLOCKSPRING REPLACEMENT. *MR AFTER THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE CLOCK SPRING AND IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. THE RADIO WAS INOPERATIVE. *JB
THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. CHRYSLER DEALERS HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES FOR THIS COMPLAINT, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. TWO OTHER CHRYSLER OWNERS I KNOW HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM. *NLM
CHRYSLER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN PROBLEMS IN IT'S 41/TE(A604) TRANSMISSION FOR YEARS. THE REMEDY OF PROPER LUBRICATION IS SIMPLE. THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT AND REFUSE TO HELP OWNERS WHO MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THESE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BEFORE THEY BREAK AND KNOCK A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE CREATING A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I CAN GIVE YOU THE DETAILS OF MY INDIVIDUAL CASE IF YOU REQUIRE IT.
THE SPRING IN MY STEERING WHEEL HAS BROKEN, AIRBAGS ARE INOPERATIVE, HORN IS INOPERATIVE, NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER THINGS THAT WON'T WORK BECAUSE OF IT. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT...UP TO 70,000 MILES, I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, I WAS ONLY TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST 250 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED BY CHRYSLER. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONSUMER COULD HEAR A WHISTLING NOISE, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY.
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING. SEEMS MORE PREVALENT WHEN BACKING UP, TURNING A CORNER OR SLOWING DOWN, YET HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEEDS ON FREEWAY. WHEN IT STALLS, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, AND DOES NOT GAIN CONTROL UNTIL THE CAR IS RESTARTED. ALMOST $1000 OF REPAIRS TO TRY AND FIX THE PROBLEM.
WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHICH CAME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED, THE CASING EXPLODED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. *JB *TS
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED FOUR TIMES AND THE STARTER FAILED ONCE. *AK *NLM
ENTIRE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKES. THIS IS EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS DURING ANY BUT THE SLOWEST, STRAIGHT AHEAD DRIVING, AS IT RESULTS IN A NEARLY COMPLETE LOSS OF MANEUVERABILITY. IN THE EVENT OF SUCH A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY ACCELERATED, BRAKED, OR TURNED, AND LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO FAIL. FURTHERMORE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DELAY MALFUNCTIONS CONTINUOUSLY IN COLD WEATHER, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION AT TIMES. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AT DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR, INCLUDING SOME PARTS REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER, HAVE FAILED TO ELIMINATE ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS.
THE TRANSMISSION OR SENSOR DEVICE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT WHEN PLACED IN GEAR. *JB
THE ENGINE SENSOR FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *JB
WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE VAN AND THEN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP, WHICH PREVENTED THE VAN FROM MOVING. AFTER THE TECHNICIAN LOOKED OVER THE VAN, HE IDENTIFIED THE "PARKING MECHANISM" AS THE CAUSE. *JB
THE VIN FOR THIS VEHICLE IS: [XXX] CAR SUFFERED FUEL LINE BREAKAGE AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A LARGE PUDDLE. WAS TOWED TO O'HARA CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH DEALER(CLINTON, MI) FOR REPAIRS, WHICH THE FUEL LINE DAMAGE WAS DETERMINED. INQUIRED WITH THE SERVICE REP, [XXX], AS TO WHY SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE MAXIMUM TANK FILL-UP WAS 13.0 - 13.4 GALLONS, WHEREAS THE SERVICE MANUAL STATES 18 GALLONS. "[XXX]" STATED THAT THERE WAS A TENDENCY OF THE TANK TO BOW-IN, THAT WOULD EITHER REDUCE THE FUEL SENSOR ACCURACY OR REDUCE THE VOLUME. A NEW TANK CARRIED A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER THAN THE ORIGINAL. SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED ON JANUARY 11, 1996 AND THERE IS A NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #140895 ISSUED ON JANUARY 1, 1996. AM I COVERED BY THIS AND WAS I CHARGED FOR A KNOWN DEFECT? I HAD BROUGHT THE TSB NUMBER TO THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX], WHO INDICATED THAT THE TSB NUMBER WAS SOMETHING HE WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH AND DID NOT MEET D-C RECALL THREE DIGIT NUMBERS. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ELECTRICAL FIRE AFTER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHT.
THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS WHILE PARKED ON A HILL WITH THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. *JB
THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *NLM.
THE CRANK SHAFT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE. *JB
THE REAR AXLE PIN BECAME LOOSE, AND SHOT OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.*AK *JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CRANK SHAFT BROKE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
THE VAN EXPERIENCED A LEAK AT THE GAS TANK, WHICH HAD WORSEN OVER TIME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM. *JB *TS
1996 TOWN & COUNTRY VAN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *NLM
SOON AFTER STARTING THE CAR, THE PASSENGER POWER SEAT MOTOR BEGAN TO SPONTANEOUSLY SMOKE, EMITTING A PUTRID ODOR. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES (10 MIN IN TRAFFIC) THE SMOKE INCREASED TO THE POINT THAT THE WHOLE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED. AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. ALL PASSENGERS (TWO MOTHERS AND FOUR CHILDREN 3 OR YOUNGER) EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE SMOKE CONTINUED TO WORSEN AND ULTIMATELY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED AND AFTER ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES ALL SMOKE STOPPED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RECENTLY CLAIMED THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY IN THE MATTER. *JB
THE VEHICLES CLOCK SPRING FAILED. *DT *NLM
CYLINDER HEAD TOWERS SUPPORTING ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLIES ON BOTH CYLINDER HEADS CRACKED AND CYLINDER HEADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC STATED HE HAD SEEN THIS ON AT LEAST TWO OTHER CHRYSLER 3.8L V-6 ENGINES. REPLACEMENT CYLINDER HEADS HAD BEEFED UP TOWERS. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENTS AS WARRANTY WAS FOR 60,000 MILES AND PROBLEM WAS NOT DIAGNOSED UNTIL 64,000 MILES. *NLM
THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED TWICE.*JB
NAR 02/28/2003 AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS. *CB
THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED.*JB
THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES.*JB
THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED.*JB
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB
THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR FAILED.*JB
THE TIE ROD BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWAY.*JB
RADIO DOES NOT RECEIVE FM STATIONS, INTERIOR LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON WITH DOOR OPENING
BOTH POWER LOCKS ON SIDE DOORS DO NOT FUNCTION AND BOTH DOORS DO NOT LATCH SECURELY. DOORS CAN BE OPENED EVEN WHEN SECURITY ALARM IS ARMED.
THE FUEL INJECTION RAIL LEAKED GAS.*JB
I RECIEVED A RECALL ON MY CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE CLOCKSPRING AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT DO IT. THEY HAVE MY RECALL CARD AND WON'T GIVE IT BACK
WARPED GAS TANK CONDITION. WHEN FILLING TANK, GAS WILL LEAK FROM SEAM ON TANK TOP, AND RUN ON GROUND. PH
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A GLAZE OVER THE HEADLIGHTS LENS CAUSING LIGHTS NOT TO BE AS BRIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO SHIFT INTO O/D. IT MAY DRIVE FINE FOR DAYS AND THEN LOCK IN SECOND GEAR. MANUALLY CHANGING THE GEARSHIFT DOES NOT OVERRIDE THE FAILURE. THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DOES NOT LOG THE FAILURE. IT DOES CAPTURE THE MANUAL SHIFTING EVENT. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBELM IS TO TURN OFF THE VAN AND START IT BACK UP. THIS COULD CORRECT IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR IT MAY RECUR WITHING MINUTES. TOTALLY RANDOM. OCCURS AT ANY TIME, NIGHT OR DAY. IT OFTEN OCCURS DURING ACCELLERATIONS FOLLOWING TURNS. THIS SITUATION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELLERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY DURING RUSHHOUR TRAFFIC. WE HAVE TO PULLOFF INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, SHUT OFF THE VAN, RESTART IT UP, AND MERGE BACK INTO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. IT IS EXTERMRLY FRIGHTENING FOR MY WIFE ESPECIALLY WHILE TRANSPORTING MY TWO YOUNG BOYS. THE CHRYSLER REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT GET IT TO FAIL AND THUS NOTHING WAS DONE. AAMCO LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION AND INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION AND FLUIDS WERE FINE. THEY ALSO COULD NOT GET THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.
WINDSHIELD WIPER WORK INTERMITTENT DURING USE. WHEN WIPERS ARE NOT TURN ON WIPER WOULD COME ON WITH OUT ANY INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
VEHICLE IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING RPMS TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY. THE POWER WINDOWS AND AIR CONDITIONING WILL STOP FUNCTIONING. PH
THE SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT SHOW THE SPEED ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP GETTING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WHERE THEY BROUGHT THE RUSTED STRUT TOWERS TO HIS ATTENTION. THE DEALER WOULDN'T COVER THE REPAIR COST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. SCC
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON SPORADICALLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFOMATION. TS
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Chrysler Town And Country → · Every Town And Country year → · How the figures are calculated →