1996 Chrysler Town And Country complaints

IN JANUARY 2001, MY 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVAN'S "AIRBAG" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON CONTINUOSLY SINCE THAT TIME. AT THE SAME TIME ... MY HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND THEY ARE ALL IN PROPER WORKING ORDER. TODAY, I LEARNED FROM YOUR WEB SITE THAT CNN.COM REPORTED ON THIS VERY PROBLEM ON 3-19-01. THIS ARTICLE PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS REPORT. WITH ALL THREE FAILURES, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, NO HORN AND NO CRUISE CONTROL, I'M ASSUMING THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH. *AK

I SAW ON THE NEWS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING INTO CRUISE CONTROL AND AIR BAG FAILURES IN 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VANS AND I WANTED TO NOTIFY YOU THAT I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MINE. IN ADDITION THE FRONT WIPERS COME ON UNEXPECTANTLY - DISTRACTING THE DRIVER.

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, HORN AND, CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK.*AK DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK FAILED. *SLC

SRS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL/ HORN ASSEMBLY ARE INOPERABLE.*AK DEALER REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. *SLC

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE AWARE OF DEFECT. *AK

HORN IS NOT ACTIVE/ CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING ON DASH PANEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND WAS WILLING TO REPLACE CLOCK SPRING FOR A FEE.*AK

CLOCK SPRING IS BAD. ALSO, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLOCK SPRING.*AK DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK DUE TO LATCH FAILURE. *YH

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT, CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. FRONT AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. WEEKS BEFORE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER HAD BEEN BACK AND FORTH COMPLAINING THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS GOING ON AND OFF, AND HORN STOPPED WORKING. DEALER DIDN'T HAVE A REMEDY AS TO WHY THE ABS LIGHT WAS COMING OFF. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, DEALER REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. *AK RADIO WAS CUTTING OUT WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS AND TAPE PLAYER WOULD NOT WORK, DEALER REPLACED RADIO. *SLC

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON/HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND BOTH HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK. DEFECT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE IN EVENT OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, AND HORN/CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK SPIRAL CLOCK SPRING REPLACED. *SLC

PLEASE ADVISE ME HOW TO PROCEED, I HAVE READ THAT NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF FAULTY CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLIES (124,511) I AM WONDERING IF I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A REFUND ON THE EXPENSES INCURRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.*AK

CLOCK SPRING FAILED, HAD HEARD YOU WERE INVESTIGATING. *AK

BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD THREE TIMES-ALL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY-IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED WHEN STARTING UP AT A STOP LIGHT. DEALER PAID PARTS FOR REPLACEMENT TRANS.

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME O/ HORN STOPPED WORKING. DEALER FOUND CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO COVER ONLY 50 PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST WHEN THE CONSUMER REPORTED THE PROBLEM. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON, NO POWER STEERING OR HORN. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIRBAGS LIGHT STAYED ON, AND WAS INFORMED THAT IN EVENT OFAN ACCIDENT AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN STAYED ON AT ALL TIMES, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN DID NOT WORK. MECHANIC REPLACED CLOCK SPRING WHICH CORRECTED DEFECT. *AIK *SLC

AIRBAGS LIGHT STAYS ON. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN ARE NOT WORKING DUE TO DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING.*AK

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. I TOOK THE VAN BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING AND CHARGED ME OVER $330. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND OR E-MAIL A COPY OF THE BILL TO YOU. THANKS

CONSUMER SMELLED FUMES IN THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALER REPLACED FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL, OWNER NOTIFICATION HAS NOT BEGAN. *AK *SLC

SMELLING GAS INSIDE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP,AND MECHANIC TOLD CONUSMER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 00V268000 WHICH DEALT WITH SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE AND THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY FAILED ONCE. NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP SUDDENLY DUE TO A BAD PIN, ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE DRIVESHAFT BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT GO INTO GEAR. NLM

FUEL RAIL BEGAN TO LEAK. LEAK DRIPS A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON THE VALVE COVER AND THEN FLOWS ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

CLOCKSPRING RIBBON WIRE BROKE DISABLING BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS, THE HORN AND THE CRUISE CONTROL. CLOCKSPRING RIBBON CONDUCTORS BOTH SEVERED AND SHORTED TO EACH OTHER. DISASSEMBLY OF MECHANISM FOUND THAT RIBBON WIRE WAS STUCK TOGETHER AND NOT ABLE TO FLEX AND ROTATE WITH STEEL WHEEL ROTATION. IT APPEARS THAT THE LUBRICANT USED IN THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY DEGRADED AND GLUED THE RIBBON TOGETHER. FREE END OF RIBBON FLEXED BACK AND FORTH DURING STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT UNTIL IT FOLDED OVER ON ITSELF (180 DEGREE FOLD) AND EVENTUALLY FAILED. VEHICLE OPERATED IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. EXTREME SUMMER HEAT MAY HAVE CAUSED LUBRICANT BREAKDOWN.

PREVIOUS LEAK OF FREON AT EXPANSION VALVE/COMPRESSOR THAT WAS REPAIRED 9/24/199. *AK

FULE RAIL BEGAN LEAKING DUMPING LARGE QUANTITIES OF GASOLINE ONTO THE VALVE COVER AND WOULD HAVE CONTACTED HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD IF LEAK WAS NOT DETECTED. NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE SMELL. THIS WAS A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE FIRE AND HOUSE FIRE IF CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN ATTACHED GARAGE AS NORMAL. JUST LUCK THAT IT WAS DISCOVERED.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER FELL ONTO GEAR SHIFT AND PUT VEHICLE IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

PAINT ESTIMATE AT BODY SHOP IS TO REPAINT ENTIRE BUMPER OR REPLACE. TOO COSTLY FOR ME. LATER MODELS (?) HAD RUBBER MAT HERE TO PROTECT BUMPER. THIS VAN DOES NOT HAVE THAT. MISSING? OR REASON FOR NEW FEATURE? AT ANY RATE, COMPLETE PAINT JOB ON REAR BUMPER IS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. CANNOT AFFORD IT.*AK

1ST FAILURE: TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE. 2ND FAILURE: ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHILE DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT ON A RURAL TWO LANE HIGHWAY.

COMPUTER MODULE WENT OUT TWICE, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE IS AT DEALER. VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT GARAGE FOR 2 WEEKS, MANUFACTURER STATED THAT PARTS WERE ON BACKLOG. *SLC

CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY NOT START. NOTHING. PLENTY OF JUICE, BUT NO STARTER, NOT EVEN A CLICK. SOMETIMES, AFTER DOING NOTHING, THE CAR WILL START AS THOUGH EVRYTHING IS FINE. HAVE BROUGHT TO SHOP. THE PROBLEM DOESN'T SHOW UP W/ ERROR READING ON THEIR COMPUTERS. THEY HAVE REPLACED FUSES, BUT IT DOESNT WORK. FOR EXAMPLE, CAR WOULDN'T START THIS MORNING, SO I'M AT HOME WITH THE KIDS. JUST WENT OUTSIDE AND IT STARTED. IT WILL PROBABLY WORK FINE FOR A MONTH OR TWO, AND THEN, WON'T START. HOPEFULLY WE WON'T BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE. HOPE YOU CAN HELP.

VEHICLE HAS A LEAK IN FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL. DEALER REPAIRING VEHICLE.*AK

WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND/OR REPLACED IN NOV. WE ALSO HAD TO TAKE OUR VEHICLE BACH WITHIN 1 WEEK TO HAVE MORE TRANS. WORK DONE EVEN AFTER IT WAS REPLACED. NOW IT BACK IN THE SHOP FOR A WATER PUMP LEAK AND A THERMOSTAT, ALONG WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE LINES TO THE COOLING SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY ARE CRACKED, ALONG WITH ANOTHER ROUND WITH THE BELT AND TENSIONER THAT WE HAD REPLACED IN APRIL OF 2000. WE ALSO HAVE HAD THE ELECTRICAL RELY REPLACED 2 TIMES AND WE ARE WONDERING IF WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN AFTER A YEAR OF USE. WE ARE SO FED UP WITH THIS VEHICLE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU CAN NOT EVEN IMAGINE. FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS IT HAS SET IN OUR DRIVE WAY BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT..... WE ARE NOW WONDERING WHEN IT IS DRIVEN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO IT NEXT. WE ARE NOT TO HAPPY WITH HAVING TO PUT ALL THIS MONEY IN A VEHICLE THAT IS 5 YEARS OLD AND 62K MILES. WE HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS ON THIS VEHICLE IF YOU NEED THEM. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEMS FUTHER. AS IT LOOKS THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS AS I HAVE.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THEM THAT THE AIR BAG WAS NOT OPERATIMG PROPERLY AND WOULD NOT HAVE INFLATED DURING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING, THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. NLM

THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION IN THIS VAN FAILED AT 21,800 MILES. A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION (NOT A RE-MANUFACTURED UNIT) WAS INSTALLED JUST BEFORE WE PURCHASED THIS VAN IN DEC. OF 1998. THIS SECOND TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WITH ONLY 17,700 MILES ON IT. CHRYSLER HAS OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPLACEMENT COST, BUT NEW TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN AN AVERAGE OF 19,750 MILES.

AIR BAG LIGHT PERMANENTLY ON DUE TO FAILED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY, AIR BAGS DISABLED, ALSO AFFECTED HORN AND CUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM UNUSUAL POWER DRAINS/FLUCTUATIONS, BATTERY REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 3 1/2 YEARS. ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS (FOUR DOORS) FREQUENTLY FAIL, CAN ONLY SERVICE WHEN FAILURE IS CONSISTENT. VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY STALLS (ABRUPTLY) AT ANY SPEED, THROTTLE SYSTEM SERVICED A FEW TIMES (OUTSIDE OF TUNE-UPS) WITH LITTLE BENEFIT. FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES QUITE OFTEN (BUT NEVER AT THE SERVICE SHOP/DEALERSHIP), WITH NO SET PATTERN, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACED TWICE. ALL PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR AIR BAG (CUSTOMER PAID FOR REPAIR AS WELL AS FOR OTHER PROBLEMS) STILL PERSIST.*AK

IN JUNE 1999 CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE SIDE SLIDING DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. DEALER FIXED PROBLEM. THEN, IN JANUARY 01 WHILE VAN WAS MOVING CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER REACHES FROM HER SEAT AND WAS ABLE TO PULL DOOR OPEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THERE WAS A NEW SYSTEM THAT THEY COULD INSTALL FOR A HIGH PRICE OR THEY COULD INSTALL OLD SYSTEM FOR A CHEAPER PRICE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *AK

FAILURE DUE TO DEFECT (NOT WEAR), DRIVING POWER IS LOST WITHOUT WARNING, OIL SPILLS OUT BOTTOM OF TRANSMISSION THROUGH LARGE HOLE.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT CLOCK SPRING HAD SHORT CIRCUITED WHICH COULD CAUSE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT A CAUSE OR NOT DEPLOY WITH A CAUSE. CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE RPAIR SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER. *YH

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. OFTEN OCCURRED AFTER DECELERATION FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ONLY WAY TO KNOW WAS TO OBSERVE ENGINE RPM. SOMETIMES COULD RESET BY PULLING OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TURNING ENGINE OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN RE-START. FIRST REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION ALSO HAD PROBLEMS. SECOND HAS BEEN OKAY. WIPERS ON INTERMITTENT SETTINGS WOULD WIPE SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW, THEN NOT WIPE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. CREATED VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. FIRST REPAIR REPLACED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. THIS DIDN'T SOLVE PROBLEM. SECOND REPAIR REPLACED WIPER MOTOR. NOTICED THAT THE HEATER WAS NOT WORKING. SHOP DETERMINED THE EVAPORATOR WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY DUE TO LEAKS. ONLY WAY TO REPLACE EVAPORATOR IS TO REMOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL; VERY EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING.*AK

DUE TO A LOOSE WIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

I HAVE ALREADY FILED A VERBAL REPORT ON THE PHONE, HOWEVER MY VAN THAT WE PURCHASED NEW CAUGHT FIRE ON SEPT. 19. 2000. I, E. AMANDA HARRIS WASTHE PRIMARY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE. I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOME ADDITONAL INFO. TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT. WE HAD ALWAYS TAKEN THE CAR TO BE SERVICED AND AT ONE SUCH TIME I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT WHENEVER I FILLED THE VAN UP WITH GAS I SMELLED GAS FUMES INSIDE OF THE VAN AS IF SOMETHING WAS LEAKING. THEY RETURNED THE VAN INDICATING NOTHING WAS WRONG. DURING THE FIRST 30 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ONE OF THE SEALENT RINGS FELL OFF AND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID POURED OUT. I WAS STRANDED DANGEROUSLY ON THE SIDE ON THE ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH FIVE CHILDREN. WE USED THE VAN FOR FAMILY TRAVEL ALSO. ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT IT WAS THE GRACE OF GOD THAT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T BLOW UP WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. MANY TIMES THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SLEEPING. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IS WAS SAFE, ONLY TO FIND OUT IT WASN'T. WORSE YET I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE YET AND WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH ONE 4 DR SEDAN UNTIL WE CAN AFFORD TO DO BETTER. I CRINGE WHEN I SEE ANY VAN THESE DAYS, ESPECIALLY CHRYSLER, DODGE OR PLYMOUTH. I'M GRATEFUL I'M ALIVE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WENT TO 25 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO PASS THAT SPEED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

I WAS STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A LOUD THUNK FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT PERHAPS I HAD RUN OVER A ROCK RO PIECE OF METAL IN THE STREET THAT BOUNCED UP AND INTO THE WHEEL WELL. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED I PROCEEDED FOR SEVERAL BLOCKS AND THEN ATTEMPTED A RIGHT TURN, ONLY TO FIND THAT I COULD NOT GET THE CAR STEERED INTO MY LANE AS THE POWER STEERING HAD DISAPPEARED, UNBEKNOWNST TO ME. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO CAR WAITING AT THE STOP SIGN ON THE STREET ONTO WHICH I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN, OR I WOULD HAVE RUN SQUARELY INTO IT. AS IT WAS THE CAR OVERHEATED AND COMPLETELY EXPIRED WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET IT TO A REPAIR SHOP LESS THAN TWO MILES AWAY. THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL EVENT FOR THIS MODEL, AS REPORTED BY THE DEALER AND ALSO ACCORDING TO CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATABASES. THE PROBLEM WAS A BROKEN SERPENTINE BELT AND PRETENSIONER. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY THREAT, SINCE ONE CAN ABRUPTLY LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN THAT BELT BREAKS. PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. THANK YOU. *AK

RECALL 00V268000/FUEL LEAKAGES: DEALER INFORMED THAT RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, AND MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF RECALL, AND WILLING TO PAY FOR PART. BUT CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR, AND SUBMIT INVOICE FOR REIMBURSEMENT. AT QUALITY DODGE IN TOOELE, UT; PHONE# 435/882-2000. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK