1995 Chrysler Town And Country Problems

I LEFT WALGREENS ONE EVENING AND COULDN'T GET THE TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO REVERSE UNTIL I FORCED IT. A FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS LEAVING IN THE MORNING TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL (THAT IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU OWN A MINIVAN). I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. NO FORWARD MOVEMENT. I TRIED REVERSE. NOTHING. HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. TRANSMISSION NEEDED REBUILDING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME ITS BEEN REBUILT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THERE IS A HOLE IN THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION.*JB *MR

NHTSA# 95-I-001-001 VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PASSENGER MINIVANS WITHOUT REMOTE RELEASE. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION THAT A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS WITH THE MINIVAN LATCHES. CHRYSLER IS CONDUCTING A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE LIFTGATE LATCH ASSEMBLY OF THE AFFECTED MINIVANS. IN A COLLISION, THE REAR LIFTGATE LATCH ASSEMBLY COULD OPEN. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

AT THE BOTTOM HINGE WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE BODY'S SHEET METAL IS FATIGUED AND CRACKED. DOOR REMAINS UNLATCHED, AND CONSUMER HAS A PIECE OF ROPE KEEPING IT TIED TOGETHER. IF DOOR CLOSES ALL THE WAY IT WILL BECOME UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. CHRYSLER SAYS THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK *JB

FRONT DRIVERS DOOR LATCH WILL NOT CLOSE THE DOOR PROPERLY AND HAS CAUSED THE FRONT FENDER TO BUCKLE AND DAMAGE THE VAN. *JB

CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP AND A DRUNK DRIVER REAR ENDED CONSUMER FROM BEHIND, TWO HI-BACK BUCKET SEATS BROKE AWAY, AND WENT BACK, CAME FORWARD AND BACK AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE IF SOMEONE WAS IN BACK SEAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY SMASHED. ALSO, DOCTOR SAID IF SEATS WOULD HAVE HELD UP THEN SOME OF THE INJURIES THAT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO SEVERE.*AK

SEVERE ENGINE OVERHEATING BECAUSE COOLING FAN FELL OFF OF THE SHAFT OF THE ELECTRIC FAN MOTOR. TERRIBLE DESIGN - LARGE DIAMETER FAN IS BASICALLY HELD IN PLACE BY A SINGLE 1/4-INCH NUT. NEITHER THE FAN NOR THE FAN MOTOR ARE STOCKED AS REPLACEABLE PARTS. ONE MUST PURCHASE THE ENTIRE FAN/MOTOR/SHROUD ASSEMBLY, FOR A LITTLE OVER $400, PLUS INSTALLATION! THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN - THREE DIFFERENT TIMES! A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR, THE FAN SEPARATED FROM THE FAN MOTOR ONCE AGAIN, CAUSING OVERHEATING. THE SHOP THAT INSTALLED THE ORIGINAL UNIT STOOD BEHIND HIS WARRANTY, AND REPLACED THE FAN/MOTOR/SHROUD ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. ANOTHER TIME, WHILE WE WERE ON A TRIP, THE FAN CAME OFF A GAIN, BUT THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER WAS ABLE TO FIND THE NUT THAT HAD DROPPED OFF, AND REPLACED IT. SOMETIME LATER, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, AND I PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER AND HELD IT IN PLACE WITH EPOXY. IT'S STILL GOING STRONG!

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THERE IS A HOLE IN THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION.*JB *MR

THE VEHICLES FUEL RAIL HAS STARTED TO LEAK DUE TO COLD TEMPERATURES AND THE METAL CONTRACTING IN SIZE. FIRE HAZARD BY THE FUEL RAIL DRIPPING RAW FUEL ONTO THE EXHAUST CROSSOVER PIPE.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

MY 1995 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LAST 6 VIN DIGITS [XXX] HAS A PROBLEM WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BY SAFETY RECALL 818. CHRYSLER, HOWEVER, IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE DISCREPANCY OR EVEN, IN MY OPINION, TO SERIOUSLY EVALUATE MY CONCERN ABOUT INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. . CHRYSLER MAINTAINS THAT THE DEFECT I HAVE IS UNRELATED TO THE RECALL. I MAINTAIN THAT THE RECALL PROCEDURES, IF FOLLOWED, WILL PROVE THE RELATIONSHIP. WHEN I TURN ON THE REAR WIPERS THE AIRBAG CIRCUIT FUSE POPS AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON. REPLACING THE WIPER MOTOR HAS THE SAME RESULT - A BLOWN FUSE. THIS CONDITION IS DESCRIBED IN SAFETY BULLETIN 818 OF WHICH I CAN PROVIDE A COPY. MY READING OF SAFETY BULLETIN 818 CONVINCES ME I HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN WHICH CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ADDRESS. IS THERE ASSISTANCE TO BE HAD FROM THE NTSB? THANKS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE SITTING IN CAR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPER ON DRIVER'S SIDE BECOMES DETACHED AND STOPS WORKING. *AK

THE RUBBER AROUND THE BACK WINDOW MELTS DOWN FROM THE BOTTOM, AND STREAKS TO THE BACK OF THE VAN DOORS. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN PRESSING ON PEDAL ANIT-SKID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND THERE'S A GRINDING NOISE. BRAKES WON'T WORK RIGHT AWAY, AND THEN THEY WILL GRAB. ANTI SKID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN THERE FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK.ET.

THERE IS A STEAL TOOTH RING ON EACH WHEEL THAT PROVIDES A PULSE FOR THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSORS. THESE RINGS ARE MOUNTED ON THE OUTSIDE CV JOINTS, NEXT TO THE FRONT WHEELS AND ARE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. THE FRONT RINGS GOT RUST UNDER THEM, THE RUST CAUSED THE RINGS TO CRACK. THE CRACKS ENLARGED THE SPACES BETWEEN THE TEETH. THAT SENDS A FALSE SIGNAL TO THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE COMPUTER CAUSING THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM TO ENGAGE ALL THE TIME. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE RINGS IS BY CHANGING THE WHOLE FRONT DRIVE AXLES. THIS WILL BE A REPAIR BILL OF $300 - $400 FOR A PAIR OF STEEL RINGS. *AK

WE OWN TWO 1995 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VEHICLES, ONE WITH ~103,000 MILES, THE OTHER WITH ~98,000 MILES. EACH SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF LEFT TIE ROD END WITHOUT WARNING WITHIN THE PAST THREE WEEKS. FORTUNATELY FOR US, EACH FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED, RESUMING TRAVEL FROM FULL STOP. CURIOUSLY, EACH FAILURE OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER A MASSACHUSETTS SAFETY INSPECTION IN WHICH CASE TIE ROD ENDS WERE CHECKED AND PASSED INSPECTION. IN ONE CASE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN FIVE MILES AND 5 HOURS OF THE INSPECTION; IN THE OTHER CASE, WITHIN 3 WEEKS AND 1000 MILES OF INSPECTION. COUPLED WITH THE LACK OF WARNING SIGNALS TO OWNER/OPERATOR, EACH OF THESE SUDDEN FAILURES COULLD HAVE PROVEN FATAL TO THE DRIVERS AND OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR AS AS WELL AS TO VEHICLES IN PROXIMITY. THE FACT THAT RECENT SAFETY INSPECTIONS AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS DID NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM INDICATES THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNPREDICTABLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DRIVER OF THE SECOND CAR TO EXPERIENCE FAILURE IS A FORMER MECHANIC, AND WAS ALERT TO TIE ROD END PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE FIRST VEHICLE AND THE FACT THAT THE TWO VEHICLES WERE AGING IN SIMILAR WAYS. POLICE WERE INVOLVED IN THE SECOND INCIDENT BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. IN EACH SITUATION, THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIRS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING OVER STANDING WATER OR SNOW CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK

VEHICLE METAL TENSIONER BREAKS LEAVING CONSUMER STRANDED. *MR *TS

WEAK REAR SUSPENSION ALLOWS THE TIRE TO RUB AND CUT INTO THE WHEEL WELL.

WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE THE TENSIONER BROKE OFF ENGINE CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR FUNCTION , COOLING AND SOME ADDITIONAL TRANSMISION DIFFUCULTY WAS NOTED .

WIRE TO UNDER HOOD LIGHT SHORTED OUT, BLOWING FUSE. LOST ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS, INCLUDING INSTRUMENT LIGHTS. NEXT ITEM, EGR VALVE WENT BAD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BACKFIRE, ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NEXT ITEM, BATTERY SHORTED OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. VEHICLE WAS DISABLED ON HIGHWAY, COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT, HAD TO BE TOWED. NEXT, TRANSMISSION SEAL AND GASKET FAILURE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BE SPRAYED ON VEHICLE AND ROADWAY. NEXT ITEM, REAR SUSPENSION CAUSED REAR TIRE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH REAR WHEELWELL, COULD HAVE BLOWN TIRE IF NOT CAUGHT IN TIME.NEXT SPARE TIRE HOLDER FAILURE CAUSED TIRE TO BE LOWERED WHICH CAUSED TIRE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH ROAD, THUS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

REAR AIR CONDITIONER LINES REPLACED DUE TO RUST.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE GEN 3 SEATBELTS INSTALLED IN MY 1995 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVAN HAVE FAILED. THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MAY WHEN THE SEATBELT SECURING MY 2 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER'S CAR SEAT TO THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT FAILED WHEN I WAS FORCED TO APPLY MY BRAKES SUDDENLY. THE MECHANISM DISENGAGED AND HER CAR SEAT TUMBLED ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. BESIDES TERRIFYING THE CHILD, SHE RECEIVED A NASTY GASH ON HER FOREHEAD WHEN SHE HIT HER HEAD ON THE SEAT BASE IN FRONT OF HER.*AK

APPARENTLY SEAT BELT FAILURE IS COMMON SINCE REPLACEMENTS ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND. *AK

PLEASE CONTACT MY WIFE LISA SO WE MAY FAX YOU REPAIR ORDERS FOR EXPLANATION. THANK YOU. ALSO YOU MAY SEND A SIGNATURE CARD I MISS UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION. OUOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED A MONTH AGO.*AK

WIRE TO UNDER HOOD LIGHT SHORTED OUT, BLOWING FUSE. LOST ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS, INCLUDING INSTRUMENT LIGHTS. NEXT ITEM, EGR VALVE WENT BAD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BACKFIRE, ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. NEXT ITEM, BATTERY SHORTED OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. VEHICLE WAS DISABLED ON HIGHWAY, COULD HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT, HAD TO BE TOWED. NEXT, TRANSMISSION SEAL AND GASKET FAILURE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BE SPRAYED ON VEHICLE AND ROADWAY. NEXT ITEM, REAR SUSPENSION CAUSED REAR TIRE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH REAR WHEELWELL, COULD HAVE BLOWN TIRE IF NOT CAUGHT IN TIME.NEXT SPARE TIRE HOLDER FAILURE CAUSED TIRE TO BE LOWERED WHICH CAUSED TIRE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH ROAD, THUS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK