Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Chrysler Town And Country submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words
PASSENGER SIDE LIFTGATE GAS CHARGED SUPPORT SHOCK MOUNTING BOLT FAILED WHERE SHOCK MOUNTS TO THE BODY AND THE LIFTGATE CRASHED DOWN ON A PERSONS HEAD. THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED A SMALL CHILD APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO BOLT STRESS/FATIGUE SINCE THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS EVIDENCE OF ANY CORROSION AROUND THIS MOUNTING BOLT. *TR
I HAVE READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 1996 TOWN AND COUNTRY. I FIND IT INTERESTING HOW THE COMPLAINTS ARE EXACT TO ONE ANOTHER. DIFFERENT OWNERS, SAME PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED MINE SINCE 1999 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE CLAIMS THAT OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT AGAIN AND WILL MAKE SURE TO LET THE PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT KNOW THE PROBLEMS OF THIS OVER PRICED HUNK OF RUSTED METAL. I WOULD CERTAINLY HATE TO SEE THEM GO THROUGH THE GRIEF I HAVE OWNING THIS VEHICLE! *NM
I JUST RETURNED FROM A FAMILY TRIP AND ON A ROUTINE UNDER THE HOOD INSPECTION I DISCOVERED TO MY HORROR THAT THE RIGHT STRUT TOWER ON MY 1996 CHRYSLER MINIVAN HAD RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH AND WAS HOLDING THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE BY A THREAD. I QUICKLY LOOKED AT THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER CHRYSLER MINIVAN OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF THESE MINI VANS ON THE ROAD THIS PROBLEM MUST AFFECT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MINIVANS . I'M HORRIFIED AT THE LACK OF ATTENTION THIS PROBLEM HAS RECEIVED FROM CHRYSLER AND THE NHTSA BECAUSE IF A STRUT FAILS IN THIS WAY WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ON A HIGHWAY THE CONSEQUENCES CAN BE CATASTROPHIC , WITH LOSS OF STEERING, GOING OFF THE ROAD, CRASHING INTO OTHER CARS AND ROLLOVER RESULTING INTO MULTIPLE FATALITIES. THIS IS A VAST PROBLEM WITH ALL CHRYSLER MINIVANS FROM1996-2000 AND BEYOND . I CALL ON NHTSA TO ISSUE A WARNING TO ALL OWNERS OF CHRYSLER MINIVANS AND TO FORCE CHRYSLER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. I DISCOVERED THAT NOT EVEN THE CHRYSLER DEALERS HAVE BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS EVEN THOUGH CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN TSB-23-044-02. *AK
THIS VAN HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A FAILURE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE KEPT UP THE OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE AS NEEDED. THE PAINT IS COMING OF OFF THE GRILL AND THE PAINT ON THE REST OF THE VAN IS NOT HOLDING UP. I HAVE REPLACED: TIMING BELT 3 TIMES POWER STEERING PUMP ONCE THE THERMOSTAT TWICE THE RELAY SWITCH THREE TIMES AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK THE RELAY ON THE MOTOR ONCE THE AIR CONDITIONING IS FAILING IN THE FRONT THE REAR DOOR LOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T WORK MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT VERY SOON I AM A SINGLE PARENT IN A LARGE METROPLEX. I NEED MY CAR TO GET TO WORK. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR NOW.
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
CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM HAD FIXED WITH NO FURTHER DIFFICULTIES. TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER ON AUG 25 THE VEHICLE BURNED UP FROM A FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT CAME ABOUT WITH OUT ANY WARNING. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING MONETARY REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. THE VISOR HOOKS WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *JG
THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES REPEATEDLY ON THEIR OWN. AT ANY DRIVING SPEED THE LOCKS GO NUTS, UP AND DOWN, UP AND DOWN. NOT ONLY IS IT A SAFETY HAZARD IT IS ANNOYING AND DRIVING ME CRAZY. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WITH THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THANKS!*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER CAN HEAR CLUNKING NOISES IN STEERING COLUMN. IT COULD CAUSE CONSUMER TO HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT STEERING WHEEL MAKES GROWLING NOISE WHEN TURNING DUE TO RACK AND PINON FAILURE. STEERING MAKES SCHRUCHING NOISE WHEN TURNING RIGHT AND DEALER LUBERCATE STEERING SHAFT. THE REAR BRAKES MADE A NOISE. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS HARD TO CLOSE. THE LEFT SLIDING DOOR WAS RUBBING ON THE BODY WHEN SHUT*YH
SECTION OF METAL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL STRUT SUPPORT HAS RUSTED AWAY.*AK
ELECTRICAL LOCKING MECHANISM FOR REAR PASSENGERS DOORS WENT OUT, CAUSING LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR TO LOCK AND NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PURCHASE A NEW ELECTRONIC CONTROL MECHANICISM FOR REPAIR. ALSO, ALTERNATOR HAD EATEN THROUGH ELECTRICAL HARNESS. AS A RESULT AIR BLOWER ONLY HAD 3 SPEEDS, AND HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, HORN AND, CRUISE CONTROL DO NOT WORK.*AK DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK FAILED. *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
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
CONSUMER FEELS FIRE STARTED IN THE TRANSMISSION, CLAIM # 33-S335-708, NLM
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
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
SLIDING DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY AND WILL GET JAMMED, SO THAT IT CANNOT BE OPEND FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. DEALER HAS VEHICLE CURRENTLY. *AK
ENGINE OVERHEATS DUE TO THE COOLING FAN RELAY FAILURE. YH
SUBJECT VEHICLE INVOLVED IN SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT. SUBJECT VEHICLE PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND WAS BROAD SIDED BY ONCOMING FULL-SIZE VAN. SUBJECT VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES (PER WITNESS STATEMENTS). DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE BOTH UNCONSCIOUS. BYSTANDERS WERE UNABLE TO GET EITHER OUT OF BURNING VEHICLE DUE TO DOORS BEING LOCKED (AUTO DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM) AND WERE UNABLE TO BREAK WINDOWS OUT BEFORE VEHICLE WAS FULLY ENGULFED. *AK
MISSING SCREWS FROM FASTENER, CAUSING BUMPER TO FALL OFF. *YC
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH DUAL SLIDING DOORS. THE DOORS SHAKE AND RATTLE VERY LOUDLY WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS CLOSING THE DOORS. THE DEFECTS COMPLY WITH INVESTIGATION NUMBERS IE96040, EA96025, AND PE96038. *AK
LEFT LATCH ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD SNAPPED LOOSE.
POWER DOOR LOCK/LATCH FAILED.
STEERING BOX FAILED.
REMOTE ALARM RECEIVER AND ALARM FAILED.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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