1996 Chrysler Town And Country Steering Problems

MY MINIVAN HAS BEEN NOT WANTING TO START, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE . I HAD MY FUEL PUMP AND FILTER REPLACED IN DECEMBER 2014 DUE TO IT NOT STARTING. NOW WITHIN THE LAST 2 WEEKS OR SO IT STARTED TO ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE AS I WOULD BE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR. ALL THIS LAST WEEK IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS WITH STARTING AND EVERY TIME I WOULD GET OUT OF THE VAN IT WOULD SMELL LIKE SOMETHINGS BURNING. WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO START IT ALL YOU COULD HEAR IS A CLICK, TRY TO START IT A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND FINALLY GET IT TO START. TODAY IT WOULDN'T START NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TRIED TO START IT. I OPEN THE HOOD AND LOOKED AT THE BATTERY AND ONE TERMINAL LOOKS LIKE IT IS BURNT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694304

Incident

Mar 6, 2015

Mileage

247,424 mi

THE SERPENTINE BELT ON OUR 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXI, MAKES A HORRIBLE SCREECHING SOUND, THAT WE'VE ALMOST COME TO APPRECIATE, WHEN FACED WITH IT'S ALTERNATIVE SILENCE, WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT GETS WET & SLIPS OFF. THE IMMEDIATE & DANGEROUS RESULT IS LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LEAVING THE DRIVER SURPRISED WITH THEIR INABILITY TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VAN. WITHIN LESS THAN A MINUTE, A FAST HAZARD BELL SOUNDS & THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR IS PINNED AT HOT. IF THE DRIVER IS QUICK, STRONG, & LUCKY ENOUGH, TO GET THE FAMILY "SAFELY" OFF THE ROAD, BEFORE THE WATER PUMP FRIES, STALLING THE VAN IN TRAFFIC, THEY ARE NOW LEFT STRANDED. WE'VE HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT & TENSIONER PULLEY REPLACED TWICE, THE LAST TIME AT CHRYSLER, AND STILL THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. WE'VE CHECKED FOR RECALLS BUT CHRYSLER STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A LIFE THREATENING FAILURE, SO NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. THIS HAS HAPPENS TO US OFTEN ENOUGH THAT WE KEEP A WRENCH IN OUR VAN, SO MY HUSBAND CAN ATTEMPT TO RETRIEVE & RE-SEAT THE BELT ONTO THE TENSIONER, IN THE POURING RAIN. WE'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM & CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY CHRYSLER DOESN'T THINK LOSS OF STEERING & SUDDEN HEAT PUMP FAILURE IS NOT LIFE THREATENING. IF ONE OF THEIR CEOS WERE TO FIND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING THEIR FAMILY VAN QUICKLY OFF THE ROAD, STANDING OVER, OR EVEN LYING UNDER THEIR ENGINE, IN THE POURING RAIN, WHILE THE REST OF THE FAMILY HOPES THAT HE ISN'T INJURED MAKING THE REPAIR, HIT BY LIGHTENING, OR BY A DISTRACTED DRIVER, PERHAPS THEY WOULD RECALL THIS SYSTEM. WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME & MONEY ON REPAIRS, & HAVE COME ACROSS AN OFF-MARKET PRODUCT DESIGNED TO FIX THIS SPECIFIC, WIDELY RECOGNIZED CHRYSLER PRODUCT ISSUE, AND JUST PURCHASED IT. WE FIND IT DISGUSTING TO SEE THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS PROBLEM BEING ADDRESSED MAY DEPEND ON THE NUMBER OF DEATHS, OR PERSONS INJURED, BEFORE CHRYSLER TAKES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THEY COULD AT LEAST ACQUIRE OR COVER THE COST OF THE OFF-MARKET REPAIR KIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232952

Incident

Jun 28, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SERPENTINE BELT FRACTURED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ALERTED THE CONTACT BUT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WAS NOTICED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN THREE TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE BELTS, PULLEYS AND TENSIONER WERE REPLACED ON EVERY OCCURRENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE RESOLUTION WAS A DEALERSHIP REFERRAL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING COULD CREATE CONDITIONS FOR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10173576

Incident

Sep 16, 2006

Mileage

185,698 mi

HE OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER, TOWN& COUNTRY, ONLY OWNER WITH 70,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. STEERING WHEEL POPPED OFF, MOSTLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO LEFT. THIS HAPPENED OFTEN SINCE 2005. ALSO, FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AT SEPARATE TIMES WHEN IT WAS IN OFF POSITION FOR ABOUT ONE AND HALF YEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10148519

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING LOST POWER STEERING FLUID, WHICH LEAD TO THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER SAFETY. FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING WAS LATER IDENTIFY AS A CORRODED HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING LINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10090784

Incident

Sep 8, 2004

Mileage

112,530 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE HORN AIRBAG AND CRUISE CONTROL HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE AT 45% BUT THE REAR BRAKES WERE AT 70%. THE DEALER CLEANED AND ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. THE A/C FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAN MODULE. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE CD PLAYER DOESN'T WORK. THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT THEREFORE THE CONSUMER HAS TO LEAVE THE HIGH BEAMS ON TO SEE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CHECKED THREE TIMES BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY SEEM CORRECT. THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE. THE STARTER FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING PUMP FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHT WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE REAR HEATER LINES WERE LEAKING. THE WATER PUMP LEAKED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10079478

Incident

Jun 10, 2004

Mileage

131,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10018513

Incident

Apr 9, 1999

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE TIE ROD BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWAY.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009167

THE CLOCK-SPRING IN MY CHRYSLER FAILED CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON AT TIMES AND ALSO CAUSING MY CRUISE CONTROL TO NOT WORK AT TIMES. MY BILL FOR REPAIR OF THIS FAILURE WAS $191.74. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY SERVICE CONTRACT. HOWEVER I NOW SEE THAT THEIR HAS BEEN A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. MY QUESTION IS, HOW DO I GET REIMBURSED THE $191.74? DT

NHTSA ID

769405

Incident

Jul 16, 2001

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

NHTSA ID

8016316

Incident

Jul 13, 2002

WHILE DRIVING BELT TENSIONER BROKE OFF, UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

8013542

Incident

Jul 3, 2002

INSIDE SIDEWALL ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL SUDDENLY SPLIT AWAY. ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DOWNSHIPT WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO A LOWER GEAR CAUSING THE SPEED OF THE CAR TO IMMEDIATELY DROP FROM 65-70 MPH TO 50MPH OR LESS AND ON OTHER OCCASSION THE TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS RELAY CONTROL FOR TCM, REPLACED, TO NO AVAIL. TRANSMISSION LEAKS OIL AND OTHER FLUID, REPLACE SHAT SEAL,GASKET AND RESEALED PAN. REPLACE FUEL GAS TANK TO ACHIEVE RELIABLE FUEL GAUGE MEASUREMENT. STEERING LOCKS UP ESPECIALLY ON HARD LEFT TURN, REPLACE RACK AND PINION.

NHTSA ID

9005861

Incident

Jul 28, 2001

WE BOUGHT THIS USED CAR WITH A KARR SECURITY SYSTEM INSTALLED. WE SINCE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A PREFERRED DEALER (SALES DEPARTMENT) ADD ON, USEFUL FOR THE DEALERS SECURITY AND ACCESS OF VEHICLES ON OPEN LOTS ETC. SALEMEN USE A MASTER ENTRY UNIT ON ALL CARS. THE ORIGINAL FOBS CONTROLLING THIS VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE MISSING WITHOUT EXPLAINATION. THE SYSTEM WAS NOT STABLE AND MALFUNCTIONED FREQUENTLY IN ALL MODES. WE DID NOTICE THAT THE HOOD SECURITY BUTTON HAD BEEN DEFEATED WITH A PLASTIC TIE STRAP, BUT ASSUMED THAT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE KARR SYSTEM HAD TO BE EMPLOYED BY THE CHEVY DEALER, LACKING CHRYSLER PARTS, A COMPROMISE. THE FUEL SENSOR BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AND WOULD CONTINUALLY GO OFF WITH A FULL TANK. THERE WAS HORN BLARING, LOCKOUTS AND ENGINE KILLINGS GOT WORSE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CARL BURGER DODGE HERE IN SAN DIEGO AND INSISTED THAT WE WANTED ALL THE OFFENDING EQUIPMENT REMOVED, LEAVING ONLY THE LIGHTED ENTRY SYSTEM AND THE REMOTE LOCKING. I ASKED FOR THE PARTS AND WHAT I GOT BACK WOULD FIT IN AN AREA ABOUT ONE FOOT SQ. THE VEHICLE HAS OPERATED PERFECTLY EVER SINCE AND THE GAS INDICATOR HAS CEASED TO MALFUNCTION. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE MISAPPLICATION OF THE OVERLAID KARR SYSTEM ONTOP OF OEM EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE BOLDLY DECLARED TO CUSTOMERS AND NOT ALLOWED TO COMPROMISE USED OR NEW VEHICLES FACTORY SYSTEMS. THOSE BLARING HORNS ARE USELESS AND ONLY MAKE PEOPLE MORE CALLOUSED. THE OVERRIDE SYSTEM USED BY KARR IS EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT AND ACTIVATED FAR TOO OFTEN. A NEIGHBOR WHO HAS NEARLY THE SAME SYSTEM TOLD ME THAT TO HAVE IT INSTALLED COST $800. IT COST ME $140 TO HAVE IT REMOVED AND TO HAVE THE OEM KEY FOBS REPLACED AND REPROGRAMED. IT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT. THE VEHICLE NOW SEEMS TO BELONG TO US AND WORKS BEAUTIFULLY. I HEAR HORNS GOING OFF ALL AROUND MY COMMUNITY. IT ISN'T NECESSARY. THIS HIGH COST IS BEING PAWNED OFF ONTO CUSTOMERS FOR THE SO CALLED SECURITY OF VEHICLES IN DEALERS LOTS. IT IS MADDENING. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.*AK

NHTSA ID

758316

VEHICLE HAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END. WHEN HITTING A BUMP IT GOES TO STEERING SYSTEM AND MAKE STEERING DIFFICULT. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003932

Incident

Feb 11, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE LOSS OF STEERING OCCURED TWICE AND THE DEALER INDICATED THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE A/C BELT FAILURE AND FAILURE TO INSTALL SPECIAL BRACKET BY THE MANUFACTURER. *YH

NHTSA ID

896568

Incident

Jul 23, 2000

THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. WHEN TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER NOTED THAT SERPENTINE BELT AND STEERING BELT TENSIONER ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

896497

Incident

Aug 6, 2001

CLICKING SOUND AND RATTLE IN STEERING COLUMN REPORTED TO DEALER REPEATEDLY TO NO AVAIL. PROBLEM WAS NOTICED WHEN VEHICLE WAS WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE IN 1988. ALTHOUGH I REPORTED PROBLEM EVERYTIME I TOOK VEHICLE INTO SERVICE, DEALER WAS NEVER ABLE TO CORRECT [PROBLEM. IT STILL EXIST TILL THIS DATE OF AUG. 2001. *AK

NHTSA ID

750897

Incident

May 5, 2000

LOCAL DEALERS MECHANICS STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN ALOT OF THESE FAILURES. THE RACK AND PINION BREAKS DOWN SENDING DEBRIS INTO THE POWER STEERING FLUID THAT FLOWS INTO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND DESTROYS THE VALVES COMPLETELY TAKING OUT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING AND RACK AND PINION MUST BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

746909

Incident

Jun 15, 2001

IT SEEMS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CHRYSLER MINI-VANS, THE "CLOCK SPRING" IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CONNECTS THE SPEED CONTROL, HORN AND AIR BAGS TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VAN. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING AT ALL TIMES WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SPEED CONTROL, AND HORN ALSO DO NOT WORK WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. THIS CONCERNS ME THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE CONNECTION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE PRESS, CHRYSLER HAS SOLD OVER 124,000 OF THESE PARTS. I RECENTLY WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND DIDN'T.*AK

NHTSA ID

743093

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

CONTACTED DEALER AND CHRYSLER - BOTH INDICATED KNOW PROBLEM HOWEVER NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA ID

743055

Incident

Oct 31, 2000

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

NHTSA ID

883439

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

NHTSA ID

739853

Incident

Nov 11, 1999

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

NHTSA ID

739031

Incident

Nov 15, 2000

IDLER PULLY BROKE,LOST POWER STEERING, COOLING, ALSO BROKE PULLEY ON POWER STEERING PUMP. $500.00. *AK

NHTSA ID

735226

Incident

Oct 26, 2000

AT 20K AND 40K MILES I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING WHEN CORNERING ON WET PAVEMENT. THE STEERING WOULD SEIZE WHILE IN THE TURN SO I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEELS. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA WHEN THIS OCCURED AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. ON BOTH INSTANCES I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY CHRYSLER DEALER. THEY INITIALLY REPLACED THE TENSIONER WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING BELT IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR 20K MILES. AT 40K MILES THEY ONCE AGAIN REPLACED THE TENSIONER THINKING IT WOULD CURE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BELT AGAIN AS WELL. NOW I EXPECT TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVERY 20K MILES AS IT SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING UNIT IS LOCATED BESIDE THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND APPEARS TO BE PRONE TO WATER PROBLEMS. WHEN I ASKED CHRYSLER WHO WAS GOING TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS EVERY 20K MILES FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO MY DEALER AND HE WOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION MILEAGE AND WARRANTY TO MAKE THAT DECISION. THEY IMPLIED THAT I AM THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. IF THIS IS THE CASE THEN I CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES.*AK

NHTSA ID

733004