1996 Chrysler Town And Country Transmission Problems

I HAVE A 96 CHRYSLER T&C VAN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ALMOST 30 MONTHS AND 38 K MILES AGO AFTER IT BROKE A SHAFT ON THE INSIDE AT 101K MILES. CAME TO A STOP AT CONNER WENT TO GO FORWARDED AND THE VAN WAS IN NEUTRAL IN GEAR POSITION. DEALER DID NOT WANT TO OPEN IT UP JUST REPLACE WITH NEW REMANUFACTURED FROM CHRYSLER. SAID THEY WERE ALL DOING THAT. NOW THE REPLACEMENT UNIT JUST BROKE A SHAFT FOR THE THIRD GEAR (BAD WELD). THIS IS ON A TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 38525 MILES ON IT. THIS WAS A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT CAME OUT IN 1996 AND NOW WITH 2 BROKEN SHAFTS ON TWO TRANSMISSIONS IN THE SAME VAN, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR PRODUCT AND THIS PICTURE? WHO WOULD OF TUNK IT? I PLACED 165K MILES ON A 1991 DODGE DAKOTA WITHOUT ANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SHAFTS BREAK WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF 70,000 LBS OF MOVING TRUCK? TRUCKS DO NOT STOP ON A DIME. DO YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY IN THAT KIND OF SCENARIO? I DO NOT THINK THAT MOST OF VOTING AMERICANS DO EITHER. I LIVE IN A CITY, WHICH HAS AT SEVEN OUT OF THE TOP TEN OF THE MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF ALABAMA. WHEN YOU PLACE A CAR INTO DRIVE, YOU EXPECT IT TO GO MOST ALL THE TIME. YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO THINK AM I GOING TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT OR MAYBE KILL MY FAMILY BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO BLOW UP, BREAKS WELDS, OR BREAK A SHAFTS IF I PULL OUT NOW OR NOT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10110351

Incident

Feb 4, 2005

Mileage

140,450 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY DOWNSHIFTED CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. A COMPLETE REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION IS UNDERWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091382

Incident

Aug 30, 2004

Mileage

109,500 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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED USUALLY AFTER A TURN WAS COMPLETED. THIS AFFECTED VISIBILITY OF OTHER VEHICLES. ALSO BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER REPLACED FOUR TIMES THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH/ BRAKE PADS/ ROTORS, AND DRUMS; TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, ALL AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10071803

Incident

Apr 29, 2004

I PURCHASED A USED 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN WITH A 2 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, I NOTICED A WHIRRING SOUND FOLLOWED BY HESITATION WHEN PUTTING VAN INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. DEALERSHIP WHERE I MADE PURCHASE TOOK VAN FOR A TEST DRIVE AND REPORTED TO ME THAT THAT WAS NORMAL. I WENT IN AGAIN ABOUT A YEAR LATER, WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY PUT IT THROUGH SOME DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND CONCLUDED NO PROBLEM. I HAVE THIS IN WRITING. WELL ONE YEAR AND ONE MONTH TO THE DATE THE TRANSMISSION WENT. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, THEY, HOWEVER DID NOT GET MY MONEY. I TOOK THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS, BUT LOST. ACCORDING TO CLICK AND CLACK, AS LONG AS IT WAS COMPLAINED ABOUT UNDER WARRANTY THEY ARE STILL OBLIGATED TO FIX IT. I DID FORGET ABOUT COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS MATTER. I REMEMBERED AFTER PICKING MY VAN UP FROM TRANS. SHOP. THAT'S WHY I TOOK THE DEALERSHIP TO COURT. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS LEFT REGARDING THIS MATTER? PLEASE CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW, BEFORE I END UP WITH AN ULCER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10054613

Incident

Jun 26, 2002

Mileage

95,263 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DROPS INTO SECOND GEAR. WHEN THIS OCCURS RPMS REV UP TO 3000. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, A REMEDY HAS NOT BEEN FOUND.*AK

NHTSA ID

10042647

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT PROBLEM IS DUE TO TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10039800

Incident

Sep 9, 2003

Mileage

74,000 mi

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IN A TIME FRAME OF TWO YEARS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL THE NHTSA TO PLACE A COMPLAINT. ALSO, DEALER CONTACTED, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037799

Mileage

80,783 mi

THE AIRCONDITIONER CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT BY MY MECHANIC. AFTER THE SECOND SETTING THE VAN BEGINS TO OVERHEAT.THE CLUTCH IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 63,500 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10033376

Incident

Aug 16, 2003

Mileage

63,400 mi

CONSUMER HAS MADE FOUR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS ON 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINI VAN.*MR *CB

NHTSA ID

10032302

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 74,000, PUTTING A BIG HOLE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CASE. TRANSMISSION WAS A604. (AT 64,000 THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING. A MONTH LATER NOTICED SOME LEAKAGE BUT DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND TOLD US TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT, DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING UNTIL LEAKAGE AND FAILURE AT 74,000) ALSO A/C HAS LEAK SOMEWHERE, WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIND AND FIX.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028719

Incident

Feb 19, 2003

Mileage

74,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION BLEWOUT, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10022202

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.

NHTSA ID

10019208

Incident

May 23, 2003

Mileage

120,438 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONSUMER COULD HEAR A WHISTLING NOISE, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY.

NHTSA ID

10018133

Mileage

3,053 mi

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED FOUR TIMES AND THE STARTER FAILED ONCE. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015885

Incident

Mar 7, 2003

THE TRANSMISSION OR SENSOR DEVICE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT WHEN PLACED IN GEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10015788

THE REAR AXLE PIN BECAME LOOSE, AND SHOT OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10009613

Incident

Dec 5, 2002

1996 TOWN & COUNTRY VAN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10010494

Incident

Feb 19, 2003

Mileage

86,887 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10005135

Incident

Jan 31, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER APPLIED GAS, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID

8024063

Incident

Oct 7, 2002

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID

770579

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

762565

Incident

May 28, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN PARK A CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE LEVER INTO RESULTING IN A COLLISION.*JB

NHTSA ID

8010365

Incident

May 21, 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

VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN PARK WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS KNOCKED INTO REVERSE. PASSENGER INSIDE VEHICLE QUICKLY SHIFTED VEHICLE BACK INTO PARK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

8005532

Incident

Feb 18, 2002