1996 Chrysler Town And Country Visibility Problems

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN WHEN MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, I COULD HEAR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR STILL GOING BUT THE WIPER ARMS WOULD NOT MOVE. WE HAD PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND FOR MILES. WE GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY SON WOULD PUSH THE WIPER ARM DOWN WHEN IT HAD WENT TO HIS SIDE SO WE COULD DRIVE A LITTLE FURTHER TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY IN AN OCCUPIED AREA. IT HAD STOPPED RAINING AND AS WE WERE DRIVING THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED ON US, IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP. MY MINIVAN HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A TOWN OVER 50 MILES FROM WHERE WE LIVE. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE MINIVAN WITH ME AND IT WAS A REALLY TERRIFYING ORDEAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10619029

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

DRIVERS SIDE STRUT TOWER CORROSION. REAR WIPER MOTOR RUNS TILL BURNED UP. REAR WIPER RUNS INTERMITTENT (GHOSTING) ON ITS OWN. FRONT WIPER DOES THE SAME. VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY BUCKS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH NO CODES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226349

Incident

Jan 16, 2002

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

INTERMITTENTLY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FIFTY TIMES IN A YEAR AND A HALF. THE DEALER HAD EXAMINED THE WIPERS. *JB THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE, THE REGULATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10074204

Incident

Dec 6, 2002

Mileage

76,000 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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS CEASED TO FUNCTION UNEXPECTEDLY. WAS ABLE TO START BY USING WINDSHIELD WASHER FUNCTION. THIS WAS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AS WIPERS ONLY OPERATED FOR TWO OR THREE CYCLES. STARTING OR STOPPING SELECTION SWITCH DID NOT CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE OPERATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062626

Incident

Mar 16, 2004

Mileage

53,454 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE CONSUMER WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INDICATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10061777

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

Mileage

87,508 mi

WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS? WE CANNOT GET IT TO GO AT A STOP SIGN OR TURNING A CORNER, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STILL GO ON INTERMITANTLY SURPRISING THE DRIVER.

NHTSA ID

10071223

Incident

Oct 15, 2002

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.

NHTSA ID

10069822

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

(I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.) I HAVE A 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN ON AT WILL. STRAIGHT ROAD, RIGHT TURNS, LEFT TURNS - THEY JUST TURN ON FOR NO REASON AT ALL. IT IS VERY STARTLING. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S MY PROBLEM WHICH I CAN TAKE CARE OF AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I THINK PERHAPS IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A RECALL/SAFETY ISSUE. YOUR FORM ASKS FOR AN INCIDENT DATE WHICH I WILL PUT DOWN, BUT THIS IS AN ON-GOING *DAILY* ISSUE. THE DATE I PUT IS THE DATE I PURCHASED THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10053067

Incident

Mar 27, 1996

PROBLEMS GETTING WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPAIRED AS WELL AS PROBLEMS WITH COST OF REPAIRS. *MR *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10047762

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10021928

Incident

May 30, 2003

THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009272

WINDSHIELD WIPER WORK INTERMITTENT DURING USE. WHEN WIPERS ARE NOT TURN ON WIPER WOULD COME ON WITH OUT ANY INDICATION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10006060

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON SPORADICALLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFOMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10004182

THREE FAILURES BETWEEN 40000-69,500 MILES! WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ERRATIC. SOME TIMES OPERATE BY THEMSELVES, WON'T RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION, ETC. PAID DEALER TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE SWITCH THE FIRST TIME, 'DEFECTIVE' MOTOR THE SECOND TIME, AND NOW HAVE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THIRD TIME. OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT. ---DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS----769749. *AK

NHTSA ID

10008561

Incident

Oct 1, 2002

Mileage

69,500 mi

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATE FOR NO REASON. SOMETIMES THEY ACTIVATE WHEN YOU SIGNAL A TURN. MOST OF THE TIME THEY JUST COME ON WHEN THEY JOLLY WELL DECIDE TO. RIGHT SLIDING DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED TWICE. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET THEM REPAIRED BUT HAVE FAILED AGAIN AFTER EACH REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

765477

Incident

Aug 10, 2002

MY CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT, MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENLY, MIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. HORN SPORADICALLY DOES NOT WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID

760426

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED DUE TO WINDSHIELD HEATER MOLDING HAVING MANY BURN SPOTS. *AK THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8005792

UPON STARTING VEHICLE POWER OPERATED WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATICALLY GOES DOWN FACING THE GROUND. AT NIGHT CONSUMER THINKS NOTHNG IS BEHIND WHEN ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE GROUND. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS DANGEROUS. FRONT DRIVERS SEAT AUTOMATICALLY RECLINES BACK WHILE DRIVING. ONCE A SMALL CHILD WAS PINNED IN BEHIND FRONT SEAT AND THE BACK SEAT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES THEY COME ON AND SOMETIMES THEY WON'T. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8005344

Incident

Dec 1, 1997

AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK SERPENTINE BELT FAILED. TENSIONER BELT FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. MIRROR LIGHT IS OUT. DEALER REPLACED THE FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. *YH

NHTSA ID

8002491

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON BY THEMSELVES. ALSO, HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY, AN DWHEN VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. DEALER CONTACTED.PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8002149

Incident

Oct 25, 1999

BOTH PROBLEMS ARE PERENNIAL, IN FORM I COULD NOT SPECIFY. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND MAY FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT; HORN, BY NOT WORKING MAY NOT PREVENT AN ACCIDENT, IT ALMOST HAPPENED ONCE ALREADY; CRUISE CONTROL IS AN INCONVENIENCE NOT HAVING. WIPERS GO ON BY THEMSELVES, SPECIALLY WHEN TURNING ON THE BLINKERS. AT TIMES WIPERS DON'T STOP AND MAY DIVERT YOUR ATTENTION FROM TRAFFIC, IT COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

753316

Incident

Dec 1, 1996

OUR PROBLEM RESIDES (AS WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND NUMEROUS MECHANICS) WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ACTIVATOR SWITCH. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES THE WIPERS COME ON (NOT TURNED ON) ALL BY THEMSELVES WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE. TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM, THEY USUALLY DON'T WANT TO TURN OFF EITHER, DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS AT TURNING THE SWITCH ON & OFF AND EVEN SHUTTING OFF AND RE-STARTING THE ENGINE NUMEROUS TIMES. EVENTUALLY, YOU CAN GET THEM TO SHUT OFF. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM WITH FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTENCES WHOM ALSO OWN CHRYSLER, DODGE AND/OR PLYMOUTH MINI-VANS AND MOST OF THEM REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. EVERY CHRYSLER DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND REPAIR SHOP MECHANIC I'VE TALKED TO IS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOW PROGRESSED INTO WHAT I NOW CONSIDER A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SAME ELECTRICAL SNAFU IN THE STEERING COLUMN IS NOW AFFECTING THE ELECTRONICS (I'M GUESSING) WHICH CONTROL THE SHIFTING IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IF, WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, IT BEGINS TO RAIN, AND YOU TURN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS; THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT DOWN INTO LOW GEAR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY HAZARDOUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON WET PAVEMENT. IT WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW UNLESS YOU BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP; SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RE-START IT. ONCE AGAIN, NOT A SAFE MANEUVER ALONG A BUSY HIGHWAY. BEGINNING AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WILL SHIFT BACK INTO LOW AS SOON AS YOU ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT GROUND SPEED FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO REACH "DRIVE". NEEDLESS TO SAY, WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH DAMAGE OR STRAIN AND WEAR THIS IS PLACING ON THE TRANSMISSION NEEDLESSLY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I SEE THIS MORE AND MORE, NOT JUST AN INCONVENIENCE, BUT A REAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS MINI-VAN IF RAIN OR SNOW IS FORECASTED FOR THEDAY. I'D BE VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY IF POSSIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

752329

Incident

Aug 20, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

747772