VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO CONTROL OF THE GAS OR BREAKS.
- NHTSA ID
- 11005156
- Incident
- Jul 12, 2017
- Mileage
- 15 mi
Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 388 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Chrysler Town And Country. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 388 · page 1 of 16
VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO CONTROL OF THE GAS OR BREAKS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL GRID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
ON IGNITION THE VEHICLES DASH GAGE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS (ODOMETER, GAS GAGE, WARNING LIGHTS) DO NOT TURN ON WITH IGNITION, VEHICLE RUNS 2-3 SECONDS AND SHUTS OFF, WITH NO SPUTTERING OR KNOCKING. SEARCHING ONLINE FOR PROBLEMS OF A SIMILAR NATURE MANY SITES INDICATE THE ERROR MAY STEM FROM AN INCORRECTLY SOLDERED INSTRUMENT DISPLAY PANEL, SPECIFICALLY THE GROUND RETURN ON THE INSTRUMENT CIRCUIT BOARD.
WELL I'AM HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES NOW I CLOSE MY HOOD AND MY 4 WAYS START BLINKING, I TURN ON MY VAN AND THE ABS & AND AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON WHEN I START IT BUT NEVER GO OFF.THE CV BOOT IS BAD AND THE HALF SHALF ON PASSENGER SIDE I THINK ITS MAKING ALOT OF SOUND WHEN I GO DOWN THE ROAD ,I ALREADY BROUGHT BRAND NEW OUTTER TIE ROD ENDS FOR BOTH SIDES, AND SWAG BAR LINGS BRAND NEW FOR BOTH SIDES SPRINGS AND MOUNTS, AND STRUTS THE RADIO SEEMS TO FADE IN AND OUT YOU CAN NOT SEE ANY STATION NUMBERS OR CLOCK TIME ON IT SO I FIGURED ITS AND ELEC ISSUES AND NOW IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAY LIKE ABOUT JULY29TH, 2015 , I GOT BACK HOME AND NOTICED MY TEMPERTURE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND IT SAID H IT WAS IT WAS HOT, THE DAY BEFORE I JUST PAID FOR AND OIL CHANGE AND THATS BECAUSE THEIR WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND TO FIND OUT THE BOLTS WERE ALL LOOSE BUT 1 WHICH WAS STRIPED, BUT ANYWAYS NOW MY FANS ARE NOT GOING AROUND AND ITS NOT KEEPING MY VAN COOL MY HUSBAND HAS CHECKED ALL FUSES BUT CAN'T FIND THE RELAY FOR THE RADIATOR FAN IF THAT EVEN HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, I HAVE PUT OVER 1,000 IN THIS VAN NOW, I'AM HANDID CAP AND I REALLY NEED MY VAN TO GET ME AROUND I ALSO DON'T HAVE THE REMOTE TO OPEN THE DOORS OR LOCK IT SO I HAVE TO DO IT WITH THE KEY , IT SURELY WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A REMOTE THAT GOES WITH THIS VAN , BUT IT SURELY WOULD BE GREAT IF THINGS WOULD WORK RIGHT TO, I CAN BE DRIVING IT DOWN THE ROAD AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL BE LOCKING AND UN LOCKING WHILE I'AM DRIVING ALL BY THEIR SELF ALSO THE WINDOW WIPERS WIPE BUT THE FLUID WILL NOT COME OUT ON THE FRONT WINDOWS OR THE BACK WINDOWS, I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME OUT I WALK WITH 1 TO 2 CANES AND SOMETIMES A WALKER, I HAVE BRACES ON MY LEGS AND HAVE TO HELP MYSELF AT PUTTING MY LEGS IN , I REALLY NEED A MINI VAN THAT WILL WORK FOR ME, THANK YOU.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE WITH MINOR INJURIES TO THE HAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
OXYGEN SENSOR CONNECTER MELTED TO MANIFOLD. WONT GO IN REVERSE KEEPS BLOWING FUSES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V293000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
THE VAN JUST DIED BY ITSELF WHILE RUNNING AT SPEED OF 60 MPH ON FREEWAY. *TR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING, THEN START WORKING, THEN STOP AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY WILL WORK OR NOT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT REPAIR PLACES AND THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE WIPERS HAVE NOT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. IT IS VERY HAZARDOUS NOT KNOWING IF THE WIPERS WILL WORK OR NOT, AND NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIX THEM PERMANENTLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL GRID. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,900. UPDATED 08/15/13*LJ
I WENT TO DMV TO HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED AND WAS GIVEN A REPORT THAT STATED SEVERAL PARTS ON MY VEHICLE WERE RECALLED. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF VEHICLE CAN BE SERVICED FOR FREE FROM DEALER BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTS OR WILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM? PARTS LISTED UNDER RECALL WERE RC-J25-09 EMISSIONS RECALL J25 MOPAR VALUE LINE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS MY CAR FAILED FOR EMISSIONS PROBLEMS B24-CLOCKSPRING SAFETY RECALL - LIFETIME WARRANTY 895- SAFETY RECALL FUEL RAIL SEALS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE SURFACE AROUND THE STRUT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS CORRODED BECAUSE OF POOR DRAINAGE FROM THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A CAP ON THE CORRODED SURFACE TO MINIMIZE CORROSION OF THE ORIGINAL PART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
A TALL BEVERAGE GLASS WAS PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER OF THE VAN. SINCE THE AIR CONDITIONING ON/OFF BUTTON IS POSITIONED IN LINE WITH THE CUP HOLDER, THE BUTTON WAS UNKNOWINGLY PRESSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR WAS DISABLED WHICH CAUSED THE VAN TO BECOME EXCESSIVELY HOT AND THE PERSON INSIDE SUFFERED A HEAT STROKE. THIS IS A BLATANT DESIGN FLAW!!!!!
I REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND PUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH AND THE VAN QUIT ON ME. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD SMELL GAS. GAS WAS LEAKING ALMOST ONTO THE MUFFLER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE FUEL LINE SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING SO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST LINE. I THANK GOD THAT THE VAN DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: RUSTY MCPHERSON STRUT TOWER ATTACHMENT POINTS, A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN CHRYSLER AUTOS. THE PART THAT RUSTS OUT IS PART OF THE CAR'S REINFORCED UNIBODY SHEET METAL. BOTH THE FRONT LEFT AND FRONT RIGHT STRUT TOWERS ARE RUSTED, BUT THE LEFT (DRIVER'S SIDE) CRACKED OPEN UPON HITTING A POTHOLE, MAKING A 1.5" X 4" HOLE IN THE STRUT TOWER ATTACHMENT. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL TO WANDER OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT, SINCE THE STRUT WAS NO LONGER SECURELY ANCHORED TO THE CAR, MAKING THE CAR TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. WHAT WAS DONE: I PURCHASED A CHRYSLER STRUT TOWER REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLED IT. NOTE THAT THESE ARE AVAILABLE AT MOST AUTO PARTS STORES. THIS IS AN INDICATION OF HOW WIDESPREAD A PROBLEM THIS IS WITH SOME CHRYSLER MODELS, AS WELL AS THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS WIDESPREAD SAFETY DEFECT, THOUGH THERE SHOULD BE ONE. CHRYSLER WILL ONLY REPAIR THIS DEFECT FOR FREE UNDER THEIR REGULAR WARRANTY. THEY CHARGE APPROXIMATELY $900 FOR THE REPAIR. I GREW UP IN A "CHRYSLER FAMILY." BETWEEN MY PARENTS AND MYSELF, WE'VE OWNED ABOUT TWENTY CHRYSLER, DODGE, PLYMOUTH AND IMPERIAL CARS AND TRUCKS, BUT AFTER ALL OF THE NUMEROUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR, I'VE SWORN OFF CHRYSLER FOR GOOD. THEIR QUALITY CONTROL IS ABSENT. *TR
ENGINE SUDDENLY TURNS OFF WHILE ON HIGHWAY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON AND OFF WITHOUT TURNING SWITCH, USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE LOCKING OR UNLOCKING DOORS. 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTY, ENGINE STOPPED, AND SO DID POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AROUND CURVE CAUSING DRIVER TO RUN OFF ROAD INTO FIELD. POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY ACCORDING TO LOCAL HOSPITAL, AM TO REPORT TO NEUROLOGIST ASAP. MECHANICS CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME ABNORMALLY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE DEFROSTER ALSO FAILED AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS DETACHED. THE CONTACT REATTACHED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED 3 TIMES AND ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOULD REATTACH THE SERPENTINE BELT HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 187,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LXI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.
SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK IF YOU PULL THEM OUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN THEY DON'T STOP. EVEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE DRIVER BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD DROP TO ZERO INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STOPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. SM.
THE STRUT HOUSING ON MY 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN&COUNTRY ARE BOTH RUSTING AND WILL SOON RENDER MY VAN INOPERATABLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS THE WORST AND THERE BOTH GETTING WORSE. I WILL BE IN DANGER IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 164,000. UPDATED 9/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BAD CONNECTION AT THE END OF THE WIRING HARNESS. UPDATED 09/14/10*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 198,000.
I TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND I HAVE NO INSTRUMENT GAUGES WORKING ON THE DASH ALSO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. I WENT TO A SERVICE TECH AND HAD THE DASH DISPLAY REPLACED, THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP? *TR
MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINI-VAN WHEN SHE STOPPED TO PICK UP YARD SALE SIGNS. WHEN SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT PARK, SHE EXITED THE VAN AND STARTED WALKING TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VAN WHEN IT SELF-SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, KNOWN AS THE PARK-TO-REVERSE DEFECT. THE VAN KNOCKED MY MOTHER DOWN AND PINNED HER UNDER THE VAN WHERE SHE DIED FROM BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE HEAD. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED IN CHRYSLER VEHICLES. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND YOU HAVE EVEN INVESTIGATED THIS VERY DEFECT 3 OR 4 TIMES PREVIOUS TO MY MOTHERS DEATH AND HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT, NOW I DON'T HAVE A MOTHER. *TR THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN ENGINEER AND HE CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE DID HAVE THE PARK-TO REVERSE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO FALSE PARK AND SECONDS LATER, IT WOULD GO INTO REVERSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED, IT HAPPENED FOUR OUT OF TEN TIMES. UPDATED IVOQ 11/17/10 THE CONSUMER STATED NONE OF THE RECALLS THAT WERE ISSUED, REALLY FIXED THE ACTUAL DEFECT IN THE SHIFT SELECTOR OF THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED IVOQ 12/10/10.*JB UPDATED 12/21/10.*JB
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.
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