1997 Chrysler Town And Country Engine Problems

VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO CONTROL OF THE GAS OR BREAKS.

NHTSA ID

11005156

Incident

Jul 12, 2017

Mileage

15 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10377176

Incident

Sep 1, 2010

Mileage

185,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10331572

Incident

Aug 25, 2009

Mileage

196,000 mi

WHEN YOUR SERPENTINE BELT BREAKS, IS REPLACED BECAUSE OF DAMAGE OR WEAR OR JUST FALLS OFF THE PULLEYS WHEN YOU GO THROUGH WATER PUDDLES... THEN YOU MUST REPLACE THE BELT TENSIONER AS WELL AS THE BELT TO REDUCE FUTURE PROBLEMS... I HAVE A 1997 T & C AND HAVE JUST RECENTLY REPLACED THE BELT TENSIONER OF THE 2ND TIME... NOT HARD OR EXPENSIVE.... MUST DO ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS... THE TENSIONERS WEARS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224651

Incident

Nov 1, 2007

Mileage

218,000 mi

I HAVE 1997 DODGE TOWN AND COUNTRY VAN AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS THE SERPENTINE BELT POPS OFF. DODGE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO SURE WAY OF RESOLVING IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING ONCE THE BELTS POPS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224288

Incident

Apr 8, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

ENGINE BELT SQUEAK/FAILURE/FALLING OFF. REPLACE BELT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222128

Incident

Dec 14, 2007

CHRYSLER LXI MINIVAN -- 1997 -- AIRBAG, HORN FAILURE [CLOCKSPRING?] -- REPORTED BY MANY AS A COMMON ISSUE. CAR HAS ABOUT 52,000 MILES. ENGINE WAS REPLACED (SHORT BLOCK) AT 13,000 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183176

Incident

Feb 15, 2007

Mileage

52,000 mi

THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHEN IT RAINS. YOU LOSE STEERING ABILITY IMMEDIATELY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171163

Incident

Oct 17, 2006

Mileage

88,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, NOT STANDING WATER OR HIGH WATER, MY 97 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY STARTED OVERHEATING. NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG, I PULLED OVER AND LET IT COOL OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART MY TRIP. THIS CONTINUED EVERY 1/2 MILE AND FINALLY I HAD NO POWER STEERING. TRYING TO GET TO A FILLING STATION, IT FINALLY JUST DIED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED, STAYING IN A HOTEL AND TAKING A CAB TO WORK, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY SERPENTINE BELT JUST CAME OFF. HE REPLACED IT. HE STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BE HAPPENING WITH THESE VANS AND FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY AND LABOR COSTS I COULD HAVE A "KIT" INSTALLED AND WILL HOPEFULLY PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM CONTINUALLY HAPPENING. THE KIT HE SPOKE ABOUT WAS A BELT THAT IS RIBBED ON BOTH SIDES AND REPLACEMENT OF A PULLEY. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THEN CHRYSLER SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THIS FREE OF CHARGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162215

Incident

Jul 11, 2006

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE IN COOL DAMP WEATHER (25-45 DEGREES F WITH HIGH HUMIDITY). THEY CANNOT BE CONTROLLED- SOMETIMES OPERATING FOR 10 MINUTES WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TURN THEM OFF, SOMETIMES THEY GO INTO DELAY MODE BY THEMSELVES, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT EVEN TURN ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2002. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED WITH OUR 1997 DODGE INTREPID ES WHICH WE SOLD IN 2002 DUE TO IT BEING AN ELECTRICAL NIGHTMARE, A LEMON FROM THE FACTORY. THOUGH PURCHASED NEW, THE DEALER WOULD NOT MAKE ANY EFFORT TO HAVING THE CAR REPLACED THOUGH WE SUFFERED THROUGH 3 YEARS OF WARRANTY "REPAIRS" FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ANYWAY, I DIGRESS...

NHTSA ID

10125050

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

LAST DECEMBER 2004 WHILE DRIVING, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A TURN. I LOOKED UNDER HOOD AND FOUND S BELT HAD SLIPPED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE IT FIXED. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS. TODAY 5/9, AGAIN, THE BELT CAME OFF AS MY SISTER WAS ABOUT TO GO DOWN AN INCLINE. SHOULD SHE HAVE BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF DESCENDING, SHE WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT, BECAUSE OF A SHARP TURN IN THE ROAD. AT THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT EXIST WITH THE TENSIONER IN THIS VEHICLE, AND THAT IT SLIPS OFF WHEN IT RAINS OR IF WATER GETS INTO IT. IN ORDER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN USE I'VE HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. FROM THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ, THIS SHOULD BE MADE INTO A RECALL ISSUE, AND THOSE WHO'VE HAD TO MAKE REPAIRS AND REPLACE BELTS, SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

10120727

Incident

May 9, 2005

Mileage

64,789 mi

THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE FAN BELT TENSIONER ONTO THE ENGINE BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. AS A RESULT, THE FAN BELT BROKE OFF AND THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING. *AK THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP. THE FAN BELT PULLEY TENSIONER WAS REPLACED. *BF

NHTSA ID

10117654

Incident

Apr 4, 2005

Mileage

53,813 mi

CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINI VAN 1997 SERPENTINE BELT FALLS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US AT LEAST 5 TIMES. THIS BELT WILL COME OFF WHEN EVER IT IS RAINING OR SNOWING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS WE LOSE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE HAD SOME NEAR TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS WITH THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO NOT GET HURT. CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THE FAILURE IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 07-02-99. WE HAD TO INSTALL A SPECIAL BRACKET ASSEMBLY 4612412. EVEN WITH THIS BRACKET THE BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10107653

Incident

Jan 11, 2005

WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10092246

Incident

Aug 24, 2004

Mileage

122,050 mi

WHILE DRIVING SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. AS A RESULT, POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED. SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES, HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10065103

Incident

Mar 29, 2004

Mileage

52,000 mi

I HAD THE BELT REPLACED ON MY 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY TO AVOID A BREAKAGE. SINCE THAT TIME, THE BELT HAS COME OFF TWICE ALLEGEDLY DUE TO WATER/RAIN. I LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS & HAVE BEEN IN ALOT MORE RAIN OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME, THEY JUST PUT THE BELT BACK ON, THE LAST TIME, I WAS CHARGED AN EXTRA $50 FOR A BETTER BELT, BUT WAS ALSO TOLD OF AN ADVISORY THAT CHRYSLER ISSUED 7-2-99 INDICATING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT A BRACKET COULD BE USED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THIS WOULD COST ANOTHER $260 TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT NEVER EXISTED BEFORE I HAD THE BELT REPLACED. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR NEW BELTS, BUT BECAUSE MY VAN IS OLDER, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO FOOT THE BILL TO FIX IT AND THEY ARE JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY AND EVERYONE ELSE'S BY NOT DOING SO. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VAN DURING OR AFTER A RAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056474

Incident

Nov 27, 2003

JANUARY 2003 - R & R CROSS OVER PIPES HAD A CRACK. HAD TO REPLACE JANUARY 2003 - 3 LUGNUTS FELL OFF. HAD TO REPLACE JULY 2003 - KEY CYLINDER LOCKED UP. HAD TO REPLACE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. OCTOBER 2003 - FUEL PUMP WENT BAD. PART BROKE INSIDE THE GAS TANK. HAD TO REMOVE THE TANK AND BUY A NEW PART. I HAVE A TOYOTA WITH 128K MILES AND IT HAS NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS! I'M THINKING ABOUT TRADING THE VAN IN.

NHTSA ID

10070961

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

57,199 mi

THE MOST RECENT BRAKE FAILURE WAS THE MOST POTENTIALLY DEADLY. WITHOUT WARNING, WE HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS SEIZING UP. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, OFFERED TO SEND THEM THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE RECALL CENTER, WE WERE TOLD CHRYSLER WAS NOT INTERESTED. CHRYSLER CONTACTS WERE VERY RUDE. WE PULLED UP A RECALL FROM NHTSA ID NUMBER 96V215000. OUR CONCERN WAS THE REMARK IN THE CORRECTIVE SUMMARY. THE MASTER CYLINDERS IN 1997 MINIVANS MADE IN ST. LOUIS WERE DEFECTIVE. OUR MINIVAN WAS MANUFACTURED IN ST. LOUIS. ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER RECALL CENTER, THE RECALL WAS ON VEHICLES WITH TRACTION CONTROL. WE HAVE TRACTION CONTROL. PEOPLE AT CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT TALK TO US ABOUT THE RECALL NOTICE TO HELP US. OUR VAN IS HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE. SAFETY FOR OUR FAMILY AND OUT DISABLED SON IS OF UTMOST CONCERN. SINCE CHRYSLER IS NO HELP, WHO IS?

NHTSA ID

10070889

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 82,000 & 86,000 MILES, MY ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A TICKING SOUND. SINCE I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I TOOK THE VAN IN TO A NEARBY SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE FIRST THING THE MECHANIC CALLED ME ABOUT WAS AN OIL LEAK...HE THOUGHT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND WAS CALLING FOR MY AUTHORIZATION. WHEN HE REMOVED THE VALVE COVER, HE CALLED BACK TO INFORM ME THAT I HAD A BROKEN HEAD. SOMEHOW, ONE OF THE STANCHIONS THAT HOLDS THE ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE ROCKER ARM NEXT TO THAT STANCHION WAS LOOSE AND CAUSING THE CLICKING SOUND. NEITHER HE NOR I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT TYPE OF PART FAILURE AND I WENT TO THE SHOP TO SEE WHAT HE HAD FOUND. THE STANCHION WAS BROKEN THROUGH ABOUT 1/4 INCH BELOW THE ROCKER ARM. IN MY MIND, SINCE A HEAD IS A SOLID BLOCK OF CAST ALUMINUM, THIS WAS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD WEAR OUT OR HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE HAD NEVER OVERHEATED, ET CETERA. IN QUOTING THE REPAIR ESTIMATE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT SINCE THE HEAD WAS BROKEN, IN ADDITION TO THE COST OF PURCHASING A RECONDITIONED HEAD, I WOULD ALSO HAVE TO PAY A $200.00 CORE CHARGE SINCE MY BROKEN HEAD COULD NOT BE EXCHANGED AND RECONDITIONED. TO MY WAY OF THINKING, SINCE THE HEAD SHOULDN'T HAVE BROKEN IN SUCH A MANNER ANYWAY, THE CORE CHARGE WAS UNFAIR. MY BELIEF WAS THAT THIS IS EITHER A CASTING OR DESIGN FLAW AND REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT I WAS 16,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY, THIS TYPE OF BREAKAGE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I THEN WENT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF CHRYSLER CORP. WAS HELPING CONSUMERS WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. HE THEN PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. I LEARNED A FEW MORE THINGS FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER. FIRST, SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, HE WAS CERTAIN THAT CHRYSLER WOULD NOT HELP IN ANY WAY WITH THE REPAIRS. WHEN THEY RECONDITION THE HEADS, THEY NOW INSERT A SHAFT THROUGH THE STANCHIONS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO PREVENT THESE BREAKS.

NHTSA ID

10070318

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

82,000 mi

WHILE TURNING/BRAKING VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049976

Incident

Nov 30, 2003

Mileage

58,000 mi

"SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT COMES ON AT 55 TO 60 MPH ACCOMPANIED BY A STUMBLE IN CAR'S MOTION. DEALER TRIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047160

Incident

Jul 16, 2003

Mileage

61,110 mi

ENGINE FAILS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. IT HAPPENS OFTEN AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. DEALER INSTALLED A CO-PILOT WHICH REGISTERED A NUMBER OF OCCURENCES. SINCE AUGUST 2003 DEALER TRIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047157

Incident

Jul 16, 2003

Mileage

61,110 mi

THE EVAPORATOR HEATER COIL AND EXPANSION VALVE MALFUNCTIONED. PRIOR TO THIS, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING THE VAN. THIS HAPPENED SINCE JANUARY 2002. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE ABOVE PARTS. *AK THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS, THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER HAD BEEN REPLACED. *SCC ALSO THE HORN, DRIVER SEAT RACK AND GRILL WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10024175

Incident

Jun 16, 2003

Mileage

41,696 mi

NAR 06/19/2003. *MR SOON AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLEH HAD A FLAT TIRE BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED, BUT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS DEFECTIVE. ALONG WITH THE PARKING BRAKES SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS EXISTED WITH THE VEHICLE. A BELT TENSIONER AND TUNE UP WAS NEEDED. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR THE FUEL RAILS AND CLOCKS SPRINGS. HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO RECOGNIZE OTHER MALFUNCTIONS LIKE THE PARKING BRAKES IN WHICH THE CONSUMER FELT A RECALL NEEDED TO BE ISSUED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND GIVE PROMPT RESPONSE. *CB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REASON THE PARKING NRAKE DID NOT WORK WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE NEEDED DISC PADS, BRAKE SHOES ROTORS AND DRUMS BECAUSE THEY WERE GLAZED AND COULD NOT BE RESURFACED. THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO CLEANED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10024448

Incident

Jul 4, 2002

Mileage

58,456 mi

VAN ENGINE DIES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT ANY SPUTTERING OR WARNING, LIKE SOMEONE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN AS SOON AS I PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND TURN KEY. OFTEN WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL JERK REAL HARD LIKE I JUST DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP, BUT ENGINE DOES NOT KILL. THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES FOR A SECOND. DEALER SAYS NOTHING SHOWS ON COMPUTER SO THERES NOTHING HE CAN DO. CHRYSLER IN DETROIT WAS CALLED AND SAID THE SAME THING. THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I SEE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM POSTED ALSO. HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS OR SO. IT SEEMS IF THE DEALERS COMPUTER DOESN'T GIVE THEM A CODE THEY ARE LOST AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP. IT'S A VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN!

NHTSA ID

10005350

Incident

Nov 5, 2002

Mileage

57,350 mi