Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chrysler Town And Country submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER NO BRAKE HAD TO QUICKLY TURN OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND TRY TO RESTART IT IS HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS I HAD A RECALL PART REPLACED BY DEALER AND STILL NOTHING SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE AS I SEE THIS IS A COMMON FACTOR AND EVENTUALLY WILL CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT
COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM DUE TO A RUPTURE OF A BRAKE LINE. LUCKY FOR US WE WERE ON A FLAT SECTION OF ROAD AND DRIFTED TO A STOP. IF WE HAD BEEN THREE SECONDS LATER WE WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO CROSS TRAFFIC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BATTERY, ABS, TRAC OFF, AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,986.
I PURCHASED THIS VAN DEC 2010. I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AT 9PM DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR - NO BRAKES. NEXT DAY I TOOK TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD ALL THE LINES WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED REPLACED. I HAD ALL NEW BRAKE LINES INSTALLED FRONT TO BACK BY A REPAIR SHOP IN MARCH 2011. ONCE AGAIN, I HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM TODAY, JUST OVER A YEAR- EXCEPT THE LINES WERE NOT RUSTED. 08/21/2012 - DRIVING ON A STATE ROAD GOING ABOUT 40 MPH COMING TO A STOP LIGHT SLOWING DOWN, SUDDENLY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES. FLUID WAS GUSHING OUT BY THE REAR TIRE. I PULLED TO GAS STATION AND THE FLUID WAS LEAKING/DRIPPING OUT. THE MORE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED THE MORE FLUID WAS FORCED OUT. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT EVEN KILLED. LUCKY FOR ME IT WAS 1 PM IN THE AFTERNOON. I MOVED FROM INDIANA 6/1/2011 TO FLORIDA. THE VAN NOW HAS 180,000 MILES. *TR
RUST THROUGH AT THE GAS TANK OF BRAKE LINE. *JS
REPEATED DISMOUNT OF SERPENTINE BELT FROM CRANKSHAFT PULLEY DUE TO WATER SPLASHING FROM RIGHT FRONT TIRE. HAS OCCURRED FOUR OR FIVE TIMES SINCE OWNING THE 1998 VEHICLE IN 2001. THIS CAUSED THE ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKING AND ELECTRICAL POWER FROM THE ALTERNATOR. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY CHRYSLER TO PROVIDE S SHIELD TO PROTECT THIS AREA. *TR
RE: 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MILEAGE: 75,000 COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE - PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR - UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOWED TO THE DEALER - DIAGNOSIS : CORRODED REAR BRAKE LINE. BEING REPAIRED NOW - WILL ASK FOR OLD PART TO BE SAVED. BRAKE LINES SHOULD LAST FOR LIFE OF VEHICLE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAULTY DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINE. NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRED CHRYSLER TO NOTIFY ALL OWNERS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE READ OF MANY OTHER OCCURRENCES WITH THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS CAR. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM ARISES AS A RESULT OF BI-METAL REACTION WHERE STAINLESS STEEL AND STEEL LINES ARE WELDED TOGETHER. THIS VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR OTHER WORK JUST FIVE MONTHS PRIOR AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE IN DANGER! *TR
SUDDEN PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH REAR SERVICE BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINES RESULTED IN LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID IN A VERY SHORT TIME (MINUTES FROM FIRST ILLUMINATION OF BRAKE WARNING LIGHT). FAILURE WAS DUE TO CORROSION FROM DISSIMILAR METALS AT THE JUNCTION OF THE FLEXIBLE BRAIDED BRAKE LINE TO THE RIGID BRAKE LINE FOR BOTH REAR BRAKE SYSTEMS. *JB
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 10 MILES OR MORE AND ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE STEERING. THE FRONT AXLE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED, THE WHEELS WERE ROTATED TO ENSURE THEY WEREN'T BENT, AND NEW MOTOR MOUNTS WERE INSTALLED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED FOR OVER 2 YEARS. THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON AND STAYED ON FOR A 1/4 OF A MILE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ABS PUMP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *AK
1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TS THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE BELT AND TENSIONER WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOISY. THE HANDBRAKE DID NOT HOLD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEVER AND CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE SWAY BAR LINK WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS NOISY. THE REAR HATCH LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM
WHEN PARKED EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WOULD RELEASE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IT LOCKED UP AND FAILED TO DISENGAGE. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE , BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.*AK CLARK TIRE AND AUTO FOUND THE BRAKE LINING OFF AND JAMMED IN THE DRUM. BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED AND PARTS WERE INSTALLED TO PREVENT BRAKES FROM LOCKING. MECHANIC STATED EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE SERVICED, THE RACKET FROZE UP. *PH *JB
WHILE DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AN D REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN CONSUMER PUTS VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNS VEHICLE OFF WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE RELEASES BY ITSELF, THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE BELT TENSIONER AND WATER PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED.*JG
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING/ POWER BRAKES AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FAN BELT SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. *AK
ABS BRAKES FAILED. MARGINAL CAUSED BRAKES TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. HAD NO BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN PRESSED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INDICATED COMPUTER WAS CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. BRAKES WERE IN A LOCKED MODE. *AK
VEHICLE STOPPED IN PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE RUNNING. TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE TO ACCELERATE, AND ENGINE REVVED UP, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. APPLIED BRAKES, DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. IT SPED UP TO 60 MPH, HIT CARS/ FENCE. FINALLY, STOPPED VEHICLE. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALER, DAMAGE UNKNOWN, CHRYSLER CONTACTED, SAID FILE OPENED. *AK
RAKES HAD FAILED 4 TIMES WHEN IN USE. ALWAYS HAPPENING WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. VEHICLE WOULD INCREASE ITS STOPPING DISTANCE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. AFTER REPAIRS, THE PROBLEM WOULD RETURN. BRAKE STOPPING IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING. CAN SEEMS TO BE RESOLVED.*AK
THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO DAVID ELLIS FOR A BRAKE REPAIR ON 8/21/00. THE CAR MADE A NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKING. ALSO THE PEDAL DID NOT FEEL RIGHT. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PADS, ROTORS, WHEEL CYLINDERS AND THE MASTER CYLINDER. THEY HAD TO REPALCE THE MASTER CYLINDER TWICE WHILE THEY HAD IT UNDER REPAIR. THE MORNING AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR, IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, IT WAS REVVING VERY LOUD AND WITH VERY HIGH RPMS AND THEN IT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SMELL. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR I OBSERVED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE FRONT WHEEL. CHRYSLER HAS INSPECTED AND SAYS THEY DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THEY ARE WILLING TO FIX THE FIRE DAMAGE BUT THEY CANNOT "FIX" THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS. I DO NOT FEEL THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE UNLESS THEY CAN PINPOINT THE CAUSE AND HAVE IT REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THEY ARE ALSO REFUSING TO RETURN THE PARTS TO ME, AND I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT I NEED TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED FOR FUTURE LITIGATION. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY WILL BE SENDING THEM TO CHRYSLER, WHO HAS ALSO REFUSED TO RETURN THEM TO ME.
THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS IN COLDER WEATHER OF APPROXIMATELY 35 DEGREES, OR COLDER. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENTIRE DASH (SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, ODOMETER, ETC) WILL BE INOPERATIVE. WHILE IN VIRGINIA OVER THE HOLIDAYS THIS PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING EVERY DAY. ORIGINALLY, THIS HAPPENED ONLY WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. WHILE IN VIRGINIA OVER THE HOLIDAYS IT ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. AT THAT TIME, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ALSO CAME ON, AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP, UNTIL YESTERDAY, SINCE DECEMBER 30, 1999, WHEN I RETURNED HOME TO BEAUFORT. THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND ATTRIBUTE IT TO AN UNKNOWN VOLTAGE RISE (FROM 2.5 AMPS TO 3.0), BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND STILL DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. WE HAVE CONTACTED CHYRSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE, WHO HAS OPENED A CORPORATE FILE (#660213), BUT HAVE NO OTHER INFORMATION FROM THEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THOUGH BUTLER CHRYSLER BELIEVED THAT THEY HAD CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WHEN WE PURCHASED IT. WE FIRST FOUND THAT IT STILL EXISTED IN NOVEMBER, AND HAS REOCCURRED PROBLEMS SINCE, UNTIL IT WAS GIVEN TO THEM 12/30/99 TO BE FIXED. THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO US YESTERDAY, NOT REPAIRED, UNTIL THEY DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. WE FEEL THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVING.*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER, BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN THE FLOOR AND VAN DID NOT STOP. WHEN DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING A VAN IN FRONT OF HER, SHE HIT THE SAME VAN ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VAN WILL BE CHECK BY THE DEALERSHIP ON JULY 8, 1999. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
IN PANIC STOPS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM NOR DID THEY FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BRAKES FAILED. YH
WHEN DRIVER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHILE THE VAN WAS IN REVERSE ON A STEEP SLOPE, THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR 90% AND NOTHING HAPPENED. DRIVER THEN RELEASED THE BRAKES AND PRESSED DOWN AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES FOR THE 3RD TIME, THE DRIVER HIT A CAR PARKED DOWNHILL ABOUT 40 FEET AWAY. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN, AND REFUSED TO TALK TO OWNER. AN ENGINEERING COMPANY WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK
ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, QUICKER STOPS THAN NORMAL. PLENTY OF ROOM TO BRAKE, THERE WAS TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSING A REAR END CRASH. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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