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 1999 Chrysler Town And Country submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
I WAS DRIVING ON STREET AND BRAKES WENT OUT. DID NOT HIT ANYONE BUT HAD TO DRIVE TO SHOP DO TO NO BRAKES VERY SLOW. BRAKES LINE RUSTED OUT AND HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP AND GO. ALL PARTS OF VAN IS RUSTING FRAME THAT HOLDS MOTOR IN RUSTED AND CAN NOT TRADE IN DO TO DEALER SAID IT IS A SAFETY FACTOR AND IT CAN NOT BE REPAIRED DO TO RUST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE GEARS COULD BE SHIFTED WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK WAS NOT PLACED IN THAT PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THEREFORE, THE FAILURE WAS CONSIDERED A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PARTICULAR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.
MY 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR; HE APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HE WAS DRIVING SLOW ENOUGH AND STARTED BRAKING SOON ENOUGH THAT HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR PRIOR TO THE INTERSECTION BY PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL VIGOROUSLY. BOTH OF THE SOLID FRONT BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED OUT AT THE CONNECTION POINTS WITH THE FLEXIBLE HOSES... I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE LINES DUE TO SIMILAR RUSTING PROBLEMS (3 YEARS AGO), AND DID ASK THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES ABOUT A YEAR AGO PRIOR TO LETTING MY SON DRIVE THE 'OLD' MINIVAN; THE BRAKE LINES WERE GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH... *TR
IT HAD BEEN RAINING BUT HAD STOPPED. I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN WHEN MY RIGHT TIRE WENT THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 2-4" OF WATER IN THE GUTTER. I IMMEDIATELY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND VEERED INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO CARS IN THAT LANE. I HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I WAS FORTUNATE THE GARAGE WAS AROUND THE CORNER. THE BELT HAD SLIPPED OFF THE PULLEYS. THE BELT HAD NOT BROKEN, ONLY SLIPPED OFF. THEY SAID I WAS THE 3RD TOWN AND COUNTRY THAT DAY THAT HAD TO HAVE THE BELT PUT BACK ON DUE TO THE WET WEATHER, AND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH MODEL FOR MANY YEARS. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME TO SEND THIS REPORT. WHEN I HIT "VERIFY" EVERYTHING GOES BLANK. *TR
ON THIS DAY I WAS SITING IN MY VAN WITH THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION RESETTING MY CLOCKS IN THE VEHICLE I RESTED MY HAND ON THE SHIFTER WHEN IT RELEASED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE GEAR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING THERE ARE NO BRAKES BECAUSE OF POWER BRAKING YOU CANT STOP ON A DIME SO I QUICKLY ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING DOWN MY DRIVE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHO CLAIMS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE SINCE THEY DID NOT INSTALL THIS SAFTEY FEATURE ON ANY CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VAN TO DATE ALSO I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH WHEN IT RAINS THE SERPENTINE BELT FALLS OFF THE PULLEYS IF WATER SPLASHES UP ONTO THE BELT ITSELF CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING DUE TO THIS DEFECT CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT AGAIN REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLES FOR A SAFER FIX SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEOFE THEY KILL SOMEONE. *TR
HIT THE BRAKES HEAVILY TO AVOID A STOPPED VEHICLE. FOUR MILES LATER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE PROCEEDING DOWN A THREE MILE MOUNTAIN ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY STOPPED BY PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN LOW RANGE, PUMPING THE BRAKES AND APPLICATION OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM BOTH METAL BRAKE LINES JUST AFT OF THE ANTI-LOCK CONTROL VALVE. THE METAL LINES ARE SEVERELY CORRODED AT THE JUNCTION OF THE SOLID METAL LINE AND THE BRAIDED STAINLESS STEEL SECTION. SEARCH OF THE INTERNET AT "WWW.RIPOFFREPORT.COM" REVEALED THAT MINE ISN'T AN ISOLATED CASE. REPORT #153655 AT THAT SITE READS IDENTICAL TO MY EXPERIENCE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE BARELY SLOWED DOWN AND GLIDED THROUGH A RED LIGHT. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SEPARATED FROM THE STAINLESS STEEL TO THE SOLID STEEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,020 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,001.
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, PEDAL SANK ALMOST TO THE FLOOR INDICATING A FLUID LEAK. BRAKES BARELY WORKED AT ALL AND LIMPED TO CHYSLER DEALER WHO FOUND RUPTURED RIGID BRAKE LINE WHERE IT JOINS TO A SHORT BRAIDED FLEXIBLE SECTION. TWO LONG RIGID BRAKE LINES THAT RUN NEARLY THE LENGTH OF THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED AND AS REQUESTED OLD PARTS WERE RETURNED TO ME. ONLY IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA WHERE THE FLEXIBLE LINE JOINS THE RIGID LINES WAS THERE SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. ONE OF THE LINES HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND RUPTURED AT THIS POINT. THE REST OF THE RIGID LINES WERE FREE OF CORROSION. THE VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD WITH 100,000 MILES IN A RELATIVELY LOW SALT ENVIRONMENT, THERE SHOULD NOT BE SEVERE CORROSION AT THIS TIME CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. THE JOINT AREA BETWEEN THE FLEX LINE AND THE RIGID LINE IS A DESIGN FAULT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE REPLACED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION. *NM
THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH HEATED SEATS. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE SEATS CHECKED. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETECTED. NOW, THE PASSENGER SEATS ARE OVER HEATING ALSO. THE OWNER HAD THE SEATS REPLACED ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASSIONS. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL FOUR SEATS FAILED. BOTH FRONT SEATS HAD BURN HOLES IN THEM. THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE STRUT TOWER WENT BAD AND HAD IT REPLACED. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT A VIBRATION IS FELT WHILE DRIVING AS IF THE VEHICLE DROVE ON FOUR FLAT TIRES. THE CONSUMER HEARD A WHINING NOISE WHEN USING THE AM RADIO WHICH ONLY HAPPED WHEN USING THE BRAKE. *TC
I HAVE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE 2001 WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VAN, AND I AM TIRED OF SPENDING MONEY ON THIS PROBLEM, AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I HAD NO WARNING OF THAT.
ALL FOUR RIMS RUSTED OUT. *BF ALL FOUR RAMPS AND TIRES COLLAPSED. THE BRAKES COULD NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE THE VAN RUNS SO HOT. *NM
DEALERSHIP TRIED BUT COULD NOT REPAIR WHAREVER IS CAUSING THE CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT SUSPENSION. OTHER REFERS TO SEAT HEATER BURNING A HOLE IN THE SEAT, DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURE REFUSE TO REPAIR.
PROBLEMS WITH THE CLOCK-SPRING (CRUISE CONTROL,HORN,REMOTE RADIO CONTROLS,AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT) PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER . REPLACED ON 1/14/03 [64,100]. *NLM
BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH. *AK
VEHICLE WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL. WHEN BRAKES FAIL BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, LOSING ALL FUNCTIONS. BRAKE FLUID HAS TO BE IN VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES IN CASE OF A REFILL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AKI
THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT BRAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. *AK CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MATERIALS USED IN THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE NOT UP TO STANDARD. *YH
I HAD TO HAVE THE TANK ON MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED DUE TO SEEPING OF BRAKE FLUID. NO OBVIOUS SOURCE OF THE LEAK WAS DETERMINED. IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM AROUND THE RUBBER SEALS WHERE THE TANK ATTACHES TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FIRST WARNING OF THE LEAK WAS THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. UPON CHECKING THE FLUID IT WAS DISCOVERED TO BE VERY LOW. IT WAS REFILLED TO THE PROPER LEVEL. THE TANK AREA WAS WELL CLEANED AND DRIED. WITHIN HOURS THE TANK WAS AGAIN WET WITH FLUID. THE LEVEL GRADUALLY DECREASED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AS THE FLUID SEEPED OUT. NO BRAKE FAILURE WAS OBSERVED, ON LOSS OF FLUID FROM THE TANK. I HAD A LOCAL MECHANIC PURCHASE A NEW TANK FROM A DEALER AND PUT IT ON THE CAR. NEW RUBBER SEALS WERE PROVIDED WITH THE TANK. TIME WILL TELL IF THIS HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AK
MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED INTO THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WHICH CAUSED MY ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN MOVING AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED MANY FATALITIES. THE DEALER FIXED IT AT NO COST, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED MANY FATALITIES.
SNOW OR ICE LEAKED INTO MY REAR BRAKES, MY REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP AND VAN IMMEDIATELY STOPPED. THERE WAS A LOAD POP WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE VAN HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. WE WERE NOT INJURED BECAUSE WE WERE GOING VERY SLOWLY WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC IF WE HAD BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED. I THINK THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM ON OTHER VANS LIKE OURS AND THAT IT HAS PROBABLE CAUSED SOME SERIOUS CRASHES. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND THERE WERE DEERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DANCING. HOWEVER, DEERS WERE FAR AWAY, UP THE ROAD. THERE WAS TIME FOR VEHICLE TO STOP. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES TWO TIMES, BUT BRAKES DIDN'T STOP. VEHICLE. THIRD TIME SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY GRABBED A LITTLE BIT. BUT, IT WAS TOO LATE,VEHICLE RAN INTO THE DEERS. VEHICLE SUFFERED DAMAGE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF MALFUNCTIONED BRAKES. THERE WAS AIR IN BRAKE LINES. ROTORS WERE HEATED BECAUSE PADS AND ROTORS WERE BLUE, AND PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED.*AK
ROTORS HAVE RUSTED FROM INSIDE, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK
CONSUMER HAS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. HAS TO INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCE TO STOP. DEALER SAYS THE BRAKES ARE THE BEST DESIGN FOR THE VEHICLE.*AK
THIS VAN IS VERY UNSAFE I NEED HELP
REAR AXLE OF BROKE! AXLE BROKE ON INSIDE OF RIGHT REAR WHEEL/BRAKE ASSEMBLY. CAUSED BRAKES TO FAIL AS CONTINUED ON THREE (3) WHEELS. WE SKIDDED LEFT AND RIGHT, TURNED INTO THE SKIDS, ALMOST HITTING OTHER MOTORISTS AND VEHICLES. ALMOST WENT OVER EMBAKEMENTS. FRAME BENT. NEW TIRE AT TIME.
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND VEHICLE VIBRATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *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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