1999 Chrysler Town And Country Suspension Problems

Strut mounts are very rusty, the Chrysler recommended repair could not be done, due to extensive rust around the strut tower. This is confirmed by many other owners of this year and generation of vehicle. The vehicle is is good shape except for this and the problem was caused by a manufacturing defect which allowed rusting in the strut towers. This problem started happening approximately when it was just 10 years old or less and got worse and worse over the years. I have not driven it for many years because it seems very unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11592632

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

WANTED TO TRADE VAN IN AND THEY TOLD ME DO TO SAFETY FACTORS COULD NOT TAKE IN ON A TRADE. SAID THAT THE RUST ON VAN UNDER CARRIAGE WAS SO BAD THAT MOTOR COULD FALL OUT AND IT WAS NOT WORTH TAKING IN ON A TRADE DO TO THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

10891744

Incident

Jul 20, 2016

Mileage

270,000 mi

THERE WAS NO INCIDENT YET. THE DRIVER'S SIDE UPPER STRUT BRACKET IS RUSTED ABOUT A 1/4 OF THE TOP SIDE. DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MOISTURE COULD HAVE COME FROM? THE SEALS ABOVE THAT AREA SEEM OK. COULDN'T FIND ANY PAST RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS JUST FINE. AT THIS POINT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WON'T COVER FIXING IT. AND AM NOT SURE WHAT COULD BE DONE? THIS IS MY MOM'S CAR AND THE INFORMATION BELOW IS MINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10677035

Incident

Jan 20, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

STRUT TOWER CORRODED AND SPRING AND STRUT POPPED THRU AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435246

Incident

Oct 28, 2011

Mileage

158,000 mi

WE TOOK OUR 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY TO OUR MECHANIC TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP REPLACED AND HE INFORMED US OF THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTING OUT AND SHOULD HAVE IT REPLACED AS IT COULD BE A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS REPORTED TO US ON 08-2011 WITH THE CAR HAVING 142000 MILES ON IT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR IT AT THIS POINT. AM LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10419536

Incident

Aug 15, 2011

Mileage

142,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ADDING OIL IN THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE SHOCK STRUT TOWERS WERE RUSTED AND WOULD CAUSE THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000. UPDATED 3/14/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED AND THE STRUT BROKE THROUGH THE BODY OF THE TOWER. THE STRUT CAME TO REST ONLY INCHES AWAY. THE LOCAL BODY SHOP REBUILT THE TOWER BY WELDING SHEET METAL . HE FORMED AND REINFORCED THE SHOCK TOWER. UPDATED 06/30/11

NHTSA ID

10373881

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

158,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT MOUNT AT THE TOP OF THE WHEEL WELL HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CAN BREAK OFF. NOT SURE ON THE CRITICALITY OF THIS DEFECT, BUT LOOKS VERY UNSAFE, AND CHRYSLER NEEDS TO TAKE SOME ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258000

Incident

Feb 1, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. IN JUNE OF 2006, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRUT TOWER COULD DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THAT TIME AND THE MECHANIC WARNED HIM THAT A FAILURE WAS EMINENT. IN 2007, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR MINOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE COULD DIE IF HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE STRUT MOUNT TOWER WAS RUSTED OUT. AS A RESULT, IT COULD SEPARATE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, BURST THROUGH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, AND CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FALL HORIZONTALLY. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE HAD NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JIFFY LUBE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND HAD TO SIGN A FORM ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS TREATED RUDELY AND WAS DISCONNECTED. HE FEELS THAT HIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD LEAD TO A FATAL CRASH. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10256155

Incident

Jan 23, 2009

Mileage

160,000 mi

1. POOR QUALITY 2. FRONT STRUT TOWER IS RUSTED THROUGH. STRUTS ARE WOBBLING INSIDE THE STAMPED BODY HOUSING (PART OF THE UNIBODY). THE RUST IS SO BAD I'M AFRAID THE STRUT IS GOING TO PUNCH THROUGH AT ANY TIME LEAVING THE VEHICLE LIKELY TO CRASH DISASTROUSLY. 3. NOTHING SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249941

Incident

Nov 24, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER ON A 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY HAS RUSTED THROUGH LOSING SUPPORT FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER. HAVE CHECKED OTHER 1999 AND 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? THANKS, GPS *TR

NHTSA ID

10247656

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

TOOK VAN IN FOR SLIGHT ENGINE NOISE AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT STRUT TOWER WAS NEARLY RUSTED THROUGH. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SINCE ONE ROUGH PIECE OF ROAD AND THE CAR BODY COULD FALL TO THE GROUND AND THE STRUT ASSEMBLY COME THROUGH THE DASH INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS WILL NOW COST OVER 1500.00 TO REPAIR. CHRYSLER ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS IN 2002, SINCE THEY WERE AWARE THAT VANS FROM 1998 TO 2002 WERE SUBJECT TO THIS. THEY CALLED IT A "COSMETIC PROBLEM". ANY PROBLEM THAT WILL CAUSE A METAL OBJECT SEVERAL FEET LONG TO VIOLENTLY AND SUDDENLY EXPLODE THROUGH THE DASH INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT THE DRIVER IS HARDLY A "COSMETIC PROBLEM". "COSMETIC PROBLEMS" DO NOT RENDER A VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CHRYSLER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REDESIGNED THE STRUT TOWER TO ELIMINATE THIS IN LATER MODELS. NOW THEY NEED TO RECALL THE VEHICLES THAT ARE RUSTING OUT BEFORE PEOPLE DIE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10244159

Incident

Sep 29, 2008

NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT STRUT SUPPORT IS SEVERELY RUSTED, AS IS THE CASE WITH NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. THIS MUST BE A FACTORY DEFECT SINCE IT SEEMS TO OCCUR PRIMARILY ON THE LEFT FRONT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228878

Incident

May 25, 2008

EXCESSIVE RUST ON FRONT INTERIOR STRUT TOWER MOUNT; ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205863

Incident

Dec 31, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

STRUT TOWER INSIDE OF HOOD IS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT COULD CAUSE STRUT TO BREAK THROUGH AND COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING. THE STRUT TOWER IS PROTECTED FROM THE WEATHER. WHY IS IT RUSTING OUT? *JB

NHTSA ID

10182930

Incident

Feb 19, 2007

Mileage

60,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATD 01/19/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174372

Incident

Nov 22, 2006

Mileage

89,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PERFORMING A NORMAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AT THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE LEFT FRONT STRUT AND STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO HARSH WINTER WEATHER AND ROAD SALTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID

10168884

Incident

Sep 21, 2006

Mileage

108,430 mi

WHILE DOING GENERAL CAR CARE (CLEANING THE BATTERY) I NOTICED SEVERE RUST ON THE LEFT STRUT TOWER AT THE SPRING SEAT. THE AREA IS SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND IF IT FAILS WILL CAUSE THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO MOVE INTO CONTACT WITH THE CAR BODY AND PREVENT NORMAL STEERING TO AVOID COLLISIONS. SECONDARILY, SUSPENSION DAMPERS CANNOT BE REPLACED SINCE THE STRUT COULD NOT BE RE-ATTACHED. POOR DAMPER CONDITION OF COURSE AFFECTS THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ON IMPERFECT PAVEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167780

Incident

Sep 10, 2006

Mileage

125,000 mi

STRUT TOWER HAS SEVERE RUSTING THAT MAY LEAD TO A COLLAPSE ON THE FRONT TIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166289

Incident

Aug 17, 2006

THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER ON A 99 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY HAS RUSTED THROUGH LOSING SUPPORT FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER. HAVE CHECKED OTHER 99 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157625

Incident

May 11, 2006

Mileage

67,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT END MADE A NOISE AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS SEVERLY RUSTED AND WAS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSING. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THEY SUGGESTED THE MANUFACTURER BE ALERTED. UPDATED 4/4/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10151620

Incident

Mar 2, 2006

Mileage

88,800 mi

WE OWN A 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 2001. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL 2005 AND THEN WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE STRUT TOWERS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. HE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE CHRYSLER PRODUCT. WE WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN OTHERWISE--WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A STRUT TOWER WAS UNTIL HE POINTED IT OUT. IF ONE OR BOTH OF THE THE STRUT TOWERS WERE TO GIVE WAY AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE (OR JUST FROM CONTINUED RUSTING) THIS COULD CAUSE A SUDDEN CHANGE IN STEERING GEOMETRY, AND OR COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, AND OR THE TIRE WELL DROPPING ONTO THE TIRE AND ACTING LIKE A BRAKE, AND OR BLOWING OUT COMPLETELY. ANY OF THESE SCENARIOS COULD EASILY CONTRIBUTE TO A SERIOUS, EVEN TRAGIC ACCIDENT INVOLVING ONE OR MORE VEHICLES. IMAGINE IF WE WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55-65 MILES PER HOUR AND THE THE STRUT WERE TO GIVE WAY. THE CHRYSLER DEALER, DISTRICT MANAGER AND CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ALL REFUSED TO HELP US IN ANY WAY BECAUSE WE JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE IT OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND CHRYSLER IS BEING VERY UNCOOPERATIVE NOT TO MENTION IRRESPONSIBLE BY PUTTING MANY PEOPLES LIVES IN JEOPARDY.

NHTSA ID

10128644

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE LEFT FRONT STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED. THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER CAN REPAIR IT BUT THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10120002

Incident

Apr 5, 2005

Mileage

89,000 mi

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR GENERAL INSPECTION, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE METAL ON TOP OF STRUT WHICH HELD THE STRUT IN PLACE WAS CORRODED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10112918

Incident

Feb 21, 2005

Mileage

76,000 mi

BOTH FRONT WHEELS FELL OFF WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHILCE WAS TOWED ON BOTH OCCASIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103603

Incident

Aug 26, 2004

Mileage

102,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10097173

Incident

Oct 17, 2004

Mileage

47,114 mi