2000 Chrysler Town And Country Heating & air conditioning Problems

MY CHRYSLER TOWN&COUNTRY WITH 3.8 ENG.BELT HAS COME OFF WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN 4 TIMES. LOSING POWERSTEERING AND CAUSING ENGINE TO QUICKLY TO OVERHEAT. DEALERS HAVE NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO DAMAGE MY CAR AND POSSIBLY OTHERS SINCE IT CAME WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANY ONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY. IT SEEMS THAT SO MAY THAT GATES BELT COMPANY DESIGNED A BELT PACKAGE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASE THIS REPAIR PACKAGE AND SEEMS TO BE WORKING IN THE RAIN. SHOULDN'T THIS REPAIR BEEN A RECALL BY CHRYSLER BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241983

Incident

Aug 30, 2008

Mileage

64,404 mi

IN 2005 A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE FRONT SEAT HEATING ELEMENTS. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT INTO BRANDOW CHRYSLER AND THE ELEMENTS WERE SUPPOSEDLY CHANGED. 9/30/07 THE REPLACEMENT ELEMENTS FAILED AND THE DRIVER FRONT SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BRANDOW CHRYSLER AND THE HEATING ELEMENTS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. CHRYSLER HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I WILL NOT PUT ANYONE BACK INTO THAT CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10207342

Incident

Sep 30, 2007

Mileage

49,203 mi

DRIVER SEAT WARMER SHOCKING DRIVER THEN BURN HOLE 11/2-2 INCHES INTO LEATHER SEAT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146958

Incident

Nov 19, 2004

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON, IT SUDDENLY GOT VERY HOT, SO I TURNED THE HEATER OFF. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I SAW A HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL ERASER HAD BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER. I LATER REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY PANTS AND THE BACK OF MY LEG WAS BURNT. WHEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS SINCE MY 3 YEAR WARRANTY WAS UP. BY THE WAY, THE HEATER NO LONGER FUNCTIONS, ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT ON THE SWITCH STILL ACTIVATES WHEN DEPRESSED, MEANING ANY FUSE IN THE SYSTEM NEVER BLEW. *JB

NHTSA ID

10107733

Incident

Jan 14, 2004

Mileage

54,000 mi

THE VEHICLE HAS A SEAT HEATER. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE PASSENGER'S SEAT HEATER CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR IT. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WANTED TO INFORM NHTSA THAT THIS DEFECT OCCURRED, AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THE MANUFACTURER HAD REPORTED THIS DEFECT. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10101915

Incident

Nov 4, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

THE SECOND ROW PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAS A BOX UNDER IT THAT GETS HOT WHEN TURNING THE REAR HEATER ON. CONSUMER HAS A CHILD THAT SITS IN THAT SEAT, AND THE SEAT OVERHEATS. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE CHILD DROPPED AN ARTICLE AND THE CONSUMER REACHED TO PICK IT UP .*AK

NHTSA ID

10106863

Incident

Dec 14, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE HEAT FROM THE SEAT CAUSED PASSENGER'S SEAT TO CATCH ON FIRE. CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105330

Incident

Dec 25, 2004

9/4/02 CHRYSLER REPLACED HEATED SEAT ELEMENT DUE TO NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. 12/17/04 HEATED SEAT BURNT HOLE IN SEAT CUSHION CHRYSLER FIRST REFUSED TO COVER DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OVER WARRANTY PERIOD, I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY HAVE OFFERED TO PAY 50%. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104357

Incident

Dec 17, 2004

Mileage

52,900 mi

WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING ON THE SEAT WARMER WITHIN FIFTEEN SECONDS CONSUMER'S SKIN BURNED. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS ON HIGH OR LOW. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OR A POSSIBLE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101720

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HEATED SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND STARTED MELTING AND SMOKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10101514

Incident

Nov 2, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE USING THE HEATED DRIVER'S SEAT, SOME SPOTS BECAME VERY HOT. THEN, THE HEATER DID NOT WORK ANYMORE.

NHTSA ID

10072483

Incident

Mar 8, 2004

Mileage

20,000 mi

DRIVERS HEATER SEAT TO HOT TO USE. MAY START A FIRE IF LEFT ON.*AK

NHTSA ID

10059042

Incident

Feb 26, 2004

Mileage

10 mi

THE CONSUMER NOTICE AN UNUSUAL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WARMER WAS ON AND A JACKET WAS IN THE SEAT. WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE JACKET FROM SEAT SHE SAW BURN HOLES IN THE SEAT AND JACKET. *NM

NHTSA ID

10059346

THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE OWNER PRESUMED THAT THE WIRING IN THE SEAT WAS DEFECTED. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH HEATED SEATS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10057608

Mileage

68,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED AND BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT'S LEATHER AND DRIVER'S CLOTHING. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER'S BACK BEING BURNT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053786

Incident

Jan 7, 2004

Mileage

53,000 mi

I HAVE A YEAR 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN THE SEAT HEATER SET FIRE TO THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT. THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THE SEAT DUE TO THE VAN BEING UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT THE FACTORY WARRANTY. FROM THE INFORMATION ON THE NET CHRYSLER KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN 1999 AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO FIX IT IN THE VANS BUILT FOR THE YEAR 2000. HAVING TO PUT OUT A FIRE WHILE DRIVING IS NOT SOMETHING I BARGAINED FOR WHEN I BOUGHT THE VAN. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF NO ONE SAW THE FIRE AND LEFT THE VAN NEXT TO THE HOUSE? *LA

NHTSA ID

10046874

Incident

Oct 21, 2003

Mileage

53,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY COVERED UP TO 36000 MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, SCREECHED AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT. ALSO, THE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR STOPPED WORKING IN THE UP AND DOWN POSITION. *SCC THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOW MOTORS, AC COMPRESSOR,AND THE AUTOMATIC TAILGATE CLOSE LATCH ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10039961

Incident

Sep 13, 2003

Mileage

42,513 mi

ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2003,WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AROUND TOWN ON ERRANDS WITH OUR FOUR CHILDREN, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ULTIMATELY, A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AS A RESULT OF A MALFUNCTION/FAILURE IN THE HEATED SEAT SYSTEM. LUCKILY, MY WIFE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO SHUT OFF THE SEAT AND GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE CAR IN TIME TO AVOID A FULL BLOWN FIRE. HOWEVER, THIS SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND A TRAGEDY WAS AVERTED ONLY BY HER QUICK REACTION. A SEAT HEATING SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT HAVE A MECHANISM TO SHUT ITSELF OFF BEFORE IT GETS THIS HOT IS UNREASONABLY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AT THE MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045119

Incident

Sep 30, 2003

THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A THROUGH THE LEATHER INTERIOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10017372

Incident

Apr 8, 2003

Mileage

57,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10012070

2000 CHRYSLER TOWN& COUNTRY (LIMITED) OWED FOR 2 YEARS 11 MONTHS, 57300 MILES -I WENT TO MY VEHICLE TO RUN AN ERRAND. WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY, I TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER TO WARM IT UP DUE TO THE SEVERE COLD. THE SEAT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND SAW GLOWING EMBERS AROUND THE HOLE THAT WAS CREATED FROM A HIGH HEAT SOURCE. I TURNED SEAT HEATER BACK ON TO CONFIRM THE SOURCE OF THE GLOWING EMBERS. SPARKS BEGAN TO SHOT OUT OF HOLE IN BURNT LEATHER SEAT. MY THOUGHTS ARE THAT SOMETHING IN THE HEATER CAUSED THE SMOKE AND GLOWING EMBERS. ALTHOUGH, THIS CAR HAS HIGH MILEAGE, THE LEATHER SEATS ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE SEAT HEATER WOULD BE REASONABLY DURABLE. THIS CAR HAS THE CHRYSLER BASIC WARRANTY, BUT THE ISSUE OF SAFETY/HAZARD CANNOT BE DENIED. IF THIS HAD BEEN THE PASSENGERS SEAT WITH A CHILD, INSTEAD OF AN ADULT, THE OUTCOME MAY HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. ALSO, IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE (MY ROUTE TO WORK IS VA INTERSTATE 66 AND IS USUALLY VERY HEAVILY TRAVELED) I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. NOTE, DURING THIS EVENT, NO FUSES BURNED OUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

NHTSA ID

10003137

Incident

Jan 19, 2003

Mileage

57,257 mi

SEAT WARMER IN DRIVER SIDE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED HOLE IN SEAT AND DAMAGED WOMANS COAT.

NHTSA ID

10000562

Incident

Dec 23, 2002

Mileage

47,500 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BURNED. THE SPONTANEOUS IGNITION WAS CAUSED BY THE HEATING ELEMENT IN THE SEAT CUSHION WHICH BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. NO ONE WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *MR *NLM

NHTSA ID

8022747

Incident

Nov 12, 2002

Mileage

60,000 mi

OEM SEAT HEATER CAUSED FIRE AND BURNED HOLE IN THE LEATHER. CAN'T SEEM TO GET CHRYSLER INTERESTED IN THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ISSUE. DT

NHTSA ID

769711

Incident

Nov 12, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL IN CAB OF CAR. CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUEMS, AND FEELS UNSAFE. DEALER ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR CONDITION EVAPORATOR NEEDS REPLACING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ID

8020503

Incident

Oct 9, 2002