2000 Chrysler Town And Country Electrical Problems

THIS LETTER IS REGARDING A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE 2000 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER AND 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS. WE OWN BOTH VEHICLES, AND BOTH HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES IN WET WEATHER. WHEN IT RAINS AND THE DRIVER GOES THROUGH WATER, THE VEHICLES SHUT THEMSELVES DOWN COMPLETELY. LIGHTS TURN OFF, POWER STEERING IS ARRESTED, AND THE DRIVER HAS TO COAST TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES TO MY PARENTS, AND MORE THAN ONCE, THEY HAVE HAD TO SECURE THE SERVICES OF A TOWING COMPANY TO GET THE VEHICLE(S) HOME OR TO A REPAIR SHOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT NIGHT ON TWO-LANE HIGHWAYS, LEAVING THEM STRANDED IN PITCH-BLACK DARKNESS. THESE ARE THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT MY PARENTS HAVE TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK, WHICH IS AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY FROM HOME. MY FATHER HAS VISITED THE CHRYSLER-DODGE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THIS IS A LARGE-SCALE PROBLEM WITH THESE PARTICULAR MODELS OF VANS. THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FULL-SCALE RECALL ON THE VEHICLES. THERE IS A KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE KIT IS OVER $300, AND THE ONUS IS ON THE CONSUMER TO PURCHASE THE KIT AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. MY DAD SPENT OVER $700 TO HAVE THE KIT INSTALLED ON BOTH VANS. THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT IS DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLES, BUT TO OTHER MOTORISTS. PLEASE CONSIDER DOING A NATIONAL RECALL FOR THIS FACTORY DEFECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA ID

11120856

Incident

Aug 9, 2018

Mileage

174,128 mi

STALLS WHEN DRIVING, WILL NOT START, STALLS WHILE WARMING UP.

NHTSA ID

11057487

Incident

Dec 29, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

ONCE AFTER HITTING WATER PUDDLE AND THEN WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN, BELT SLIPS OFF PULLEYS AND STEERING LOSES POWER. THEN BATTERY DIES QUICKLY WHILE FLASHERS ARE ON. VERY DANGEROUS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN RAIN!

NHTSA ID

10882566

Incident

Jun 20, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V480000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10838880

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES, OR LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER ON ROADS, THE ALTERNATOR BELT FALLS OFF CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ENGINE OVER HEATING, AND THE BATTERY TO DIE. COULD BE WHILE TURNING OR DRIVING STRAIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10811020

Incident

Dec 10, 2015

Mileage

99,400 mi

FIRE STARTED IN OR NEAR FUSE BOX, VEHICLE WASIN MOTION BUT WHEN STOPPED SMOKE WAS NOTICE OMMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES WERE NEAR FUSE BOX AND BATTERY. FUSE LINK BURNED THROUGH. JUST RETTURNED FROM STORE AND WS IN DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ID

10780001

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10759919

Incident

Jan 2, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON IGNITING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V480000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN UPDATED 9/27/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10691531

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

I PURCHASED A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY NEW FROM A CHRYSLER DEALER IN WI. DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2012, THE CAR IT SUDDENLY STALLED OUT WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. WHILE COASTING I WAS ABLE PUT THE VAN IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT. OVER THE COURSE OF VARIOUS TRIPS AT VARYING SPEEDS THE VAN STALLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES WHILE IN MOTION. THE PROBLEM WAS SO SPORADIC THAT IT WOULD GO AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS AND RANDOMLY RETURNED. THE CAR DOES NOT GIVE ANY SIGNS PRIOR TO STALLING SUCH AS SPUTTERING. THE VAN EVEN STALLS WHILE GOING STRAIGHT OR THROUGH CURVES AND TURNS LEAVING THE DRIVER TO MUSCLE THE CAR SAFELY TO A STOP BEFORE HAVING TO RESTART IT. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE PROBLEM HASN'T THROWN A CODE FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE AND THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE CAR TO STALL OUT FOR THEM DURING TEST DRIVES. FROM THE COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE SEEN IT APPEARS THAT THE STALLING PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING ON TOWN&COUNTRY MODELS RANGING FROM 1997-2007 AND IS AFFECTING BOTH THE 3.3LTR ENGINE AS WELL AS THE 3.8LTR ENGINE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH AMONG OWNERS. HAS THERE BEEN ANY RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE THAT ANYONE IS AWARE OF> *TR

NHTSA ID

10482920

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

168,000 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING IN JANUARY 2012; CRUISE CONTROL & STEREO CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL QUIT WORKING IN JUNE 2012; HORN QUIT WORKING IN JULY 2012. READ ABOUT RECALL ON 1994 - 2000 MODELS FOR FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473951

Incident

Jan 16, 2012

Mileage

162,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED AND THE SMELL OF FUEL ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEYS WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10440861

Incident

Sep 15, 2001

I PURCHASED A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY IN JULY 2007 FROM A CHRYSLER DEALER IN NJ. SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IT SUDDENLY STALLED OUT WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. WHILE COASTING I WAS ABLE PUT THE VAN IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT. OVER THE COURSE OF THE TRIP THE VAN STALLED SEVERAL MORE TIMES WHILE IN MOTION. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF SPORADIC STALLING I CALLED THE DEALER THAT SOLD US THE CAR AND EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT THE CAR WAS SOLD WITH NO WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WOULD DO FOR THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS SO SPORADIC THAT IT WOULD GO AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS AND RANDOMLY RETURNED. THE CAR DOES NOT GIVE ANY SIGNS PRIOR TO STALLING SUCH A SPUTTERING. THE VAN EVEN STALLS WHILE GOING THROUGH CURVES AND TURNS LEAVING THE DRIVER TO MUSCLE THE CAR SAFELY TO A STOP BEFORE HAVING TO RESTART IT. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AND IT STALLED OUT AND SHE ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE SHE BARELY HAD THE MUSCLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A LOCAL DEALER BUT THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM HASN'T THROWN A CODE FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE AND THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE CAR TO STALL OUT FOR THEM DURING TEST DRIVES. THE DEALER HAD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIXING THE CAR WHICH INCLUDED REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR, WIRING HARNESS TO THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, IGNITION MODULE, PLUGS & WIRES AND VARIOUS SENSORS, NONE OF WHICH HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. I DID A SEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND A DISCUSSION FORUM WHERE IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE IS VERY COMMON AMONGST OWNERS. SOME OF THESE OWNERS HAD SPENT MUCH MORE MONEY AT THEIR DEALERS UNTIL THEIR MECHANICS EVENTUALLY GAVE UP. FROM THE COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE SEEN IT APPEARS THAT THE STALLING PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING ON TOWN&COUNTRY MODELS RANGING FROM 1997-2007 AND IS AFFECTING BOTH THE 3.3LTR ENGINE AS WELL AS THE 3.8LTR ENGINE. IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON ENOUGH AMONG OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250856

Incident

Nov 3, 2008

Mileage

143,000 mi

SHORT IN THE HORN SWITCH CAUSES THE HORN TO SOUND ERRATICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION IS TO PULL THE FUSE, THEREBY OVERIDING THE SAFETY DEVICE. THE PERMANENT SOLUTION IS TO HAVE THE SWITCH REPLACED, WHICH WE ARE TOLD ALSO REQUIRES THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $800.00.*AK

NHTSA ID

10190589

Incident

Feb 17, 2007

Mileage

109,600 mi

AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF PROBLEMS WITH MY POWER SEAT MEMORY SYSTEM(MY SEATS WOULD SWITCH TO A SETTING THAT WAS NOT PROGRAMMED BY MYSELF), I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND ADVISED THEM OF MY SITUATION. THIS UNWANTED ADJUSTMENT COULD BE REPLICATED BY PRESSING THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON MY FOB. I BEGAN UNLOCKING MY VAN WITH MY KEY. I ADVISED MY DEALER AGAIN. THIS PAST JUNE, WHILE OPERATING MY VAN ONTO A FREEWAY, THE SEAT BEGAN TO CHANGE POSITIONS AND THE MIRRORS READJUSTED. MY CHILDREN AND A FAMILY FRIEND OBSERVED THIS ACTION AS IT OCCURRED. I GRABBED HOLD OF THE WHEEL AND READJUSTED ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ITEMS WHILE STILL MAINTAINING CONTROL. THIS PROCESS HAS RECURRED ON AT LEAST FIVE OCCASIONS. UPON RETURN FROM OUR VACATION, I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT MY OPTIONS WERE TO DISCONNECT THE AUTO-SETTING OR RETURN THE VEHICLE WHEN A PARTICULAR COMPUTER WAS RETURNED TO THEM. MY VISIT COST ME SEVERAL HOURS AND A BILL OF OVER $98.00. CURRENTLY I AM ABLE TO MANUALLY ADJUST THE SEAT AND MIRROR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171706

Incident

Jun 17, 2004

2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXI ALL WHEEL DRIVE: 01/2003 FAILURE AT THE BATTERY, WILL NOT TAKE A CHARGE (BATTERY REPLACED) 06/2005 BATTERY LEAKING ACID AND DAMAGED WIRE HARNESS THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR REPLACED $260.00 THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR REPLACED **AGAIN** $72.00 NEW BATTERY $71.00 SENSOR MAP $80.00 WIRING ENGINE $837.00 LABOR $504.00 A REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH MOPAR BATTERIES HAS COST ME $2000.00 2 LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO CONTACT THE LOCAL CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE AND CHRYSLER THEMSELVES DIRECTED ME BACK TO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. NO SATISFACTION WITH THIS COMPANY OR MOPAR PRODUCTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160240

Incident

Jun 24, 2005

Mileage

27,995 mi

THE CLOCK SPRING LOST THE CONNECTION TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, HORN, AIR BAGS, AND CRUISE CONTROL BECOME INOPERABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093969

Incident

Sep 21, 2004

Mileage

116,000 mi

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND HORN, RADIO AND CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THIS IS RELATED TO A "CLOCK SPRING" MECHANISM THAT WAS SIMILAR TO PRIOR YEAR RECALLS, BUT NOT INCLUDED IN THE 2000 MY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10078795

Incident

Jun 10, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHILE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE HORN TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10076015

Incident

Jun 9, 2004

I HAD A CLICKING IN MY STEERING WHEEL WITH AIR BAG LIGHT GOING ON & OFF THEN IT FINAL STAYED ON. I HAD NO HORN OR CRUISE CONTROL OR RADIO CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10068421

Incident

May 3, 2004

Mileage

51,000 mi

UPDATE TO THE PROBLEM RELATED TO THE SERPENTINE BELT OF A 2000 TOWN AND COUNTRY.(ODI NUMBER: 770436 12/4/02). A FIFTH (5TH) OCCURENCE OCCURED ON JAN 17, 2004 . STILL WITHOUT RESOLUTION OTHER THAN TOW THE VAN AND PUT BACK THE SERPENTINE BELT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10054483

Incident

Jan 17, 2004

NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOUR DRIVING CAN BE DANGEROUS. I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH MY VAN STARTING WAY BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2001 WITH 13,000 MILES ON IT AND AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME, DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER, THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND RPM'S RANDOMLY GO UP AND DOWN AND SOMETIMES DON'T WORK AT ALL. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SOMETIMES FOR 2 WEEKS AT A TIME. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE COMPUTER, HARNESS (TWICE), IGNITION SWITCH, FUSES, ETC. THEY JUST HAD IT LAST WEEK AND TODAY I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. BASICALLY IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. BY THE WAY, I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO A CHRYSLER SHOP IN NANUET, NY. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 NUMBER AND THEY SAID BASICALLY ALL THAT THEY COULD DO IS TO TRY TO HELP THE SERVICE CENTER GET THE RIGHT INFORMATION TO HELP THEM FIX IT. BUT AGAIN, THEY JUST HAD THE CAR LAST WEEK AFTER I CALLED AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL HERE. I HAVE HAD TO RENT CARS AND BORROW CARS TO USE WHILE IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP. I REALLY HASN'T COST ME ALL THAT MUCH MONEY BECAUSE THEY ARE FIXING IT (TRYING TO FIX IT) UNDER WARRANTY. I'VE ONLY HAD RENTAL CAR EXPENSES. THE BIG INCONVENIENCE IS GETTING THE CAR TO THE SHOP, ETC... IT HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE LEAST.

NHTSA ID

10070243

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

PREMATURE BATTERY FAILURE (TWICE SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2000). *AK

NHTSA ID

10032954

Incident

Aug 16, 2003

Mileage

60 mi

ALL 4 INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON A RAINY DAY (SPRING 1X (WIFE DRIVING AND TURNING FROM A STOP LIGHT 5-10 MPH), FALL 2X IN ONE DAY(30-40MPH), LAST INCIDENT 12/4/02 (30-40MPH)). WHEN BELT SLIPS OFF, POWER STEERING DISABLED, POWER BRAKE DISABLED, ALTERNATOR DISABLED, COOLING SYSTEM DISABLED, ENGINE OVERHEATS, STALLS WHEN BATTERY RUNS OUT. LOCAL DEALER (SPIRIT CHRYSLER, LUBBOCK) HAS NO IDEA WHY THE PROBLEM PERSIST. DT

NHTSA ID

770436

Incident

Dec 4, 2002

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER HEARD VEHICLES' ALARM BLOWING, AND WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHY. THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHALL INSPECTED VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS A DEALERSHIP DEMO AT TIME OF PURCHASE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS.PH

NHTSA ID

8023427

Incident

Nov 27, 2002

THE HORN BECAME INOPERATIVE AT 3,OOO MILE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HORN ASSEMBLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

864872

Incident

Jun 26, 2000