2000 Chrysler Town And Country Visibility Problems

I AM ON MY THIRD POWER WINDOW CABLE AND MOTOR. ALL THREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424577

Incident

Oct 7, 2008

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

SUDDEN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID RESULTED IN ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. INTERNET SEARCHES ON THIS VEHICLE PROVIDED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS 2000 TOWN & COUNTRY VAN. IT HAS 56,000 MILES. ALSO REPORTED LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID AND DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY BRAKE FLUID DRUMS (POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE). INFORMED CHRYSLER REGARDING THIS MATTER BUT THEY REFUSED WARRANTY COVERAGE, RESULTING IN EXPENSIVE REPAIR WORK OVER $600 FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID AND BRAKE PAD REPAIR WORK. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY $325. DEALER REPORTED FREQUENT PROBLEMS WITH MOTOR. DEALER INFORMED 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES ISSUE RELATED TO REPLACEMENT OF MOTOR SO GLASS CAN FUNCTION CORRECTLY. REQUIRED TO FUNCTION TO PASS DE SAFETY INSPECTION. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE, THE HYDRAULIC GAUGE DID NOT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND BUCKLED. FAULTY AND DANGEROUS HYDRAULIC TIRE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND CAN CAUSE VERY SERIOUS INJURY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151209

Incident

Feb 7, 2006

Mileage

56,000 mi

WATER CONDENSATION FROM AIR CONDITION LEAKS INSIDE THE VEHICLE AT THE DRIVER'S FEET . I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE ( CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVAN) IN APRIL 2000, AND THE LEAK STARTED IN 2002. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED FOUR TIMES TO FIX IT SINCE 2002. NOW THE VAN IS OUT OF WARANTY, AND THE DEALER THINKS THAT THE A/C EVAPORATOR IS AT FAULT AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO FIXT. I DECLINED TO PAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE VAN BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE DEALER STILL CHARGED ME $78 FOR TELLING ME THAT IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE EVAPORATOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116857

Incident

Apr 12, 2005

Mileage

23,528 mi

THE MIRROR SWITCH WIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER, AND USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN ORDER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10107095

Incident

Jan 3, 2005

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

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

VEHICLE LEAF SPRING HAS WEAKENED CAUSING THE REAR OF VEHICLE TO SIT AT AN ANGLE. PROBLEMS WITH FRONT WHEELS AND BRAKES. *MR THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BRAKES, AND THE ROTORS. THE FRONT WHEELS AND OR BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AGAIN, WHICH MEANT THAT NEW FRONT BRAKES WERE NEEDED AGAIN. (THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FULL REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE LEFT REAR SHOCK HAD BLOWN AND A BOLT HAD BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SHOCK AND WERE REPLACED,THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS LOOSE ALONG WITH THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR(BOTH READJUSTED), NOISE IN THE STEERING AND WAS HARD TO STEER AT TIMES, THERE WAS A METAL SOUND IN THE FRONT STRUT ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD, AND THERE WAS OVERHEATING SO THE ALL THE PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM WERE REPLACED. *SCC

NHTSA ID

10033853

Mileage

32,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE SWITCH WAS TURNED ON. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10029836

NAR 6-03-2003 *MR ONGOING FAILURE TO PROPERLY REPAIR THE VEHICLES SIDE VIEW MIRROR. *CB

NHTSA ID

10022250

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

EXITING HIGHWAY AT 30 MPH WHEN RAIN STARTED. ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE ELECTRIC CONTROL BUTTON TO RAISE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW; WINDOW JAMMED ABOUT ONE INCH FROM TOP. PUSHED CONTROL BUTTON AGAIN BUT WINDOW DID NOT MOVE. WITHIN ABOUT 20 TO 30 SECONDS SMOKE BEGAN ENTERING INTERIOR OF CAR FROM UNDER THE CONTROL BUTTONS PANEL; ALSO DISTINCT ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC AND/OR RUBBER STARTED COMING FROM INSIDE MY LEFT FRONT DRIVERS DOOR PANEL. SMOKE AND ACRID FUMES BECAME VERY STRONG AS I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. I THREW OPEN MY DOOR, GOT OUT AND IMMEDIATELY USED MY ALWAYS PRESENT RATCHET SCREWDRIVER TO REMOVE THE CONTROL BUTTON COVER AND WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT THE TWO ELECTRIC PLUGS WHICH I OBSERVED AND LUCKILY WITHIN ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES THE SMOKE ENDED. ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES LATER I RESTARTED MY CAR AND DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO MY DEALERS SERVIVE CENTER. AFTER ABOUT THREE HOURS THE SERVICE MGR. INFORMED ME THAT A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD TAKEN PLACE AND HAD "FRIED" SEVERAL OF THE COMPUTERS WITHIN THE SYSTEM. AS I HAD PURCHASED THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT, I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS WERE TOTALLY COVERED. IT WAS OVERHEARD BY ME WHEN THE MECHANIC WAS SPEAKING TO THE SVCE. MGR. THAT THEIR WAS EVIDENCE OF WATER WITHIN THE INNER DOOR AND ALSO IN AND AROUND THE CONTROL BUTTONS ON THE INSIDE. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS WITH BODY DESIGN WHICH ALLOWS RAIN WATER TO SOMEHOW LEAK INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE DRIVERS DOOR UNNOTICED AND THERBY CAUSING THIS EMERGENCY? PERHAPS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS OK BUT NOT THE CHANNELING AWAY OF RAIN WATER OR EVEN CAR WASH WATER. ALSO, WHEN THEY REPAIR THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON MY CAR, DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN WHENEVER IT RAINS? I REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE NEAR ME ON THE ROAD HAD THE SMOKE AND FUMES OVERCOME ME BEFORE I HAD THE CHANCE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ID

745957

Incident

May 24, 2001

SUBJECT NEW VEHICLES HAVE A DESIGN FLAW WHEREBY THREE DASHBOARD VENTS AND EDGES OF HIGH CONTRAST ARE POSITIONED MIDWAY DOWN THE DASHBOARD SUCH THAT THEY REFLECT STRONG GRILLE DETAIL IN THE MID WINDSHIELD, SEVERELY OBSCURING DRIVER VISION OF TRAFFIC, PEDESTRIANS, PETS, AND ROAD CONDITIONS IN THE PRESENCE OF OVERHEAD SUNLIGHT OR STREETLIGHTS. CLEAR DIGITAL PHOTO'S WILL BE SENT ILLUSTRATING THE HAZZARD IF YOU RSVP WITH AN E-MAIL ADDRESS THAT ALLOWS ENCLOSURE. PLEASE RSVP ASAP, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER CORRECTABLE ISSUE AND A SERIOUS HAZARD TO THOUSANDS OF DAIMLER CHRYSLER & DODGE MINI VAN OWNERS & DRIVERS.

NHTSA ID

731802

Incident

Sep 7, 2000