RoadVitals

2002 Chrysler Town And Country Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
24
Latest Oct 19, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 404 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chrysler Town And Country submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 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.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 19, 2012

MY LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, REPLACED BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR.. NOT FIXED.. NOW I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT THE PANEL BEHIND MY HEADLIGHT SWITCH GETS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH. AFRAID OF A FIRE... CAN'T FIND ANY INFO ON INTERNET AS TO WHAT CAN BE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10481211
Incident
Aug 7, 2012
Mileage
74,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 12, 2012

HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER THEN GO OUT, THEN COME BACK ON, TURN SIGNAL GOES OUT, THEN COMES BACK ON... *TR

NHTSA ID
10458182
Incident
May 12, 2012
Mileage
173,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 29, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE AND THE POWER MODULE WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

NHTSA ID
10427915
Incident
Jul 4, 2010
Mileage
198,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 24, 2011

HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10384427
Incident
Jul 1, 2008
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 3, 2010

TOWN AND COUNTRY 2002 HAS HEADLIGHTS THAT FLICKER AND GO OFF WHILE THE MINIVAN IS MOVING. NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING THIS IN 2005 (ASSOCIATED PRESS, 2.07.2005) AND WAS TALKING TO DAILMLERCHRYSLER ABOUT THIS. TRAVELING IN THE WINTER, AND THE EARLY EVENING THE LIGHTS WENT OFF SUDDENLY. I WAS ABLE TO FLICK THE SWITCH ON THE COLUMN AND MAKE THEM COME BACK ON. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, BUT NO ERROR CODES WERE FOUND. NOW LAST WEEK, TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE LIGHTS WENT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY DO NOT GO OFF WHEN RAINING AND LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED DURING THE DAY; IT SEEMS TO OCCUR ONLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE LIGHTS HAVE THE ISSUE OF DIMMING AS NOTED IN NUMEROUS FORUMS, BUT THIS HAD NOT CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF COMPLETELY. THIS VEHICLE IS THE ONE THAT MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES, AND IT IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS SO NO DRIVING CAN BE DONE AFTER DARK AT PRESENT. CALLED DODGE SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITHOUT A CODE SAVED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10346998
Incident
Jul 19, 2010
Mileage
146,800 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 28, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER ONE MINUTE. THE LIGHTS WOULD ALSO FLICKER OCCASIONALLY. THE DEALER INSTALLED A FRONT CONTROL MODULE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT VERIFIED HIS VIN, BUT IT APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE ENGINE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID
10210165
Incident
Oct 1, 2007
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 11, 2007

THE VEHICLE I OWN, A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY, IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM INDUSTRY WIDE. MANY, IF NOT MOST CASES THESE DAYS HAVE PLASTIC COVERS OVER THE HEADLIGHTS. WITHIN A FEW YEARS, DEPENDING ON MILEAGE AND DRIVING CONDITIONS THE COVERS GET SCRATCHED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY CLOUDY AND DISCOLORED. THIS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE LIGHT OUTPUT AND CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD AT NIGHT. THIS WOULD NOT BE SO BAD IF THE COVERS COULD BE READILY REPLACED AT NOMINAL COST. BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. IN MOST CASES THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AT VERY HIGH COST. IN MY CASE, THE COST WAS IN EXCESS OF $1000 EACH. THUS, MOST PEOPLE SIMPLY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. I THINK RULES SHOULD BE IN PLACE TO FORCE THE USE OF A LONGER LASTING MATERIAL, OR TO FORCE THE DESIGN TO ALLOW REPLACEMENT AT REASONABLE COST.*AK

NHTSA ID
10190521
Incident
May 11, 2007
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 29, 2007

I AM WANTING TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON HEADLIGHT LENS QUALITY/SAFETY. THE LENS I AM REFERRING TO ARE THE COMPOSITE "LEXAN"LENSES USED ON MOST VEHICLES TODAY. AFTER JUST A FEW VERY SHORT YEARS THE COATING PEELS AND THE PLASTIC BREAKS DOWN CAUSING POOR LIGHT TRANSFER AND VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS."CHRYSLER"HAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO REPLACE THE LENSES ON MY 2002 VEHICLE WITH 62,000 MILES STATING THAT IT IS WAY BEYOND ANY WARRANTY PERIOD. I CONSIDER THIS BESIDE THE POINT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MILLIONS WHO RELY ON SAFE LIGHTING TO OPERATE THEIR VEHICLES SAFELY. THE EXTREME COSTS OF THE LENS ASSEMBLIES MAKES SIMPLY REPLACING THEM AN UNACCEPTABLE OPTION. MINE ARE NOT YET HAZED OVER ON MY 2002 BUT THE COATING IS PEELING DUE TO UV BREAKDOWN, MY 1994 IS YELLOWED AND HAZED AND DEFINITELY SUFFERS FROM POOR LIGHT TRANSMISSION. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MOST OTHER MANUFACTURERS ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM(I AM AN AUTO TECHNICIAN)WHY DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE TO ALWAYS BEAR THE EXPENSE OF SOMETHING THAT IS SUCH A SAFETY CONCERN JUST BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE DOES NOT CARE OR WANTS TO SELL CHEAPER GRADE PARTS TO INCREASE PROFIT. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH OLD GLASS SEALED BEAMS ON MY OLDER CARS AND THEY WERE JUST A FEW DOLLARS COMPARED TO HUNDREDS FOR COMPOSITES. I FEEL THE GOVT. NEEDS TO REVIEW THIS CONDITION AND MAKE THE MANUFACTURERS STAND BEHIND SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE .I HAVE LITERALLY HAD HUNDRED OF CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN OF THIS PROBLEM OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS OR SO. BUT NOW IT HITS HOMES AND IT AFFECTS ME AND MY FAMILY SO I FIGURED IT WAS TIME TO MAKE WAVES,ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING TOLD BY THE DIST REP THEY WOULDN'T HELP AT ALL .I KNOW THE IMPORTS ALSO SUFFER FROM THIS HAZING PROBLEM BUT I ALSO KNOW THEY ARE WILLING TO ASSIST AS GOODWILL REPAIRS,ETC. I REALLY FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL INVESTIGATION DONE CONCERNING THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, ALL PERSONAL DISSATISFACTION ASIDE. THAT INCLUDES ALL MAKES/MODELS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID
10186522
Incident
Mar 26, 2007
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 9, 2007

A ONE WEEK AGO, MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN. I HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF MANUALLY. WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS IT STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN TO BE FIXED. TONIGHT I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, MAKING A LEFT TURN AND AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RETURNING TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION (BEFORE THE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHT) IT LOCKED IN A LEFT TURN POSITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CAR KEPT TURNING TO THE LEFT AND I HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. FINALLY AFTER JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IT RELEASED AND WENT BACK TO A STRAIGHT POSITION. SOMETHING IN THE TURN SIGNAL LOCKED IT UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO FULLY RELEASE AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN. AFTER THAT THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT SHUT OFF. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS IN THE LANE TO MY LEFT OR ELSE I COULD HAVE HIT THEM. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL I GET IT FIXED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10182159
Incident
Feb 9, 2007
Mileage
49,200 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 8, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED NTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES. ON IT. THE CONTACT STATED IT USUALLY HAPPENED WHEN STARTSING THE VEHICLE. THE HEADLIGHTS USUALLY WENT OUT WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR INDICATOR LIGHTS ON PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT ALWAYS KNOW IF THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE OUT UNLESS SHE SAW A REFLECTION. THE CONTACT STATED SHE COULD NOT RECALL IF THE DASHLIGHTS EVER WENT OUT DURING THE HEADLIGHT FAILURES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS TWICE. THE CONTACT DID NOT REMEMBER WHEN THE FAILURES STARTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10178096
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
38,000 mi
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Sep 25, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN, DURING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ASSIST STEERING. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NOT RETURNING TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE REPAIR SHOP. UPDATED 09/11/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10169231
Incident
Sep 25, 2006
Mileage
51,960 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 10, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAILLIGHTS ARE FILLING WITH WATER. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10157168
Incident
May 9, 2006
Mileage
29,950 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 21, 2006

THIS RELATES TO CASE EA05009. I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER T&C AND THE LIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM. THEY'VE NEVER GONE OFF. *NM

NHTSA ID
10155815
Incident
Jan 1, 2005
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 23, 2005

HEADLIGHTS CUT OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. SERVICE WAS PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP ON 11-16-2005. SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10143538
Incident
Nov 22, 2005
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 26, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, BUT THIS REPAIR DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

NHTSA ID
10140864
Incident
Jun 1, 2005
Mileage
33,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 1, 2005

HEADLAMPS FAIL WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. SOMETIMES FLICKER AND COME BACK ON. WE DON'T DRIVE MUCH AT NIGHT, WE HAVE OWNED THIS VAN FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. WE HAVE DRIVEN IT 5 OR 6 TIMES AT NIGHT, AND WE HAVE HAD HEADLIGHT FAILURE 3 TIMES. AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT, WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY FLASHED THE VEHICLE COMPUTER MEMORY. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WE HAD THE PROBLEM, THE LIGHTS FLICKERED AND CAME BACK ON. THE LAST TIME WE HAD THE PROBLEM, THE LIGHTS WENT ON/OFF SEVERAL TIMES (3 OR 4) IN A SPAN OF ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH INSIDE THE VEHICLE IS GETTING HOT DURING HEADLIGHT OPERATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10130757
Incident
Jul 29, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 28, 2005

DT: THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FLICKERING, DID THIS ALL THE TIME. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE WHICH WAS A MONTH AGO AROUND JUNE 17TH, 2005. ONCE THEY HAVE GOTTEN REALLY DIM. WAS WORRIED THEY WILL GO OUT. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID
10130411
Incident
Jun 17, 2005
Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Mar 24, 2005

THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *SC THE PART(S) WERE ON BACK ORDER ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER. THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED THAT CHRYSLER CHANGED SUPPLIERS OF THE SWITCH. THE INTERNAL SHIFT LIGHT AND OR (THE PRNDL) WAS ERRATIC, IN WHICH IT WOULD SOMETIMES BE HIGHLIGHTED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10109392
Incident
Jan 5, 2002
Mileage
40,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 12, 2005

THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE LIGHT SWITCH TO KEEP THE HEADLIGHTS ON. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED THE LIGHT SWITCH.*AK

NHTSA ID
10107240
Incident
Oct 15, 2004
Mileage
37,700 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 7, 2004

HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO CHRYSLER , AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT, AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *TC

NHTSA ID
10099868
Incident
Nov 10, 2004
Mileage
45,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 24, 2004

TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN TURNING ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WOULD COME ON INSTEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *LA *MR

NHTSA ID
10061035
Incident
Dec 24, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 24, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH THE BRIGHTNESS OF VEHICLE'S LOW BEAMS.*MR *CB

NHTSA ID
10040578
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 18, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING NONE OF THE GEAR LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA ID
8022917
Incident
Nov 1, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 24, 2002

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN WITH POWER OPERATED SLIDING DOOR OPEN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WARNING CHIME AND VISUAL WARNING LIGHT WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH FOR CONSUMER TO REALIZE THAT THE SLIDING DOOR WAS OPEN, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SMASH INTO HIS GARAGE DOOR WHEN PARKING. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8008548

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.

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