2002 Chrysler Town And Country Tires & wheels Problems

MY MECHANIC NOTICED TIRE WARE DEFECTIVE. HE SHOWED ME WHERE THE SIDE WALLS HAD A SLICE GOING AROUND THE OUTER TIRE TOWARD THE TREAD SIDE OF THE SIDE WALL. THE TWO FRONT TIRES (FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING) HAD A SIGNIFICANT SLICE, AS IF THE TIRE WOULD SPLIT AND THE TWO BACK TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF DOING THE SAME THING ONLY NOT AS BAD YET. HE RECOMMENDED I GO BACK TO PLACE OF PURCHASE AND INQUIRE ABOUT THESE TIRES BEING DEFECTIVE. THIS WAS AUGUST, 26, 2011. FIRESTONE TOOK OFF THE TWO FRONT TIRES AND SOLD ME 2 NEW TIRES (FR710) , SAYING THE BACK TWO (AFFIINITY TOURING) WEREN'T BAD ENOUGH TO USE WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IF I CAN IN THE VERY NEXT WEEK, WHICH WAS A NEW MONTH, HE COULD HELP ME WITH MY BACK TWO TIRES. MY TIME WAS LIMITED AND I DID NOT GET MY CAR IN UNTIL 2 MONTHS LATER. NOW FIRESTONE WON'T HONOR REPLACING THE BACK TIRES. THE SLICE IS STILL THERE AND MY CONCERN IS IF THE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, AM I SAFE DRIVING AROUND ON THEM? THE TWO FRONT WERE APPARENTLY BAD ENOUGH TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435420

Incident

Aug 26, 2011

Mileage

169,855 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY EQUIPPED WITH TOYO VERSADO TIRES, SIZE P215/65/R16. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WHEN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS EXHIBITING THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,000.

NHTSA ID

10347113

Incident

Mar 25, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYLSER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE TIRE SENSOR GIVES AN INACCURATE READING WHEN THE TIRES ARE NOT PROPERLY INFLATED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRE SENSOR DISPLAYS INACCURATE READINGS WHEN THE IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

NHTSA ID

10292589

Incident

Oct 12, 2009

Mileage

57,000 mi

I DEVELOPED A REAR FLAT TIRE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE SPARE TIRE DOWN AS THE RELEASE MECHANISM WAS RUSTED. AS I WAS PULLING TO TRY TO FREE THE SPARE TIRE THE VEHICLE ALMOST FELL OFF THE JACK. EXCESSIVE FORCE IS NEEDED TO RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE JACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257110

Incident

Jan 30, 2009

Mileage

79,900 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE VEHICLE HAS UNIROYAL TIGER PAW TIRES. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED ON AUGUST 18, 2008. ON AUGUST 21, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRES HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER ACCUSED THE CONTACT OF RUNNING OVER SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. THE TIRE WAS RIPPED APART ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DOT NUMBER, TIRE SIZE, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/10/08.*JB

NHTSA ID

10241338

Incident

Aug 21, 2008

Mileage

106,940 mi

I HAVE HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 TOWN & COUNTRY MINI VAN SINCE WE PURCHASED IT FROM CU FLEET. THE VAN HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A NUMBER OF REPAIRS. FROM THE ENGINE TO THE SENSORS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201169

Incident

Mar 14, 2007

Mileage

53,000 mi

AT 10:30 AM, SOUTHBOUND AT THE 346 MILE MARKER I35S, JUST NORTH OF WACO, MY 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LXI MINIVAN WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATION AND SUBSEQUENT BLOWOUT. MINIVAN WAS IN THE LEFT LANE AND DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED 11 MONTHS AGO FROM DISCOUNT TIRE. THEY WERE MULTI-MILE ULTREX IV MADE BY TBC CORPORATION. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND MY WIFE BROKE HER COLLARBONE AND POSSIBLY TORE SOME LIGAMENTS IN HER LEFT SHOULDER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10143939

Incident

Nov 3, 2005

Mileage

53,998 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY ABOUT 15 MPH IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, MY FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE STREET. IT IS HELD UNDER THE VEHICLE BY MEANS OF A STEEL CABLE. THE PLASTIC CLAMP THAT THE CABLE IS ATTACHED TO BROKE AND THE TIRE FELL. I HEARD A BANG AND FELT A BUMP AND SAW MY TIRE THROUGH MY REAR VIEW MIRROR IN THE STREET. MY CONCERN IS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THAT TIRE FELL ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING 60 MHP? THE ACCIDENT IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED BEHIND ME FROM OTHER DRIVERS TRYING TO AVOID MY DROPPED TIRE COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. ARE THERE ANY REPORTS OF THESE CABLES/PLASTIC CLAMPS BREAKING OR FAILING IN THE PAST? THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

10125742

Incident

Jun 19, 2005

Mileage

29,337 mi

ON JANUARY 17, 2004, I HAD COSTCO INSTALL 4 NEW MICHELIN X-RADIAL DT TIRES ON MY CHRYSLER MINIVAN. ON DECEMBER 29, 2004, I NOTICED A BULGE THE SIZE OF 1/2 TENNIS BALL IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE. I IMMEDIATELY HAD IT REPLACED BY COSTCO. ON JANUARY 28, 2005, I HAD MY CHRYSLER DEALER REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS, REPLACED AT COSTCOS EXPENSE, BECAUSE OF DAMAGE DONE TO THEM DURING THE INITIAL TIRE INSTALLATION. ON FEBRUARY 15, 2005, WITHOUT A "LOW PRESSURE" WARNING, AND WITHOUT STRIKING ANY ROAD HAZARD, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. IN THE ALMOST 2 MILES IT TOOK TO CROSS 5 LANES OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC, THE TIRE DISINTEGRATED INTO WHAT MICHELIN CALLS A "RUN FLAT" CONDITION, DAMAGING THE WHEEL VALUED AT JUST OVER $600. OF COURSE WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE TIRE EXHIBITED "RUN FLAT" CONDITIONS BUT THAT WAS ONLY AFTER WHAT POSSIBLY WAS A BLOW OUT DUE TO ANOTHER DEFECT IN THE SIDEWALL. MICHELINS RESPONSE WAS THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIRE LEFT FOR THEM TO DETERMINE THE REAL CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. MR. TERRY VANCHOFF, ONE OF MICHELIN'S CUSTOMER CLAIMS MANAGERS ALSO SAID, "WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT RULINGS AFTER THE FIRESTONE DEBACLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE PAID MY CLAIM IN THE PAST DUE TO GOOD CUSTOMER RELATIONS, NOW, THE GOVERNMENT TREATS EVERY PAID CLAIM AS ADMITTING THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT AND COUNTS AGAINST THEM. IF THIS IS TRUE, I THINK IT DOES A DISSERVICE TO THE CONSUMER AS WELL AS THE COMPANY. I FOR ONE, A LIFELONG MICHELIN TIRE PURCHASER, WILL ACTIVELY LOOK TO OTHER TIRE MANUFACTURERS FOR MY FUTURE NEEDS BECAUSE OF POOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS REGARDING MY CLAIM. AFTER EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THE NHTSA COMPLAINT FILES, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SO MANY "COINCIDENCES" OCCURRED WITH MICHELIN SIDEWALL FAILURES TO SO MANY "UNINFORMED" CONSUMERS THAT THEY WERE ALL CAUSED BY UNDERINFLATED TIRES OR DAMAGE DUE TO STRIKING A ROAD HAZARD. IN CONCLUSION, PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING DOT #'S FOR SIDEWALL ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT: M30DHU8X4303; 3103; 4503 & 3403. *NM

NHTSA ID

10118223

Incident

Feb 15, 2005

TWO MICHELIN MX4 215/65R16 TIRES HAVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT WITHOUT ANY ROAD HAZARD INVOLVED IN UNDER 20,000 MILES. FIRST WAS A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL, THE SECOND WAS A SLOW LEAK THAT BECAME A FULL FLAT WITH NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. THESE BOTH OCCURRED ON A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10075360

Incident

Jun 11, 2004

Mileage

12,500 mi

WE PURCHASED A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY WITH 22000 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER 2003. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 6 TIMES FOR MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. WE FIRST REPORTED A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END AND A CLICKING/KNOCKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS AND COULD NOT "DUPLICATE" THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. WE TOOK IT BACK AGAIN 3 MORE TIME FOR THE VIBRATION PROBLEM UNTIL THEY FINALLY REPLACCED ALL 4 TIRES. IT STIIL HAS A VIBRATION TO THIS DAY. IN BETWEEN ALL OF THESE VISITS WE HAD IT IN FOR A FUEL SMELL THET FILLED THE ENTIRE HOUSE WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE REPLACED THE FUEL RAIL AND O-RINGS. STILL HAVE A GAS SMELL WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. ALSO HAD IS BACK IN FOR A STEERING PROBLEM AFTER THEY DID RECALL WORK ON THE POWER STEERING LINES THAT DID NOT GET DONE WHILE ON THE LOT. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK IN THE POWER STEERING RACK SIEZED UP IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BOX. NOW WE JUST HAD TO TAKE IT BACK AGAIN FOR A CLICKING NOISE IN THE FRONT. THEY REPLACED THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND BUSHINGS AGAIN. THEY VAN CURRENTLY HAS 26000 MILES ON IT. AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VAN I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A RENTAL VEHICLE BEFORE IT WAS ACTIONED TO THE DEALER THAT WE WENT TO. THE DEALER DID NOT DIVULGE THIS INFORMATION TO US BEFORE SIGNING THE DEAL. THEY HAD THE VAN FOR A TOTAL OF 3 WEEKS FOR THE FIRST 2 MONTHS THAT WE HAD IT. THINGS WERE GOING WELL UNTIL IT ALL STARTED OVER AGAIN WITH THE SWAY BAR.

NHTSA ID

10072402

Incident

May 10, 2004

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB AS THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK, RESTARTED, AND CONTINUED INTO THE PARKING SPACE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, PLACED IN DRIVE AND STALLED AGAIN. THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT CLICK NOISE WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE A/C FAN NOISE, THE SUSPENSION FELT LOOSE AND LEANED TO LEFT, UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, CLUNK NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN COMING TO A STOP, WHEN TURNING, AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE TIRES MEET A RESISTANCE,THE GAS PEDAL VIBRATED, AND THERE WAS A GROANING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND OR THE ENGINE WHEN TURNING OR WHEN IN REVERSE. THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND WAS REPOSITIONED PROPERLY. SCC

NHTSA ID

10008651

Incident

Aug 5, 2002

Mileage

1,300 mi