1998 Chrysler Town And Country

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THERE WAS SURFACE RUST ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE STRUT. OVER TIME THE RUST BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE STRUT WAS RUSTING THROUGHOUT THE STRUTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $ 300.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000. UPDATED 12/30/10

1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TS THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE BELT AND TENSIONER WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOISY. THE HANDBRAKE DID NOT HOLD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEVER AND CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE SWAY BAR LINK WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS NOISY. THE REAR HATCH LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM

I TOOK MY VAN TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VAN SWERVES (JUMPS) AND IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVER SIDE, IT IS SO CORRODED AND SEVERE THAT THE METAL IS PERFORATED AND STARTING TO TEAR ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STARTING TO RUST. HE SAID IF THE TOWER GIVES WAY, I WOULD LOOSE TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VAN. IF IT WAS NOT HIDDEN, I WOULD HAVE NOTICED IT LONG BEFORE IT GOT THIS BAD. HE SAID IF THE DESIGN HAD BEEN DONE PROPER AND THE ELECTRO COATING DONE CORRECTLY, THIS DEFECT SHOULD NOT OCCUR BEFORE 10 YEARS. I CONTACTED MY UNCLE WHO FOUND THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. INFORMATION ON THE CHRYSLER WEBSITE ISSUING TSB NUMBER 23-044-02 ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM FOR VANS BUILT FROM 1996 TO 2000. HE ALSO FOUND 14 PAGES OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEMS THEY HAD IN FINDING THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AND THE EXPENSE THEY HAD TO ENDURE TO HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE. I CAN PROVIDE DIGITAL PHOTOS TO YOU IF THEY ARE NEEDED. FROM ALL THE REPLIES THAT I PRINTED, IT SEEMS CHRYSLER IS UNWILLING TO FACE UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING PEOPLES LIVES IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEIR VEHICLES. I AM HOPING YOUR OFFICE LOOKS INTO THIS MATTER SO CHRYSLER CAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT AND NO ONE PUTS HIS OR HER FAMILY IN JEOPARDY AS I UNKNOWINGLY HAVE. THIS DEFECT IS GOING TO COST ME MONEY I REALLY DO NOT HAVE, BUT MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PAYING SOME BILLS RIGHT NOW.*JB

THANKFULLY THEY HAVEN'T FAILED YET, BUT THE STRUT TOWERS ARE RUSTED VERY BADLY. MUCH MORE RUST THROUGH WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO COMPLETE STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE STRUT TOWER (WHICH WOULD LIKELY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY). DAIMLER CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RECALL THESE FAULTY STRUT TOWER MOUNTS DUE TO THEIR LACK OF PROPER RUST PROTECTION AS THEY CAN LEAD TO A MAJOR PROBLEM (AND LIABILITY SUIT).

AT 34886 MILES THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACD FOR A 'CLUNKING NOISE' IN THE FRONT END. THE PROBLEM WAS LATER TRACED TO THE SWAY BAR INSULATORS AND LINK ENDS. AT 59600 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN, WITH A MOANING SOUND, WHENEVER TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. AT 60569 THE STEERING HOSES, FLUID AND STEERING ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. NONE OF THESE COMPONENTS REMEDIED THE SHUDDER IN THE STEERING.