2000 Chrysler Town And Country

RUSTED LEFT STRUT TOWER CAP ON A CHRYSLER 2000 TOWN AND COUNTRY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VAN JUST CHECK THE BLOGS ON A COMPUTER OR CALL AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM I'M TOLD IF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCOVERED IT'S POSSIBLE THE STRUT COULD FORCE THROUGH THE RUSTED TOWER TOP CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE REPAIR WILL COST ME $300.00 TO $400.00 DOLLARS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS BAD DESIGN THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY CHRYSLER BEFORE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES.CONSUMERS PURCHASE AUTOS IN GOOD FAITH THAT THEY WILL BE SAFE AND THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO BE FINANCIALLY PENALIZED FOR BAD DESIGNS. *TR

CHRYSLER 2000 TOWN AND COUNTRY STRUT TOWER RUST. DRIVERS SIDE OF STRUT TOWER RUSTED SO BAD THAT THE STRUT IS GOING TO RIP THROUGH THE TOP OF THE RUSTED TOWER. THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A CALL BACK SAFETY ISSUE. MY VAN IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE, SO MY VAN HAS LITTLE EXPOSURE TO THE HARSH WEATHER ELEMENTS. WE KEEP OUR VAN WASHED AND WAXED OIL CHANGED EVERY 2000 MILES SO THE VAN IS KEPT MECHANICALLY AND COSMETICALLY IN GOOD REPAIR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO PURCHASE AN AMERICAN VEHICLE? WITH ALL OF OUR TECHNOLOGY WE PRODUCE FLAWED DESIGNED VEHICLES. I WILL NOT GET INTO CHEVY SILVERADO STEERING COLUMN BANGING AND TRANSFER CASE PUMP RUB. I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE AMERICAN FLAWED TECHNOLOGY VEHICLES. SHAME ON THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY FOR RIPPING OF CONSUMERS THAT DON'T HAVE THE MONEY WASTE ON REPAIRING THE ONGOING FLAWS. *TR

NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE HAS LED TO STRUT TOWERS RUSTING AND SEPARATING UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME TO REPAIR WITH A "STRUT TOWER REPAIR KIT". THEY THEN EXPLAINED THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN CHRYSLER/DODGE MINIVANS FROM 1996-2000 AND THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #23-044-02 ABOUT THE CONDITION AND REPAIR. IF LEFT UNDIAGNOSED AND UN-REPAIRED, THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. DUE TO THE # OF INCIDENTS & REPAIRS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECT. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE KIT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL WOULD NOT BE ISSUED...BECAUSE NO ONE HAS DIED YET? *TR

DRIVING THROUGH SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER (DRAINAGE FROM WATERHOSE RUN OFF NOT STORM TYPE DRAINAGE). SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE. HAPPENS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. I HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, THE TENSIONER, THE IDLER PULLEY. I'VE HAD THE ALIGNMENT OF THE PULLEYS CHECKED, ALL HAVE HAD NO EFFECT ON THE SERPENTINE BELT. IT STILL COMES OFF GOING THROUGH ANY FORM OF MOISTURE. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING NOW FOR OVER A YEAR, I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 DIFFERENT BELTS TRYING TO SEE WHAT COULD WORK. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING (APPROX. 3AM) WHILE MY WIFE WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK, WITH THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING SHE RAN INTO A CURB. THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE VEHICLE FRONT BUMPER AND BOTTOM VALANCE. *TR

1996-2000 CHRYSLER AND DODGE MINI VANS. COULD BE ANY MODEL OF THE VAN WITHIN EACH DIVISIONS LINEUP. NOT EVERY VAN HAS THIS PROBLEM BUT MANY MANY DO AND CHRYSLER HAS DROPPED THE BALL NOT PICKING UP THE TAB FOR THE REPAIRS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE MINI VANS. CHRONIC RUSTING OF THE STRUT TOWERS IN THESE VANS. ESPECIALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE (LIKE MINE). I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM IN THESE VANS DUE TO IMPROPER MANUFACTURING AND SEALING OF THE STRUT TOWER AFTER DOING SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. IF NOT REPAIRED THE STRUT TOWER COMPLETELY RUSTS/ROTS THROUGH ALLOWING THE STRUT ASSY TO COLLAPSE THROUGH THE SUPPORT TOWER AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OR CRASH OF THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER MADE AVAILABLE (AT CUSTOMERS COST FOR THE REPAIRS) A SUPPORT CAP THAT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM IF IT WAS CAUGHT IN TIME. A BAND AID SOLUTION AT BEST. MANY VANS ARE RUSTED/ROTTED BEYOND WHAT THE CAP IS DESIGNED TO FIX AND REQUIRE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE AND POTENTIALLY UNRELIABLE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STRUT TOWER UNIT MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET BUT IS RUSTED/ROTTED WELL BEYOND WHAT THE CHRYSLER CAP UNIT CAN FIX. ALL THE BODY SHOPS I HAVE VISITED HAVE MENTIONED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODEL YEAR VANS AND THE REPAIR IS IN THE $2000 DOLLAR RANGE TO FIX. 2 SAID THEY DID NOT WANT TO EVEN TOUCH IT AND I BETTER GET IT REPAIRED ASAP AND AVOID POT HOLES ETC. *TR

THE L/H STRUT TOWER ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY IS RUSTING OUT. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS AND UNDERSTAND THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT CONSIDERED THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM A MECHANIC AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I WILL BE REPAIRING MY OWN VEHICLE USING CHRYSLERS TSB 23-044-02 AS A GUIDE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO USE FORCE IN ORDER TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE. HE STATED THAT THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE GAS STRUTS HAD FAILED AND WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V123000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. HE HAS NOT CALLED THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 190,000.

I HAVE A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VAN WITH RUSTING STRUT TOWERS. THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS MORE THAN THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS ABOUT TO PUSH THROUGH AND GO INTO THE HOOD. I ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT ANY SAFETY RECALLS OR MODIFICATIONS, THEY SAID NO. I HAVE SEEN THE CHRYSLER SERVICE LETTER AND ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THAT THE WORK SHOULD BE DONE WHEN WORKING IN THAT AREA UNDER WARRANTY TO IN STALL THE CHRYSLER UPDATE KIT. I HAD MY STRUTS REPLACED BACK IN 11/2004 AND ASKED ABOUT THE RUST AND LOSS OF METAL THEN AND THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT BE WARRANTY. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY A FORMER SERVICE ADVISOR AT THAT DEALER THAT THEY HAVE PERFORMED THIS WORK UNDER WARRANTY OR POLICY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, THE MINI VAN IS A FAMILY VEHICLE WHICH MY WIFE AND KIDS RIDE IN DAILY. I AM ONE PERSON AND I NEED HELP WITH THE LARGE CARMAKER PLEASE. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY INJURIES YET BUT PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I DO. *TR

THE SHOCK TOWER MOUNTING WHICH HOLDS THE STRUT WHEEL AND STEERING ASSEMBLY HAS CORRODED DUE A DESIGN DEFECT AND HAS ALLOWED THE STRUT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BECOME DISCONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE CAUSING AN UNSAFE /CATASTROPHIC CONDITION TO EXIST. THIS DESIGN DEFECT WAS NOTICED DURING AN UNRELATED INSPECTION. THE DEFECT WAS REPORTED TO CHRYSLER DEALER ON 7/23/08. THE SERVICE DEPT. WAS AWARE OF THIS RECURRENT PROBLEM AND STATED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEE ISSUED TO DEALERS IN 2002 BUT OWNERS HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED VIA A VEHICLE RECALL NOTIFICATION. *TR