2000 Chrysler Town And Country

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE STRUT TOWER UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS TO THIS DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STRUT TOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN AUTO BODY SHOP. AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATED 08/15/08. *JB

AS I BACKED OUT OF MY DOWNWARD SLOPING DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT ENTRY INTO THE STREET. VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE REAR BRAKE LINES REVEALED RUST/CORROSION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FLEXIBLE STAINLESS STEEL SEGMENTS WHICH ARE LOCATED ABOUT 1 FOOT TO THE REAR OF THE ABS MODULE. ONE OF THESE SECTIONS HAD RUPTURED CAUSING THE LOSS OF BRAKING. I HAVE REMOVED THE LINE FROM THE ABS MODULE AND CUT IT ABOUT A FOOT FROM THE RUPTURE. I HAVE PRE-REMOVAL PICTURES OF THESE AREAS AND THE AFFECTED PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. REPAIRS WILL BE MADE TO BOTH THE RUPTURED LINE AND TO THE OTHER REAR BRAKE LINE AS IT LOOKS THAT ONE WILL FAIL SHORTLY IF USED. *TR

WHILE VEHICLE WAS HAVING OVER $1000.00 IN UNEXPECTED REPAIRS FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS (SHATTERING DRIVE PLATE, $550.00 EXHAUST CROSSOVER PIPE) IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH STRUT TOWERS HAVE RUST PERFORATION AND ARE STRUCTURALLY UNSAFE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT ALL CHRYSLER MINIVANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1996 AND 2000 EXPERIENCE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGED, AND WELL CLEANED AND WAXED. I AM ALWAYS PARTICULAR ABOUT WASHING ROAD SALT OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLES FREQUENTLY. I AM PARTICULARLY UPSET THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS THE NERVE TO CHARGE ME OVER $1000.00 TO FIX THE DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLE. WITHOUT THIS REPAIR MY VEHICLE IS DANGEROUSLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS ALERTED TO THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT KILLED MY FAMILY. *JB

THE REAR DOOR HANDLES ARE APPARENTLY FAULTY. MY MOTHER TRIED TO OPEN THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN HER HAND, THEN APPROX. A MONTH LATER THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE ALSO BROKE OFF AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT MY CHILD IN THE CAR. NO EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS USED, IT APPEARS THAT THE HANDLES ARE JUST CHEAPLY MADE. IN ORDER TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE HANDLES/LABOR WILL BE $198 EACH TO BE FIXED, WHICH TO ME SEEMS INCREDIBLY RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING THE PARTS ARE CHEAPLY MADE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK TOWER IS CORRODING, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE THREE BOLTS TO RUST AND BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,750 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

1) NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE LED TO 2) THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTING AND SEPARATING UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 3) I NOTICED THE RUSTING AND SEPARATION AND I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR WITH A "STRUT TOWER REPAIR KIT". 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 HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR OR REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIR.*JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT SEAT BELTS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE WHICH SECURED CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK WHEN THE DRIVER MADE A SUDDEN STOP THE SEAT BELT, WHICH SECURED THE CHILD SEAT POSITIONED BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT, BECAME UNLATCHED AND AS A RESULT THE SEAT HIT THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE CHILD WAS NOT INJURED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE BUCKLES CHECKED AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND BOTH TIMES THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BUCKLES WERE FINE. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT COVER FELL OFF. THE SLIDING DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF. *NM