2000 Chrysler Town And Country

ON SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2007, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF MY BRAKES UPON STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AT A FOUR-WAY CONTROLLED INTERSECTION. A PICK-UP TRUCK ON MY RIGHT SIDE HAD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AND HAD BEGUN TO PROCEED THROUGH WHEN MY 2000 TOWN & COUNTRY LXI BRAKES FAILED AND WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN. FORTUNATELY, THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAD MY MINIVAN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE BRAKE LINES WERE BOTH SEVERELY CORRODED/RUSTED, ONE TOTALLY THROUGH THE METAL, THE OTHER NEARLY SO. BOTH WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER 600.00. THE CORROSION PROBLEM IS ELECTROLYSIS, THE RESULT OF THE JOINING OF TWO DIFFERENT METALS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRAKE LINES. THIS DESIGN FLAW RESULTED IN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY LOSS OF THE BRAKES. MY MECHANIC CAN COMMUNICATE HIS FINDINGS IF NEEDED TO YOUR PERSONNEL. THE FACT THAT THE PARTS SERVICE HE USES STOCKS THIS ITEM IS TELLING IN THAT THERE IS AN APPARENT NEED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LINES ON A REGULAR ENOUGH BASIS TO STOCK THE PARTS. I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER WITH THIS INFORMATION. I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO INSTIGATE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AS I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE THAT COULD RESULT. 24 HOURS BEFORE THIS BRAKE FAILURE, I WAS DRIVING THE FREEWAY FROM MILWAUKEE TO OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN AND BACK WITH MY 17-YEAR-OLD FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH FOR HIS ADMISSION TO THE MUSIC BUSINESS PROGRAM IN THE FALL OF 2007 SEMESTER. WE WERE IN BLOWING SNOW ON A COMPLETELY SNOW-COVERED HIGHWAY THE ENTIRE DISTANCE. IT IS TRULY A MIRACLE THAT NO HARM CAME TO ANYONE. WE LOST OUR TWO OLDEST SONS, AS TEENAGERS, IN A DEADLY CAR CRASH AND WOULD NOT WISH THIS TRAGEDY ON ANYONE. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY CLOSE CALL FOR OUR FAMILY AND I HOPE THAT NO DEATHS HAVE TO OCCUR BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED. THIS DESIGN FLAW IS ONE THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AS WELL AND DESERVES CLOSE SCRUTINY. THANK YOU FOR ANY ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL IT BEGAN TO TIGHTEN AND THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. ALSO, THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57.000. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MOST UPSETTING THING IS THE TREATMENT HE RECEIVED FROM THE DEALER. UPDATED 07/25/07 *TR

SUDDEN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID RESULTED IN ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. INTERNET SEARCHES ON THIS VEHICLE PROVIDED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS 2000 TOWN & COUNTRY VAN. IT HAS 56,000 MILES. ALSO REPORTED LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID AND DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY BRAKE FLUID DRUMS (POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE). INFORMED CHRYSLER REGARDING THIS MATTER BUT THEY REFUSED WARRANTY COVERAGE, RESULTING IN EXPENSIVE REPAIR WORK OVER $600 FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID AND BRAKE PAD REPAIR WORK. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND REPLACEMENT WAS NECESSARY $325. DEALER REPORTED FREQUENT PROBLEMS WITH MOTOR. DEALER INFORMED 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES ISSUE RELATED TO REPLACEMENT OF MOTOR SO GLASS CAN FUNCTION CORRECTLY. REQUIRED TO FUNCTION TO PASS DE SAFETY INSPECTION. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE, THE HYDRAULIC GAUGE DID NOT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND BUCKLED. FAULTY AND DANGEROUS HYDRAULIC TIRE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND CAN CAUSE VERY SERIOUS INJURY. *NM

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

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON MAY 30 MY BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED AS I WAS LEAVING ONE STOP LIGHT INTERSECTION AND STOPPING FOR ANOTHER. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10 MPH AND BY PUMPING BRAKES, GEARING DOWN AND STEERING, I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. ON INSPECTING MY VEHICLE, UNDER THE DRIVER?S SIDE I FOUND A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE WHERE THE BRAIDED GAS LINE JOINS WITH THE STEEL GAS LINE. THERE ARE 2 BRAIDED LINES WITH CONNECTIONS AT BOTH ENDS TO 2 STEEL LINES. ALL 4 CONNECTIONS SHOW EXTENSIVE CORROSION AT THE JOINT. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY GALVANIC ACTION BETWEEN 2 DISSIMILAR METALS AT THE JOINT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER NEUWIRTH MOTORS IN WILMINGTON NC AND WILL HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN ON MONDAY. AS OF THIS POINT I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER OR CHRYSLER CONCERNING THE REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS, IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT A REGULAR HIGHWAY SPEED AND HAD TO STOP MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. IF THE SAME LINES I OBSERVED UNDER MY CAR IS STANDARD, AND I BELIEVE IT IS, THEN CHRYSLER HAS A DEATH TRAP TRAVELING THE HIGHWAY WAITING TO KILL OR INJURE THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOWN AND COUNTRY OWNERS. I HAVE ATTACHED THE 4 PICTURES THAT I TOOK FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE (2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY). THE LINE THAT ACTUALLY WENT OUT IS THE BOTTOM LINE SHOWN IN PICTURE 2 AND 3. LUCKILY I HAD JUST LEFT A STOP LIGHT AT ONE INTERSECTION AND STOPPING FOR ANOTHER LIGHT ABOUT 10 CAR LENGTHS UP. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 10 MPH SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND MISS THE CAR AHEAD BY USING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE, GEARS AND STEERING. BASICALLY I WENT FROM FULLY WORKING BRAKES TO NO BRAKES AT ALL. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO IT WAS FIXED AND ALL I PAID WAS THE $100 DEDUCTIBLE. I CALLED THE SERVICE CENTER AND SPOKE WITH A FEMALE REPRESENTATIVE. I ASKED IF THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE MY COMPLAINED. SHE SAID NO ONLY IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT WOULD THEY INVESTIGATE.

VEHICLE LEAF SPRING HAS WEAKENED CAUSING THE REAR OF VEHICLE TO SIT AT AN ANGLE. PROBLEMS WITH FRONT WHEELS AND BRAKES. *MR THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT BRAKES, AND THE ROTORS. THE FRONT WHEELS AND OR BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AGAIN, WHICH MEANT THAT NEW FRONT BRAKES WERE NEEDED AGAIN. (THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED) THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FULL REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. OTHER PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWED: THE LEFT REAR SHOCK HAD BLOWN AND A BOLT HAD BROKEN ON THE RIGHT SHOCK AND WERE REPLACED,THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS, THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS LOOSE ALONG WITH THE RIGHT SIDE MIRROR(BOTH READJUSTED), NOISE IN THE STEERING AND WAS HARD TO STEER AT TIMES, THERE WAS A METAL SOUND IN THE FRONT STRUT ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD, AND THERE WAS OVERHEATING SO THE ALL THE PARTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM WERE REPLACED. *SCC

SEPTEMBER OF 2000 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN. WE HAVE HAD FAIRLY GOOD SERVICE UNTIL NOW. AT ABOUT 12,000 MILES WE NOTICED WHEN YOU WERE ON THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD START TO EXIT AND PUT ON THE BRAKES IT WOULD VIBRATE A LITTLE, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT THEN BUT DID NOT. WE NOW HAVE 20,000 MILES AND IT IS (2) YEARS OLD, AND THE BRAKING BEGAN TO GET WORSE SO WE TOOK IT TO THE PLACE WE PURCHASE FROM FOR REPAIR. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND THEN CALLED ME AND TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG, THE BRAKE PADS WERE BAD AND THE ROTORS WE BAD AND WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED AND THIS WOULD COST $149.00. I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT THE MAN WAS TELLING ME THAT THIS WAS NOT IN THE WARRANTY OF THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED IT A WARE AND TARE ITEM. WE PURCHASE A NEW CAR ABOUT EVERY (2) YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE THAT NEEDED BRAKES AT 20,000 MILES. I ASKED IF THIS COULD BE A DEFECT IN PARTS AND HE TOLD ME IT IS THE WAY WE DRIVE????? (THAT GOT ME HOT WHEN HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE WAY WE DRIVE). WELL I'VE HAD A LOT OF NEW CARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. THE CAR BEING(2) YEARS OLD AND ONLY 20,000 MILES TELLS ME THAT WE DO NOT DRIVE IT THAT MUCH. I DID GET WITH THE MANAGEMENT AND HE TOLD ME HE WOULD BE IN TOUCH WITH ME (I'LL BET). I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE WHEN I PURCHASE THIS VAN THAT I WOULD BE SORRY, FIRST OF ALL BUY BUYING A CHRYSLER AND SECOND THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM. I JUST WROTE IT OFF. GUESS I SHOULD HAVE LISTEN TO THEM NOW. I KNOW THERE HAS TO BE SOMEONE ELSE THATS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ON THEIR VAN AND I JUST FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. IF THE CAR WAS SAY A YEAR OLD AND HAD 30,000 MILES I COULD UNDERSTAND, BUT BEING (2) YEARS OLD AND ONLY 20,000 MILES I JUST CAN NOT. ALSO THE PERSONAL SERVICE WAS NOT GOOD AT ALL, I THINK CHRYSLER NEEDS TO CHECK ON THIS (5)??? STAR DEALER, I WOULD NOT GIVE THEM (1)STAR. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE TO BE ABLE TO GET MY VAN AND I WAS NOT HAPPY CAMPER.