Reporting the bolt on the engine pulley broke off and causing engine failure; vehicle taken to independence repairs shop and informed that the problem was due to a defected part. Dealer/mfr's was not contacted at this time. Please provide any further details:
1996 Chrysler Town and Country engine complaints
Page 4 of 6: complaints 71 to 100 of 154, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving about any speed engine will stall without a prior warning and just everything shut down. This could have caused an accident.
For the second time in a year or so the tensioner on the engine's serpentine belt broke, cuasing the loss of engine cooling, alternator, air conditioning and, most importantly, power steering. With no power the car is extremely hard to steer. Both times this item failed I was driving; if my wife had been driving she could not have steered the vehicle -- the effort required is too much. Both failures were at low speed; had it been in traffic requiring steering, this might well have LED to accidents. The tensioner bolt (integral with the tensioner) breaks because there is a great deal of shear pressure on it. It does not appear to be of high enough quality for this application. I believe it should be replaced with a stronger bolt. I am considering whether my wife should continue driving this car; I consider it dangerous.
When van was being checked because it would not start, a mechanic found a defective water pump. Owner concerned because this was a common problem with other town & country vans. Water pump was replaced at owner's expense. *ak starter motors failed.
While driving through a drive through consumer heard a loud snap, and then clicking noise coming from the engine and lost power steering. Consumer looked under car, and saw tensioner belt was hanging. Second time after a car wash, consumer put car in reverse, and the same thing happened. There was a snap, and clicking looked under vehicle, and it was hanging again. Took vehicle to dealer. Dealer said they had seen the problem a lot with these vehicles. Both incidents, the tensioner broke causing the belt to break also.
When starting up vehicle will stall. Contacted the dealer, and dealer told consumer that this was common. Dealer was indicating that throttle body should be cleaned every 30,000 miles. Vehicle stalled out while driving on highway and lost all power in the steering and brakes. Engine stalls when starting, and throttle body requires cleaning every 9000 to 10, 000 miles. *ak
While driving in rain air conditioning went out, and all the lights on the dashboard went out, windows fogged up, affecting driver's visibility. Also, belt tensioner did not work.*ak the belt tensioner broke for the second time causing lights, power steering and the engine to fail.
Engine mounts cracked within six months, and car started making a knocking noise. There were no warning lights. Also, bearings on the bottom of the motor broke, and vehicle needed a new motor. While car was under warranty the transmission went out. Vehicle is still having problems with transmission leaking. Dealer refused to fix vehicle under warranty.
Transmission replaced at 85,500 miles.
Windshield wiper blades turned on by themselves, and door would not latch at times. Also, transmission/ fue lines/gas tank, and air conditioner went out and were replaced. Aftet warranty expired, thermostat overheated, causing a fire. Owner said vehicle has been a constant problem since purchasing it.
Vehicle was parked in the back of library. Ten to fifteen minutes later, someone came into the libary and stated that vehicle was on fire . Fire department was called and responded. Earlier, consumer took the vehicle to the dealership for as gasoline leak on the feb 13-200o. Coinsumer picked the vehicle up on 18-feb-2000, and the engine compartment was burning. *ak
A small antifreeze leak was noted 3mos. After the warrenty expired leading to a water pump failure then the power window on the driver's side failed to work after opening the window to pay toll and remained open for duration of the trip over 1 hour in very cold weather(10-15 degrees f)
Vehicle vibrating above 45 MPH chrysler said it was the tires, michelin said it was the vehicle. We got 25%off the cost of new tires on 02/04/99 under a low speed wobble service bullitin notice. Transmission is a joke. Have had vehicle in time after time since 11/14/99 for incomplete work , tools left on the engine!! Transmission fluid and radiator fluid leaking the day after picking up the van. We asked the dealership to check items that another auto shop checked and said needed fixed under the warranty and the dealership told us the other shop didn't know anything that they weren't a dealership! After putting the motor back together, one of the asked to fix components was broken after all and had to be fixed. We are still experiencing problems with "hick-upping" while at a stop also a "wanting to stall and holding back feeling. This has to do with the coil pack (we feel0 , that we have asked them to check and looking at the forms received back, it hasn't been. I have asked repeatedly for my copies of the work needing to be done sheets, and have yet to receive them. I have made complaint to the manufacturer and have asked for the regional manager to contact me, but that hasn't happened yet. This was done on approx. 02/08/00, today is 02-25-00. *ak( dot number: tire size: 21565t16mn )
Suddendly while making a left turn serpentine belt came off, and all power steering was lost immediately. Van was towed to the dealership and repaired at owner's expense. Please provide any further information.
I feel strongly this is a manufacturer's defect. Poor quality in their castings. No safety defect listed in summary.
On-going / intermittent problem with engine stalling. Problem would occur while driving (slow or highway speed), did not matter at a stop position. Problem occurred on four occasions. Dealer notified and unable to correct the problem.
Engine overheats due to the cooling fan relay failure. Yh
Subject vehicle involved in side impact accident. Subject vehicle pulled away from a stop sign and was broad sided by oncoming full-size van. Subject vehicle immediately burst into flames (per witness statements). Driver and passenger were both unconscious. Bystanders were unable to get either out of burning vehicle due to doors being locked (auto door locking mechanism) and were unable to break windows out before vehicle was fully engulfed.
While driving at 5 MPH turned at a curb, and bolt that holds idler pulley sheard off which could have caused loss of vehicle control. Manufacturer claimed it was a worn part.
Serpentine belt & tensioner kept slipping due to water getting on it. Vehicle loses control when this happens, cannot turn. Belt & tensioner was replaced first time by mechanic. Now problem has reappeared.
Engine belt tension bar that keeps alternator bar tight broke, causing a loss of power and steering .
While driving the at any rate of speed the vehicle will completely shut down without warning, cause unknown. Please give any further details .
While driving the vehicles tensioner snapped and power steering was lost. This has happened twice within one year. Both incidents occurred while parking ane vehicle not moving. After failures, power steering failed completely. Dealer cant find problem. Mjs
Most unrealiable car I have owned. These are not the only problems, just the most major. This car has been on a tow truck six times in three years. Please note first repair was to the original tensioner and serpentine belt; I tried to correct before submitting but was unable to change form.
Auto transmission failed and was replaced after 46,856 miles. Fuel gauge reads empty when 5 or 6 gallons remain - tank replaced, problem never fixed. Windshield wipers will come on by themselves, switch replaced problem still exists. Electric cooling fans failed, module and relay replaced. Driver window moter and regulator failed. Air conditioning compressor leaked, A/C hoses leaked all new system put in.
Transmission failed. Mjs
I am disabled secondary to multiple sclerosis but an still actively employed as a physician. I was thrilled to purchase a vehicle through chrysler that was adapted by braun corporation with a lowered floor, entervan ramp and hand controls. From the first 6800 miles, I have had repeated problems. In the past year and a half, I have been stranded in my vehicle in my wheelchair and the van has required towing. I was prompted to reach out to you for help because the first problem (at 6800 miles) recurred now at 40,000 miles. My brakes failed entirely without warning and I was travelling at 40mph. Chrysler points the finger at braun and quality coach (the distributor locally). They point the finger at chrysler. Chrysler said that in 1996, braun cahnged the location of the fuel pump and this required "customization" of the line between the brake pump and the master cylinder. This "custmized" line has worn through twice (the first time at 6800 miles) with no warning. I was assured then that the problem was corrected but found out at 40mph that my brakes were gone again. I had gotten the van serviced at the dealer 6 weeks prior to this and new front brakes were installed. I also had it in 12 weeks prior to this incident to have all the conversion equipment checked. Needless to say, no assurances from them that they have corrected the problem will convince me to drive this van and I do not, in good conscience, want to pass this problem on to another innocent person. Please advise and help if you can!
While driving the bolt that holds the engine pulleytensioner broke off, causing all power to be lost. The van has been towed to the dealership for repairs. Owner experienced this same problem 18 months ago at 30,000 miles. Repairs were made at owner's expense. Please provide any further information.
After pulling in a driveway, with the car still idling, heard a noise and the car began to overheat. The tensioner had broken off and fell down in the engine causing the idler pulley and belt to come off. Had the car towed to dealer and they installed a new belt and tensioner under warranty. My concern is that if it had happen moments before, when the car was still in motion, it would have caused a loss of control with possible serious consequences.
While driving at 40 MPH saw coming smoke from under the hood and leaking into the passenger's compartment, causing the exhaust pipe to overheat and start a fire.
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