There is apparently a common short in the steering column of these vehicles and the functions in the steering column stop working. Of particular concern is the horn and air bag. Seems to me that this is a design defect and a safety problem that the manufacturer should take responsibility for ...
1997 Chrysler Town and Country electrical complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 76, newest first, as owners wrote them.
While driving with cruise control activated could not disengage that system by the steering column, and had to apply brakes to stop vehicle. Also, horn has failed to function. Dealership has examined vehicle, and determined that clock spring was the component that needed to be replaced. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
While pulling vehicle in parking garage saw smoke coming from under the hood. Consumer raised hood and vehicle was on fire. There was no warning. Contacted dealer, and dealer urged consumer to contact insurance company.
Loss of control of cruse control. Horn did not work ( on indication prior).
Horn won't blow, cruise control only works intemittently, air bag light stays on continuously.
Clock springs are not working properly and horn/cruise control have gone out due to this default. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak the consumer's insurance would not pay for the clock spring replacement because they claim it was the manufacturing defect.
Horn/cruise control worked intermittently, then failed. I now understand the air bags were on that circuit as well, but I had no way of checking that at the time, and the garage did not give me any indication that this failure was dangerous. Please force them to fix these things on other chrysler mini-vans beofre someone gets seriously hurt.
Consumer noticed a couple of months ago that horn stopped working, and airbag light came on dashboard.
Airbag light is coming on and staying on. Cruise control doesn't work, and horn won't blow.
About 2 weeks ago air bag light came on after starting vehicle. Air bag light remained on. Also, horn and cruise control failed to function properly when in use. *ak
Cruise control went out, and then airbag light came on. Also, horn would not work.
Airbag light came on, horn and cruise control stopped working, took to dealer, clock spring assembly had to be replaced. *ak the consumer states that were 2.8 million other owners with the same problem and with the same kind of vehicle. The consumer also indicates that driving this vehicle was extremely dangerous.
Consumer is experiencing problems with steering column where airbag light comes on/loss of cruise control, and electrical problems. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
The courtesy light in the door burned out. Nlm consumer states while his wife was driving vehicle the steering wheel suddenly became extremly difficult to turn, consumer was told that the vehicle needed new struts and a new rack an pinion, also the windshield wopers come on by themselves and the air bag light on the dashboard stays on.
While driving engine will quit working and electrical system will not work. Then consumer will let vehicle set for about an hour , and will start again.*ak the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and they could not find anything wrong.
While driving vehicle stalls unexpectedly which may cause a crash. Took vehicle to dealer several times, and dealer could not determine cause. Vehicle is able to restart after stalling. Please provide further information.
Intermittently while driving vehicle stalls when making a any types of turns which may cause a crash. Been to dealer several times, and they could not determine cause. Please provide further information.
Fire while driving, brakes, power steering completely failed.
No summary
The original battery failed at 27,000 miles and was replaced in march 1999 with a new 60 month battery. Now 17 months later the battery has failed again and was told by the dealer that the battery had to be replaced. There seems to be an issue with the short life of batteries in these minivans. A side note is my sister inlaw has a 98 t&c with 26k and her battery needed to be replaced. Please provide any information that you have on this. Thanks!
Fuel pump failed. Yh
Windshield wipers have self-actuated over 100 times while driving. I have taken the car back to dealer (galeana) seven (7) times and they cannot fix the problem. I consider this a safety problem because there is some kind of "short circuit" in the electrical system that could cause a fire and we may be trapped in the car. It is startling to the driver to have the wipers come on suddenly while you are driving at highway speeds and could cause the driver to lose control of the car.
Battery fails without warning and after failure will not take after jump started. Nlm
Battery failed.
Battery failed. Yh
Battery failed.
When traveling at any speed the vehicle will cut off without prior warning. Problem is noticed when making a stop or when making a turn. Consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer indicated that it was due to an electrical malfunction. Please provide any further details.
Vehicle started smoking after an hour parked in garage. Consumer was able to move vehicle out of garage, smoke decreased after vehicle was outside. Dealer notified, and found the cause in the electrical harness under the hood. Repair made at no cost to the consumer.
Failure of the electrical system caused fire.
Electrical fire, believed to have started somewhere between the battery and the starter.
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