Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds, the speedometer needle would indicate a reading of zero. The failure recurred numerous times. Every single gauge on the instrument panel failed, including the instrument panel back lights. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 160,000.
1998 Chrysler Town and Country electrical complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 62, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. The contact stated that the instrumental cluster failed and none of the gauges worked properly. Due to this short in the instrumental cluster, the vehicle would also stall and take a long period of time to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and they informed the contact that the entire instrumental cluster or the circuit board behind it needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000. The gauges on this van are now severely malfunctioning. Speedometer is 23 MPH off. The tachometer bits inches away from the red line although transmission is not over revving. Updated 11/09/2011 *ln
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. When the contact turned the vehicle on, it would start and run for two seconds and then turn off. After three attempts to restart the vehicle it failed to come on. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. The mechanic could not diagnose the failure which had occurred six times. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.
Repeated dismount of serpentine belt from crankshaft pulley due to water splashing from right front tire. Has occurred four or five times since owning the 1998 vehicle in 2001. This caused the abrupt loss of power steering, braking and electrical power from the alternator. No action has been taken by chrysler to provide s shield to protect this area.
1998 chrysler town and country. Consumer states vehicle would not start *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer kept the vehicle for three weeks and was unable to duplicate the problem. When the consumer retrieved the vehicle from the dealer, he made a stop and when he returned to the vehicle, it would not start. The consumer waited 30-45 minutes and then the vehicle started again. The consumer returned to the dealer and they kept the vehicle for a week, but they were still unable to duplicate the problem. The dealer then stated the body control needed to be replaced. After the replacement, the consumer had the same problem again after driving for a week. The consumer returned to the dealer again. The next day, the consumer received a call from the dealer stating there was a short in the instrument cluster board.
I own a 1998 chrysler town and country and buying it was the biggest mistake I have ever made. My problem is a repeat of a thousand other peoples. I'll go to start my van and it will act like it wants to start, but then dies. At first it would start after being untouched for a few hours, but now it can take up to 2 weeks. We have had it towed 3 times and to 2 different mechanics, including 1 chrysler dealership, and everytime we are told the same thing. There is no way to disarm the alarm because it is built into the engine. I have a family that deserves a reliable car and this is not it. I can't afford to keep towing it back and forth from shop to shop. I need answers!..why was this issue not recalled by chrysler, when so many people are having the same problems. This is ridiculous and frustrating. Someone has to know how to fix this!!!!
I have a 1998 town & country and had several instances where all the dials on the dash would flatline and then come back up. Then it started cranking then dying out immediately. It would crank 3 or 4 times and then not crank at all. If the battery cables were removed and then replaced it would then start, but that no longer works and it does not run at all.
I bought a 1998 chrysler town and country and after 2 weeks the van started having problems. The car wouldn't start in the gas station on the first try but did start on the second. From that incident on the car would need several starts to get it running and the instrument panel would go dead while I was driving and then suddenly jump back on and die again. This went on for about a week and a half before it stopped starting at all. I have not been able to drive for over three weeks and not only wasted money buying the van but also, took it to a repair shop where the guy replaced the fuse panel for $200 and wanted to put in a new computer but I told him not to. This van is a disgrace and an inconvenience.
The van starts but will not take any gas and die immediately. It will start about 4-5 times then not start at all. Like others who have filed a complaint, the gauges act funny then flatline. It usually takes several days before it will start again. I have had a computer hooked up to it but it doesn't read anything wrong with the vehicle. It is not dependable at all. I have replaced relays and gave it a full tune up.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. The contact stated that the interior lighting flashes on and off and the doors lock and unlock while driving various speeds. She further stated that the vehicle has 155,000 miles, but the odometer currently displays 855 miles. In addition, all of the lights in the gear box (prndl) are dim. The dodge dealer stated that the body control module failed and could cause the vehicle to shut off. The repair would cost $4,500. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Vehicle starts & dies, starts & dies and after a four or five attempts...it won't start at all. After a few hours or days it will start right up. When it does this the gauges are all flatlined. Sometimes while driving, the gauges flatline and alarm set light comes on as well as check engine light and ABS light. No codes come up for this problem even though the dealership wants to charge $119 just to diagnose the problem. This has happened repeatedly....new battery, new starter...among many other new items. Have not replaced the ignition switch, brain, or instrument panel. Have been told it could be either one of these things......I am tired of just putting in random parts.
Has happened over 100 times. Dashboard gauges all remain at zero, car will not start. Turns over, then dies immediately. I believe it is the security system killing the car. After 5 starts, won't even turn over. Have paid for new alternator, new starter, mechanic looked at numerous times. **finally fixed** mechanic had another customer with same problem. Found it was the entire instrument panel which needed replacing. At a cost of $700 for other customer. I went with a used model which is risky, but it has not done this again at all for 7 months. There are numerous reports on this site about this, and I thought I would help people out who have also spent a ton of money on this problem, with no resolution.
-gauges on dash loose power while driving -warning lights and messages light up on information cluster -often car will not crank engine when attempting to start, banging on dash will cause gauges to work, and then car will start. Several times car will start and die after a few seconds, after multiple attempts, car will not start for several hours, leaving family stranded with no transportation.
On a regular basis, van will not remain running. Start vehicle and it stalls immediately. It will do this for 5-6 starts, then will not even turn over. All gauges go to zero, no digital odometer, etc. If left for a few hours, will start again. Sometimes gauges zero out while driving. Usually, tapping on the dash hard will return them to operating position. But not always. Have been told this is anything from alarm system, main computer, aftermarket automatic starter shutting down alarm. One dealer replaced starter for +$300. Did not fix problem. This is a huge problem with a lot of these vans, as I can see by reading on the internet, and this site. This is an ongoing problem for 3+ years. No solution.
On intermittent occasions the minivan will not start. It will run for a couple of seconds then stall. After 3-5 attempts at starting, it will do nothing at all, not even turn over, but all the gauges work. This event does not generate an error code. After returning to the vehicle an hour or two later the car starts normally and will be fine for days. Service tech's are unable to diagnose the problem - battery, fuses, starter, are all fine.
Vehicle ignition cylinder failed 10/28/06. Replaced 5/23/06. All service done by seller midwest mobility, inc. 437 wise road schaumburg, il 60193. Consumer recharged for multiple replacement of same item, even though vehicle under extended warranty and purchased 4/18/05.
My complaint is virtually identical to a previous one, numbered 10167790. My car will start, run for a few seconds, then shut off. After a few tries, it won't turn over at all. This happens at random times. It's a gamble as to whether the car will start or not, when I go out. It seems to have something to do with the theft deterrent system, because I believe the last two time this happened, prior to this happening, ny car alarm would set itself off, when opening the door.
When trying to start it will run for a few seconds then cut off, after a few tries it won't even turn over. After about an hour it might start and it might not. I took it to the chrysler dealership nearby and they wouldn't even look at my car, because it had over 100k miles. But with additional questions, they confessed that they could put a lot of hours and parts into the van, and still not fix the problem.
When trying to start it will run for a few seconds then cut off, after a few tries it won't even turn over. After about an hour it might start and it might not. I have taken it to the chrysler dealership nearby and spent around $1,400 dollars just to get it home and the next day it does the same thing all over again.
Dt*: the contact stated, when trying to start the vehicle, the engine turns over, runs for a few seconds, then shuts off. After a few minutes to an hour, the vehicle will restart and continue to run. The gauges on the instrument panel do not operate at times. The dealer can not determine the cause of the problem nor diagnostic testing has not registered any codes.
Airbag deploy while driving 55mph middle lane, could not see, van filled with smoke, almost crash with my 3 children in van, injury burns on arms ignition failed 4 times replaced 2x under warranty
The vehicle is a 1998, chrysler town & country van (lxi). The problems are due to the malfunction of the "body control module," as defined by snethkamp jeep & chrysler service department. Due to the malfunction, the windshield wipers do not start properly when engaged and continue when in the off position. The engine has to be turned off to disengage or stop wipers. Also, all door locks continue to lock and unlock when a door or doors are open, when the engine is started, and while driving. Occasionally, before turning on the ignition, the alarm will automatically engage: must use the remote key (unlock) before engine will start. Often, when inside, the only way to unlock a door or doors is to use the remote control key (unlock).
Airbag light stays on. Horn doesn't work. Told by chrysler that the car is not among the cars recalled for clock spring failure.
Clockspring failed, causing air bags and horn to malfunction.
I just started driving my car this morning, when I noticed white smoke coming out from under the hood. None of my engine warning lights were on, and the temperature gauge was in the normal range. I pulled over and called for help, but had to get out of the car when the flames started coming out from under the hood. Entire front end of minivan was on fire, engine/battery melted, front windshield cracked/melted, hood melted. Fire department called and put out fire.
Had problems with the horn and speed control worked intermittently.
Instrument panel ceased to function while the vehicle was being driven. Problem apparently caused by design defect in cable routing - wiring too close to alternator, damaged wiring and instrument cluster circuitry. Cables were replaced at cost of $235, but problem returned 3 months later. Replacement of instrument panel circuit board now necessary at cost of over $500. Were told that chrysler recently increased cost of part tenfold. Dealer reported several similar complaints over past year. Safety issue as speedometer and shift indicator ceased to function.
Cruise control does not work at all. The horn works but not when you need it, and you have to move around on the horn area to find a spot that will work. *ph *jb **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**770860
Consumer states that while driving and no warning the horn will operate intermittently and the air bag light comes on and the air bag could be inoperative in the event of a vehicle accident. Dealer notified ts
Consumer states that while driving, without warning the power driver side seat started moving backwards and forward,the both power rear view mirror started going up and down. Driver was thrown against steering wheel. Which could off resulted in a accident. Ts
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