2001 Chrysler Town and Country: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Nov 7, 2011 · Electrical, Suspension · 100,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chrysler town and country. The contact was driving 5 MPH when the vehicle exhibited an abnormal cracking noise from the front end. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 01v152000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower arm) and contacted the manufacturer however, the manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics but the mechanic referred the contact back to the manufacturer. In addition, the radio would not function in consistently hot or humid weather and was also leaking water onto the anti-freeze pipe. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Oct 3, 2011 · Engine, Fuel system · IL

My van has a severe gas smell everytime I drive it and it has cost me and my children to suffer from severe migranes I am a single mother of 5 kids with a fixed income and do not have the money to pay or repairs I am still paying for the vehicle I still owe 4000 on it and noone ever told me about recalls on this vehicle till I took it to my mechanic I have other issues as well I get regular oil changes and for some reason the engine got so hot it shot the bearings in the rods to the oil pan it is going to cost me over 300 dollars in repairs and also the ball joint snapped on the front right side there is just one thing after another going wrong with this van it is in nice physical shape but it seems like I get one thing fixed and something goes wrong is there anything I can get done about this? Like I said I am still paying on it so it is not like I can just go out and get another car to replace it I have been without it for over a month now and I have to have it for my kids.

Filed Sep 26, 2011 · Suspension · 140,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chrysler town and country. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and above, she could hear a clunking noise coming from the front suspension. The contact replaced the sway bar links herself. The failure continued. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, where the vehicle was aligned and repaired. The failure continued. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 01v152000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower arm). The vehicle was in the process of being repaired for a third time. The failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Aug 24, 2011 · Steering, Suspension · 100,000 miles · HI

2001 chrysler town & country limited 3.8l v6. I have had suspension problems from the start. Knocking noises, etc. Replaced tie rods, sway bars, lower control arms and bushings, but done it piecemeal. Many of these items have been repeatedly replaced. Now it has gotten worse--from strictly annoying to downright dangerous. The van jerks approx 6-8 feet left and right into another lane or shoulder in a second. Replaced the lower control arms and reduced the jerks to only 6-8 inches but still drifts. I am again replacing rack & pinion, inner and outter tie rods along with the new control arms. Hopefully this will alleviate the problem--but this repeated repairs has cost more than the van is worth. Not to mention the rapid wear of tires (seem to replace every 10k miles).

Filed Jan 24, 2009 · Suspension · OH

I had a thumping noise in the front right side of my 2001 t&c with about 68000 miles. I took it to the mechanic and he changed the sway bar links,driver side idler arm, both struts, both strut bearings. 8 months latter I was back to the same mechanic to fix the noise which had gotten much worse. He changed the ball joints. I drove it for about another 6 months and noticed that the noise had not totally been illuminated and the strut bearings were creaking. I returned to the mechanic and he finally found the noise. He changed the a-arm and bushings on the passenger side. Problem fixed. One year later and it sounds like the drivers side may need replaced. A-arms and bushings are $350 . Total repairs: new a-arm and bushings, new struts and strut bearings twice, new ball joints twice, new sway bar links, new idler arms,and 3 front end alignments. There is no recall on any of these repairs and I would like to know why. Total cost of all repairs was about $1900. The second time around on the struts and bearings,ball joints was free. Woo! Hoo!

Filed Jan 3, 2009 · Suspension · 99,000 miles · MD

I have a 2001 chrysler town and country. I have had it for 7 months. From the time I brought it home we heard a knocking/rattling noise in the front and the steering wheel was whining. We took it back where they supposedly replaced the alternator, water pump,both bushings and the rack and pinion. The noise was still there after, and the mechanic told us that it was a 500 mile break-in period. Then approximately 5 to 6 months later my heat goes out and still the previous problems from before are there. We took it back where they replaced steering pump and ball joints. They were supposed to put 2 new lines on for the heat when instead they put 2 one foot pieces of black rubber hose on and clapped it on both ends covering the leak. On top of that they put the wrong antifreeze in. I have heat whenever it wants to work. Now the dash light works whenever it wants to work and I still have a knocking noise on the front passenger side along with the whining in the steering wheel. We took it back where I purchased it and the mechanic told us that they saw that some kind of ball bearing had a little bit of play in it but they didn't replace it, then because we called the van a lemon we were told to get out and they refused to fix anything else. I have 3 small children under the age of 5 who are with me most of the time. I feel that this van is a danger to myself and my children.

Filed Nov 4, 2008 · Suspension · 57,000 miles · CT

Constant klunking from front end when ever going over bumps, have replace sway bars ,on both sides tie rods, cv joints ,everything has been replaced on this front end and still makes a klunking noise my sister had the same problem with her dodge grand caravan. Have talked to numerous people that own or have owned chrysler minivans numerous years and makes and models, with the same problem.

Filed Aug 22, 2007 · Engine, Suspension · 37,747 miles · NJ

I purchased a 2001 chrysler t&c new on 9/10/2001. Presently I have 38,000 miles on it. First item replaced was the sway bar at about 30,000 mi. Then on 5/22/07 the tie rods had to be replaced due to front wheel play. On 8/13/2007 after arriving on vacation, the next morning I went to a local store about 4 miles from the resort. On the way back the van started to over heat and the alarm sounding. I pulled over and waited for it to cool. After arriving at the resort I checked the coolant. Remaining was about 4 1/2 quarts of the required amount. I filled it to capacity and ran engine noticing coolant leaking. I had it towed to a chrysler dealer. They were able to place it on a lift immediately advising me that the dual coolant tubes made of steel pipe had rusted under the van on the front passenger side. I had 37,800 mi at this point. Repairs cost $423.22. Amazingly chrysler changed the replacement tubes with aluminum tubes. I noticed in reading reports regarding my same problem, many owners are having the same situation. Surprisingly this was not covered by my extended warranty along with the tie rod replacement. All the vehicles I have ever owned never needed tie rod replacements. Regarding the use of steel to run coolant under a vehicle to the rear heater knowing road salts, rain, etc have a devastating effect on this metal, chrysler engineering goofed at the cost of the customer, avoiding listing this part under extended warranty. At this point having owned a 1990 dodge caravan with 2 transaxles replaced and giving chrysler another chance to prove themselves in building a better vehicle I guess I overestimated them along with placing my faith in their company. I have sent customer assistance my complaint and bill for the coolant pipe replacement placing little hope in reimbursement. Now I see why the american car manufacturers are loosing out to foreign car manufacturers.

Filed Jun 13, 2006 · Acceleration, Suspension · 70,000 miles · NY

Dt*: the contact stated while driving various speeds, there was a popping noise coming from the front suspension. The vehicle was inspected by an independent repair shop. The mechanic determined the upper control arm and lower ball joints needed to be replaced. There is a the federal safety agency recall # 01v152000 regarding the front suspension. The VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was alerted. Additionally, the speedometer intermittently worked. The vehicle is currently at the dealer awaiting repairs for the suspension and inspection of the speedometer.