2005 Chrysler Town and Country: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jul 27, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 190,000 miles · SC · fire

The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the parking brake warning light had illuminated the instrument panel. After she checked her parking brake and saw that it was not engaged, she continued to drive and noticed an abnormal rubber odor coming from the vehicle. She continued driving and then noticed white smoke coming from the dashboard. The contact panicked and attempted to stop the vehicle however, the vehicle continued to accelerate independently. The contact was able to drive the vehicle into a parking lot and placed the vehicle in park. The smoke then progressed from white to black as she tried to exit the vehicle however, she was unable to exit the vehicle since all the electrical features were inoperable. The contact then heard her doors unlock after multiple attempts to open them and immediately ran out of the vehicle. The contact called her husband who was a mechanic and he was able to drive the vehicle to their home. The authorities were not called to the scene and no injuries were reported. The contact's husband was able to assess the vehicle damage and discovered an active fire inside the dashboard module which he was able to extinguish. Her husband was able to determine that internal wiring within the module had caused the fire. Several electrical failures, as well as severe internal damage, rendered the vehicle undrivable. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

Filed Jan 9, 2015 · Engine · 112,000 miles · DE · fire

I was on the way to a vet appointment with our puppy and had my 12 year old daughter in the van, we had traveled down the road we live on and then turned onto the mail road and after approx. .5 mile the van started to hesitate in traffic and started to stall, I tried to turn the wheel hard to get it out of the road but it was to late and it stalled in the road, with in seconds I saw dark smoke coming out of the hood and started to smell it in the van, I quickly told my daughter to get out of the van and take the puppy, my daughter yelled whats wrong daddy, I said get out now and stand on the shoulder by this time flames had started to shoot out from under the hood, I joined my daughter and puppy on the shoulder and called 911 by the time they arrived the whole front end and dash was in flames and they started to put out the fire.

Filed Oct 7, 2011 · Airbags, Electrical · 69,000 miles · IL · fire

Bought my 2005 t&c chrysler minivan in spring of 2009 with a little over 69,000 miles on it. Few months after purchase the red airbag warning light would occasionally come on while at idle or driving rates. No other problems occurred and it wasn't happening frequently. By the end of the first year of ownership, the driver side back door lock quit working with the automatic locks, and within a year an a half the driver's side window would occasionally not roll up or down and the front dome lights quit working. Replaced an air conditioner part also. Spent $500 on the front end as well that year. When window failure was more frequent I started researching on the internet about problems that have been common in this make and model of van. On oct 4th 2011, the van failed to start, making a ticking sound, figured battery or alternator. We cleaned battery cables, tried what we could to get it started. The radio and dashlights came on,all the gauges would jump erratically; when we rolled up the passenger windows radio remained on, however when we rolled up the drivers window the radio and all gauges quit working. We ended up jumping it and were able to drive it home. Had the battery tested and tried a brand new battery to make sure that was the only problem. When we put the battery in and started it, flames shot up from the middle section of the van, just infront of the engine. The panic alarm, the horn, and the windshield wipers where all going off. As soon as we got the battery disconnected the fire went out and alarms and wipers went off. I talked to the nearest chrysler dealership and from explanation of the various problems they said it sounded like several little problems as opposed to one big electrical problem. I have 3 small children and after the experiences I have had with the van and reading others issues online, I cant wait to get rid of this piece.

Filed Jun 10, 2011 · 58,943 miles · CA · fire

Driving my car home I pulled over in a turn out to move something in the rear compartment that was making noise. That took approx. 30-45 seconds until I was back in the drivers seat. I smelled what I thought to be a forest fire. It smelled like wood or trash burning, not a vehicle smell of oil, gas, rubber burning etc. I then saw smoke coming up through the carpet and floor mat of my front passenger floorboard. This didn't make sense to me, so I quickly looked at the instrument panel which had no indication of engine trouble or overheating. So I immediately reversed the car to see if there was vegetation under where I had parked and there was not. So I pulled back into the lane still not realizing that my car was on fire. As soon as I pulled out and accelerated it was obvious that my car was on fire. Thank god there was an immediate exit to pull off of the highway. I went to the bottom of the off ramp, put the car in park, popped the automatic opener for the rear door and turned the engine off. Luckily I had a fire extinguisher. So I read the directions very quickly and pulled the pin. Then I pulled the latch for the hood compartment and went to open the hood. As I lifted the hood I saw flames shooting up from behind the engine along the passenger compartment fire wall of the vehicle. I used my fire extinguisher to put out the flames but it ran out and the car was still smoking and smoldering. I then dialed 911 from my cell phone and luckily a chp was only a minute away and cdf was only several minutes behind him. Cdf continued to hose the engine compartment from both above and underneath. I had the car towed to my local mechanic and he can't determine a reason that the car caught on fire. The only damage was the insulation to the passenger compartment fire wall and two spark plug wires were partly burned. Farmers ins. Co. Nor the mechanic can determine any cause.

Filed Nov 22, 2008 · Steering · 25,000 miles · OK

Our 2005 chrysler t&c began making a strange noise when turning. We then began to notice power steering fluid under the van. We took the vehicle back to dealer 3 times to have the problem fixed while under warranty. The problem stopped for a few months, but the problem begins again each year when the weather gets cold. It's that time of the year again and the van is no longer under warranty. It's making that awful sound again and leaking like crazy. I looked on line to see how to replace the 'hose' the dealer supposedly replaced each time we took it in and I was surprised at the sheer number of people who were having the same problem with their vans. I really began to be concerned when I read that there were van engines that actually caught fire from the power steering fluid leak. This seems to be a serious problem with this vehicle that needs to be addressed before something more disastrous occurs.

Filed Aug 25, 2008 · Fuel system · 56,454 miles · AZ

Fuel pump module assembly developed cracks next to the out let tube. The tube that the main supply line connects. Gas and fumes leak. Had the assembly replaced. The van could have caught fire or exploded.

Filed Jun 13, 2007 · Electrical · 38,000 miles · OH · fire

The 2005 chrysler town & country was parked inside the garage at my residence when the interior of the vehicle caught on fire from a short in the electrical system ,probably the heated seats. We were in the back of the house/garage when the horn began to sound and the van's panic alarm went off. We could see smoke coming from the eaves of the garage roof. My husband was able to open the "man door" of the garage (the electronic garage door opener would not function) and observed heavy grayish smoke coming from the vehicle with the help of a neighbor and our 13 year old son he sprayed the vehicle with water from 2 garden hoses. The windows of the vehicle shattered and the interior of the van was glowing orange. 911 was called and the local fire department responded. Once the area was secured the fire department assessed the damage (which was contained to the vehicle). They were of the opinion that the fire was caused by a short circuit in the driver's seat heating element. The only thing left of the drivers seat was the metal frame; the steering column was gone and wiring harnesses were hanging down into the passenger compartment from the roof of the vehicle. The van is a total loss. Our insurance adjuster stated that this was the second chryler town & country he had seen in this condition. Property damage (other than the vehicle) was limited to the garage interior thanks to my husband's and neighbor's quick response. We did not lose our garage or home...others may not be that lucky!

Filed Jun 11, 2006 · Brakes · 37,000 miles · PA

Re: 2005 chrysler town & country (touring model) -- on 4/27/06 I entered uniontown, pa via us rt. 40--- a steep grade which I have traveled frequently in the last 20 years using many vehicles including a fully loaded g-20 chevy passenger van (3/4 ton), as well as other chrysler mini-vans---- all previously without incident. This however was the first time I traveled that route with my new 2005 town & country --- and midway down the mountain, the brakes started to feel "spongy" and I could smell burning brake pads (which at first I attributed to a preceding truck) --- however, on reaching the bottom of the mountain and the stop light in hopwood, the brakes felt quite marginal, and I had to press hard to get the van stopped. I pulled off the road and all four wheels were smoking!! And very hot to the touch. The next morning (prior to unloading) I had the van weighed. (loaded weight = 5560 lb. Gvw ---- which is below rated capacity for this vehicle). Then I took the van to the dealer to have the brakes inspected.... They found no problem..... But I am still having 'pulsation and spongy' brakes when traveling any steep grades ----- never a problem with previous mini-vans.

Filed Sep 30, 2005 · Electrical · MI · fire

Dt: 2005 chrysler town and country mini van the consumer purchased new on june 17, 2005 and it caught on fire. On august 8,2005 smelled something coming from the engine. Opened the hood and there was a fire in the air filter/air conditioner area. Called 911, they came out and checked, but the fire was already out by the time they got there. The fire chief was unable to determine the cause of the fire. Vehicle was towed to a chrysler dealer. After 1 week the car dealer told the consumer that the vehicle had to be inspected by an independent investigator that chrysler employed. After he investigated the vehicle he was unable to determine the cause of the fire. Chrysler gave no explanation, only that they were going to pay off the vehicle, and they would reimbursed. Consumer for any down payment and any payment made since then. The consumer reported this insurance company. According to chrysler they were treating the transaction as if it had never occurred.