2012 Chrysler Town and Country: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Jan 6, 2025 · Electrical · MO

While in motion at various speeds, this vehicle has, on numerous occasions over the last year, abruptly lost power in the middle of traffic disabling the power steering and braking making stopping and steering out of traffic almost impossible. Most of the time the vehicle restarts after turning the key fob off and on. On the federal safety agency website I have found numerous reports of the same or similar incidents reported with this vehicle. It is logical to the most casual observer that there is a problem with the ignition system, most probably, the key port and/or the ignition control module. How many of these incidents have to be reported before it is obvious to the experts in the agency to that there is a safety problem with these vehicles being left powerless in motion, in traffic? Or maybe a more appropriate question is: how many people have to be injured or killed before the "experts" and/or bureaucrats decide to do their job.

Filed Dec 27, 2024 · Electrical · NY

My car would randomly shut down while I am driving leaving me with no power steering. I took it to my mechanic who discovered it was a faulty ignition switch module and recommended I take it to a dealership. If I touch the key fob on my car or hit a bump while it is running, the car will shut down. No power steering. There are multiple recalls for faulty ignition switch modules but not on my particular vehicle (recall L25 is one of many I have discovered). I have been carefully driving the vehicle because I don't have $1500 to repair. Dealership will fix it at my expense because there is no recall on my particular vehicle.

Filed Mar 10, 2024 · Electrical · NY

Last year, when I purchased this used minivan, it stalled at highway speed 2 hours after purchase on my way home. This random stalling at highway speed continued for at least six months. Then, it began having problems starting. The dealer said I needed a new computer, which I spent nearly $1,000 to get. The stalling at speed continued. It is now getting worse again and seems related to the vertical movement of the key fob in the ignition. Here's what I don't understand: You issued a recall for, what, the 2008-2010 version of this minivan, yet I can also find comments on here and elsewhere online that the problem is still happening. I drive with my grandkids in this minivan. How many people will have to die before another recall is issued? Chrysler did not fix the problem at the manufacturing stage. Please be a government and protect us. Please force them to fix it in a recall. BTW, you leave space for only a single date and speed. It happens all the time at any speed, including startup. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 23, 2023 · Electrical · FL

Vehicle will randomly shut off when driving. The first time it happened was as I was pulling out onto a very busy road. It also has a hard time turning over to start sometimes. I will have to readjust the key fob and try again.

Filed Jan 30, 2023 · Electrical · MI

MOVING STALL Complete shutdown of the vehicle without warning while driving. Dash dials completely blank, loss of power steering, brake assist and engine power. Presumed loss of airbag function also. The issue first happened a few weeks ago but started to re-occur multiple times in recent days. Last occurrence captured on video (see attached GIF). Fortunately it was possible to bring the vehicle to a stop without incident in each case, but the potential for a injury is obvious. Prior to the issue a worsening problem over previous year or so was observed in that while in Accessory position, the slightest touch of the inserted key fob would sometimes cause similar shutoff ('off ' position).

Filed Jun 9, 2022 · Electrical · FL

Rear drivers sliding door constantly opens and closes, luckily not when the car is in drive. Had a new key fob made with no satisfied results. Chrysler dealer tech found codes loosing signal. Also key fob will not open or unlock car doors, needed to use a key to operate. [XXX] E-mail: [XXX] Thank you for any info on this problem. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Filed Apr 13, 2021 · Body · 110,000 miles · NV

Driver side rear sliding door became locked and stuck in the closed position. It will not unlock electrically using any button inside the vehicle nor will it unlock using the key fob. The door lock cannot be forcefully disengaged manually either. This creates a great safety hazard because in the event of an accident, the rear passengers can egress only through the right sliding door (or out the back hatch if they are mobile enough to move by themselves). There is much documentation of this in online user forums and on chrysler's own website, there is no user-level repair or bypass information available. The only available fix is to take it to a dealer for an approximate $1000 repair charge. The vehicle is unsafe without both sliding doors operational and the dearth of information how to fix the issue is worse. Occurred at approx. 110000 miles.

Filed Jan 14, 2021 · Electrical · 176,874 miles · AZ

Vehicle will crank with ignition switch in on position. However, it will keep cranking and wont start. After a couple tries it will finally roll over and start. Vehicle has turned off while idle for no reason but will start after a couple of cranks. The vehicle was in a stationary position. The ignition switch is operated by a key fob. The ignition switch is getting worse. It takes more tries to start.

Filed Jun 19, 2020 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · IA

The vehicle continually fails to start when key fob is inserted in ignition and turned. It also often fails to allow us to turn the vehicle off or remove the key. This happens year round and at various locations. We have young children and have been stranded in locations, unable to start our vehicle due to this. The vehicle is stationary when this occurs, and it typically occurs more frequently after being used. For example, I will drive to the store and when I come back out, my vehicle will be able to start.

Filed May 21, 2020 · Electrical · 156,110 miles · NC

The van is cutting off while going down the road, we have detected that it is possibly the key fob. I can play with the fob and it does kill the engine. I understand this has been a problem with other chry., products, and could be the same problem.

Filed Jun 6, 2019 · Electrical · 118,700 miles · PA

When stationary, parked, not turned on, with no key in the ignition and driver no where near vehicle the side doors and hatch open by themselves without a person pushing the key fob buttons. They also close by themselves in the same manner. Sometimes the beeping noise indicating that the doors are locked or unlocked goes off by itself too.

Filed Apr 27, 2018 · Electrical · 144,573 miles · MD

My key fob will not release from ignition and vehicle intermittently shuts down. While vehicle is placed in park and I attempt to remove the key from the ignition, the vehicle will shut down on its own. At this point, I try to remove the key and it becomes stuck in the ignition. I, then, attempt to turn the car back on and nothing happens...no power! This has happened on several occasions and I have had an extremely difficult time removing the key. It's as though a "kill switch" has been activated and my vehicle doesn't have a kill switch. I have a new battery and my engine and transmission are in excellent condition. My concern is that this can happen at any time, even while the vehicle is in use. I have contacted chrysler and they have determined that there is nothing that can be done since no recall has been issued. I have also researched this issue online and there are websites and message boards with hundreds of complaints about this issue with chrysler town and country vehicles.