2000 Chrysler Town & Country Body & Structure Problems

NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE HAS LED TO STRUT TOWERS RUSTING AND SEPARATING UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME TO REPAIR WITH A "STRUT TOWER REPAIR KIT". THEY THEN EXPLAINED THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN CHRYSLER/DODGE MINIVANS FROM 1996-2000 AND THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN #23-044-02 ABOUT THE CONDITION AND REPAIR. IF LEFT UNDIAGNOSED AND UN-REPAIRED, THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE OWNER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. DUE TO THE # OF INCIDENTS & REPAIRS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCT DESIGN DEFECT. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE KIT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL WOULD NOT BE ISSUED...BECAUSE NO ONE HAS DIED YET? *TR

RUSTED LEFT STRUT TOWER CAP ON A CHRYSLER 2000 TOWN AND COUNTRY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VAN JUST CHECK THE BLOGS ON A COMPUTER OR CALL AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM I'M TOLD IF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCOVERED IT'S POSSIBLE THE STRUT COULD FORCE THROUGH THE RUSTED TOWER TOP CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE REPAIR WILL COST ME $300.00 TO $400.00 DOLLARS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS BAD DESIGN THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY CHRYSLER BEFORE PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES.CONSUMERS PURCHASE AUTOS IN GOOD FAITH THAT THEY WILL BE SAFE AND THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO BE FINANCIALLY PENALIZED FOR BAD DESIGNS. *TR

2000 CHRYSLER T&C - STRUT TOWERS RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

1996-2000 CHRYSLER AND DODGE MINI VANS. COULD BE ANY MODEL OF THE VAN WITHIN EACH DIVISIONS LINEUP. NOT EVERY VAN HAS THIS PROBLEM BUT MANY MANY DO AND CHRYSLER HAS DROPPED THE BALL NOT PICKING UP THE TAB FOR THE REPAIRS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE MINI VANS. CHRONIC RUSTING OF THE STRUT TOWERS IN THESE VANS. ESPECIALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE (LIKE MINE). I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM IN THESE VANS DUE TO IMPROPER MANUFACTURING AND SEALING OF THE STRUT TOWER AFTER DOING SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. IF NOT REPAIRED THE STRUT TOWER COMPLETELY RUSTS/ROTS THROUGH ALLOWING THE STRUT ASSY TO COLLAPSE THROUGH THE SUPPORT TOWER AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OR CRASH OF THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER MADE AVAILABLE (AT CUSTOMERS COST FOR THE REPAIRS) A SUPPORT CAP THAT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM IF IT WAS CAUGHT IN TIME. A BAND AID SOLUTION AT BEST. MANY VANS ARE RUSTED/ROTTED BEYOND WHAT THE CAP IS DESIGNED TO FIX AND REQUIRE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE AND POTENTIALLY UNRELIABLE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STRUT TOWER UNIT MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET BUT IS RUSTED/ROTTED WELL BEYOND WHAT THE CHRYSLER CAP UNIT CAN FIX. ALL THE BODY SHOPS I HAVE VISITED HAVE MENTIONED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MODEL YEAR VANS AND THE REPAIR IS IN THE $2000 DOLLAR RANGE TO FIX. 2 SAID THEY DID NOT WANT TO EVEN TOUCH IT AND I BETTER GET IT REPAIRED ASAP AND AVOID POT HOLES ETC. *TR

CHRYSLER 2000 TOWN AND COUNTRY STRUT TOWER RUST. DRIVERS SIDE OF STRUT TOWER RUSTED SO BAD THAT THE STRUT IS GOING TO RIP THROUGH THE TOP OF THE RUSTED TOWER. THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A CALL BACK SAFETY ISSUE. MY VAN IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE, SO MY VAN HAS LITTLE EXPOSURE TO THE HARSH WEATHER ELEMENTS. WE KEEP OUR VAN WASHED AND WAXED OIL CHANGED EVERY 2000 MILES SO THE VAN IS KEPT MECHANICALLY AND COSMETICALLY IN GOOD REPAIR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO PURCHASE AN AMERICAN VEHICLE? WITH ALL OF OUR TECHNOLOGY WE PRODUCE FLAWED DESIGNED VEHICLES. I WILL NOT GET INTO CHEVY SILVERADO STEERING COLUMN BANGING AND TRANSFER CASE PUMP RUB. I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE AMERICAN FLAWED TECHNOLOGY VEHICLES. SHAME ON THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY FOR RIPPING OF CONSUMERS THAT DON'T HAVE THE MONEY WASTE ON REPAIRING THE ONGOING FLAWS. *TR

THE L/H STRUT TOWER ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY IS RUSTING OUT. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS AND UNDERSTAND THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT CONSIDERED THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM A MECHANIC AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I WILL BE REPAIRING MY OWN VEHICLE USING CHRYSLERS TSB 23-044-02 AS A GUIDE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO USE FORCE IN ORDER TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE. HE STATED THAT THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE GAS STRUTS HAD FAILED AND WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V123000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. HE HAS NOT CALLED THE DEALER AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 190,000.

THE SHOCK TOWER MOUNTING WHICH HOLDS THE STRUT WHEEL AND STEERING ASSEMBLY HAS CORRODED DUE A DESIGN DEFECT AND HAS ALLOWED THE STRUT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BECOME DISCONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE CAUSING AN UNSAFE /CATASTROPHIC CONDITION TO EXIST. THIS DESIGN DEFECT WAS NOTICED DURING AN UNRELATED INSPECTION. THE DEFECT WAS REPORTED TO CHRYSLER DEALER ON 7/23/08. THE SERVICE DEPT. WAS AWARE OF THIS RECURRENT PROBLEM AND STATED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEE ISSUED TO DEALERS IN 2002 BUT OWNERS HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED VIA A VEHICLE RECALL NOTIFICATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE STRUT TOWER UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS TO THIS DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STRUT TOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN AUTO BODY SHOP. AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. UPDATED 08/15/08. *JB

DRIVERS SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTED SO BAD THAT A HOLE HAS APPEARED AROUND WHERE THE STRUT MOUNTS TO THE TOWER. *TR

WHILE VEHICLE WAS HAVING OVER $1000.00 IN UNEXPECTED REPAIRS FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS (SHATTERING DRIVE PLATE, $550.00 EXHAUST CROSSOVER PIPE) IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH STRUT TOWERS HAVE RUST PERFORATION AND ARE STRUCTURALLY UNSAFE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT ALL CHRYSLER MINIVANS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1996 AND 2000 EXPERIENCE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGED, AND WELL CLEANED AND WAXED. I AM ALWAYS PARTICULAR ABOUT WASHING ROAD SALT OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLES FREQUENTLY. I AM PARTICULARLY UPSET THAT CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND HAS THE NERVE TO CHARGE ME OVER $1000.00 TO FIX THE DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLE. WITHOUT THIS REPAIR MY VEHICLE IS DANGEROUSLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS ALERTED TO THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT KILLED MY FAMILY. *JB

THE REAR DOOR HANDLES ARE APPARENTLY FAULTY. MY MOTHER TRIED TO OPEN THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN HER HAND, THEN APPROX. A MONTH LATER THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE ALSO BROKE OFF AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT MY CHILD IN THE CAR. NO EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS USED, IT APPEARS THAT THE HANDLES ARE JUST CHEAPLY MADE. IN ORDER TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE HANDLES/LABOR WILL BE $198 EACH TO BE FIXED, WHICH TO ME SEEMS INCREDIBLY RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING THE PARTS ARE CHEAPLY MADE. *TR

BUMPER IS TOO LOW AND WILL SCRAPE AGAINST GROUND, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE BUMPER WHICH RESULTED FROM THE DESIGN DEFECT. *YH

VAN MAKES METAL BENDING NOISE WHEN NOT DRIVING ON SMOOTH SURFACE/ ALREADY HAD TO HAVE THE FLOOR BOARD WELDED TO THE FRAME ON OTHER SIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE TEN YEAR OLD CHILD WAS GETTING OUT OF VAN SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR DEPRESSED CLOSE BUTTON AND SLIDING DOOR CLOSED ON CHILD. WITH FORCE CHILD PUSHED DOOR OPEN. *AK *SLC

SINCE CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE IT HAD ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT DUE TO BENT SUBFRAME, POSSIBLY DONE AT ASSEMBLY OR DAMAGED AT DELIVERY.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK