2000 Chrysler Town & Country Suspension Problems

I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VAN ANYWHERE, IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 2 YEARS AND THE STRUT TOWERS ARE RUSTING OUT AT THE TOP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER STRUT MOUNT WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK, SHAKE AND DECELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED MOST OFTEN WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE DRIVER' S SIDE STRUT MOUNT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STRUT TOWER WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

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. I HAVE HAD TWO REPAIR SHOPS REPLACE TIE RODS AND STRUTS SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF RUSTING OF STRUT TOWER. A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP 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

CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY SHOCK TOWERS RUSTED-OUT MADE YEAR 2000 I HAVE TALKED TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WILL FULLY RUST OUT WITH IN THE YEAR . THIS SI A HAZARD AND HE SAID HE HAS ALL READY REPLACED A BUCH OF SHOCK TOWERS. ON THIS TYPE OF VAN. SOME HE SAID HE'S SEAN 3 YEARS AFTER THEY WERE MADE IF YOU DO A GOGEL SURCH ON THE SUBJECT YOU WILL FIND ALOT OF STORYS ABOUT THIS YEAR VAN. I GUSS CHRYSLER MAKE A A PLAET THAT HAS TO BE WELDED IN SO THAT TELLS ME THEY KNOW ABOUT IT BUT WOULD RATHER MAKE MONEY OFF OF PEOPLES SAFETY RATHER THEN RECALL IT FOR THE SHOCK TOWERS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE TOWER WAS CLEANED AND A PROTECTIVE COATING WAS APPLIED. THE RUST CONTINUED TO FORM AND HOLES WERE NOW PRESENT. *AK UPDATED 9/22/2006 - *NM

1) NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE LED TO 2) THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER RUSTING AND SEPARATING UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 3) I NOTICED THE RUSTING AND SEPARATION AND I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR WITH A "STRUT TOWER REPAIR KIT". 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 HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR OR REIMBURSE FOR THE REPAIR.*JB

I AM EXPERIENCING CORROSION PENETRATION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LIMITED MINIVAN. THE BODY OF THE VAN INCLUDING THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT TOWER IS ABSENT OF ANY CORROSION. I JUST BECAME AWARE OF A SERVICE BULLETIN CHRYSLER ISSUED ON OCTOBER 14, 2002 FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM (BULLETIN # 23-044-02). IT SEEMS APPARENT TO ME THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME AND SHOULD HAVE AS A MINIMUM ALERTED OWNERS TO THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM BEFORE IT MAGNIFIED ITSELF. I BELIEVE CHRYSLER NOW SHOULD INCUR THE COST FOR REPAIR OF THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT.*JB

2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY THE STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS SEVERE RUSTING AND I BELIEVE THAT IF THE STRUT TOWER FAILS, THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME UNSAFE. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK TOWER IS CORRODING, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE THREE BOLTS TO RUST AND BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,750 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

DRIVERS SIDE STRUT TOWER IS RUSTING OUT. *JB

I HAVE A 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VAN WITH RUSTING STRUT TOWERS. THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS MORE THAN THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS ABOUT TO PUSH THROUGH AND GO INTO THE HOOD. I ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT ANY SAFETY RECALLS OR MODIFICATIONS, THEY SAID NO. I HAVE SEEN THE CHRYSLER SERVICE LETTER AND ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID THAT THE WORK SHOULD BE DONE WHEN WORKING IN THAT AREA UNDER WARRANTY TO IN STALL THE CHRYSLER UPDATE KIT. I HAD MY STRUTS REPLACED BACK IN 11/2004 AND ASKED ABOUT THE RUST AND LOSS OF METAL THEN AND THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT BE WARRANTY. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY A FORMER SERVICE ADVISOR AT THAT DEALER THAT THEY HAVE PERFORMED THIS WORK UNDER WARRANTY OR POLICY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, THE MINI VAN IS A FAMILY VEHICLE WHICH MY WIFE AND KIDS RIDE IN DAILY. I AM ONE PERSON AND I NEED HELP WITH THE LARGE CARMAKER PLEASE. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY INJURIES YET BUT PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I DO. *TR

THE STRUT TOWERS ARE RUSTING . *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A BODY SHOP, THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT STRUT AND THE STRUT TOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *NM

NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOUR DRIVING CAN BE DANGEROUS. I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH MY VAN STARTING WAY BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2001 WITH 13,000 MILES ON IT AND AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME, DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKER, THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND RPM'S RANDOMLY GO UP AND DOWN AND SOMETIMES DON'T WORK AT ALL. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SOMETIMES FOR 2 WEEKS AT A TIME. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE COMPUTER, HARNESS (TWICE), IGNITION SWITCH, FUSES, ETC. THEY JUST HAD IT LAST WEEK AND TODAY I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. BASICALLY IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. BY THE WAY, I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO A CHRYSLER SHOP IN NANUET, NY. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 NUMBER AND THEY SAID BASICALLY ALL THAT THEY COULD DO IS TO TRY TO HELP THE SERVICE CENTER GET THE RIGHT INFORMATION TO HELP THEM FIX IT. BUT AGAIN, THEY JUST HAD THE CAR LAST WEEK AFTER I CALLED AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL HERE. I HAVE HAD TO RENT CARS AND BORROW CARS TO USE WHILE IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP. I REALLY HASN'T COST ME ALL THAT MUCH MONEY BECAUSE THEY ARE FIXING IT (TRYING TO FIX IT) UNDER WARRANTY. I'VE ONLY HAD RENTAL CAR EXPENSES. THE BIG INCONVENIENCE IS GETTING THE CAR TO THE SHOP, ETC... IT HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING TO SAY THE LEAST.

WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL HE HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE. 3 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL THERE WAS SAME GRINDING SOUND AGAIN. *AK

WHEN DRIVING FRONT OF VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT, AND THERE WAS ACCESS WIND INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO 3 CHRYSLER DEALERS AND ON OUTSIDE SOURCE. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART IN FRONT BACK AND FORNT RIGHT OF THE CASTER. DEALER PUT SHINS IN. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A WHISTLING NOISE, AND VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT.*AK

GREASE IS ALL OVER BODY OF VEHICLE. SOMEONE TOLD CONSUMER IT WAS FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *AK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAD BEEN MADE TO FIX THE GREASE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO EXIST. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. *YH