2002 Chrysler Town & Country Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal sound was heard coming from the vehicle, and a fuel odor was detected. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the serpentine belt had fractured and severed the fuel line, causing fuel to spill onto the engine. The mechanic replaced the serpentine belt and trimmed the fuel line; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed back to the mechanic, and the mechanic bent the clamps on the serpentine belt and reattached the belt. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Chrysler Town & Country. The contact stated while the vehicle was running, the engine would misfire. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 134,492.

DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROPRIATE SPEED IN TRAFFIC, NOTICED A/C WAS BLOWING WARM AIR, SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING AND SMOKE UNDER HOOD FROM PASSENGER SIDE. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF AIR AND STOPPED VEHICLE AS SOON AS IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO. UPON OPENING THE HOOD FOUND SMOKE COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT ENGINE BAY AREA AROUND ALTERNATOR AND A/C COMPRESSOR. ALLOWED ENGINE TO VENTILATE AND COOL, RESTARTED VEHICLE BUT WITH HVAC SYSTEM OFF AND DROVE TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC CHANGED THE ENGINE OIL AND RECOMMENDED TO CHARGE THE A/C SYSTEM WITH REFRIGERANT. OTHER MECHANICS SUGGESTED TAKING VEHICLE TO A/C REPAIR SHOP. INFORMED THAT T&C VEHICLES PRONE TO HAVE A/C COMPRESSOR ISSUES AND KNOWN DEFECT. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE OR OFFER BY CHRYSLER TO HAVE KNOWN DEFECT CORRECTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE CONTACT RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND THE PCM FAILED. UPDATED 10/05/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. HE THEN PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN ATTACHMENT WAS FRACTURED AND HAD CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT A BOLT WAS NEVER ATTACHED TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND BECAUSE OF THE STRESS ON THE COMPONENT, THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TIMING CHAIN CASKET AND GASKETS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,600.

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BATTERY ACID WAS LEAKING ON THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM. ALSO CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOT HAVE A RECALL OR LET OWNERS KNOW.. THEY JUST REDESIGNED NEWER MODEL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT THE MERCY OF THEIR DEALERS TO CHARGE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO MAKE REPAIRS. *TR

EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK BETWEEN MANIFOLD AND HEAD ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. COST:$140.15. *TR

2002 CHRYSLER TOWN&COUNTRY - 45,000 MILE. WHILE TRAVELING, SUDDENLY HEATER BEGAN BLOWING COLD AIR AND WITHIN 1 MINUTE CAR WENT FROM NORMAL TEMPERATURE RANGE TO EXTREME OVERHEAT AND ALARMS. STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED OVER 30 MILES TO NEAREST SERVICE STATION. TOLD REAR HEATER LINE RUSTED THROUGH AND DUMPED ALL OF THE ENGINE COOLANT. ALSO TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN MICHIGAN (THIS SERVICE STATION HAS REPLACED AT LEAST 3 OF THESE SINCE SPRING OF THIS YEAR) APPARENTLY CHRYSLER HAS RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM AND REPLACEMENT PART ($255) HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AND IS NOW ALUMINUM RATHER THAN STEEL. LUCKILY, NO ENGINE DAMAGE FOUND AFTER FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WILL REMAIN RUNNING FOR A VERY SHORT TIME BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THE CONTACT HAS TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF THREE TIMES BEFORE IT WILL COMPLETELY STOP WORKING. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WHICH OCCURS ONCE EVERY THREE DAYS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

I HAVE HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 TOWN & COUNTRY MINI VAN SINCE WE PURCHASED IT FROM CU FLEET. THE VAN HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A NUMBER OF REPAIRS. FROM THE ENGINE TO THE SENSORS. *JB

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILURE - WE WERE ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 1/2 AN HOUR EN ROUTE FROM TALLAHASSEE TO ORLANDO ON THANKSGIVING DAY, 2006. AS WE EXITED ONTO HWY. 19, WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. (LATER, IT WAS APPARENT THAT A BELT ON THE A/C SYSTEM BURNED AS THE COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP.) THIS WAS AT LEAST THE 6TH A/C SYSTEM FAILURE. WE HAD RECURRING LEAKS THAT WERE "FIXED" AND RECHARGED NUMEROUS TIMES, STARTING AT A MACON DEALERSHIP OFF I-75 IN SUMMER 2003 TO A REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR A/C UNIT IN SUMMER 2006. LAST WEEK'S COMPRESSOR FAILURE WAS THE LATEST IN THIS LONG SERIES OF PROBLEMS WITH THE A/C, BUT CLEARLY THE MOST SERIOUS AS IT RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE SMOKE AND AT LEAST THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AND DANGER. *NM

VEHICLE HAD JUST ENTERED ATLANTA GEORGIA ON I85 SOUTHBOUND. THERE WAS VERY HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. UPON LIGHT ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ENGINE NEVER STALLED. THE IDLE REMAINED SMOOTH. IN NEUTRAL THE ENGINE WOULD ACCELERATE NORMALLY. IN DRIVE (ALL GEARS) AND REVERSE, THE ENGINE WOULD ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 900 RPM AND THEN LOSE POWER. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE ALONG THE SHOULDER AT A SLOW WALKING PACE (A SLIGHT INCLINE) UNTIL WE ENCOUNTERED A DISABLED VEHICLE. THE VAN DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO PULL INTO THE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE VAN TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED NORMALLY. THE ENGINE NEVER RAN ROUGH AND ALL THE FLUIDS LOOKED GOOD AND WERE AT CORRECT LEVELS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY MEASURED THE PRESSURE AT 40 PSI AND THE SPECIFICATION WAS 53 PSI. THE FUEL PUMP AND FILTER WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF $686 PLUS TOWING. THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY APPARENTLY DOES NOT COVER THESE ITEMS. THE REPLACED PARTS WERE NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO US. AFTER PICKUP FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE VAN HAS INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCED A PRONOUNCED HESITATION ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VAN DUPLICATED THE SAME FAILURE AGAIN ON 12/30/06. WE HAD JUST PULLED OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE AT A RESTAURANT. EVERY ASPECT OF THE INCIDENT WAS THE SAME EVEN TO OUR PROCEEDING TO DRIVE DOWN THE SHOULDER. EXCEPT IN THIS CASE THE SHOULDER WAS A SLIGHT DECLINE. WHEN THE VAN MADE IT TO ABOUT 5 MPH THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AND THE VAN DROVE FINE FOR THE REMAINING 95 MILES OF OUR TRIP. THE NEXT TIME THAT THE VAN WAS STARTED IT WENT STRAIGHT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN BUT CHARGED A ESTIMATE FEE AND SAID TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES SET FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THE VAN BEHAVED FINE DURING THE TEST DRIVE. *JB

MY 2002 AND 2001 TOWN AND COUNTRY"S THE REAR HEATER STEEL TUBE LINES RUSTED OUT AT THE BRACKET JUST UNDER THE PASSENGER FLOOR IN FRONT OF THE RUBBER TUBE CONNECTION TO THE REAR ALUMINUM TUBE LINES. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 2005 YEAR BUT CHRYSLER WILL NOT HONOR THIS ON 2001-2004 MODELS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE THE SAME TUBES ON THE TOWN AND COUNTRY AND THE DODGE CARAVAN FOR THESE YEARS. I HAVE A 2001 AND A 2002 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLUS MY SISTER HAS A 2002 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO LOOKED INTO YOUR OTHER FORMS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE ARE COMPLAINTS IN 2001,2002,2003, AND THE RECALL STATEMENT FOR 2005. THIS IS A COMMON FLAW AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY CHRYSLER AND THIS PART RE-ENGINEERED AND THE NEW STYLE PART FULLY INSTALLED ON MY 2001 AND 2002 TOWN AND COUNTRY'S AT NO COST TO ME. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED OR ACCELERATING AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL THE WIRES, WIRING HARNESS, SPARK PLUGS, AND THE BATTERY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE AUTOMATIC DOORS ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A NEW OXYGEN SYSTEM WAS NEEDED. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND SPARK PLUGS WIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CASE WAS FILED. THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS OVER 100,000.

THE REAR HEATER LINES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. MY VAN IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT CHRYSLER ISSUED A RECALL ON 2005 AND NEWER MODELS TO REPLACE THE HEATER LINES BECAUSE THEY WILL PREMATURELY CORRODE AND LEAK. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I HAD TO PAY A DEALERSHIP $540.00 TO REPLACE THE LINES BECAUSE THEY FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. *JB

(1)EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WE HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY WITH APPROXIMATELY 56,000 MILES. ON 26 OCTOBER MY MALFUNCTION/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ALL ROUTINE AND RECOMMEND MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE. DUE TO CONCERNS THAT IT WAS TRANSMISSION RELATED, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE UPSTREAM O2 SENSOR. THE UPSTREAM O2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE CONTROLLER WAS UPDATED AND THE ENGINE CONTROLLER WAS UPDATED WITH THE LATEST SOFTWARE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 28 OCTOBER AND THE NEXT DAY THE MALFUNCTION/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER , WHICH WAS REPLACED WITH MY VEHICLE BEING RETURNED TO ME ON 01 NOVEMBER. ON THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER, THE MALFUNCTION/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR A THIRD TIME. (2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES, AND THE THIRD TIME THE MALFUNCTION/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON 11 NOVEMBER. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER/ TRANSMISSION ISSUE. THIS TIME, I WAS TOLD THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REMOVED AND A BROKEN LOW REVERSE ACCUMULATOR SNAP RING WAS DISCOVERED. THIS REQUIRED AN OVERHAUL OF THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL SEALS AND CLUTCHES, AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SNAP RING. (3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE) OVERALL IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS, ON MY A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY, THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN DONE: 1-THE UPSTREAM O2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED, THE ENGINE CONTROLLER WAS UPDATED AND THE ENGINE CONTROLLER WAS UPDATED WITH THE LATEST SOFTWARE. 2- THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. 3- THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED AND ALL SEALS AND CLUTCHES WERE REPLACED AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SNAP RING. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE MADE A CLACKING NOISE AND SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN. HE ADDED WATER TO THE RADIATOR AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DISAGREED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED BECAUSE THE FAN AND COOLING SYSTEM WERE INADEQUATE IN SIZE. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,421 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

THICK WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE VAN - IT HAD A BURNING SMELL. PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAY WERE MOVING AWAY FROM US BECAUSE OF IT. WE BROUGHT IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE TUBES THAT FEED ANTIFREEZE TO THE BACK OF THE VAN (TO HEAT THE BACK) WERE ALL ROTTED, AND LEAKED ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER THE EXHAUST. HE SAID IT WAS A RESULT OF "POOR MANUFACTURING." THE CAR IS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. THE WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT 2 MONTHS AGO.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

HI, I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2002 CHYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVAN AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I NOTICED ENGINE RAN ROUGH AT IDLE. LATELY, I NOTICED THE IDLE BECAME SMOOTH AT ABOVE 2000 FEET ELEVATION, AND ROUGH AT SEA LEVEL. I'VE BROUGHT TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALER SERVICES MORE THAN DOZEN OF TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AND IN THE LAST VISIT I MENTIONED ABOUT THE ELEVATION SYMPTOM, THEY ALL SAID THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THE VAN IS STILL UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ANY METHOD TO RAISE MY VOICE. THANK YOU, *AK