2002 Chrysler Town & Country Lighting Problems

HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER THEN GO OUT, THEN COME BACK ON, TURN SIGNAL GOES OUT, THEN COMES BACK ON... *TR

TOWN AND COUNTRY 2002 HAS HEADLIGHTS THAT FLICKER AND GO OFF WHILE THE MINIVAN IS MOVING. NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING THIS IN 2005 (ASSOCIATED PRESS, 2.07.2005) AND WAS TALKING TO DAILMLERCHRYSLER ABOUT THIS. TRAVELING IN THE WINTER, AND THE EARLY EVENING THE LIGHTS WENT OFF SUDDENLY. I WAS ABLE TO FLICK THE SWITCH ON THE COLUMN AND MAKE THEM COME BACK ON. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, BUT NO ERROR CODES WERE FOUND. NOW LAST WEEK, TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE LIGHTS WENT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY DO NOT GO OFF WHEN RAINING AND LIGHTS ARE REQUIRED DURING THE DAY; IT SEEMS TO OCCUR ONLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE LIGHTS HAVE THE ISSUE OF DIMMING AS NOTED IN NUMEROUS FORUMS, BUT THIS HAD NOT CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF COMPLETELY. THIS VEHICLE IS THE ONE THAT MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES, AND IT IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS SO NO DRIVING CAN BE DONE AFTER DARK AT PRESENT. CALLED DODGE SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT TO DO WITHOUT A CODE SAVED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE AND THE POWER MODULE WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER ONE MINUTE. THE LIGHTS WOULD ALSO FLICKER OCCASIONALLY. THE DEALER INSTALLED A FRONT CONTROL MODULE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT VERIFIED HIS VIN, BUT IT APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE ENGINE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

THE VEHICLE I OWN, A 2002 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY, IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM INDUSTRY WIDE. MANY, IF NOT MOST CASES THESE DAYS HAVE PLASTIC COVERS OVER THE HEADLIGHTS. WITHIN A FEW YEARS, DEPENDING ON MILEAGE AND DRIVING CONDITIONS THE COVERS GET SCRATCHED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY CLOUDY AND DISCOLORED. THIS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE LIGHT OUTPUT AND CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD AT NIGHT. THIS WOULD NOT BE SO BAD IF THE COVERS COULD BE READILY REPLACED AT NOMINAL COST. BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. IN MOST CASES THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AT VERY HIGH COST. IN MY CASE, THE COST WAS IN EXCESS OF $1000 EACH. THUS, MOST PEOPLE SIMPLY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM. I THINK RULES SHOULD BE IN PLACE TO FORCE THE USE OF A LONGER LASTING MATERIAL, OR TO FORCE THE DESIGN TO ALLOW REPLACEMENT AT REASONABLE COST.*AK

I AM WANTING TO FILE A COMPLAINT ON HEADLIGHT LENS QUALITY/SAFETY. THE LENS I AM REFERRING TO ARE THE COMPOSITE "LEXAN"LENSES USED ON MOST VEHICLES TODAY. AFTER JUST A FEW VERY SHORT YEARS THE COATING PEELS AND THE PLASTIC BREAKS DOWN CAUSING POOR LIGHT TRANSFER AND VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS."CHRYSLER"HAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO REPLACE THE LENSES ON MY 2002 VEHICLE WITH 62,000 MILES STATING THAT IT IS WAY BEYOND ANY WARRANTY PERIOD. I CONSIDER THIS BESIDE THE POINT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MILLIONS WHO RELY ON SAFE LIGHTING TO OPERATE THEIR VEHICLES SAFELY. THE EXTREME COSTS OF THE LENS ASSEMBLIES MAKES SIMPLY REPLACING THEM AN UNACCEPTABLE OPTION. MINE ARE NOT YET HAZED OVER ON MY 2002 BUT THE COATING IS PEELING DUE TO UV BREAKDOWN, MY 1994 IS YELLOWED AND HAZED AND DEFINITELY SUFFERS FROM POOR LIGHT TRANSMISSION. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MOST OTHER MANUFACTURERS ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM(I AM AN AUTO TECHNICIAN)WHY DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE TO ALWAYS BEAR THE EXPENSE OF SOMETHING THAT IS SUCH A SAFETY CONCERN JUST BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURE DOES NOT CARE OR WANTS TO SELL CHEAPER GRADE PARTS TO INCREASE PROFIT. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH OLD GLASS SEALED BEAMS ON MY OLDER CARS AND THEY WERE JUST A FEW DOLLARS COMPARED TO HUNDREDS FOR COMPOSITES. I FEEL THE GOVT. NEEDS TO REVIEW THIS CONDITION AND MAKE THE MANUFACTURERS STAND BEHIND SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE .I HAVE LITERALLY HAD HUNDRED OF CUSTOMERS COMPLAIN OF THIS PROBLEM OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS OR SO. BUT NOW IT HITS HOMES AND IT AFFECTS ME AND MY FAMILY SO I FIGURED IT WAS TIME TO MAKE WAVES,ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING TOLD BY THE DIST REP THEY WOULDN'T HELP AT ALL .I KNOW THE IMPORTS ALSO SUFFER FROM THIS HAZING PROBLEM BUT I ALSO KNOW THEY ARE WILLING TO ASSIST AS GOODWILL REPAIRS,ETC. I REALLY FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL INVESTIGATION DONE CONCERNING THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, ALL PERSONAL DISSATISFACTION ASIDE. THAT INCLUDES ALL MAKES/MODELS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

A ONE WEEK AGO, MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN. I HAVE TO SHUT IT OFF MANUALLY. WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS IT STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE BEFORE I COULD GET IT IN TO BE FIXED. TONIGHT I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, MAKING A LEFT TURN AND AS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RETURNING TO THE STRAIGHT POSITION (BEFORE THE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHT) IT LOCKED IN A LEFT TURN POSITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE CAR KEPT TURNING TO THE LEFT AND I HAD TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. FINALLY AFTER JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT IT RELEASED AND WENT BACK TO A STRAIGHT POSITION. SOMETHING IN THE TURN SIGNAL LOCKED IT UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO FULLY RELEASE AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN. AFTER THAT THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT SHUT OFF. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS IN THE LANE TO MY LEFT OR ELSE I COULD HAVE HIT THEM. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL I GET IT FIXED. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED NTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES. ON IT. THE CONTACT STATED IT USUALLY HAPPENED WHEN STARTSING THE VEHICLE. THE HEADLIGHTS USUALLY WENT OUT WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR INDICATOR LIGHTS ON PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT ALWAYS KNOW IF THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE OUT UNLESS SHE SAW A REFLECTION. THE CONTACT STATED SHE COULD NOT RECALL IF THE DASHLIGHTS EVER WENT OUT DURING THE HEADLIGHT FAILURES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS TWICE. THE CONTACT DID NOT REMEMBER WHEN THE FAILURES STARTED. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAILLIGHTS ARE FILLING WITH WATER. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

HEADLIGHTS CUT OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING. SERVICE WAS PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP ON 11-16-2005. SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JB

DT: THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FLICKERING, DID THIS ALL THE TIME. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE WHICH WAS A MONTH AGO AROUND JUNE 17TH, 2005. ONCE THEY HAVE GOTTEN REALLY DIM. WAS WORRIED THEY WILL GO OUT. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

DT: CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THEY INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, BUT THIS REPAIR DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN OPEN INVESTIGATION FOR THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

THIS RELATES TO CASE EA05009. I HAVE A 2002 CHRYSLER T&C AND THE LIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM. THEY'VE NEVER GONE OFF. *NM

HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO CHRYSLER , AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT, AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK *TC

THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE LIGHT SWITCH TO KEEP THE HEADLIGHTS ON. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED THE LIGHT SWITCH.*AK

TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED. WHEN TURNING ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WOULD COME ON INSTEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *LA *MR

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING NONE OF THE GEAR LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

HEADLAMPS FAIL WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. SOMETIMES FLICKER AND COME BACK ON. WE DON'T DRIVE MUCH AT NIGHT, WE HAVE OWNED THIS VAN FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. WE HAVE DRIVEN IT 5 OR 6 TIMES AT NIGHT, AND WE HAVE HAD HEADLIGHT FAILURE 3 TIMES. AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT, WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY FLASHED THE VEHICLE COMPUTER MEMORY. THE FIRST TWO TIMES WE HAD THE PROBLEM, THE LIGHTS FLICKERED AND CAME BACK ON. THE LAST TIME WE HAD THE PROBLEM, THE LIGHTS WENT ON/OFF SEVERAL TIMES (3 OR 4) IN A SPAN OF ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH INSIDE THE VEHICLE IS GETTING HOT DURING HEADLIGHT OPERATION. *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK *SC THE PART(S) WERE ON BACK ORDER ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER. THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED THAT CHRYSLER CHANGED SUPPLIERS OF THE SWITCH. THE INTERNAL SHIFT LIGHT AND OR (THE PRNDL) WAS ERRATIC, IN WHICH IT WOULD SOMETIMES BE HIGHLIGHTED. *SC *JB