2005 Chrysler Town & Country Body & Structure Problems

WHEN THE WEATHER IS 55 DEGREES OR COLDER MY BACK DOOR ON MY MINIVAN WILL NOT STAY UP AND OPEN. AFTER IT GOES UP IT COMES BACK DOWN IMMEDIATELY. THIS VAN HAS A HANDICAPPED LIFT FOR A MOBILITY SCOOTER IN IT FOR INSIDE THE VAN. IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE BACK DOOR TO STAY UP AND OPEN TO USE THE CONTROLS TO BRING THE LIFT IN AND OUT OF THE MINIVAN. THE BACK DOOR STAYS UP AND OPEN IN WARMER WEATHER BUT IT IMMEDIATELY COMES BACK DOWN AND CLOSES IN COOLER WEATHER. I PURCHASED THE MINIVAN WITH THE LIFT AND SCOOTER FROM A PRIVATE OWNER 2 1/2 YEARS AGO. THEY USED THE MINIVAN AND LIFT IN ONLY WARMER WEATHER. HOW DO I GET THE BACK DOOR TO STAY UP AND OPEN SO I CAN USE THE LIFT FOR MY SCOOTER ALL YEAR AROUND? IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? THE MINIVAN WAS IN A STATIONARY POSITION ON FLAT ASPHALT PAVEMENT AND THE MINIVAN WAS TURNED OFF IN ALL INCIDENTS. UNFORTUNATELY AT THIS TIME I DO NOT HAVE A PHOTO OF THE BACKDOOR OR LIFT BUT I CAN TAKE PICTURES IF NEEDED.

THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK ACTUATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR STOPPED UNLOCKING THAT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOCKS. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE ACTUATOR BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN THEN A FEW DAYS LATER AGAIN STOPPED WORKING. THIS HAS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES NOW. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED BEFORE SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER WE HAD BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN MID 2012. AT THAT TIME, A MECHANIC REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ACTUATOR WHICH SEEMED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM UNTIL IT RECURRED THIS AUGUST. AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ACTUATOR DID NOT FUNCTION, THE LOCK/UNLOCK FUNCTION ON THE REMOTE HAS ALWAYS WORKED. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER CANNOT UNLOCK THE PASSENGERS' DOORS. *TR

I WAS INFORMED TODAY BY THE MECHANIC AT MONROE MUFFLER THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT HE WAS ABLE TO PUT HIS FINGERS THROUGH THE FRAME. THERE ARE ACTUALLY LARGE HOLES THROUGH THE FRAME. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE HOLES ON THE FRAME (REAR RIGHT SIDE). THE LEFT REAR FRAME WAS NEARLY AS BAD. WHEN TOYOTA HAD A FRAME RUST/ROT ISSUE ON THE TACOMA AND THE TUNDRA, TOYOTA EITHER REPLACED THE FRAME OR BOUGHT BACK THE VEHICLE AT 1 1/2 TIMES THE KBB RETAIL VALUE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I WAS PLANNING ON DRIVING THIS ANOTHER FEW YEARS, HOWEVER IT WON'T PASS NYS INSPECTION WITH THE FRAME RUST THROUGH. WHAT IS CHRYSLER GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? *TR

HI, I WAS OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINI VAN. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS RUST THOUGH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENDER WELLS IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRES. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON MANY OTHER MINIVANS ON THE ROAD AND BELIEVE IT TO BE A FLAW IN THE MANUFACTURE. PIECES OF THE VAN FELL OFF , THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS THESE VANS AGE.. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ISSUED?

POWER LOCKS ON THE BACK SLIDING DOORS DO NOT WORK. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN. I HAVE TO PULL THE LOCK UP VERY HARD FROM ONE SIDE AS I PULL ON THE HANDLE ON THE OTHER SIDE. THIS IS HAPPENING ON BOTH DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. IF THEIR WAS AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO GET MY CHILD OUT OF THE BACK SEAT. I AM ASKING FOR A RECALL. I WAS LOOKING THIS PROBLEM UP ONLINE AND THEIR ARE PAGES OF COMPLAINTS AND FORUMS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND A METAL PLATE FELL FROM BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN AND CRUSHED THE CONTACT'S LEGS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ROLLED DOWN A HILL UNTIL SHE SHIFTED TO PARK. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR CUTS AND BRUISES TO THE CHEST, KNEE INJURIES, AND PUNCTURE WOUNDS ON THE STOMACH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

I WAS DRIVING AT 35MPH, THEN I SLOWED DOWN TO 20MPH TO CROSS OVER A SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS. AS I WAS CROSSING THE TRACKS, THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED, THEN CLOSED. (THE DOORS ARE REMOTE CONTROL DOORS.) THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. I WAS TALKING TO A FEW PEOPLE ABOUT THIS SITUATION, TO COME TO FIND OUT, THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY CHRYSLER HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL -THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE REAR LIFT GATE WAS OPENED, IT ABRUPTLY CLOSED ON THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT BECAME PINNED BETWEEN THE LIFT GATE AND THE VEHICLE AND AS A RESULT, SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. KMJ UPDATED 01/05/13*LJ

AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30PM ON JUNE 29, 2012, OUR 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY THAT WE PURCHASED ON JUNE 11, 2012 FROM A DEALERSHIP WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. UPON INVESTIGATING, WE FOUND THE REAR WINDSHIELD OF THE MINIVAN WAS SHATTERED AND HAD EXPLODED OUT. ASSUMING IT WAS VANDALISM, WE NOTIFIED POLICE TO FILE A REPORT, BUT THE POLICE WOULD NOT FILE A REPORT BECAUSE THEY WERE CERTAIN THE WINDOW BLOWING OUT HAD BEEN CAUSED BY PRESSURE CHANGE DUE TO TEMPERATURE. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE ON JUNE 29 WAS 94 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IN NORTHEAST OHIO. THE VAN WAS PARKED IN THE SHADE ALL DAY UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 8:30PM, WHEN I DROVE IT WITH THE FRONT WINDOWS DOWN, THEREBY CAUSING THE INTERIOR TEMPERATURE TO COOL TO MATCH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, WHICH WAS 75 DEGREES F AT THAT TIME. AT ABOUT 9PM, I PARKED THE MINIVAN IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE WINDOWS UP AND AT AROUND 11:30, THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED WITH THE TEMPERATURE AT 69 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF VANDALISM OR BREAK-IN. WE BEGUN INVESTIGATING IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE HEARD THE EXPLOSION OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE PRIMARY HOLE IN THE WINDOW WAS IN THE UPPER RIGHT REGION, WITH THE ENTIRETY OF THE PANE SHATTERED AND PIECES WERE STILL IN PLACE THOUGH SHATTERED. THE EDGES OF THE ENTIRE WINDOW WERE BULGING, AS IF SOME KIND OF PRESSURE HAD FORCED THE GLASS OUTWARD. THERE WAS SMALL GLASS FRAGMENTS ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY AND REAR STORAGE, INCLUDING SOME IN THE CHILD SEATS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHE OPENED THE REAR LIFT GATE. THE DOOR DID NOT REMAIN OPEN AND SWUNG DOWNWARD, STRIKING THE CONTACT. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000.

I NOTICED SOME MINOR RUST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN THE SLIDING DOOR AND THE FRONT DOOR ABOUT 1 - 2 YEARS AGO, EARLIER THIS YEAR AROUND MAY IT WAS MORE NOTICEABLE AND HAD PROGRESSED. IN SEPTEMBER 2011 I NOTICED A HOLE BEGINNING AND IN OCTOBER I STARTED POKING AROUND AND REMOVED ABOUT A 8 INCH BY 3 INCH PIECE OF COMPLETELY RUSTED METAL (IT CRUMBLED). IT WAS WET ON THE INSIDE, IT HASN'T RAINED IN 4 TO 5 DAYS, PLUS IT APPEARS THAT THE INSIDE IS SEALED, SO HOW COULD WATER GET IN? UPON REVIEWING OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE, I SEE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF DUE TO CRACKED WELDS WHERE WATER RUNS DOWN BEHIND THE SUPPORTS AND ENTERS THIS CAVITY. WHAT A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE THE REST OF THE VEHICLE HAS NO RUST AND HAS BEEN OTHERWISE A GOOD CAR, BUT NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE RUSTED WELDS ARE NOT ONLY CAUSING RUST BUT THEY ARE A SAFETY CONCERN! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MODIFIED VAN FOR DISABLED WIFE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND AFTER SEEING A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON THE NEWS FOR OTHER CHRYSLER VEHICLES, HE FELT HIS VEHICLE WAS ALSO UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. ..UPDATED 08-07-13 *BF

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE A TIRE ON MY 2005 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY I DROPPED THE TIRE FROM UNDER THE BODY OF THE CAR AS DESIGNED. REACHING UNDER THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE I PUT MY HAND OVER THE TOP OF THE TIRE AND PULLED IT TOWARD ME. MY HAND BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE EXHAUST PIPE RESULTING IN SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO THE TOP OF MY HAND. *TR

MY RIGHT FOREARM WAS CRUSHED WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR CLOSED ON IT AFTER ENCOUNTERING AN OBSTRUCTION (A LAWN CHAIR). I HAD PRESSED THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE DOOR, REACHED AROUND TO PUT A DRINK IN A COOLER ON THE BACK SEAT FLOOR, THE DOOR RAN INTO A LAWN CHAIR AND REVERSED, CRUSHING MY ARM. SIX DAYS LATER, MY ARM IS STILL HORRIBLY BRUISED AND SORE. I HAD SOMEONE TAKE PICTURES TO DOCUMENT THIS ACCIDENT. THE DEALER DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THE SIDE DOORS HAVE NO SAFETY SENSORS LIKE ON THE POWER LIFTGATE. THE SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS SHOULD ALSO HAVE SAFETY SENSORS! IF IT HAD BEEN MY 2 YEAR OLD GRANDSON, HE'D BE DEAD NOW! *TR

ROOF WELDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VAN ABOVE SLIDING DOORS ARE CRACKED! MAJOR STRUCTURAL HAZARD. IT'S ALSO ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE INNER BODY PANELS AND IS RUNNING DOWN INSIDE THE WINDOW SUPPORTS/PILLARS BETWEEN THE DOORS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ROCKER PANELS (WHICH ARE NOW RUSTING THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE OUT). IT TURNS OUT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THESE VANS. HTTP://FORUM.CHRYSLERMINIVAN.NET/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/18635-SMALL-CRACK-IN-THE-ROOF CHRYSLER ALSO KNOWS ABOUT IT, AND IT TURNS OUT MOST OF THE VANS WITH THE ISSUE WERE MADE IN THE SAME PLANT, INCLUDING MINE! HERE IS A DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE WITH PICTURES: HTTP://DODGEFORUM.COM/FORUM/DODGE-CARAVAN/87668-2001-TO-2006-GRAND-CARAVAN-ROOF-CRACK-AT-SEAMS.HTML . ALL VEHICLES WITH A VIN WITH THE 12TH DIGIT OF R, WHICH WERE MADE IN THE WINDSOR PLANT HAVE THIS ISSUE. I HAD BROUGHT THE RUST TO THE ATTENTION OF A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY CLAIMED IT WAS SALT CORROSION AND NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AN OUTER BODY PANEL. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE ISSUE WAS ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF THESE ROOF CRACKS, AND THE RUST WAS FROM THE INSIDE OUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE WATER RUNNING DOWN INTO THE ROCKERS. THIS IS AFFECTING THE STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE, AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A VEHICLE BARELY OVER 5 YEARS OLD (I HAD NOTICED THE ROCKER RUST AT THE 3 YEAR MARK). *TR

FRONT HOOD EDGE HAS STARTED TO BUBBLE UP WITH RUST (2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VAN) MY 2001 DODGE CARAVAN HAS THE SAME PROBLEM BUT IS RUSTED THROUGH. I SEE THIS CONDITION ON OTHER CHRYSLER VANS IN THIS AREA (MANY VANS). I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL COST $1071.85 TO REPAIR. THERE IS NO DAMAGE ON THE EXTERNAL HOOD THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS (DENTS, PAINT NICKS, ETC.). I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD "I HAVE NO RECOURSE" BUT TO PAY TO GET IT REPAIRED. *TR

MY 2 YEAR OLD SON'S FINGERS WERE SEVERELY BRUISED WHEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CLOSED AND FAILED TO DETECT THE OBSTRUCTION (HIS FINGERS) AND REVERSE. *TR

MY 3 YEAR OLD SON HAD HIS FINGERS CLOSED COMPLETELY IN THE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WAS FULLY LATCHED WITH HIS LITTLE FINGERS CAUGHT IN THEM. *TR

EDGE OF SLIDING DOOR UNDER THE SCUFF PLATE IS RAZOR SHARP CAUSING SEVERE CUT TO DOG RESULTING IN APPROXIMATELY 15 SUTURES. LOCAL DEALERSHIP COMPARED MY VEHICLE TO A 2005 T/C ON THEIR LOT AND FOUND THE IDENTICAL RAZOR SHARP EDGE. THIS PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN TO CHILD, ADULT AND TO DOGS ENTERING VEHICLE. *TR

MY COMPLAINT IS PAINT RELATED. ON THE REAR BUMPER IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THE PAINT HAS PEALED OFF THE BUMPER. NO OTHER SPOT HAS PAINT POPPING OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN IF THE AREA IS NOT CLEAN AND PREPARED CORRECTLY. RECEIVED 12/12/07 64200. THE SERVICE WRITER WAS EAGER TO INFORM ME MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (40,123 MILES, 38 MONTHS OLD). PAINT DOES NOT PEEL OFF IF THE PREPARATION IS DONE CORRECTLY. I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED CHRYSLER WAS QUICK TO DISMISS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS NOT A CASE OF SCRATCHES OR DINGS. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR