134 of the 1,411 complaints about the 1996 Chrysler Town AND Country are about the electrical system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 96,000 miles.
134
Complaints
3
Crashes
11
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKED, ELECTRICAL CLUSTER WAVING BACK AND FORTH BEFORE AND AFTER TRANSMISSION REPAIR, NEWLY INSTALLED TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN 5 DAYS AFTER INSTALLATION, REPAIR SHOP CLAIMS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND IS CAUSE OF TRANSMISSION BREAKDOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10694614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY MINIVAN HAS BEEN NOT WANTING TO START, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE . I HAD MY FUEL PUMP AND FILTER REPLACED IN DECEMBER 2014 DUE TO IT NOT STARTING. NOW WITHIN THE LAST 2 WEEKS OR SO IT STARTED TO ACT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE AS I WOULD BE DRIVING AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD JUMP OUT OF GEAR. ALL THIS LAST WEEK IT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS WITH STARTING AND EVERY TIME I WOULD GET OUT OF THE VAN IT WOULD SMELL LIKE SOMETHINGS BURNING. WHEN I TURN THE KEY TO START IT ALL YOU COULD HEAR IS A CLICK, TRY TO START IT A COUPLE MORE TIMES AND FINALLY GET IT TO START. TODAY IT WOULDN'T START NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TRIED TO START IT. I OPEN THE HOOD AND LOOKED AT THE BATTERY AND ONE TERMINAL LOOKS LIKE IT IS BURNT.
NHTSA complaint #10694304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN COASTING THROUGH LEFT HAND TURNS ONLY ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SHUT OFF FOR 1 TO 4 SECONDS CAUSING POWER STEERING NOT TO WORK AND BRAKING REDUCED. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN ACCELERATING THROUGH LEFT TURNS OR COASTING THROUGH RIGHT HAND TURNS.
NHTSA complaint #10408908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO ON, THEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON (WITHOUT ME TURNING THEM ON), THE FAN ON THE HEATER WILL TURN ON(IF IT IS OFF) OR OFF (IF IT IS ON). THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. MORE RECENTLY IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS OR SO THE HEATER IS ONLY BLOWING WARM/HOT AIR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COLD AIR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT IS THE SAME FOR THE DEFROST.
NHTSA complaint #10164419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO ON, THEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON (WITHOUT ME TURNING THEM ON), THE FAN ON THE HEATER WILL TURN ON(IF IT IS OFF) OR OFF (IF IT IS ON). THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR. MORE RECENTLY IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS OR SO THE HEATER IS ONLY BLOWING WARM/HOT AIR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND COLD AIR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IT IS THE SAME FOR THE DEFROST.
NHTSA complaint #10164419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON A FEW SEPERATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING MY 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MY DAUGHTERS SEATBELT HAS JUST RELEASED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DURING 3 SUDDEN STOPS THE SEATBELTS HAVE UNLATCHED BY THEMSELVES AND ONE TIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY SEATBELT CAME UNDONE AFTER I ADJUSTED MYSELF IN MY SEAT. WE JUST BOUGHT THIS VAN 2 MONTHS AGO. ALSO, WITHOUT WARNING THE BODY CONTROL MODULE TOOK OUT MY ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INCLUDING MY RADIO. THERE SHOULD BE A SENSOR THAT IT IS GOING BAD BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GOES. EVEN AFTER GOING TO JACK POWELL DODGE TO HAVE IT ALL FIXED, THE HORN DOESN'T WORK , THE STEREO IS MESSING UP, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS MESSING UP, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10122473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. CURRENTLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE AIR BAGS, AND THE DEALER WANTS $200.00 TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.*AK DEALER REPAIR AIRBAGS AT NO COST TO CONSUMER. CONSUMER ADDED DASH LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10110942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE HORN AIRBAG AND CRUISE CONTROL HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE AT 45% BUT THE REAR BRAKES WERE AT 70%. THE DEALER CLEANED AND ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. THE A/C FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAN MODULE. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE CD PLAYER DOESN'T WORK. THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT THEREFORE THE CONSUMER HAS TO LEAVE THE HIGH BEAMS ON TO SEE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CHECKED THREE TIMES BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY SEEM CORRECT. THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE. THE STARTER FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING PUMP FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHT WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE REAR HEATER LINES WERE LEAKING. THE WATER PUMP LEAKED.
NHTSA complaint #10079478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE HORN AIRBAG AND CRUISE CONTROL HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE AT 45% BUT THE REAR BRAKES WERE AT 70%. THE DEALER CLEANED AND ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. THE A/C FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAN MODULE. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. THE CD PLAYER DOESN'T WORK. THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT THEREFORE THE CONSUMER HAS TO LEAVE THE HIGH BEAMS ON TO SEE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN CHECKED THREE TIMES BUT THE DEALER SAID THEY SEEM CORRECT. THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE. THE STARTER FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE STEERING PUMP FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME TIGHT WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE REAR HEATER LINES WERE LEAKING. THE WATER PUMP LEAKED.
NHTSA complaint #10079478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THIS VAN HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A FAILURE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE KEPT UP THE OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE AS NEEDED. THE PAINT IS COMING OF OFF THE GRILL AND THE PAINT ON THE REST OF THE VAN IS NOT HOLDING UP. I HAVE REPLACED: TIMING BELT 3 TIMES POWER STEERING PUMP ONCE THE THERMOSTAT TWICE THE RELAY SWITCH THREE TIMES AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK THE RELAY ON THE MOTOR ONCE THE AIR CONDITIONING IS FAILING IN THE FRONT THE REAR DOOR LOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T WORK MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT VERY SOON I AM A SINGLE PARENT IN A LARGE METROPLEX. I NEED MY CAR TO GET TO WORK. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10069822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. HORN DOES NOT WORK. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. ARTICLE IN NEWSPAPER INDICATED THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION IS INVESTIGATING MODEL YEARS 1998 AND 1998, BUT I AM EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM WITH 1996 MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10056473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND 30 SECONDS LATER ALL POWER WAS LOST. ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO START VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS OF NO AVAIL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC THAT NIGHT, AND THE MECHANIC TURNED THE KEY AND VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT UP.
NHTSA complaint #10038145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING CREATING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. CHRYSLER DEALERS HAVE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES FOR THIS COMPLAINT, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. TWO OTHER CHRYSLER OWNERS I KNOW HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10019281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED BY USING THE TURN SIGNALS OR CHANGING THE LIGHT BEAMS FROM LOW TO HIGH OR VICE VERSA AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. DROVE 64 MILES TODAY AND IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES. VERY FRUSTRATING. THE SCRATCHES IN THE WINDSHIELD ARE BEGINNING TO MAKE NIGHT DRIVING MORE DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE. *TS *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****
NHTSA complaint #10008818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERS, HORN DOES NOT SOUND WHEN ALARM IS SET. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL GO ON EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WITH NO SWITCH ACTIVATION. DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-------------770775. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10006543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED FOUR TIMES AND THE STARTER FAILED ONCE. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENTIRE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKES. THIS IS EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS DURING ANY BUT THE SLOWEST, STRAIGHT AHEAD DRIVING, AS IT RESULTS IN A NEARLY COMPLETE LOSS OF MANEUVERABILITY. IN THE EVENT OF SUCH A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE EFFECTIVELY ACCELERATED, BRAKED, OR TURNED, AND LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO FAIL. FURTHERMORE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DELAY MALFUNCTIONS CONTINUOUSLY IN COLD WEATHER, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION AT TIMES. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS AT DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR, INCLUDING SOME PARTS REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER, HAVE FAILED TO ELIMINATE ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10016269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRICAL FIRE AFTER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #568035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SOON AFTER STARTING THE CAR, THE PASSENGER POWER SEAT MOTOR BEGAN TO SPONTANEOUSLY SMOKE, EMITTING A PUTRID ODOR. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES (10 MIN IN TRAFFIC) THE SMOKE INCREASED TO THE POINT THAT THE WHOLE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED. AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. ALL PASSENGERS (TWO MOTHERS AND FOUR CHILDREN 3 OR YOUNGER) EVACUATED THE VEHICLE. THE SMOKE CONTINUED TO WORSEN AND ULTIMATELY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS USED AND AFTER ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES ALL SMOKE STOPPED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND RECENTLY CLAIMED THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY IN THE MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #10010474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10009275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WILL DOWNSHIFT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING RPMS TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY. THE POWER WINDOWS AND AIR CONDITIONING WILL STOP FUNCTIONING. PH
NHTSA complaint #10005887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1996 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXI MINI-VAN PARKED AT AN OFF-AIRPORT PARKING LOT WAS TOTALLED DUE TO A FIRE ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT APPROX 8:00 AM. AT APPROX. 1:00 AM THE FOLLOWING MORNING, PARKING ATTENDANTS NOTICED VEHICLE ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED, RESPONDED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BY APPROX 3:00 AM. FIRE DEPARTMENT FOREMAN RESPONDING SAYS FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SUSPECTED THAT IT STARTED FROM A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX NEAR THE BATTERY. VEHICLE DEEMED A COMPLETE LOSS DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10002781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED SO PROBABLY NOT WORKING, SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT ENGAGE, HORN SOUNDS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO CERTAIN ANGLES WHILE DRIVING, FRONT WINDSHILED WIPER MAKES UNCOMMANDED START-UP AND SHUTS ITSELF DOWN, AUTOMATIC SEAT AND MIRROR ADJUSTMENT SETTINGS BECOME LOST ON A DAILY BASIS. CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIX IT BUT WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHARGE AND THEY WERE NOT SURE IT IF WOULD BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS WHAT IS BEING INVESTIGATED IN THE RECALL. WE HAD A COPY OF THE NOV. 6 PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I SPOKE TO THE DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORPORATE OFFICE ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL IS STILL PENDING. I FELT THAT YOU NEEDED TO HEAR ANOTHER REPORT OF THIS FAILURE. I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT THE AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING AND I HAVE NO HORN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE SYMPTOMS ARE PRESENT NOW. THANK YOU! DT
NHTSA complaint #769602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BESIDES THE FAILURES JUST SHOWN, THERE WERE ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL GAUGE FAILURES ON 02/28/00, 04/14/00, 05/08/99 AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL GAUGE FAILURES AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES, INCLUDING FM RADIO, DOOR LOCKS, ELECTRIC WINDOW CONTROLS. CHRYSLER IS NOT RESPONSIVE AND THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN COOPERATIVE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A "LEMON" SINCE IT WAS NEW BUT CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR ANYTHING NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR A NATIONAL RECALL. DT
NHTSA complaint #769450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #8020440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM HAD FIXED WITH NO FURTHER DIFFICULTIES. TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER ON AUG 25 THE VEHICLE BURNED UP FROM A FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. THIS WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT CAME ABOUT WITH OUT ANY WARNING. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING MONETARY REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES. THE VISOR HOOKS WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #8018671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
BELT TENSION" AND "POWER STRING" FAILED, CAUSING HORN/ AIRBAG, AND CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #8018551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
CLOCK SPRING FAILURE RESULTING IN AIR BAG LIGHT STAYING ON - E.G. THE DRIVERS AIR BAG PROBABLY WON'T DEPLOY IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS - ALSO THE HORN NO LONGER WORKS
NHTSA complaint #753518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON OR BLINKS INTERMITTENTLY, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK - ***DANGEROUS*** - WILL HAVE DEALER REPLACE DEFECTIVE CLOCKSPRING HARNESS - RECALL???
NHTSA complaint #762618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE CONSUMER PUT A NEW STARTER IN VEHICLE A FEW WEEKS AGO. CLAIM NUMBER 32-V339-978.
NHTSA complaint #6901045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.