162 of the 1,411 complaints about the 1996 Chrysler Town AND Country are about the transmission — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 83,835 miles.
162
Complaints
5
Crashes
6
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 96 CHRYSLER T&C VAN THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ALMOST 30 MONTHS AND 38 K MILES AGO AFTER IT BROKE A SHAFT ON THE INSIDE AT 101K MILES. CAME TO A STOP AT CONNER WENT TO GO FORWARDED AND THE VAN WAS IN NEUTRAL IN GEAR POSITION. DEALER DID NOT WANT TO OPEN IT UP JUST REPLACE WITH NEW REMANUFACTURED FROM CHRYSLER. SAID THEY WERE ALL DOING THAT. NOW THE REPLACEMENT UNIT JUST BROKE A SHAFT FOR THE THIRD GEAR (BAD WELD). THIS IS ON A TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 38525 MILES ON IT. THIS WAS A NEW TRANSMISSION WHEN IT CAME OUT IN 1996 AND NOW WITH 2 BROKEN SHAFTS ON TWO TRANSMISSIONS IN THE SAME VAN, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR PRODUCT AND THIS PICTURE? WHO WOULD OF TUNK IT? I PLACED 165K MILES ON A 1991 DODGE DAKOTA WITHOUT ANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SHAFTS BREAK WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF 70,000 LBS OF MOVING TRUCK? TRUCKS DO NOT STOP ON A DIME. DO YOU WANT YOUR FAMILY IN THAT KIND OF SCENARIO? I DO NOT THINK THAT MOST OF VOTING AMERICANS DO EITHER. I LIVE IN A CITY, WHICH HAS AT SEVEN OUT OF THE TOP TEN OF THE MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF ALABAMA. WHEN YOU PLACE A CAR INTO DRIVE, YOU EXPECT IT TO GO MOST ALL THE TIME. YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO THINK AM I GOING TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT OR MAYBE KILL MY FAMILY BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO BLOW UP, BREAKS WELDS, OR BREAK A SHAFTS IF I PULL OUT NOW OR NOT.
NHTSA complaint #10110351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY DOWNSHIFTED CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. A COMPLETE REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION IS UNDERWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10091382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER HAS MADE FOUR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS ON 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINI VAN.*MR
NHTSA complaint #10032302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED USUALLY AFTER A TURN WAS COMPLETED. THIS AFFECTED VISIBILITY OF OTHER VEHICLES. ALSO BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. DEALER REPLACED FOUR TIMES THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH/ BRAKE PADS/ ROTORS, AND DRUMS; TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, ALL AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10071803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
DIFERENTIAL SHEER PIN BROKE OFF TRAVELING INTO RIGHT AXLE DAMAGING SAME, THEN TRAVELING THRU TRANSMISSION, DAMAGING SAME, FINALLY EXITING THROUGH TRANS CASE. (THIS ALL HAPPENED WHILE MY WIFE WAS IN A DRIVE THRU LANE) THIS VEH. IS BABIED AND DRIVEN SOLELY BY MY WIFE. WE ARE BEING TOLD BY SEVERAL SOURCES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. CAN YOU VERIFY THIS?? THANK YOU........PETE DIANGI
NHTSA complaint #10069370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
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.
POWER TRAIN
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF SPEED. TRANSMISSION STUCKS AT LOWER GEAR. VEHICLE RUNS FINE FOR A WHILE AND SUDDENLY JUMPS TO LOWER GEAR, BRINGING THE VAN TO A SUDDEN LOW SPEED. LUCKLY ESCAPED FROM A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHILE OVERTAKING A TRUCK ON HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED OF 70MILES/HR. SHOWED THE VEHICLE TO CHRYSLER DEALER. THEY JUST KEPT THE VAN FOR LONG TIME AND REPLACE A PIECE OF WIRE AND SAID ITS GOOD TO GO. BUT PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN AFTER A WEEK. NOW THEY SAY ALL WIRING HAS TO BE REPLACED WHICH COULD COST ME LIKE $1700 TO $1800. I'M THE SECOND OWNER AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF THIS VAN, CHANGING FLUIDS, FILTERS & STUFF. IF THIS IS ENGINEERING MISTAKE BY CHRYSLER WITH THEIR TRANSMISSON, THEN SHOULDN\\'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. I SPOKE TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID SINCE THIS VAN IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10070120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED A 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXI FROM A USED CAR LOT "AS IS".THE VEHICLE HAD SUPPOSEDLY HAD A 29 POINT SERVICE INSPECTION.THE NEXT DAY I HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED DUE TO LEAKING FLUID FROM THE FRONT SEAL.THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN WAS BROKEN WITH ALUMINUM SHAVINGS IN THE PAN AND THE FILTER WAS LAYING THERE LOOSE.IT APPEARS THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICE PERFORMED,SAW THE SHAVINGS AND PARKED THE VAN UNTIL IT COULD BE TRADED IN.THERE WAS A LIGHT RUST COVER ON THE BRAKE ROTORS TO INDICATE IT HAD BEEN PARKED.I CAUGHT IT JUST IN TIME BEFORE THE PIN BROKE THRU THE ALUMINUM CASE WHICH WOULD HAVE COST AN ADDITIONAL $500.00.THE AAMCO DEALER HAS SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE A BROKEN ONE ON DISPLAY IN THEIR SHOWROOM.THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME HOW EASY IT WOULD BE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM BY GETTING THE PROPER LUBRICATION TO THE PIN.THE MODIFICATIONS HE MAKES TO DO JUST THAT ARE THE REASON THEY CAN OFFER A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE REPAIRS.CHRYSLER COULD DO THE SAME IF THEY WERE INTERESTED IN PREVENTING THIS PROBLEM BUT THE LURE OF THE PARTS SALES MUST BE A BETTER PAYOFF.
NHTSA complaint #10070323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS? WE CANNOT GET IT TO GO AT A STOP SIGN OR TURNING A CORNER, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STILL GO ON INTERMITANTLY SURPRISING THE DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint #10071223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN THE CAR WASH, THE LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE REAR LEFT AXLE BROKE DUE TO RUST. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10057499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A USED 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN WITH A 2 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, I NOTICED A WHIRRING SOUND FOLLOWED BY HESITATION WHEN PUTTING VAN INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. DEALERSHIP WHERE I MADE PURCHASE TOOK VAN FOR A TEST DRIVE AND REPORTED TO ME THAT THAT WAS NORMAL. I WENT IN AGAIN ABOUT A YEAR LATER, WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY PUT IT THROUGH SOME DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND CONCLUDED NO PROBLEM. I HAVE THIS IN WRITING. WELL ONE YEAR AND ONE MONTH TO THE DATE THE TRANSMISSION WENT. NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, THEY, HOWEVER DID NOT GET MY MONEY. I TOOK THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS, BUT LOST. ACCORDING TO CLICK AND CLACK, AS LONG AS IT WAS COMPLAINED ABOUT UNDER WARRANTY THEY ARE STILL OBLIGATED TO FIX IT. I DID FORGET ABOUT COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS MATTER. I REMEMBERED AFTER PICKING MY VAN UP FROM TRANS. SHOP. THAT'S WHY I TOOK THE DEALERSHIP TO COURT. DO I HAVE ANY RIGHTS LEFT REGARDING THIS MATTER? PLEASE CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW, BEFORE I END UP WITH AN ULCER.
NHTSA complaint #10054613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY DROPS INTO SECOND GEAR. WHEN THIS OCCURS RPMS REV UP TO 3000. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, A REMEDY HAS NOT BEEN FOUND.
NHTSA complaint #10042647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC SAID THAT PROBLEM IS DUE TO TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10039800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IN A TIME FRAME OF TWO YEARS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL THE NHTSA TO PLACE A COMPLAINT. ALSO, DEALER CONTACTED, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10037799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE AIRCONDITIONER CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT BY MY MECHANIC. AFTER THE SECOND SETTING THE VAN BEGINS TO OVERHEAT.THE CLUTCH IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 63,500 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10033376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 74,000, PUTTING A BIG HOLE THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION CASE. TRANSMISSION WAS A604. (AT 64,000 THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING. A MONTH LATER NOTICED SOME LEAKAGE BUT DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND TOLD US TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT, DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING UNTIL LEAKAGE AND FAILURE AT 74,000) ALSO A/C HAS LEAK SOMEWHERE, WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIND AND FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10028719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION BLEWOUT, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #10022202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CHRYSLER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN PROBLEMS IN IT'S 41/TE(A604) TRANSMISSION FOR YEARS. THE REMEDY OF PROPER LUBRICATION IS SIMPLE. THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT AND REFUSE TO HELP OWNERS WHO MUST PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THESE TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BEFORE THEY BREAK AND KNOCK A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASE CREATING A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I CAN GIVE YOU THE DETAILS OF MY INDIVIDUAL CASE IF YOU REQUIRE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10019208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONSUMER COULD HEAR A WHISTLING NOISE, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY.
NHTSA complaint #10018133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *JB *NLM *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****768224
NHTSA complaint #10007051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED FOUR TIMES AND THE STARTER FAILED ONCE. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION OR SENSOR DEVICE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT WHEN PLACED IN GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10015788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE REAR AXLE PIN BECAME LOOSE, AND SHOT OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.*AK
NHTSA complaint #10009613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1996 TOWN & COUNTRY VAN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO SHIFT INTO O/D. IT MAY DRIVE FINE FOR DAYS AND THEN LOCK IN SECOND GEAR. MANUALLY CHANGING THE GEARSHIFT DOES NOT OVERRIDE THE FAILURE. THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DOES NOT LOG THE FAILURE. IT DOES CAPTURE THE MANUAL SHIFTING EVENT. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBELM IS TO TURN OFF THE VAN AND START IT BACK UP. THIS COULD CORRECT IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR IT MAY RECUR WITHING MINUTES. TOTALLY RANDOM. OCCURS AT ANY TIME, NIGHT OR DAY. IT OFTEN OCCURS DURING ACCELLERATIONS FOLLOWING TURNS. THIS SITUATION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELLERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY DURING RUSHHOUR TRAFFIC. WE HAVE TO PULLOFF INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, SHUT OFF THE VAN, RESTART IT UP, AND MERGE BACK INTO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. IT IS EXTERMRLY FRIGHTENING FOR MY WIFE ESPECIALLY WHILE TRANSPORTING MY TWO YOUNG BOYS. THE CHRYSLER REPAIR SHOP COULD NOT GET IT TO FAIL AND THUS NOTHING WAS DONE. AAMCO LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION AND INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION AND FLUIDS WERE FINE. THEY ALSO COULD NOT GET THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10005135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY. DT
NHTSA complaint #770579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER APPLIED GAS, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD BLOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA complaint #8024063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #762565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.