1999 Chrysler Town AND Country body problems

STRUCTURE:BODY

Strut mounts are very rusty, the Chrysler recommended repair could not be done, due to extensive rust around the strut tower. This is confirmed by many other owners of this year and generation of vehicle. The vehicle is is good shape except for this and the problem was caused by a manufacturing defect which allowed rusting in the strut towers. This problem started happening approximately when it was just 10 years old or less and got worse and worse over the years. I have not driven it for many years because it seems very unsafe.

NHTSA complaint #11592632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

IT HAD BEEN RAINING BUT HAD STOPPED. I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN WHEN MY RIGHT TIRE WENT THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 2-4" OF WATER IN THE GUTTER. I IMMEDIATELY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND VEERED INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO CARS IN THAT LANE. I HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. I WAS FORTUNATE THE GARAGE WAS AROUND THE CORNER. THE BELT HAD SLIPPED OFF THE PULLEYS. THE BELT HAD NOT BROKEN, ONLY SLIPPED OFF. THEY SAID I WAS THE 3RD TOWN AND COUNTRY THAT DAY THAT HAD TO HAVE THE BELT PUT BACK ON DUE TO THE WET WEATHER, AND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH MODEL FOR MANY YEARS. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME TO SEND THIS REPORT. WHEN I HIT "VERIFY" EVERYTHING GOES BLANK.

NHTSA complaint #10468365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

DRIVERS SIDE STRUT TOWER IS VERY RUSTY, VERY CLOSE TO ALLOWING THE STRUT TO PUSH THROUGH THE HOUSING. CHRYSLER HAS A REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE, I HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM ON COUNTLESS CHRYSLER AND DODGE VANS 1998-2001.

NHTSA complaint #10332489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY THE DASH LOSE FUNCTION, DRIVING WITHOUT SPEED AND THE REST OF THE FUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10253857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

1. POOR QUALITY 2. FRONT STRUT TOWER IS RUSTED THROUGH. STRUTS ARE WOBBLING INSIDE THE STAMPED BODY HOUSING (PART OF THE UNIBODY). THE RUST IS SO BAD I'M AFRAID THE STRUT IS GOING TO PUNCH THROUGH AT ANY TIME LEAVING THE VEHICLE LIKELY TO CRASH DISASTROUSLY. 3. NOTHING SO FAR.

NHTSA complaint #10249941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1. POOR QUALITY 2. FRONT STRUT TOWER IS RUSTED THROUGH. STRUTS ARE WOBBLING INSIDE THE STAMPED BODY HOUSING (PART OF THE UNIBODY). THE RUST IS SO BAD I'M AFRAID THE STRUT IS GOING TO PUNCH THROUGH AT ANY TIME LEAVING THE VEHICLE LIKELY TO CRASH DISASTROUSLY. 3. NOTHING SO FAR.

NHTSA complaint #10249941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER ON A 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY HAS RUSTED THROUGH LOSING SUPPORT FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER. HAVE CHECKED OTHER 1999 AND 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? THANKS, GPS

NHTSA complaint #10247656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER ON A 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY HAS RUSTED THROUGH LOSING SUPPORT FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER. HAVE CHECKED OTHER 1999 AND 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? THANKS, GPS

NHTSA complaint #10247656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

THE DRIVER SIDE SHOCK ABSORBER TOWER ON A 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY HAS RUSTED THROUGH LOSING SUPPORT FOR THE SHOCK ABSORBER. HAVE CHECKED OTHER 1999 AND 2000 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS BEING DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? THANKS, GPS

NHTSA complaint #10247656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY RUSTING STRUT TOWER HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED SINCE BY DEALER, IN 2005, TOLD ME THAT IT IS ONLY A "COSMETIC DEFECT" AND IS A POTENTIAL DANGER OF RUSTING THROUGH. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS BEEN MISCLASSIFIED BY CHRYSLER. I NOW READ ON THE WEB SITE THAT MORE OWNERS ARE SIMILARLY AFFECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10245350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

TOOK VAN IN FOR SLIGHT ENGINE NOISE AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT STRUT TOWER WAS NEARLY RUSTED THROUGH. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SINCE ONE ROUGH PIECE OF ROAD AND THE CAR BODY COULD FALL TO THE GROUND AND THE STRUT ASSEMBLY COME THROUGH THE DASH INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS WILL NOW COST OVER 1500.00 TO REPAIR. CHRYSLER ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS IN 2002, SINCE THEY WERE AWARE THAT VANS FROM 1998 TO 2002 WERE SUBJECT TO THIS. THEY CALLED IT A "COSMETIC PROBLEM". ANY PROBLEM THAT WILL CAUSE A METAL OBJECT SEVERAL FEET LONG TO VIOLENTLY AND SUDDENLY EXPLODE THROUGH THE DASH INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AT THE DRIVER IS HARDLY A "COSMETIC PROBLEM". "COSMETIC PROBLEMS" DO NOT RENDER A VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CHRYSLER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND REDESIGNED THE STRUT TOWER TO ELIMINATE THIS IN LATER MODELS. NOW THEY NEED TO RECALL THE VEHICLES THAT ARE RUSTING OUT BEFORE PEOPLE DIE!

NHTSA complaint #10244159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL OPEN ON ITS OWN. ALL DOORS ARE LOCKED BEFORE I START THE CAR. THIS FIRST BEGAN LAST JUNE, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. IT HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AT LEAST 2 TIMES A WEEK. I AM SCARED BECAUSE I HAVE NO INDICATION PRIOR TO ITS HAPPENING. A LOT OF THE TIME THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ME TO PULL OVER TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THEN I AM AFRAID THE VAN WILL CUT OFF BECAUSE THE OPEN DOOR LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 88,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED 2-3 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10223142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

NO CRASH INVOLVED...NOTICED AFTER A RAINSTORM HERE ON THE COAST, THAT THERE WAS THE SOUND OF WATER ROLLING BACK AND FORTH IN THE DASH AREA WHEN I WAS DRIVING..NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT(HUGE FLOOD) OF WATER COMING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FROM THE DASH AREA IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT...ENOUGH WATER THAT MY CARPETING WAS COMPLETELY SOAKED, AND RUINED. AFTER THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES..I FINALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT IT WAS..THERE IS SOME SORT OF DRAIN HOSE TO A WATER COLLECTION RESERVOIR UNDER THE WINDSHIELD...WHICH CAN BE DISCONNECTED TO DRAIN, BUT IN THE EVENT OF DEBRIS WASHING INTO IT...WOULD CLOG UP AND OVERFLOW..RESULTING IN THE DESCRIBED CONDITION..THIS IS VERY POOR DESIGN IN MY OPINION..SOME OF FOLKS I HAVE HAD THIS TO..DID NOT HAVE A CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON...I HAVE NOT SAID ANYTHING TO CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS...BUT THINK IT IS NOT JUST ME WHO HAS THE ISSUE..AND IT ALSO COULD BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES I HAVE READ ABOUT..PARTICULARLY THE CONDENSATION ISSUE AND THE AIRBAG ISSUE..I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ELECTRONICS WILL FAIL...PLEASE ADVISE...I AM PICKING A RANDOM DATE WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED...ALSO..HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES SINCE UNLESS I CLEAN THE DRAIN HOSES...NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE...?

NHTSA complaint #10218438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

1999 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LIMITED: PROBLEM(S) WORSENING - BECOMING MORE FREQUENT OVER LAST 3 YRS: START VAN, RUNS 5-10 SECS, THEN SHUTS OFF, DISCONNECT BATTERY-WAIT 3 MINS, CRANKED IN BEGINNING, NOW ONLY 50/50: SECURITY SYSTEM ACTIVATES AND SHUT SYSTEM DOWN 24 HRS, DISCONNECT BATTERY BUT NO STARTL 24 HOURS, HAD NEW KEY MADE AT DEALERSHIP USE VIN, PROBLEMS PERSISTS: REAR VENT WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING, CHANGED MOTORS AND SWITCHES, PROBLEM CONTINUES: HEATER IN SEATS RECALLED, DEALER REPLACED; HEATERS ON RECALL BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE BOTTOM COVER(LEATHER)HAS HOLE FROM WHERE HEATER BURNING THROUGH, NOW HEATERS COME ON/OFF AT WILL: GAUGES GO OFF WITH ENGINE RUNNING, BACK ON WHEN THEY GET READY: RADIO AND POWER WINDOWS INTERMITTENT: TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST WHEN EXITING INTERSTATE AFTER TRAVELING IN OD FOR 100 MILES, HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES, NOT CONTINUOUS: ALARM SOUNDS IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT AND WHEN STANDING IN STREET 25FT+ BEHIND THE VAN; MANUFACTURED ON 4/17/98 SO 1999 HAS MOSTLY 1998 PARTS, REAL PROBLEMATIC WHEN PURCHASING PARTS: NOTE: HAVE TWO 1999 T&C LIMITEDS, ONE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS THE OTHER (RED) ONLY PAINT CLEAR COAT PEELING; HAD TO TOW VAN SEVERAL TIMES. NOW HAVING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND LOCK SWITCH IN DRIVER'S DOOR REPLACE. NEXT STEP CHANGE BCM: I AM THROWING $1S AT VAN, DEALERSHIPS (MORE THAN ONE) SAY NO IDEA CAUSATION. DEALER HAS REPLACED BATTERY, CABLES, BELT, MAINTENANCE ON TRANSMISSION +). YOUR URL FROM CHAT ROOMS AND FORUMS. MANY OTHERS HAVING SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. NO LUCK WITH THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIPS EITHER. HAVE OWNED MANY CHRYSLER AND DODGE PRODUCTS, THESE MAY BE LAST! THANK YOU. PASTOR STEVE RANDALL

NHTSA complaint #10203097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATD 01/19/07.

NHTSA complaint #10174372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

STRUT TOWER HAS SEVERE RUSTING THAT MAY LEAD TO A COLLAPSE ON THE FRONT TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10166289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

DT THE STRUTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAVE RUST TOP SERVICE. IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM TOP NEAR THE WINDSHEILD BETWEEN THE 3 O'CLOCK AND 6 O'CLOCK YOU CAN SEE IT STARTING TO RUST. ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE THE RUST AS OF RIGHT NOW IS NOT VISIBLE. AS OF RIGHT NOW HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER, BUT HAVE CONTACTED THE BODY SHOP AND THEY HAVE NOTICED THIS MODELS MORE FREQUENTLY. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MY AUTO REPAIR MECHANIC YESTERDAY JULY 12, 2005 AND HE SHOWED ME THIS ON MY 96 MODEL AND HAVE THE SAME THING ON 99 MODEL IN AN EARLIER. STAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10128563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

STRUCTURAL STRUT HOUSING IS FAILURE DO TO RUST PERFORATION.

NHTSA complaint #10074802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THIS VAN IS VERY UNSAFE I NEED HELP

NHTSA complaint #730589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.