2006 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LWB Steering Problems

WHILE CONDUCTED AN OIL CHANGE, I NOTICED THAT BOTH RACK AND PINION BOOTS ARE WET WITH POWER STEERING FLUID. THIS IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE AND AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE STEERING IS ALREADY LEAKING FLUID. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CHECKED WITH A MECHANIC AS OF YET BUT I IMAGINE THAT AFTER READING COMPLAINTS HERE AND ON OTHER SITES, I WILL END UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THIS LEAK. A SIMPLE BOOT REPLACEMENT WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENT AS DIRT AND WATER WILL ALREADY HAVE DAMAGED THE ASSEMBLY. I WOULD RECOMMEND HAVING CHRYSLER CONDUCT A RECALL AND REPLACING THESE WITH QUALITY COMPONENTS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 52,052

THE VAN WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2007 WITH APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MILES FROM FLEMINGTON CHRYSLER IN NJ. AT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES, THE RACK WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING AND IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. SOON AFTER, THE STEERING SEEMED A LITTLE TIGHT BUT WE CHALKED IT UP TO THE NEW COMPONENTS. FAST FORWARD TO 2012, THE VAN NOW HAS 80,000 MILES AND THE STEERING HAS BEGUN TO WHINE, GROAN AND SHUDDER. I HAVE FLUSHED THE FLUID AND NOW REPLACED THE PUMP. THE WHINE AND SHUDDER ARE STILL THERE SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE RACK HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE VAN CAN EASILY BECOME A SAFETY PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER SHOULD BE ASHAMED. DEFINITELY THE LAST CHRYSLER PRODUCT I BUY WHICH IS TOO BAD BECAUSE THEY'VE PUT OUT SOME REALLY UNIQUE, GOOD LOOKING CARS LATELY. MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THANKS. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

2006 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINI VAN. WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN OR THROUGH STANDING WATER OVER 1 INCH DEEP THE SERPENTINE BELT GETS WET AND YOU LOSE POWER STEERING IMMEDIATELY WITH NO WARNING MAKING IT DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS ON LINE OF THIS HAPPENING AS WELL AS SERVICE CENTERS SAYING THEY HAVE EVEN SEEN THE VEHICLE THROW THE BELT ONCE IT BEGINS TO SLIP. CHRYSLER DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM NOR DOES THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE SAY THERE IS A RECALL OF ANY SORT. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

BECAUSE I AM DISABLED I BOUGHT A USED 2006 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LWB ON AUGUST 2, 2010. ON THE WAY HOME THE STEERING FAILED. BECAUSE THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, I TOOK IT TO TWO DEALERS FOR ESTIMATES AND WOUND UP HAVING THE RACK AND PINION AND LOOSE TIE RODS REPLACED ON AUGUST 9, 2010. *TR

Mileage: 39,800

I STARTED EXPERIENCING A LOUD WHINING SOUND COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA ON AN EXTENDED TRIP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED CHANGING AND FLUSHING AND COMPLETE SERVICE ON TRANSMISSION. WHILE THE WHINING SOUND SUBSIDED SOMEWHAT THE SOUND STILL REMAINED. NOW I COME TO FIND OUT THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING FLUID ALL OVER THE EXHAUST WITH A TERRIBLE AND NAUSEATING ODOR COMING INTO THE CABIN AREA. NOT ONLY IS THIS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD BUT ALSO CAN BE DAMAGING TO THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM IS PREMATURE AT BEST AND EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AT ITS WORST. *TR

Mileage: 31,000

MY 2006 TOWN AND COUNTRY MINI VAN HAS LOST ALL POWER STEERING DRIVING THROUGH MODEST PUDDLES. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN GOING THROUGH MODEST PUDDLES (APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES DEEP), AND HAS ONLY HAPPENED AT LOW RATES OF SPEED. IT HAS HAPPENED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ALL STEERING IS COMPLETELY LOST. THE VEHICLE QUITE LITERALLY WILL NOT STEER AT ALL, BUT THEN THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY "COMES OUT" OF IT - AFTER DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO TURN FOR MAYBE 1/8 MILE. ALMOST AS IF WHAT EVER MOISTURE CAUSED THE PROBLEM EVAPORATES. THE LAST OCCURRENCE WAS THIS PAST JANUARY. *TR

2006 TOWN & COUNTRY VAN FAILED NYS INSPECTION FOR SAFETY REASONS DUE TO RACK AND PINION LEAKING SEALS. VEHICLE HAD UNDER 48,000 MILES. PURCHASED NEW 12/31/2005. RACK & PINION WAS REPLACED BUT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. NEIGHBOR REPORTED SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2006 TOWN & COUNTRY VAN. ALSO HAD PART REPLACED. ARE THESE ALL DEFECTIVE STEERING COMPONENTS? WE ARE SENDING A LETTER TO CHRYSLER CORPORATION TODAY WITH A COPY TO NHTSA. UPDATED 03/24/10 *BF UPDATED 03/29/10. *JB UPDATED 04/05/10.*JB

Mileage: 47,944

MY CAR WAS MAKING A WHINING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING, WHICH HAD RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE RACK & PINION MECHANISM. THE ENTIRE MECHANISM HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOT PERFORMING THIS REPAIR COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM LOCKING UP. MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION (I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER) IS THAT THIS PUMP SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE (~45K). *TR

Mileage: 45,602

THE STEERING BEGAN TO WHINE AND GROAN, PARTICULARLY WHEN COLD AND NOT HAVING BEEN DRIVEN FOR A DAY OR MORE. IT OFTEN CONTINUES TO WHINE, ESPECIALLY WHEN BEING TURNED MORE THAN ONE FULL CIRCLE, BUT SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN SITTING STILL AND STRAIGHT. THE REPAIR SHOP IDENTIFIED LEAKING STEERING RACK BOOTS AND THE FLUID IS A BIT LOW. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING, BECAUSE REPLACEMENT OF THE BOOTS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK IS MORE EXPENSIVE. AT THE TIME, WE HAD THE MINIVAN LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND IT HAD JUST OVER 40,000 MILES ON IT, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

RACK & PINION LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

MY 2006 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY HAD A TERRIBLE WHINING NOISE UPON STARTING IT. WHEN YOU WOULD TURN CORNERS, IT WHINED EVEN LOUDER. IT CONSTANTLY LEAKED POWER STEERING FLUID SO BAD THAT IT WAS ALL OVER THE EXHAUST. I TOOK MY VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TO FIND OUT THAT THE WHOLE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY THEN ADVISED ME TO TAKE MY VAN HOME AND DRIVE IT TO FLORIDA WHILE WAITING UP TO 6 MONTHS FOR A REPLACEMENT STEERING RACK FROM CHRYSLER. I REFUSED TO DO THIS. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE EXHAUST OF THE VAN, AND THEY WANTED ME TO TAKE IT ON A 12 HOUR DRIVE TO FLORIDA! I TOLD MY DEALER I WOULD NOT LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP WITH THIS VEHICLE, NOR WOULD I PUT MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN (ALL UNDER AGE 3) IN THIS FIRE TRAP. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THE NHTSA WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP CONSUMERS OUT. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN SAID THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. THERE WERE OVER 13000 OF THESE "STEERING RACKS" ON BACK ORDER WITH CHRYSLER. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN POWERING STEERING FLUID GETS ALL OVER THE EXHAUST, CATCHES THE VEHICLE ON FIRE, AND AN ENTIRE FAMILY DIES IN A BURNING VEHICLE. IS THIS WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO GET CHRYSLER TO DO SOMETHING. I WOULD HOPE NOT, BUT IT LOOKS THAT WAY, LUCKILY MY DEALER GAVE ME A LOANER VEHICLE, AND WITHIN ABOUT 5 DAYS, I HAD THE POWER STEERING RACK REPLACED. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY HAZARD. POWER STERRING FLUID IS HIGHLY FLAMMABLE. IT IS TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. CHRYSLER OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT CARE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE AND HOPEFULLY, QUICK ACTION THAT IS NEEDED. CRYSTAL

Mileage: 18,950

POWER STEERING RACK FAILURE AT 38,000 MILES. WHINE ON START-UP. LEAK DISCOVERED WHEN CAR WAS INSPECTED. MECHANIC SAYS IT IS OCCURRING ON LOTS OF THESE VANS AND THE PARTS ARE BACK-ORDERED THE PROBLEM IS SO BAD. *TR

Mileage: 38,000

POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY ON 2006 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY TOURING MINIVANS: PRE-MATURE FAILURE CAUSING POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT HARD STEERING, CAUSING POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO DEFECTS IN THE OEM POWER STEERING RACK DESIGN. DIAGNOSED BY DEALERSHIP AS BAD POWER STEERING RACK... INTERNET DATA SUPPORTS THAT MULTIPLE VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE ARE ALL FAILING AT BETWEEN 35K AND 50K MILES... *TR

Mileage: 46,500

I MADE A U TURN AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. I HEARD A LOUD POP WHILE FORCING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE NORMAL DRIVING POSITION. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THEM TO TURN OFF, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CHRYSLER/JEEP DEALERSHIP SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THAT THE AFTERMARKET BRAKE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE KNUCKLE ON THE STEERING COLUMN PULLED ON THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH PULLED ON BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND BROKE SWITCH LOOSE FROM IT'S MOUNT. THIS INTURN ACTIVATED THE STEERING WHEEL INTERLOCK SYSTEM. THE DEALER SAID REPAIRS COULD NOT BE DONE UNDER WARRANTY AND ANY REPAIRS WERE AT MY EXPENSE. I AUTHORIZED THEM TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT AND INTERLOCK SYSTEM SWITCH. THEY ALSO SAID THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IF I WANTED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK AFTER TURNING OFF THE KEY. I DON'T KNOW IF A FEW SMALL WIRES ACTUALLY CAUSED THE PROBLEM. EVEN IF THE WIRING CAUSED THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS LIKE A REAL DESIGN FLAW FOR A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH COMING LOOSE FROM IT'S MOUNT TO CAUSE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM TO LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *TR

Mileage: 24,709