1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

HARD APPLICATION OF BRAKES. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETHING UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A GRATING SOUND. SHE COULD FEEL AND HEAR A POPPING SOUND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED. SHE BELIEVES THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 111,501.

Mileage: 111,501

AS HEAD OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT AT TEMIC AUTOMOTIVE, N.A., NOW OWNED BY CONTINENTAL TEVES, I WAS INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO HUNDREDS OF CASES OF 'THERMAL INCIDENTS' ON ABS CONTROLLERS ON NEARLY EVERY PROGRAM. THE INCIDENCE WAS HIGHEST, ON THOSE VEHICLES WITH THE GREATEST EXPOSURE OF THE CONNECTOR TO THE ELEMENTS. OUR INVESTIGATIONS SHOWED THAT A DIRECT BATTERY TO GROUND SHORT WOULD DEVELOP IN THE PRESENCE OF MOISTURE AND CONTAMINATION, AND EVEN A 'SEALED' CONNECTOR DESIGN WOULD NOT PREVENT THIS. THE HIGHEST FAILURE RATE WAS ON THE CHRYSLER MINIVAN. AN INTERIM FIX USING A RAYCHEM GASKET WAS EMPLOYED, AND EVEN USED AS A SILENT RECALL FIX ON MANY CUSTOMER VEHICLES. IT IS MY OPINION NOW, THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALLABLE ISSUE, SHOULD SUCH AN DIRECT SHORT SITUATION DEVELOP THAT IT MIGHT LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY VEHICLE FIRES DIRECTLY TRACEABLE TO THIS. I WOULD THINK THE PROBABILITY WOULD BE VERY LOW, BUT I'M SURE IT IS NOT ZERO. I THINK THE ACTIONS TAKEN, AND THE VEHICLES EFFECTED, AND THE LACK OF WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR A KNOWN DEFECT IN MANY CUSTOMER CASES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA. THE TIME PERIOD OF INTEREST WOULD BE FROM MY 1997 UP UNTIL 2000 OR 2001. THE MAIN PLATFORMS EFFECTED WOULD BE CHRYSLER MINIVAN, JEEPS AND FORD EXPLORER. *NM

THE MOST RECENT BRAKE FAILURE WAS THE MOST POTENTIALLY DEADLY. WITHOUT WARNING, WE HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS SEIZING UP. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, OFFERED TO SEND THEM THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE RECALL CENTER, WE WERE TOLD CHRYSLER WAS NOT INTERESTED. CHRYSLER CONTACTS WERE VERY RUDE. WE PULLED UP A RECALL FROM NHTSA ID NUMBER 96V215000. OUR CONCERN WAS THE REMARK IN THE CORRECTIVE SUMMARY. THE MASTER CYLINDERS IN 1997 MINIVANS MADE IN ST. LOUIS WERE DEFECTIVE. OUR MINIVAN WAS MANUFACTURED IN ST. LOUIS. ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER RECALL CENTER, THE RECALL WAS ON VEHICLES WITH TRACTION CONTROL. WE HAVE TRACTION CONTROL. PEOPLE AT CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT TALK TO US ABOUT THE RECALL NOTICE TO HELP US. OUR VAN IS HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE. SAFETY FOR OUR FAMILY AND OUT DISABLED SON IS OF UTMOST CONCERN. SINCE CHRYSLER IS NO HELP, WHO IS?

CONSUMER SAID THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD LITTLE DEEP INDENTATIONS, LIKE HOLES THAT DIDN'T GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE CALIPERS CRACKED AND A CHUNK OF METAL WAS MISSING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CALIPER. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THAT THE METAL WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH. *AK THE HOLES IN THE ROTORS RANGED FROM A COUPLE OF MM TO 15 MM. *PH *NM

Mileage: 97,077

NHTSA RECALL 96-V-215-000, THE MASTER CYLINDER REAR SEAL, BETWEEN THE HYDRAULIC FLUID AND THE VACUUM RESERVOIR, MAY NOT SEAL ADEQUATELY, ALLOWING HYDRAULIC FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE POWER ASSIST VACUUM RESERVOIR. CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH APPLIED BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND DID NOT BRAKE AT ALL.*AK

RIGHT FRONT INSIDE BRAKE SHOE STICKS. NO WARNINGS. UNTIL BRAKE SHOE IS DISTINIGRATES AND HARD TO STOP CAR.*AK

Mileage: 53,000

RIGHT FRONT INSIDE BRAKE SHOE STICKS. NO WARNINGS. UNTIL BRAKE SHOE IS DISTINIGRATES AND HARD TO STOP CAR. - 2ND OCCURRENCE. *AK

THE EVAPORATOR HEATER COIL AND EXPANSION VALVE MALFUNCTIONED. PRIOR TO THIS, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING THE VAN. THIS HAPPENED SINCE JANUARY 2002. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE ABOVE PARTS. *AK THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS, THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER HAD BEEN REPLACED. *SCC ALSO THE HORN, DRIVER SEAT RACK AND GRILL WERE REPLACED. *JB

Mileage: 41,696

THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS WARM. *NLM *SCC *JB

Mileage: 118,000

NAR 06/19/2003. *MR SOON AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLEH HAD A FLAT TIRE BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED, BUT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS DEFECTIVE. ALONG WITH THE PARKING BRAKES SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS EXISTED WITH THE VEHICLE. A BELT TENSIONER AND TUNE UP WAS NEEDED. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR THE FUEL RAILS AND CLOCKS SPRINGS. HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO RECOGNIZE OTHER MALFUNCTIONS LIKE THE PARKING BRAKES IN WHICH THE CONSUMER FELT A RECALL NEEDED TO BE ISSUED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND GIVE PROMPT RESPONSE. *CB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REASON THE PARKING NRAKE DID NOT WORK WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE NEEDED DISC PADS, BRAKE SHOES ROTORS AND DRUMS BECAUSE THEY WERE GLAZED AND COULD NOT BE RESURFACED. THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO CLEANED. *JB

Mileage: 58,456

THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB

THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB

1. STEERING SYSTEM LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING TURNS MAKING CONTROL OF VEHICLE DIFFICULT. VAN ALSO MADE SCREECHING NOISES WHILE TURNING. WAS TOLD RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACING PER "SERVICE BULLETIN". IT WAS, BUT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. DEALER RECOMMENDED DRIVE BELT AND TENSIONER BE REPLACED. THIS FINALLY HELPED. 2. AIR BAG LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON, AND TRACTION CONTROL WENT OFF AT HWY SPEEDS. AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. DEALER SAYS THAT BOTH AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING AND ABS CONTROLER MUST BE REPLACED. DEALER STATED THAT IF THESE CONTROLERS WERE NOT REPLACED, NEITHER THE AIR BAGS, THE HORN, THE CRUISE CONTROL NOR THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WOULD WORK. PLEASE REOPEN NHTSA ACTION INVESTIGATION #EA01007 FOR THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING IN THIS VEHICLE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IF THEIR AIR BAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF IT MEANS THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATIONAL!

THE DAY AFTER DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS, APPLIED BRAKES FOR APPROACHING STOP LIGHT, VEHICLE CONTINUED ON INTO THE INTERSECTION, LUCKILY NO VEHICLES WERE COMING, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. AK *YD

THIS MORNING WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, I HEARD A LOUD CONSTANT SQUEALING NOISE. I ATTEMPT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, BUT THE VAN TOOK OFF STRIAGHT AHEAD AND WOULD NOT TURN AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR, WHICH WAS TOTALLED AFTERWARDS. ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES AT ALL TIMES, MY VAN CONTINUED TO PROPEL FORWARD. IT THEN KNOCKED OVER A TREE APPROX. 12 FT. TALL AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IT RAN INTO A NEIGHBORS SHRUBS. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED OR WALKING IN FRONT OF THE VAN AT THE TIME OR PERHAPS SOMEONE MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THERE WAS VISIBLE SKID MARKS FROM WHERE MY VAN WAS PARKED TO WHERE IT FINALLY STOPPED, WHICH WAS OVER 60 FEET AWAY. IRONICALLLY, MY VAN WAS STILL DRIVABLE AFTER ALL THE DAMAGED IT HAD DONE. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, THEY CONDUCTED A TEST DRIVE AND FOUND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I HAVE SERIOUS RESERVATION ABOUT EVER DRIVING MY VAN AGAIN. IF THERE HAVE EVER BEEN ANY SIMILIAR COMPLAINTS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I CAN BE CONTACTED AT 011 49 6202 29935 OR EMAIL [email protected].*AK

SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE AND ABOUT TO PUT CAR IN GEAR RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *AK

THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ON BOTH SIDES RUSTED CAUSING FAILURE OF ONE SIDE LEADING TO BRAKE FAILURE, ALSO ONE OF THE GUIDE PINS FAILED CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A DELAYED STOPPING DISTANCE WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, BEING RUSTED/CORRODED AND PITTED. *SLC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A DELAYED STOPPING DISTANCE WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, BEING RUSTED/CORRODED AND PITTED. *SLC

FIRE WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES, POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED.

NO SUMMARY

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30- 35MPH ON THE SERVICE RAMP, SHE WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES, AND NO PRIOR WARNING. IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, VEHICLE HAS DELIBERATELY CRASHED INTO METAL BARRIER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

SERIOUS GRINDING IN BRAKES AT 38000 MILES. 45000 MILES DEALER NOTED DISCS WORE CORROEDED AND WARPED. BRAKES NOW RATTLE DURING BRAKING.

THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO BURN UP AND RUIN ALL THE REAR COMPONENTS. THE WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON. THIS WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS NEEDED TO REPAIR SO I BELIEVE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THEY KNEW ABOUT.*AK

FRONT AND REAR BRAKES BECAME WEAK AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. YH

THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. YH

CAR HAS 35,OOO MILES AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS 3 TIMES. FRONT, RIGHT CALIPER REPLACED 1 TIME. RIGHT SIDE: BREAK PAD CLOSEST TO PISTON, HARDLY WORN, EXTERIOR PAD WORN BARE TO POINT WHERE ROTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. LEFT FRONT: PAD CLOSEST TO PISTON HARDLY WORN. EXTERIOR PAD SEVERELY WORN. CALIPERS CHECKED ON LAST BREAK JOB AND APPEAR OK. MECHANIC EXPRESSED DISBELIEF AT SEEING SUCH UNEVEN WEAR ON PADS. HE BELIEVES THIS VEHICLE MODEL HAS A DESIGN OR PART MALFUNCTION, AS HE SEES THEM FREQUENTLY FOR SIMILAR SERVICE. *AK

HAVING OWNED MANEY CARS AND TRUCKS SINCE 1965 I FEEL THESE BRAKES ARE THE WORSE ONES I HAVE OWNED TO DATE AND FEEL THAT THEY WERE RESONSIBLE FOR THE ACCIDENT.THE BRAKES REQUIRE TOO MUCH FOOT PRESSURE TO APPLY. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER CHRYSLER VANS, AND FEEL IT IS THE 1996 AND ABOVE MODEL YEAR THAT HAVE THE GREATLY INCREASED FOOT PRESSURE REQUIRMENTS TO STOP. IT SEEMS LIKE THE VACUUM BOOSTER IS TOO SMALL. THE 1994 DODGE MINIVAN WE VANPOOL TO WORK IN HAS FAR BETTER BRAKES IN TERMS OF BRAKE POWER TO FOOT PRESSURE RESPONSE. I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT ONES AT THE DEALERS AND IT SEEMS TO JUST BE THE LATE MODELS THAT ARE EFECTED. IT REQUIRES TOO MUCH FOOT PRESSURE FOR A SMALL PERSON DURING A PANIC STOP. REGULAR BRAKING SEEMS TO BE OK, BUT I WOULD PREFER A LIGHTER PEDAL. *AK

MASTER CYLINDER TOTALLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH COULD HAVECAUSED A CRASH. RECALL WAS ISSUED #96V215000 FOR SAME DEFECT, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NO SUMMARY.

WHEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF VEHICLE IN FRONT. THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS. OWNER WAITING FOR HELP FROM CHRYSLER ABOUT THE CRASH. PRIOR TO CRASH BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT CAN ON AND DEALER TURNED IT OFF AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. *AK

RIGHT FRONT CALIPER STICKS INSIDE BRAKE PADS.NO WARNING INDICATOR. *AK

THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. BEEN TO DLR 5 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS/PADS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. BEEN TO DLR 5 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS/PADS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BRAKES FAILED. NLM

THE FAILURE OF BRAKE SHOES DRUMS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS CAUSED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL TO BE LOCKED UP. YH

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND LIKE METAL TO METAL. BRAKES HAD TO SERVICED FIVE (5) TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFED. *AK

ON MY MINIVAN (LIKE MOST CARS) THERE IS A SENSOR FOR THE FRONT BRAKES SO THAT WHEN THE FRONT BRAKES PADS ARE WEARING THIN, THE SENSOR CAUSES A HIGH PITCHED SHRILL TO BE SOUNDED. MY SENSOR FAILED TO FUNCTION AT ALL-HENCE I CONTINUED TO USE MY BRAKES FOR A SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER TIME THAN I SHOULD HAVE. AS A RESULT, BY THE TIME I WAS ALERTED TO ANY DAMAGE TO THE BRAKES WHATSOEVER, BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK BRAKES WERE SO DESTROYED MY VAN REQUIRED AN ENTIRE BRAKE OVERHAUL. FORTUNATELY, ONCE I HEARD A DREADFUL 'METAL AGAINST METAL' SOUND (MY VERY FIRST WARNING), I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALERSHIP BASICALLY CALLED ME A LIAR WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR AND THEY REFUSED TO PAY ANY PORTION OF MY BILL.

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL. CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN . *AK CONSUMER HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *SLC

RECALL 96V215000; DEALER HAS NO PARTS, AND KEEPS MAKING THE OWNER COME IN TO GET VEHICLE SERVICED, STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS. *AK

BRAKES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO PRESS DOWN AND ARE NOISY.

RECEIVEDD RECALL LETTER (#96V215000) 3 WEEKS AGO; CALLED DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT; WAS INFORMED THEY HAD NO PARTS; CALLED MANUFACTURER & INFORMED NO PARTS ALSO. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PREFORMED FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER 96V215000, REPAIRS WERE DONE. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AND UPON MAKING A STOP, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT A BIKE RIDER. *AK