Dirty Filters - Many mechanics have replaced the rack and pinion steering system claiming it is the fault. It appears that it might be dirty filters in the power steering fluid reservoir. My mechanic thought it was an air leak getting into the system somewhere.
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2006 Chrysler Town & Country Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)
YA THAT WHINE IS NO JOKE...ESPECIALLY COMING OFF THE HWY ITS LOUDER THAN THE RADIO. NO LEAKS TO SPEAK OF NO OTHER DISTINGUISHING REMARKS, ITS JUST LOUD AS HELL COMIN OFF THE HWY.
I was told by the dealership that there was leakage and that it needed a new rack and pinion. The dealership wanted to charge $1250 but I have a mechanic that I trust with his own business and he did it for me for $750. This still seems like a lot to me. I talked with another mechanic and he said it only takes an hour to replace this. It doesn't seem to me that at 91,000 that I should have a problem like this.
I have the engine light on and the tire plus tech said that I have problem with the power steering oil leak and needs to be replaced right away. The quote they gave me was around $1200.00. My engine light is on and off depending on the weather especially on hot day.
Back in summer 2011 my power steering started shining so in the spring (April 2012) I went to the dealer Suretsky in Goshen, NY to see about getting fixed & if it was covered under the extended, by now I have 74,000 miles on it. THEIR tech's answer was it was the rack & pinion needed replacement (which was covered under extended) & NOT the power steering pump, however it would still need to be replaced (no warranty) with the R&P.
I called to follow up on the extended warranty coverage & ordering the part & the parts manager got nasty, said he was still awaiting confirmation & he would let me know & hung up ...... WELL I AM STILL WAITING for CB. Meantime I have done a lot of research on this matter & apparently MANY YEARS have had MANY steering recalls just NOT ours (2006).The steering complaints I have come across in addition to the whining or loss of "power" steering is it actually can totally go out while you are driving on a HWY at 80mph & loose all control This has been happening year after year with the Chrysler & Dodge min vans but from one year to the next depends on if they recall but the issues & complaints are still there.
This is a major safety issue can cause severe safety issues & or deaths. Why Chrysler has NOT had a recall for this cause I can assure you there are more than 12 people with this issue.
BTW why didn't I have it fixed, well, because I was 1000k away from the end of the extended AKA they quoted me at $2k for the rack replacement & another $500 for the pump. I also had the CO2 sensor done at that time which was almost $400 so how much out of pocket ?? Well didn't have it, both myself & hubby weren't working & not even getting unemployment at the time. Also have issues with the mechanical door they were to FIX & NEVER DID !! I will NEVER go back to that dealer I guess is the real reason for NOT fixing it & still don't have the money. ALSO NOTE, most cars R &P's don't go at 50k miles, usually is later, after 100k in MOST if not ALL cases (exception 50k not the rule 100k+)
- ny4weezie,
Florida, NY, US
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I bought the Town and Country because I was told it was the best van for a family van. The one I had before it was a Chevy and it was awesome.
I went to turn and couldn't ... getting it to go totally was a scary situation. Whats it going to take, some one wrecking and killing some one for these folks to have a recall and fix them or return money.
I have had to replace three alternators ,6 batteries, and now rack and pinion steering...
I went to have it looked at and 617.90 later it is still doing it..
After much research, I am finding that everyone with the Chrysler has the same problem, whining, loud, grinding, moaning, whining!!! I would think that Chrysler would recall and replace the power steering mechanism and keep the Chrysler customers happy rather than see them go with another competitors product. My van is so loud now that I have to spend the money to replace the unit. I put it off, waiting for the recall, FUNNY, right!! Get out your billfold.
Progressively loud whinning over a few weeks and we had to have the Rack & Pinion, reservoir, the entire package replaced. Very disappointing Detroit product. Which engineer was sleeping when this was system was originally designed?
This problem hasn't happened just one time it has happened a total of 4 and it hasn't even been a year since it first happened. I was stranded in the snow YET again. I am sick of this stupid van.
WE HAVE PURCHASED 6 CHRYSLERS SO FAR, I TELL YOU THIS! THIS WILL BE THE LAST ONE! I HAVE CALLED THE N.T.S.A.(CONSUMER COMPLAINT) AND REPORTED THE SITUATION TO THEM. I WAS TOLD THAT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING TO REQUEST A RE-CALL. CHRYSLER REALLY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.THERE IS NO WAY A RACK AND PINION (WHAT EVER THAT IS) SHOULD GO OUT ON ANY CAR! IF I HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A NEW CAR,I WOULD NOT TRADE IT IN. I WOULD JUNK IT SO THEY COULDN'T SELL THIS PIECE OF JUNK TO ANYONE ELSE. WHY DID WE BAIL THESE CAR COMPANIES OUT? THE CUSTOMERS ARE LAST ON THEIR LIST. WE KEEP THE CAR COMPANIES IN BUSINESS. THEY REFUSE TO MAKE A RELIABLE CAR.THE BAIL OUT SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED 10 YEAR WARRANTIES ON ALL CARS! MAYBE THEY WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT BUILDING A PIECE OF JUNK!
I am or was a Chrysler man. Before my Van I owned a LeBaron and I had the same problem with it. I had to replace the rack and pinion steering because of the winning noise. Now my Van is making the same noise. While it was under warranty I took it to Chrysler garage and they said there's nothing wrong. I took it several times and ended with the same answer. Now the warranty is done I'll bet they will sing a different tune, but I'm not going to give them the chance. I'll either fix it myself or take it to a Ford or Chevy dealer to fix it. It's a shame the dealers are running a good company into the ground. I will never buy another Chrysler again. I was going to buy a 300 and dodge ram, but instead bought a 2012 Mustang and 2011 F150. I'm very glad I did...the F150 rides better than my Van and gets the same or just a bit better gas mileage...So Long Chrysler!
Started whining on a cold day a number of years ago. I added a bit of power steering fluid every winter after each cold snap and a bottle lasted me a few years. Now it's worse and a mechanic's review says the rack and pinion needs to be replaced to the tune of $1000 or so. Sounds just like all the other complaints!
Power steering has had a whirring noise for a couple of years, more so when the weather is very cold. I finally had it fixed. After 148,066 miles, I really can't complain. It's better than a monthly car payment.
Car has been whining since January 2. Took it once but couldn't anything wrong. Finally on March 7 the mechanic found a leak in boot. Fluid was dripping along rack to the driver side and leaking onto garage floor. Topped off with 10 ounces of fluid and will fix in 2 days. It will cost just over $1000 to fix. Mostly because it will take about 4-5 hours to repair. UGH!
JUST FOUND A LEAK IN BOOT. SYSTEM IS WHINING. WAS TOLD THIS IS CAUSED BY AIR BE SUCKED INTO THE SYSTEM. THERE MUST BE A WAY TO SEAL THE BOOT LEAK WITHOUT DOING A 1000 DOLLAR REPLACEMENT ON THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION. I'M THINKING ABOUT CALLING CHRYSLER. I'VE BABIED THIS VAN . NEXT TIME I BUY JAPANESE.
Making the noise like other people said, and got worse and worse. 1280 dollars to fix this....why did multiple people ask if I had a warranty ? This is annoying and the second most expensive repair bill I have ever had.
When I took my newly purchased van in for it's first free oil change I complained about hearing a humming noise under the hood which sounded like it was right in front of me. the mechanics couldn't hear the noise. each free oil change thereafter I complained about the whining. finally they could hear it and said it sounded like maybe something in my brakes, which they checked and said was ok. next time they said I had transmission problems which were going to be very costly. I had them print out a repair report, then took it to a transmission shop my family dealt with for years. NO Transmission problem found.I have had this car in several dealerships, the power steering whining is extremely loud. I have an extended warranty but they all refused to replace the power steering pump until it went out. yesterday I found out that my rack & pinion is now leaking at both boots and probably has for sometime. I will never own another Chrysler vehicle. this is my first and last. customer service is horrible. they let the problem go for over 2yrs now and the noise is so loud I have to play my radio loud to compensate. Chrysler is aware of the problem, refuses to fix the problem, could care less about the customer or the noise. even having paid way to much for the Chrysler Extended Warranty I have had no results and am now looking at the entire rack & pinion plus the power steering pump needing to be replaced. my power steering fluid never leaked or was low to my knowledge. I have always maintained all my vehicles to a high standard both mechanically and keeping my car detailed inside and out. my car still looks new even under the hood. I will be pursuing this problem all the way to the top of the Chrysler Customer Service leader. I can see by reading other comments this has been an ongoing problem which Chrysler seems to think people will either give up or trade there junk cars in.
While moving the steering wheel, the car was making whining noises, so we took it in. They looked at and said every time we turn the steering wheel, that power steering fluid is shooting out. I don't remember what they quoted the price was to fix, but we lived with it for awhile, by refilling the power steering fluid every other month or so. After getting tired of this, and a million other problems we finally traded it in and went back to buying Hondas.
This van has 3 year 36000 mile warranty which has expired. The signature series van cost over 30,000 dollars new. The van has been babied and never has seen snow. Still looks like the day it was purchased. Never imagined I would be dropping possibly $1000 dollars in a car with 29,000 miles. I did call Chrysler and appealing for help. This seems like an issue they need to address. # to call is 1-800-992-1997. They were very nice on the phone and hopefully they might help with this issue.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
YA THAT WHINE IS NO JOKE...ESPECIALLY COMING OFF THE HWY ITS LOUDER THAN THE RADIO. NO LEAKS TO SPEAK OF NO OTHER DISTINGUISHING REMARKS, ITS JUST LOUD AS HELL COMIN OFF THE HWY.
- Giusep X., Vernon Rockville, CT, US