This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 1996 Chrysler Town and country. The contact stated that the serpentine belt would not remain in place on the pulley in her vehicle. The belt has been replaced at least three times. The contact had to replace the tension pulley and the water pump pulley to keep the serpentine belt secure. There are only two belts left to be replaced and they are currently working properly. The manufacturer stated that there was no recall for this component; therefore, they could not assist. The failure mileage was 115,619.
1996 Chrysler T&C minivan with 78,000 miles, being operated by wife, broke down in heavy rush hour traffic with kids onboard. The serpentine belt broke due to faulty belt tensioner. The belt had been replaced only two months previously as part of preventative maintenance schedule (just to avoid exactly what happed). Mechanic indicated that Chrysler T&C tensioners were prone to premature failure causing shredding of the serpentine belt. Belt affects power steering, cooling fan, charging system, etc. Wife, who weighs in at 95 lbs, lost all steering ability and was left stranded in middle of rush hour traffic with two kids until good samaritan arrived and 'manhandled' van off the roadway.
Airbag light remains illuminated on the dash. Also, cruise control and horn are inoperative. Serpentine belt failed. Tensioner belt failed and was replaced. Mirror light is out. Dealer replaced the faulty clockspring.
Consumer heard a loud noise and there was an immediate loss of control of the vehicle due to the belt tensioner failure, the spring casing broke from its mount and fell from the vehicle onto the driveway.
Consumer heard a loud noise and there was an immediate loss of control of the vehicle due to the belt tensioner failure, the spring casing broke from its mount and fell from the vehicle onto the driveway.
The consumer lost the power steering while starting to drive due to slipping off of the vehicle's main belt from the pulley. The vehicle had a cooling system problem. The vehicle was overheating due to belt and tensioner failures.
We have had to have the whole transmission rebuilt and/or replaced in Nov. We also had to take our vehicle bach within 1 week to have more trans. Work done even after it was replaced. Now it back in the shop for a water pump leak and a thermostat, along with replacement of the lines to the cooling system because they are cracked, along with another round with the belt and tensioner that we had replaced in April of 2000. We also have had the electrical rely replaced 2 times and we are wondering if we will have to replace it again after a year of use. We are so fed up with this vehicle right now that you can not even imagine. For the past 4 months it has set in our drive way because we are afraid to drive it..... we are now wondering when it is driven what is going to happen to it next. We are not to happy with having to put all this money in a vehicle that is 5 years old and 62K miles. We have all the service records on this vehicle if you need them. Please respond to this complaint and investigate the problems futher. As it looks there are lots of people that have complained about the same problems as I have.
For the second time in a year or so the tensioner on the engine's serpentine belt broke, cuasing the loss of engine cooling, alternator, air conditioning and, most importantly, power steering. With no power the car is extremely hard to steer. Both times this item failed I was driving; if my wife had been driving she could not have steered the vehicle -- the effort required is too much. Both failures were at low speed; had it been in traffic requiring steering, this might well have led to accidents. The tensioner bolt (integral with the tensioner) breaks because there is a great deal of shear pressure on it. It does not appear to be of high enough quality for this application. I believe it should be replaced with a stronger bolt. I am considering whether my wife should continue driving this car; I consider it dangerous.
While driving through a drive through consumer heard a loud snap, and then clicking noise coming from the engine and lost power steering. Consumer looked under car, and saw tensioner belt was hanging. Second time after a car wash, consumer put car in reverse, and the same thing happened. There was a snap, and clicking looked under vehicle, and it was hanging again. Took vehicle to dealer. Dealer said they had seen the problem a lot with these vehicles. Both incidents, the tensioner broke causing the belt to break also.
While driving in rain air conditioning went out, and all the lights on the dashboard went out, windows fogged up, affecting driver's visibility. Also, belt tensioner did not work. The belt tensioner broke for the second time causing lights, power steering and the engine to fail.
Suddendly while making a left turn serpentine belt came off, and all power steering was lost immediately. Van was towed to the dealership and repaired at owner's expense.
Serpentine belt & tensioner kept slipping due to water getting on it. Vehicle loses control when this happens, cannot turn. Belt & tensioner was replaced first time by mechanic. Now problem has reappeared.
While driving the vehicles tensioner snapped and power steering was lost. This has happened twice within one year. Both incidents occurred while parking ane vehicle not moving. After failures, power steering failed completely. Dealer cant find problem. Mjs
Most unrealiable car I have owned. These are not the only problems, just the most major. This car has been on a tow truck six times in three years. Please note first repair was to the original tensioner and serpentine belt; I tried to correct before submitting but was unable to change form.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Inverness, FL, USA