If the van goes through a puddle in the road air conditioner compressor belt slides off engine. When this occurs vfehicle loses power steering and stalls because the battery is drained.

- Austintown, OH, USA

Vehicle has broken serpentine belt 11 times since purchased in August 1997. Vehicle looses power steering and alternator when this happens. Brackets, pulleys, tensioners and belts have all been replaced again and again but problem worsens. Last belt lasted only 2 months and 1500 miles.

- Waldorf, MD, USA

The serpentine belt falls off and the vehicle must be towed. This is even after we paid to have a bracket installed & tensioner per tsb to prevent this from reoccurring. This is the second time the belt has fallen off. Chrysler should not provide a product in which the vehicle must be towed due to a design defect. Chrysler should not provide a service which would lead the consumer to believe that the design defect is remedied. ( is this not fraud?) also, this failure mode causes a situation in which the vehicle must be towed - how is this not a safety issue?

- Lancaster, PA, USA

While having our car serviced under clockspring recall, they found the serpintine belt tensioner frozen and water pump leaking coolant. The dealer gave us an estimate of $566 to replace the serpentine belt, tensioner, water pump, and coolant flush. The dealer told us the belt could fail at any moment.

- Beaverton, OR, USA

While pulling up to an intersection I heard a clunk under the van like I had something hit the undercarriage of the van. I went to turn and had no power steering. After pulling off the side of the road I found the serpentine belt hanging loose. I went to a service station and they found that the bolt securing the tensioner pulley had broken and the tensioner was gone. The dealership that we got the parts from told our mechanic that they have requests for two or three of the tensioners a week due to the same problem. It cost almost $400 to fix the problem.

- Roy, UT, USA

Chrsler dealer refuses to provide copy of service bulliten no. 070299, NHTSA item no: SB606159 concerning serpentine belt slipping off tensioner idler pulley.

- Skokie, IL, USA

While driving in a mall parking lot, made a turn and heard a loud bang. Steering wheel locked up. I managed to turn the wheel to avoid hitting a parked car and brought the van to a stock. Inspection found that the retaining bolt holding the belt tensioner pulley had snapped off causing the serpentine belt to come off and resulting in power steering failure. Inspection of the failed bolt by aircraft mechanics revealed that the bolt may have had as many as 5 internal stress cracks. Contacted Chrysler who took care of the repair, immediately. Repairs were made at the dealers the same day. Damaged parts were taken to the dealer service department. I was surprised to find out that this retaining bolt is not rated for high stress. If the breakage had happened at high speed it could have caused a serious accident. Suggest that these bolts be inspected and replaced at around 30,000 miles. Or replaced with a rated bolt. Locked up. Managed to turn the wheel and bring the van to a stop. Found that the bolt that retains the idler pulley and tensioner had snapped off, causing the serpantine belt to come off, resulting in power steering failure. Examination of the snapped bolt by aircraft mechanics indicated 5 possible stress cra

- Chadds Ford, PA, USA