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.
When your serpentine belt breaks, is replaced because of damage or wear or just falls off the pulleys when you go through water puddles... then you must replace the belt tensioner as well as the belt to reduce future problems... I have a 1997 T & C and have just recently replaced the belt tensioner of the 2nd time... not hard or expensive.... must do about every 3 to 4 years... the tensioners wears out.
While driving in the rain, not standing water or high water, my 97 Chrysler Town and country started overheating. Not knowing what was wrong, I pulled over and let it cool off and attempted to restart my trip. This continued every 1/2 mile and finally I had no power steering. Trying to get to a filling station, it finally just died. After having it towed, staying in a hotel and taking a cab to work, the mechanic told me my serpentine belt just came off. He replaced it. He stated that this has been known to be happening with these vans and for additional money and labor costs I could have a "kit" installed and will hopefully prevent this problem from continually happening. The kit he spoke about was a belt that is ribbed on both sides and replacement of a pulley. If this is a known problem then Chrysler should recall and replace this free of charge.
Last December 2004 while driving, my steering wheel locked up and I was unable to make a turn. I looked under hood and found S belt had slipped off. I was able to have it fixed. I do not know what caused this. Today 5/9, again, the belt came off as my sister was about to go down an incline. Should she have been in the process of descending, she would have had an accident, because of a sharp turn in the road. At the repair shop I was told that there is a problem that exist with the tensioner in this vehicle, and that it slips off when it rains or if water gets into it. In order to put the vehicle in use I've had to have it repaired. From the complaints I've read, this should be made into a recall issue, and those who've had to make repairs and replace belts, should be reimbursed by the manufacturer.
- Eugene, OR, USA
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The bolt that holds the fan belt tensioner onto the engine broke unexpectedly while going about 25 mph. As a result, the fan belt broke off and the consumer lost steering. The consumer managed to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. The fan belt pulley tensioner was replaced.
Chrysler Town and country mini van 1997 serpentine belt falls off. This has happened to us at least 5 times. This belt will come off when ever it is raining or snowing. When this happens we lose power steering immediately. We have had some near terrible accidents with the loss of power steering. We have been blessed to not get hurt. Chrysler knows about the failure in their service bulletin number 07-02-99. We had to install a special bracket assembly 4612412. Even with this bracket the belt came off again.
Nar 06/19/2003. 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. 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.
While driving serpentine belt came off. As a result, power steering assist malfunctioned. Serpentine belt was replaced five times, however, problem still exists.
I had the belt replaced on my 1997 Chrysler Town & Country to avoid a breakage. Since that time, the belt has come off twice allegedly due to water/rain. I live in new orleans & have been in alot more rain over the last 6 years and never had a problem. The first time, they just put the belt back on, the last time, I was charged an extra $50 for a better belt, but was also told of an advisory that Chrysler issued 7-2-99 indicating this problem and that a bracket could be used to fix the problem. The local dealership advised that this would cost another $260 to fix a problem that never existed before I had the belt replaced. I feel that Chrysler knows that there is a problem with their new belts, but because my van is older, they are unwilling to foot the bill to fix it and they are jeopardizing my safety and everyone else's by not doing so. I am now afraid to drive my van during or after a rain.
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. The battery had been replaced on four occasions, the rear brake drums, the serpentine belt and tensioner had been replaced. Also the horn, driver seat rack and grill were replaced.
While driving vehicle under rainy conditions, consumer states" there was a sudden loss of all power. Took to dealer and they stated serpentine belt had fallen off due to driving in rain.
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!
While driving heard a strange noise, and temperature gauge went to hot, and lost all power. Consumer managed to get to side of road. Consumer felt that on highway there may have been an accident. Dealer has put four belts on vehicle, and problem still remained. Consumer states each time belt fails that brakes fail and steering is hard, consumer was told by 2 mechanics that this year and model vehicle is noted for this problem.
From 27,928 mile up to the present had four serpentine belts replaced & repaired by various independent repair shops, but, problem still appears to be reoccurring, dealer / manufacturer were not notified at this time. Discharge line leaking from compressor to condensor causing ac not to work. Water pump failed. Windshield wiper switch shorted and was replaced. Exterior power mirrors shook while driving, dealer replaced switch. Transmission hard to downshift to first gear on slight downgrades, dealer made no repairs.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Vicksburg, MI, USA