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.
While my wife was pulling into a driveway she drove thru a small puddle and the water splashed up on the idler pulley and caused the belt to slip. This in turn caused the vehicle to lose power steering. She ended up in the yard instead of the driveway. I have been in quality since 1985 and I am currently a quality manager so I am really surprised with Chrysler' lack of concern with this design problem. I am really disappointed with Chrysler and the NHTSA for not doing something about this issue. Maybe it is time to let some of the national investigative tv shows know about the problem.
The contact owns a 2000 Chrysler Town & Country. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, he drove over a pothole and the serpentine belt slipped off of the engine. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to have the belt changed, but that did not remedy the failure. The contact stated that the belt had fallen off four times. The failure mileage was 107,000.
The contact owns a 2000 Chrysler Town and country. The contact was driving 40 mph when the vehicle stalled followed by the illumination of the check engine warning light. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the cam shaft was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 153,000.
Several incidents of serpentine belt disengaged (slipped off pulleys) caused loss of steering and overheated engine. First time happened in car wash and three times driving through rain puddles.
The contact owns a 2000 Chrysler Town and country. While driving approximately 35 mph the fan belt detached from the vehicle and the vehicle stalled. The failure occurred five times when it was snowing or raining. The vehicle was towed three out of five times when the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic five times where the fan belt was replaced each time. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.
- Emmerrick, NY, USA
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The contact owns a 2000 Chrysler Town and country. The contact stated that the serpentine belt separated from the alternator causing the alternator to fail. The failure was experienced numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test and advised that the vehicle did not have a protective splash guard and caused water to penetrate, separating the serpentine belt from the alternator. The battery was replaced but the failure was not corrected and the serpentine belt continued to fail. The manufacturer advised that the failure was not recalled. The failure mileage was 149,000, and the current mileage was 196,000.
Driving through small puddle of water (drainage from waterhose run off not storm type drainage). Serpentine belt comes off rendering the vehicle unusable. Happens in all weather conditions. I have replaced the water pump, the tensioner, the idler pulley. I've had the alignment of the pulleys checked, all have had no effect on the serpentine belt. It still comes off going through any form of moisture. This has been ongoing now for over a year, I have gone through 4 different belts trying to see what could work. The first time it happen was early in the morning (approx. 3am) while my wife was on her way to work, with the sudden loss of power steering she ran into a curb. The only damage was to the vehicle front bumper and bottom valance.
My 2000 Chrysler Town and country serpentine belt keeps slipping off after driving through puddles. This problem has been "repaired" 4 times already and is still slipping off. This is a potentially hazardous problem as it is not always immediately known that the belt has slipped off which cause driver to lose power steering (among other things). Being unable to steer while driving is an absolute danger especially depending on the speed of the car!
We were driving in the rain on the interstate when all of sudden lights come on..my husband says that the power steering has gone and the engine lights come on and the engine starts to overheat. It was terrifying. We find as we are pulled to the side of the road that the serpentine belt has come off. It was a brand new belt. I had it replaced prior to going on this trip. My husband and son get it back on and it comes off again. I had the vehicle towed. The overheating did some damage. Had to replace radiator and hoses. Then driving down broad street a week later, the hose comes off again. I don't feel safe in this vehicle. Tensioner has been replaced along with other damaged parts.
The contact owns a 2000 Chrysler Town and country. The contact stated that the underhood strut tower is rusted. The dealer advised her not to drive the vehicle in that condition because a crash could occur. The manufacturer has a kit to correct the defect; however, they will not provide assistance with the labor costs. The current mileage was 109,000 and failure mileage was 96,000.
The serpentine belt on my 2000 Chrysler Town and country slips off when I drive through puddles resulting in loss of power steering, cooling and electrical. This event strands us where ever we happen to be.
Update to the problem related to the serpentine belt of a 2000 Town and country.(ODI number: 770436 12/4/02). A fifth (5th) occurence occured on Jan 17, 2004. Still without resolution other than tow the van and put back the serpentine belt.
Vehicle leaf spring has weakened causing the rear of vehicle to sit at an angle. Problems with front wheels and brakes. The dealer was unable to repair the re-occurring problem with the front brakes, and the rotors. The front wheels and or brakes were squeaking again, which meant that new front brakes were needed again. (this was the fourth time the brakes were replaced) the consumer requested a full refund of the purchase price of the vehicle. Other problems are as followed: The left rear shock had blown and a bolt had broken on the right shock and were replaced, the brake light would come on when going around corners, the rear view mirror was loose along with the right side mirror(both readjusted), noise in the steering and was hard to steer at times, there was a metal sound in the front strut especially when the temperature was cold, and there was overheating so the all the parts of the cooling system were replaced.
All 4 incidents happened on a rainy day (spring 1X (wife driving and turning from a stop light 5-10 mph), fall 2X in one day(30-40mph), last incident 12/4/02 (30-40mph)). When belt slips off, power steering disabled, power brake disabled, alternator disabled, cooling system disabled, engine overheats, stalls when battery runs out. Local dealer (spirit Chrysler, lubbock) has no idea why the problem persist.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Holiday, FL, USA