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.
Excessive brake wear and E-brake caliper sticking. I have a 2008 Chrysler Town and country with 28,000 miles on it. So far I have had to replace the brake pads twice and have the rotors turned once. The ABS also pulses at times when I am braking at normal levels and it should not be kicking in. I am also getting substantially lower fuel mileage than advertised for both highway and city driving and suspect that the braking system is keeping some braking pressure on at all times. I have also had extremely hot brakes at times so much so that they have nearly caught fire. Fortunately I have not had any fires to date from the brakes.
Regarding the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country van and the sub standard rotors the vehicle comes with. The car is only 1 1/2 years old and the rotors have to be replaced. Three months ago the dealer turned and resurfaced the rotors and replaced the pads ($270), the cost would have been more but they priced the quote incorrectly and then honored it. This week I took the car back to the dealer because of vibration and they are advising the rotors must be replaced costing more than $700 to repair. I have read multiple complaints from other owners with the same issue with this vehicle. I have been driving for more than 20 years and have never had an issue like this with any of my other vehicles and find the rotors installed in the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country unacceptable. These cars are expensive and they parts used to make it should be of quality. The dealerships should extend the warranty on the brake rotors or recall them and put acceptable ones on them.
Excessive front brake wear. The front brakes are worn out, both the pads and rotors have failed at 17,000 miles. In contacting Chrysler, I am told that this is a know issue but that they are not willing to do anything to fix this problem until a recall is mandated. I have had this vehicle for 16 months and do what I call normal driving around town and highway. I have hauled a trailer once, for 80 miles, other than nothing out of the ordinary. The brakes are in my opinion not properly sized for the car and could cause serious damage as most people would not expect brake failure after such a short time period.
Brake rotors warped -- 2008 Chrysler Town and country limited. With less than 6,000 miles on the vehicle, when applying normal pressure to the brake pedal to stop the vehicle, the peddle would pulsate and the vehicle would shimmy slightly. I surmised and it was confirmed that the rotors were out of round (warping). The dealer replaced the rear rotors and resurfaced the front rotors. With such limited mileage on the vehicle, I would suspect the rotors are inadequate for this vehicle. The dealer indicated the replacement of the rear rotors was with not only new rotors but with an upgraded part. I'm still concerned that the front rotors may be inadequate. Generally, when you feel a shimmy in the break peddle and steering wheel it occurs due to an issue in the front of the vehicle. I'm going to continue to monitor the status of this situation and if it occurs again, will request replacement of the front rotors. Have there been other reports of this nature with 2008 Chrysler made minivans. I have the 4 liter engine with 6 speed auto transmission.
- Damascus, MD, USA
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The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country. While driving approximately 10 mph on normal road conditions, the brake pedal extended to the floor without resistance when it was depressed. The vehicle failed to slow down after several attempts and there was a loss of brake line pressure. Immediately, the driver swerved and mounted the vehicle on the curbside. The vehicle came to a complete stop. In addition, the engine warning indicator illuminated intermittently on the instrument panel. There were no injuries, but the front bumper and both headlight bulbs were damaged. The vehicle was able to be driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for inspection, but they could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 15,000. Updated 06/12/09.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Maynard, MA, USA