Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
18339712/31/1997600488Subject regarding improper cooling fan relay actuation. *yc05/18/1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
090080111/02/2001632197Subject regarding camshaft / bearing service. *tt07/11/2002
18020002/04/2000609989Concerns with the pcv valve freezing under extremely cold conditions. *tt04/12/2000
18010002/04/2000609988Subject regarding misdiagnosed leak detection pump systems with diagnostic trouble codes p1494, p0442 p0455, or p0456. *tt04/12/2000
09079812/11/1998603107Subject regarding oil seepage at cam position sensor / misinterpreted head gasket leak. *yc11/17/1999
09059811/06/1998602898A new multi-layer steel ( mls ) head gasket has been developed and is being implemented into production vehicles. *yc01/20/1999
983006/01/1998601763Subject on labor operation time change for domestic 2.ol dohc and 2.4l head gasket replacement. *yc08/24/1998
181209803/20/1998600903Subject on tip-in sags/hesitations or rough idle after a hot soak restart. *yc06/11/1998
09019804/10/1998600804Some vehicles may experience a condition where the valve train makes a tapping noise. *yc06/09/1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
09099712/19/19976088858Information on gasket surface preparation on aluminum engine components. *nlm01/10/2000
18059902/26/1999604102Concerns with sags / hesitation / stumble / start & stall, a/c bump improvements, addition of leak detection pump (ldp) monitor test. *tt04/13/1999
090198 REV B11/13/1998602588Vehicle experiencing a ticking noise while at idle from engine. *yc01/05/1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
07029906/04/1999606159Concerns with serpentine belt slipping off idler pulley. *tt08/11/1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
25029810/23/1998602881Subject regarding i/m ( inspection maintenance ) testing - obd ii carb readiness monitor information. *yc01/20/1999
11039803/20/1998600887Information on removal of the exhaust drone. *yc06/10/1998

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
03/09/2011142000
 Tl* the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. while driving in rainy weather conditions approximately 40 mph, there was a loss of power steering without warning and the illumination of the battery warning indicator. the contact drove to the side of the road and the engine was turned off. upon inspecting the vehicle she noticed the serpentine belt detached which was reconnected. the vehicle resumed normally and was taken to an independent mechanic where the serpentine belt, tensioner pulley and idler pulley were replaced. the alternator and water pump were replaced at different times because the technician assumed the components contributed to the malfunction; however the problem continued after the repairs. the faulty serpentine belt caused the failure and would occur whenever driving in the rain. the serpentine belt had been replaced four different times. the manufacturer was made aware of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 142,000.
03/09/2011142000
 Tl- the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. while driving in rainy weather conditions approximately 40 mph, there was a loss of power steering without warning and the illumination of the battery warning indicator. the contact drove to the side of the road and the engine was turned off. upon inspecting the vehicle she noticed the serpentine belt detached which was reconnected. the vehicle resumed normally and was taken to an independent mechanic where the serpentine belt, tensioner pulley and idler pulley were replaced. the alternator and water pump were replaced at different times because the technician assumed the components contributed to the malfunction; however the problem continued after the repairs. the faulty serpentine belt caused the failure and would occur whenever driving in the rain. the serpentine belt had been replaced four different times. the manufacturer was made aware of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 142,000. kmj
03/09/2011142000
 Tl-the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. while driving in rainy weather conditions approximately 40 mph, there was a loss of power steering without warning and the illumination of the battery warning indicator. the contact drove to the side of the road and the engine was turned off. upon inspecting the vehicle she noticed the serpentine belt detached which was reconnected. the vehicle resumed normally and was taken to an independent mechanic where the serpentine belt, tensioner pulley and idler pulley were replaced. the alternator and water pump were replaced at different times because the technician assumed the components contributed to the malfunction; however the problem continued after the repairs. the faulty serpentine belt caused the failure and would occur whenever driving in the rain. the serpentine belt had been replaced four different times. the manufacturer was made aware of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 142,000. js
12/30/2010151000
 Tl-the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. while driving approximately 40 mph the vehicle stalled. the vehicle was towed to his resident. he stated a local mechanic performed a diagnostic on the vehicle and no codes displayed. the vehicle was not repaired. the vehicle was purchased used in december 2010. the vin was unavailable. the failure mileage was 151,000. vwb
06/10/2005876563
 1998 town and country will stop right after starts. after 3 times it will longer start. have replaced the engine module for $250.00. this has fixed the problem for atleast 2 years. when it started again i replaced the module again. it is still working after 14 months. cheaper than taking to dealer and easy to replace. *tr
07/15/2007750001
 I have a 1998 chrysler town & country van. the fan belt slipped off during a rain storm, stranding me and my two small children. i was told by the auto mechanic that it is a common problem with the chrysler town & country models 1996-2000. i had to buy a gates fan belt kit to fix the problem. two years later and six kits later the fan belt is still giving me problems. chrysler should fix this known defect. *tr
11/18/2005600001010/01/2002
 When going through average size puddle, serpentine belt came off. this disables all steering control and alternator/coolant system, etc. this is definitely a safety issue. have replaced belt myself numerous times. failure of tensioner and 2 other pulleys eventually needed at cost of $300+. waiting for it to happen again... i see this is an ongoing problem. *tr
01/04/20071199001011/11/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. the contact stated that the vehicle fails to start sometimes and has been towed twice. while the engine is running, the gauges will go to zero and the instrument panel lights dim. when idling, the vehicle will shut off and several warning indicator lights will illuminate. the mechanic and the dealer were unable to determine the cause of failure. the current mileage is 121,000 and failure mileage was 119,900.
03/09/200713100050005/30/1993
 Tl* - the contact owns a 1993 chrysler town and country. while driving 10 miles or more and accelerating the vehicle shook. the contact stated it was not related to the steering. the front axle was replaced 3 times, new tires were installed, the wheels were rotated to ensure they weren't bent, and new motor mounts were installed and the failure continued to occur. this failure had occurred for over 2 years. the dealer and the transmission mechanic were unable to diagnose the vehicle. the abs and brake warning lights illuminated each time the engine was turned on and stayed on for a 1/4 of a mile. this failure occurred for more than one year. the dealer stated that the failure was due to the abs pump. the current and failure mileage was 130,000. *ak
01/17/200578000108/15/2003
 While driving 30-35 mph the vehicle caught fire under the hood. the consumer was able to pull over until the local fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. how the fire got started was not determined. *jb
09/15/200369400
 First problem occurred three days after we purchased this used. transmission locked into neutral and would not disengage. this happened while driving. vehicle had to be towed. rebuilt transmission cost $1500. got it back and 4 days later the fan to cool the engine went out. in the shop another 2 days costing an additional $180.00. feel like i am hemmorhaging money on this car. left drivers window switch doesn't work at times and window gets stuck in the open position.
05/26/20031
 At 25-30 mph engine began to sputter. dealer determined that camshaft had broken. part is on national backorder.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
06/15/2010103000
 Tl-the contact owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. upon shutting the vehicle off the contact noticed the cooling fan in the engine was still running. the fuse was pulled off the cooling fan in order to get it to stop running. the dealer was notified and informed the contact this was a known issue but the failure was not under recall. the vehicle was not serviced. the failure and current mileages were 103,000. sm.
01/05/20051000001
 The serpentine belt comes off when driving through minimal amounts of water causing power loss to the steering as well as overheating. this is a serious safety risk which deserves a recall by chrysler. i have lost steering while driving on 50 mph roads with my children in the vehicle. several times my children and i have been stranded due to the serpentine belt falling off causing me to lose steering and my vehicle to overheat and had to walk down roads with my children to find help. after researching this on-line it appears that this is due to due to an engineering miscalculation of the pulley system. *tr
09/29/2007119000110/01/2002
 Driving on highway, temperature warning light illuminated. temperature gauge indicated h (hot) position. stopped vehicle on side of highway and inspected coolant. no coolant in system. added coolant, drove 3 miles, repeated. had towed to private garage. mechanic replaced coolant lines to rear heat at a cost of $321. mechanic stated that lines were rotted throughout. stated that every t&c he sees with rear heat has coolant line failure such as this. states they are of inferior quality, cheap aluminum with no protection. cannot guarantee they will not fail again. *tr
12/15/20011
 When consumer puts vehicle in park and turns vehicle off with emergency brake on, the emergency brake releases by itself, this could be dangerous because the vehicle could roll.*ak. consumer stated the belt tensioner and water pump was also replaced.*jg
3
 When driving over puddles after a rain storm tension belt comes off the pulley, causing loss of vehicle control. also, lost power and vehicle overheated. dealer replaced belt and tensioner, but defect still occurs. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
07/09/2005303/27/2001
 Dt: consumer owned chrysler town and country 1998 van. consumer has a document that she received from a chrysler dealer that described the problem she was having. it was customer satisfaction notification 771. stating the problem was radiator fan relay, and the need to reprogram the power train control module. vehicle overheats due to the radiator relay fan not working. engine light came on. consumer replaced the radiator relay fan twice and it kept failing. consumer talked to manufacturer, and was told that they would not include this vehicle in the customer satisfaction program described in the document that consumer received at dealer because vehicle was manufactured two weeks after the vehicles included in this program. consumer wanted to have vehicle fixed by chrysler, and if they will pay for what was described in document 771. this was not the problem consumer was willing to pay for service. consumer did not have a dealer because the dealership closed. *ak
 While driving 20 mph vehicle lost power steering/ power brakes and electrical system without warning. vehicle was inspected by dealer, and it was determined that fan belt separated from vehicle. *ak
09/01/2000101/01/1998
 Overheating due to cooling fan not coming on. the relay switch was bad and was recalled according to the dealer. customer was not notified of any recall.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
07/01/200355506110/27/2000
 Camshaft broke at 55000 miles while operating vehicle under normal operating conditions; engine failed at critical moment while climbing 25 degree hill endangering occupants.8ak
05/24/20021
 While driving 8-9 mph vehicle lost power steering. vehicle was towed to dealer, belt tensioner had broken.*ak *yh
05/08/200001/29/1998
 Vehicle was making noise while moving. taken to an independent repair shop, and informed consumer that the flywheel needed replacement. manufacturer notified,and informed consumer that part was not covered under manufacturer's recall. *ak
03/27/1998
 While driving vehicle at approx. 50mph, it would jerk & make popping noise when on an incline & the accelerator pedal is applied. been to dealership & was informed by mechanic it was the characteristic of the vehicle. *ak
3
 When driving over puddles after a rain storm tension belt comes off the pulley, causing loss of vehicle control. also, lost power and vehicle overheated. dealer replaced belt and tensioner, but defect still occurs. *ak
03/03/1999
 Consumer was driving approximately 5mph when the engine stopped. contacted dealership and vehicle was towed. the bearings were heat damaged, and needed to replace the short block. *ak
05/26/1998105/15/1998
 Oil pan gasket failed resulting in leakage. (attorney for consumer).
06/25/1998105/15/1998
 Motor mount missing resulting in engine noise. (attorney for consumer).
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
07/29/20001
 Vehicle was parked when it caught on fire in the engine compartment, the vehicle had received and oil change, claim # 43-r525-857
08/01/20001
 The vehile caught fire in the engine compartment while parked, claim # 13-7057-975
04/07/20001
 Vehicle caught fire at a rest stop while parked, claim # 40-2277-070. nlm
09/12/20001
 The vehicle was parked when the driver smell smoke and noticed there was a fire under the vehicle, the consumer open the hood and the was a fire under the hood of the vehicle, claim# 43-r798-089. nlm
09/01/20001
 Insured stated that after vehicle was parked smoke came out of the vehicle and engine caught on fire. claim number 13-7057-975. *yh
07/29/20001
 The insured states that vehicle caught on fire while parked, the oil had just been changed. claim number 43-r525-857. *yh
04/07/20001
 Insured stated that the vehicle caught on fire while parked. claim number 40-2277-070. *yh
07/29/20001
 The insured states that vehicle caught on fire while parked, the oil had just been changed. claim number 43-r525-857. *yh
09/01/20001
 Insured stated that after vehicle was parked smoke came out of the vehicle and engine caught on fire. claim number 13-7057-975. *yh
04/07/20001
 Insured stated that the vehicle caught on fire while parked. claim number 40-2277-070. *yh
08/25/2000203/01/1998
 The car was brought to david ellis for a brake repair on 8/21/00. the car made a noise while driving and a loud noise when braking. also the pedal did not feel right. they replaced the front pads, rotors, wheel cylinders and the master cylinder. they had to repalce the master cylinder twice while they had it under repair. the morning after i picked up the car, it wouldn't accelerate, it was revving very loud and with very high rpms and then it began to smoke and smell. when i got out of the car i observed flames shooting out of the front wheel. chrysler has inspected and says they do not know the cause of the fire. they are willing to fix the fire damage but they cannot fix the cause of the fire because they do not know what the cause is. i do not feel the car is safe to drive unless they can pinpoint the cause and have it repaired or replaced. they are also refusing to return the parts to me, and i have told them that i need to have them inspected for future litigation. they claim that they will be sending them to chrysler, who has also refused to return them to me.
06/15/2000111/01/1998
 No apparent reason for this fire. no ignition source known in the air inlet filter housing. looking for input on other vehicles that may have had this problem and what caused it. *ak
 Vehicle uses up to a pint of anti-freeze every couple thousand of miles. dealer cannot determine the cause. *ak
08/28/1999
 Vehicle was parked and a fire started in the engine compartment unexpectedly and without prior warning. please provide further information. *ak
06/17/1998404/01/1998
 Rattling noise in engine, sounds like a bike chain, its louder when the a/c on and when van is in park or drive. have had clutch , air coil hub a/c replaced, belt drive, tensioner replace 3 times
11/11/1998309/01/1998
 3 catastrophic ignition system failures in ~6300 miles. engine shuts off with no warning & no system & has twice stranded driver on an interstate hghway after dark. engine stops. engine will not turn over after stopping. lights, horn, etc. are operable after failure.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
06/03/2008120000
 Tl*the contacts owns a 1998 chrysler town and country. the contact stated that she has replaced the serpentine belt three times. she further stated that the idler pulley was defective and had to be replaced with a kit. when the pulley malfunctions, it allows the serpentine belt to detach. as a result, the power steering fails and all the other components overheat. while driving at various speeds, the contact cannot pull off the road. the vehicle may explode or catch fire. the failure was initially noticed while driving 35 mph in the rain. the vehicle was towed to her mechanic for repair. there were no warning indicators prior to the failure. the failure mileage was 120,000.
07/08/20073
 Serpentine belt/pulley defective belt is guaranteed to slip off van) during wet weather conditions, resulting in a loss of power steering. belt and pulley have both been replaced ,but still could nnot drive in rain due to belt coming off. this problem will cause you loss of steering, possible engine overheating and leaves you and your passengers stranded on the road. i wouldn't attemp to drive in snow or sleet, especially with loss of power sterring. *ak
04/11/20071480004
 While driving in wet conditions the serpentine belt fell off, causing an inability to steer. vehicle was towed , and belt was replaced again, the 4th time this year!. vehicle is a 1998 chrysler town & country with a 3.8l engine. *ak
10/15/2006600001011/01/1997
 Serpentine belt throws in even slightly wet weather, often at hazardous places and conditions. belts and pulleys have been replaced repeatedly. power steering and water pump, among other systems fail instantly. my wife drives the car and can no longer drive it in wet weather. been fighting this problem for years. *jb
03/20/2006106/28/2001
 1998 chrysler town and country transmission failed while driving on the highway. *ts there was no warning prior to the failure. the vehicle was towed to the service dealer who indicated that the vehicle needed a new transmission. the consumer contacted the manufacturer for financial assistance but since the vehicle was out of warranty they refused any assistance. the belt and tensioner were replaced because they were noisy. the handbrake did not hold. the dealer replaced the lever and cable assembly. the front struts were replaced. the sway bar link was replaced because it was noisy. the rear hatch lock was inoperative. *nm
12/17/200230696303/25/1998
 Dt: the contact complained about a serpentine belt problem. she replaced the belt three times. this has been an ongoing problem for the past three years. the first problem emerged when the belt broke while driving. the power steering was lost when the breakage occurred. the next two times the belt itself did not break, it came off the pulley. the vehicle has been taken back to the dealer for repairs all three times.*ak
06/06/2005309/30/1998
 Dt: the consumer stated when it rained, the drive belt fell off the vehicle. took vehicle to a dealership, who fixed the problem, but they could not tell her why this occurred. the drive belt was replaced approximately a month ago. the tensioner was changed, and this did not help the belt. the vehicle is in the shop at this time , and the consumer doesn't have any information with the vin on it.*ak
02/09/20051900008
 While driving in rain or snow or over any type of puddle the serpentine belt slipped off. dealer stated there was nothing they could do. *ak *bf *nm
01/05/2005500003
 Vehicle experienced a problem with the driving belt. owner was driving and came to a stop sign, applied the brakes, and the vehicle shut down. driving belt broke , causing complete loss of control of the vehicle. owner contacted the dealer and the manufacturer, and received no assistance from either. *ak
10/01/20041050004
 My chrysler town and country had a belt alignment problem. if the belt gets wet, it slips off the pulleys or breaks/shreads. i had to have it repaired by placing a spacer plate between a pully and the motor and a new belt tensioner.*ak when the problem occurs, the van is very hard to stear due to loss of power steering. i researched the www, and this has been a problem for many people.
11/01/2004733981108/05/1999
 Serpentine belt pops off every time it rains. *ak
11/01/200480000307/28/1998
 In june 2004 while driving in a rainstorm on the highway serpentine belt on my 1998 chrysler town and country broke. it was replaced. in july of 2004, while driving on a wet street, the serpentine belt came off. it was put back on. on oct 8,2004, while driving in the rain, the serpentine belt came off, it was put back on along with the tsb shield recommended in 1999 by chrylser to prevent the belt from coming off in the rain. on nov 1, 2004 while driving in the rain, the belt came off. chrysler put it back on and charged me $43. chysler has known about this defect since 1999. no effort has been made to come up with a permanent solution. allen samuels dealership in webster, tx sees 3-4 minivans come in with this problem each time it rains.*ak
05/11/20042
 While driving 35 mph vehicle stalled. consumer tried to restart vehicle but was unable to do so. consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic replaced the serpentine belt, and placed a shield around it to prevent it from falling off. *ak
04/03/20041300003
 Three times in one year and twice in one week the serpentine belt came off. seems to be worse in wet weather. the last time it happened my daughter was driving with her 4 children in the car at 65 mph on the interstate in rush-hour traffic. when the belt comes off you lose, among other items, the power steering. this is a dangerous situation. my dealer found the service bulletin addressing the problem (only after i told him the tsb number) but would not show it to me. a call to chrysler customer service only got me an offer to sell me the service bulletin. i have since found out the service bulletin calls for replacement an incorrectly designed idler pulley bracket. i believe this is a critical safety issue, made worse by the manufacturers unwillingness to share its knowledge of the problem with the customer.*ak
380001
 When driving through standing water serpentine belt fell off, causing vehicle to lose power steering and overheat. *ak
10/24/200144238209/01/2001
 While driving, the serpentine belt had come off the pulleys, the power steering, air condition (compressor), defroster and alternator had gone out. *ak it was difficult to steer and the windows fogged. the dealer replaced the tensioner and serpentine drive belt. (the serpentine belt had come off during a rain storm and the tensioner was worn out) *scc *jb
406/01/1998
 The serpentine belt was replaced 4 times, which continued to fall off, when the vehicle was wet.*jb
06/20/2002
 While driving the vehicle shut down without any warning. consumer was unable to steer. contacted dealer. metal in serpentine belt tensioner was defective, causing the belt which was attached to slip off. *ak *jg
06/18/2001210/01/1998
 I have had two incidents where the engine's serpentine belt has come off the pulleys. when this occurs, the vehicle loses all power options and becomes difficult to control. in addition the vehicle can be driven only a few miles without overheating. i belive that since the manufacturer is aware of this problem, they should reimburse owners who have been forced to correct this situation. they should also be proactive about correcting those vehicles that still represent a liability to their owners. this is ultimately a safety issue to prevent loss of vehicle control and becoming stranded along the highway.
7
 Serpentine belt would always come off when vehicle goes through puddles or when road is wet. had taken vehicle to dealership, and mechanic replaced belt and pulley. this is was 7th time it has happened. *ak
07/01/2000203/01/1998
 The serpentine belt broke 2 times in 2 weeks - a critical component. it happened at 30000.
 Serpentine belt broke, resulting in loss of vehicle control. dealer and manufacturer has been contacted. *ak
09/01/1999
 While driving in the rain serpetine belt fell off, which may have caused a loss of vehicle control. dealer said it was a common problem, but could not determine the cause. please provide further information. *ak
06/17/1998404/01/1998
 Rattling noise in engine, sounds like a bike chain, its louder when the a/c on and when van is in park or drive. have had clutch , air coil hub a/c replaced, belt drive, tensioner replace 3 times
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
06/23/2010151600
 I own a 1998 chrysler town and country van and for the last 4 years i have had a problem with the fan belt coming off usually when it rains.my mechanic puts it back on stating that the chrysler belts slip off when it rain.i have owned chryslers in the past but never had this problem. i usually have my grandchildren with me and very concerned about this problem.on one occasion i was taking my son to have some blood work done and all of a sudden it started storming and the van cut off, but i was able to steer it out of the street.i cannot afford another vehicle so something should be done.
780001
 The driver is smelling gas inside vehicle after vehicle has been started. the cause of the smell is unknown. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
05/20/200670000500011/15/2003
 I own a 1998 chrysler town and country minivan and i was getting real sleepy every time i drove it . upon inspection by an auto repair shop. i was informed the expansion joint on the exhaust pipe crossover pipe was cracked and letting fumes enter the passenger compartment. this is a very dangerous situation. the repair part is over $500 which the mechanic said was very much overpriced. this expansion joint is made of stainless steel which gets very brittle with heat and will crack over time with extended use. the part was used on chrysler town & country and voyager minivans. i feel due to the seriousness of this defect, these vans should be recalled and repaired without cost to the vehicle owners. *jb
11/18/2004814751
 Failure of the flex joint in the rear exhaust manifold on the 3.8 liter v6 engine. causing exhaust noise under the hood and exhaust entering the cabin area when the heater is in use.
109/16/1997
 Consumer states the engine developed a leak in the connection between the rear cylinder head and its exhaust manifold shortly after the warranty expired and there is also a noise. dealer advised that heat had warped the original exhaust manifold and that the noise was due to the exhaust leaking. the rear exhaust manifold was replaced.