Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 0803006 | 08/25/2006 | 0803006A | 10021239 | Powertrain control module initialization. *kb | 03/23/2007 |
| 1802304 | 05/18/2004 | 10007934 | Surge with transmission at full lock-up. *mj | 07/16/2004 | |
| 2100903 | 10/02/2005 | 2101805 | 10003524 | Automatic transmission diagnostic teardown procedure. various models including the 2004 ram truck, durango, sebring convertible, cherokee, vision, neon, and voyager. *tt *sc | 10/22/2003 |
| 2100102 | 07/01/2002 | 635719 | Some vehicles may have a transaxle that will not move or slips in reverse or first gear. *tt | 10/30/2002 | |
| 2100601 | 03/16/2001 | 211699 | 621898 | Automatic transmission fluid usage atf+4. *tt *mj | 10/03/2001 |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||||
| 0801505 | 03/02/2005 | 10013731 | Powertrain control module initialization. *sc | 04/26/2005 | |
| B05 | 03/01/2002 | 634264 | Subject regarding the powertrain control module (pcm) may cause air conditioning compressor failure for rs models. *slc | 09/28/2002 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 02020 | 10/23/2002 | 10000329 | Delayed transaxle engagement after initial start up. *tt | 02/24/2003 | |
| 02012 | 08/05/2002 | 02007 | 635704 | Some vehicles may experience a slipping or no drive condition in reverse or first gear. *tt | 10/30/2002 |
| 02012 | 08/21/2002 | 02012 | 635706 | Some vehicles may experience a slipping or no drive condition in reverse or first gear. *tt | 10/30/2002 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | |||
| 07/02/2012 | 170000 | 1 | |
| My 2002 town and country had to have a new transmission in 11/12. in june of this year, my speedometer quit working causing the transmission to shift hard. i took it to the transmission guy who replaced the speed sensor. it worked fine for a couple of weeks. then my battery light came on suddenly. i had my battery checked and they said it was fine. they said i might need a new alternator. so i had a new alternator put in. the car did ok for about a couple of weeks, then the speedometer started jumping erratically. i took back to my transmission guy who said the speed sensor was fine. he thinks it may be due to a loose wire or a possibly damaged wire or corrosion. so far, no answers and my car is still undrivable. it jumps when i am stopped. it acts like its already in second gear or something. i am afraid to try to drive it as it is dangerous. help! i can not afford to put more money into this. it cost too much to start with. 3.8l v6 limited. i am a single mom with a child who has heart defects. i need reliable transportation! *tr | |||
| 01/03/2008 | 68000 | 1 | |
| I bought a chrysler town and country and the transmission shifts hard into 2nd gear. after the 4th time to the dealer and transmission specialist the transmission specialist finally took the van to auto west dodge. auto west dodge said they have a history on the vehicle from the previous owner and as of now there is no fix for the transmission, because it is a computer problem not a mechanical problem. i still have the problem and they say i am going to have to wait for a fix. the shifting occurs every time i drive the car. the transmission specialist has rebuild the transmission, but can not fix the computer and auto west dodge said they can not fix the computer at this time either. *tr | |||
| 08/17/2004 | 10000 | 6 | 11/26/2001 |
| The air bag light illuminated and the transmission shift lever shifted from drive to neutral while driving. *nm there was an explosion while the vehicle was in motion. the engine light had come on, the transmission went into park, the gear shifter lever didn't move, the gas pedal worked fine but had frozen up in the park position. the air bag did not work and the seat belt didn't work. *sc *jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||
| 06/02/2010 | 96000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 chrysler town & country. while traveling 55 mph the contact noticed that the vehicle would no longer accelerate. the vehicle was towed to the dealership where the contact had the transmission replaced. however, 6 miles after receiving the repair the same failure reoccurred. prior to the failure the contact had the transmission flushed. the current and failure mileages was 96000. bml | |||
| 12/13/2008 | 90380 | 1 | |
| Planetaries destroyed in transmission and required replacement replaced transmission assembly with remanufactured unit total cost: $2582.70 left us stranded approximately forty miles from home. *tr | |||
| 05/01/2008 | 97000 | 1 | |
| Transmission issues since we bought it. last issue currently has not been resolved. *tr | |||
| 08/29/2006 | 81500 | 2 | 08/12/2005 |
| Bought 2002 t&c ex used from chrysler dealer in xenia, ohio. all maintenance done by same dealership. car has 52,000 miles on it. after getting home from vacation transmission suddenly died - no warning. mechanic found 9 codes and one that referenced no hydraulic pressure. they checked the transmission filter and found it to be clean - transmission failed with less than 65k miles on it. transmission fluid was a proper levels and was not burnt in any way - still a nice red color. replaced transmission with a jasper reman with 3 yr/75k miles warranty and that transmission just failed with less than 20,000 miles on it while 60+ miles form home with both of our kids in the car. luckily we were able to get the car to our destination and not stranded on the highway. this time 3rd gear apparently died and our mechanic mentioned that this is a popular transmission and very popular for failing. *tr | |||
| 08/02/2007 | 51786 | 1 | 10/10/2001 |
| The transmission went out on my 2002 chrysler town & country mini van as we were driving on the freeway. the van had only 51,700 miles on it! i had it towed to the nearest dealership, and they wanted $4,000 to fix it. i called chrysler to ask if they would cover the cost of the repair since the mileage was so low, but they refused to help me because the warranty was up. i had it fixed at a transmission shop where they rebuilt the transmission. i don't have the old parts available. there must be a defect in the transmission, or some kind of weak parts for it to go out at such low mileage. i do regular maintenance on the van, i change the oil every 3,000 miles, and even did the 30,000 miles service that was highly recommended by the dealership! *jb | |||
| 01/04/2007 | 90405 | 2 | 11/09/2001 |
| Tl* - the contact has a 2002 minivan caravan. the contact stated that when she put the car in reverse or tried to switch gears, the vehicle wouldn't move. she took her vehicle to a dealer for service on 11/24/2006, and it passed there 16 point vehicle check. the contact stated that on 01/04/2007 the car wouldn't switch into gears and she took the vehicle have the transmission repaired because she believed that the failure involved the transmission. the contact was told that the transmission needed to be fixed, and then told that she needed a new transmission. when the contact picked up her vehicle it had not been repaired. after telling the contact that she would receive a new transmission, the contact received a rebuilt transmission. the vehicle still didn't work properly, the dealer told the contact that they were not equipped to repair her vehicle. she has still not found someone who could repair the vehicle properly.*jb | |||
| 11/22/2006 | 60142 | 2 | 05/22/2002 |
| Vehicle had just entered atlanta georgia on i85 southbound. there was very heavy stop and go traffic. upon light acceleration, the engine lost power. the engine never stalled. the idle remained smooth. in neutral the engine would accelerate normally. in drive (all gears) and reverse, the engine would accelerate to about 900 rpm and then lose power. we were able to drive along the shoulder at a slow walking pace (a slight incline) until we encountered a disabled vehicle. the van did not have the power to pull into the stop and go traffic. a tow truck was called and the van towed to a dealership for repairs. no check engine light and the engine restarted normally. the engine never ran rough and all the fluids looked good and were at correct levels. the dealership determined that the fuel pump was the problem since they measured the pressure at 40 psi and the specification was 53 psi. the fuel pump and filter was repaired at a cost of $686 plus towing. the powertrain warranty apparently does not cover these items. the replaced parts were not made available to us. after pickup from the dealership the van has intermittently experienced a pronounced hesitation accelerating from a stop. no check engine light. the van duplicated the same failure again on 12/30/06. we had just pulled out from a parking space at a restaurant. every aspect of the incident was the same even to our proceeding to drive down the shoulder. except in this case the shoulder was a slight decline. when the van made it to about 5 mph the problem disappeared and the van drove fine for the remaining 95 miles of our trip. the next time that the van was started it went straight to another dealership for repair. the dealership could not find anything wrong with the van but charged a estimate fee and said to bring it back when it was experiencing the problem. there were no trouble codes set for them to diagnose the problem and the van behaved fine during the test drive. *jb | |||
| 08/12/2006 | 63100 | 1 | 02/22/2006 |
| 41te transmission failure at highway speeds. potential for accident, luckily none occurred in this instance. car/occupants left stranded in lane of travel. | |||
| 04/15/2006 | 49184 | 2 | |
| Dt*: the contact stated that while backing out of a parking space, the power steering failed, requiring additional effort to turn the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, where the dealer was unable to duplicate or determine the problem. the raack and pinion was replaced and the transmission had a leak. updated 03/20/07. *jb | |||
| 02/09/2006 | 29990 | 3 | 06/20/2005 |
| Our 2002 chrysler town and country with 30,000 miles on it began having problems with the power steering in december of 2005. the check engine light came on february 2006 so we brought the van into a chrysler service shop. we were informed that the seal to the power steering fluid was leaking so we had to replace the entire steering rack. the check engine light indicated there was an internal transmission problem. after tearing the transmission apart they found that the torque converter needed replacement as well as the seals on the internal clutches. this vehicle only has 30,008 miles on it. we were forced to pay the entire $3183.89 to fix it. it was a poorly built vehicle with faulty parts. we are upset that chrysler can not tell us why a vehicle with so few miles needs all these major replacement parts and will not take any responsibility or stand behind this vehicle. *jb | |||
| 12/15/2005 | 72000 | 1 | 05/06/2003 |
| While driving at 75 mph the car stalled out and would not run. had it towed to the dealership and the transmission has to be replaced. the car is only 3 years old! *nm | |||
| 10/26/2005 | 55850 | 3 | 10/11/2001 |
| (1)events leading up to the failure we have a 2002 chrysler town and country with approximately 56,000 miles. on 26 october my malfunction/check engine light came on. all routine and recommend maintenance has been done. due to concerns that it was transmission related, i had it towed to the dealer. they stated the problem was the upstream o2 sensor. the upstream o2 sensor was replaced, the engine controller was updated and the engine controller was updated with the latest software. the vehicle was returned to me on 28 october and the next day the malfunction/check engine light came on again. i returned to the dealer, and was told it was the catalytic converter , which was replaced with my vehicle being returned to me on 01 november. on thursday 10 november, the malfunction/check engine light came on for a third time. (2) failure and its consequences, and the third time the malfunction/check engine light came on, i took it back to the dealer on 11 november. this time i was told it was a torque converter/ transmission issue. this time, i was told the torque converter failed. the transmission was removed and a broken low reverse accumulator snap ring was discovered. this required an overhaul of the transmission and replacement of all seals and clutches, and the replacement of the snap ring. (3) what was done to correct the failure; i.e, parts repaired or replaced (and if old part is available) overall in the last three weeks, on my a 2002 chrysler town and country, the following has been done: 1-the upstream o2 sensor was replaced, the engine controller was updated and the engine controller was updated with the latest software. 2- the catalytic converter was replaced. 3- the transmission was overhauled and all seals and clutches were replaced and the replacement of the snap ring. *nm | |||
| 08/12/2005 | 64000 | 1 | 11/20/2004 |
| The transmission failed suddenly. while at a stop sign the town & country van stopped moving. the rpm's went up while pressing the gas, but the van did not move. after further investigation by a technician it was determined that it was related to the transmission. because of the cost to fix the van, as of 08/15/05, the van is still parked. someone please help! *nm | |||
| 02/15/2004 | 4 | 10/30/2002 | |
| 2002 tc minivan driving on freeway and transmission stopped. hit gas but won't move. towed to dealer. 33,000 miles, 16 mos . also, power side door and tailgate will not open with buttons, at first only when cold but now never works. needed front and rear brakes at 25,000 miles, rear still makes grinding noise. *ak | |||
| 10/09/2004 | 38048 | 1 | 03/05/2002 |
| Transmission failed at 38,048, car had to be towed, as it was a sat, before a trip we took it to a transmission shop, hoping it was a simple fix from the codes. the transmission had to be rebuilt but i felt it qualified for if you have an emergency and you have to get a repair from other than an authorized dealer..., chrysler said this only is for things like batteries or water pumps even though these little details are not stated in the 7 year/ 70,000 mile warranty. in a rude phone message i was told, (after appealing to chrysler for reimbursement under warranty), that they would pay $1.000 and that was there final offer and that the van was not under warranty, which it is. i hate this car and if we did not have it equipped with hand controls and a scooter lift for my husband(part of the need for a immediate repair) i would sale it. it was also in 4 times for the non-functioning automatic passenger door latch; to have a battery replaced(29,583 miles); fuel tank; power steering hose; and it still makes a rubbing sound at low speeds that they have never been able to identify(in 2x for that noise). i think chrysler should honor their warranty but i feel at a loss to fight them. i will try to let it be known where i can the details of the situation. *jb | |||
| 08/01/2004 | 3 | ||
| Problems with power steering pump on 2002 chrysler town and country. *mr there was a continuous problem with the consumers power steering pump. the steering pump made a noise when a right turn was made. the airbag light had come on due to a loose connector on the passenger side which was an intermittent problem. the transmission was noisy, which was possibly due to dirt. *sc *jb | |||
| 07/07/2004 | 10888 | 3 | |
| The ignition fuse blew out which caused the vehicle to stall. this occurred while driving and at a complete stop. this results in loss of power steering. dealership changed ignition fuse 23 to 10 amp. the failure recurred 2 week later. dealership service invoice read that transmission at pin area and around solenoid pack failed. the harness rubbed, chafed, and was damaged. repaired harness isolated from transmission with rubber. however, failure recurred.*ak | |||
| 03/20/2003 | 2347 | 6 | 03/27/2002 |
| While driving check engine light came on, and a gear shift light illuminated. when this occurred automatic transmission failed to shift out of second gear. dealership performed a drb test, in which the failure code found was a low voltage battery and loose cable. the cable was tightened. then, dealership test drove the van. no other problem was found. the failure recurred within 2,347 miles. dealership test drove the van for 15 miles, and found no problems. also, the abs light came on and stayed on. dealership replaced the abs sensor 3 times. *ak *nm | |||
| 12/02/2003 | 66000 | 1 | 12/17/2002 |
| Transmission failed at 66,000 miles in the middle of the highway. front wheels locked up and was unable to roll into neutral. the wheels gave, after prayer, and the vehicle was able to be rolled to the shoulder. wheels locked up again once the vehicle was on the shoulder. vehicle was towed to the nearest chrysler dealership. was told it would be necessary to replace transmission. it will cost $3200. chrysler refuses to grant a goodwill repair even though it's due to a technical failure and not a wear and tear or poor service failure. i am in the process of sending a complaint letter to daimler-chrysler, fox 5 news, and the center for auto safety. *la | |||
| 11/10/2002 | 1 | 07/11/2002 | |
| Continuing problem of vehicle not going into reverse and bogging down at highway speeds, have taken to dealer twice and they have not been able to duplicate problem.*ak | |||
| 9000 | 2 | ||
| Brakes squeak while driving at any speed. dealer replaced the brakes twice, but the squeaking noise could still be heard. also, when the automatic transmission was shifted into reverse vehicle rolleed forward. *ak | |||
| 10/01/2002 | 3 | ||
| I bought a 2002 chrysler town & country in august, 2002. in october, 2002, i had to return vehicle to the dealership because i was having problems with the transmission. they told me it was a computer problem. the transmission did fine until around the middle of 2003 when i noticed the transmission problem again. the car was taken back to the dealership in july 2002, and the transmission had to be over hauled. they would not put in a new transmission. something about the 70% rule. i picked up the car on 8/30/03 from the dealership and the car is running ok now. i am just wondering if other people have had transmission problems on this vehicle.*ak | |||
| 08/23/2003 | 5000 | 3 | 07/28/2002 |
| Check engine light keeps coming on. it will turn-off later, and then return. usually after driving in reverse. had it repaired at a five-star dealer three times.*ak | |||
| 07/25/2003 | 13 | 7 | 06/26/2002 |
| Automatic transmission disengaged while driving. dealer was unable to duplicate or correct the problem. *ak the service dealer manager verified and experienced these conditions and was unable to correct the problem. two days after the purchase, the van shuttered at low speed, low rpms in reverse, slipped out of gear when attempting to ascend in grade, the check engine light had come on. other problems that occurred, were as followed: the brake calipers were squealing which may have been due to sticking, the vehicle leaned to the left, and the right sliding door didn't open from the inside switch. *scc *jb | |||
| 07/20/2002 | 15000 | 50 | 10/15/2002 |
| Transmission downshifts hard. transmission does not always go into reverse gear when in park. dealership unable to fix it at this time. am told it is a computer program error.*ak | |||
| 1000 | 8 | 04/15/2002 | |
| Lincoln town and country would stall when shifting. *mr around 1k miles the vehicle had become hard to shift and would stall. the consumer had taken the vehicle for a recall and felt it was a mistake because the vehicle did not run the same since. on a few occasions moisture filled the vehicle as far back as the middle seats. when the vehicle stopped in the street or at idle it seemed as if the timing was slow. the vehicle was shifted into neutral and smoothed out. the consumer also heard a noise in the motor which turned about 1700-1750 rpm's, and a loud sound had come from the engine area. (the noise had become intermittent) while traveling, the consumer viewed smoke and or steam in which they were unsure of where it was coming from but when they looked under the hood everything looked fine. the dealer was unable to fix the problem. the consumer thought that something was wrong with the a/c but not sure because of other noises. the vehicle also needed a muffler and a resonator. *scc *jb | |||
| 06/27/2002 | 25 | 1 | 06/26/2002 |
| Transmission will disengage intermittently. *jb | |||
| 11/22/2002 | |||
| While driving 60 mph the vehicle started to slow down, while accelerator was applied. vehicle was towed to dealer who determined the transmission needed to be replaced. ts | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) | |||
| 03/02/2005 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle experienced sudden engine stalling while on the road. vehicle was then no longer able to start, and was taken to a dealer. result showed that the body and transmission control module needed to be replaced.*ak | |||
| 06/01/2002 | |||
| Engine sputtering and failure occured at 23000 miles while driving. vehicle serviced by dealer several times, replacing and repairing electrical system components. dealer has replaced wiring harness/ iginition coils, bare electrical wire shorted/ pcm replaced/replaced clock spring twice, and replaced front control module. consumer wasvery concerned about electrical problems. does not feel vehicle is safe.*ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES | |||
| 10/07/2005 | 60000 | 2 | 06/21/2002 |
| 1.3rd replacement of clockspring in air bag system (at dealer right now) 2. transmission coolant lines rusted out resulting in loss of transmission fluid to transmission and vehicle while driving. *jb | |||
| POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY | |||
| 05/09/2007 | 80000 | 3 | |
| The van was professionally modified straight from factory by independent mobility systems, inc (ims) a company out of business that specialized in these modifications. i previously reported back around early 2006 about a safety problem that i had experienced with the vehicles rear shock-absorber lower tie-down brackets. in my complaint i explained that i had experienced a terrifying incident while traveling at 50 mph the left bracket broke at the weld that connected it to the rear axle, causing the highly pressurized shock-absorber to extend and jammed against the pavement and the axle. this caused the rear of the vehicle to jump and shutter violently and making me stop rapidly. repaired at the cost of $100.00. on this occasion i was in a parking lot and driving over a speed bump when the weld on the right side bracket broke off. again i towed it to a midas at different location and spent $45.00 on the repair. well this was reported to braun enterprises , a company that specialized in these modifications that has taken up warranty and parts issues from ims. their response was that since the vehicle was past its warranty period they would not be willing to cover the repairs. this resulted in my first report to dot. the reason for my repeating this report was that it has happened again to one of the same brackets. this happened three times. in my initial report i stated that the reason i suspected this happened was due to faulty engineering. since the brackets where located lower than any other parts in the bottom of the vehicle it was probably susceptible to road obstacles. i further suggested that another cause might be due to where the brackets were placed and the manner in which they were mounted that was not sufficient to withstand the pressures of everyday driving. remember these modifications were done on vehicles that transport people with mobility effected challenges. *ak | |||
| POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE | |||
| 11/01/2006 | 89000 | 1 | 05/01/2002 |
| A knocking sound has appeared again in the front suspension. about 18 months ago, a similar symptom appeared. after repeated repairs (tie-rod ends, for example), the dealer finally discovered that the front left cv 1/2 axle was defective. replacement cured the problem. apparently the same problem now happening again. a knocking sound is apparent during low speed travel on a street with slight variations. this seems to be slow enough to hear it. there is also a knock when deliberately swinging the steering wheel from side to side. i will continue to pursue remedying this repeated problem with my 2002 town and country minivan. *nm | |||