Any experience with 2011 Town and Country?
I test drove a 2011 Town and Country yesterday and loved it. However before taking the plunge I'd love to hear from those who already bought about their experiences. Please let me know if there is anything I should specifically check out before taking delivery.
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The 2011 has a new engine and now a six speed transmission. This greatly improves the performance of the van. Engine is very quiet and smooth. It is the new Penstar 6 found in many other new Chrysler models.
The suspension has also been improved for a better ride and handling.
The van has a better feel and is very stable on the road.
New tech safety features, such as left lane warning, rear cross path detection, automatic high beam headlamps are great. Please note that many dealers are ordering their T&C's with these features deleted on the Touring L. This deletion shows on the sticker as minus $1,100 and lowers the final price by that much. At first you might think that you are getting these options free as was the case with previous Walter P editions. Don't buy or lease the new T&C without these high tech safety items. I am told that dealers are doing this to lower the sticker price. Some are doing this and then adding other less important options.
You should also consider the Driver Convenience Group that includes several useful options including 2nd row heated seats.
If you haven't driven the new 2011 T&C, I suggest that you do.
I will report that after two weeks of driving my 2011 T&C I find it to be the best one that I have had. This is my fourth T&C. I upgraded from the 2008.
I love the new transmission, engine and handling. I am also impressed with the safety features such as detecting a vehicle either in your right or left lane. I also find the cross path protection to be very good. This is much improved over the rear sensors found on many other cars. Mileage also seems to be better with the new engine. The fit and finish is outstanding , both interior and exterior. The new instrument panel are shifter are much improved. They have also improved the "stow and go" second seats with improved head rests that fold down. All in all a great van that incorporates many new features that you won't find on the Honda or Toyota at that price.
I found it difficult to find one with just the options that I wanted. As I said in a previous post, do not get this van with the Safety Tech items deleted.
Many dealers are doing this and it shows up on the window sticker as a minus $1,100. All of the Touring L's come with the tech items standard unless the dealer deletes them. I would also recommend getting the customer preference group. Well worth the money. You can do an inventory search of dealers in your area, by going on Chrysler's website. This may not be current or as good as the dealers search is, but at least you get an idea of what might be out there.
A few weeks later, when using the remote starting feature, the vehicle started with a chugging sound which diminished after a few seconds. That day, the check engine light came on again and the vehicle was running very sluggish, so we took it to the dealership for repair. We were told that there wasn't any code setting, but they called Chrysler to be told that there could be moisture in some fitting that should be greased to dry it out.
A few days later, the check engine light came on again, and this time we were told that the CAM Sensor was faulty and it was replaced.
A week later on a Sunday, when the remote start was used, twice it started and then stalled. It was started with the key, and a few miles down the road, the check engine light came on again and it started running sluggish again. The next morning (Monday) it was taken back to the dealership for the 3rd time. When it was first started that morning and driven for about 10 miles it was running fine. It was shut off and restarted and the check engine light came on and it was sluggish again. It was shut off and restarted and the light was out and it ran fine.
That day, dealership called to tell us that there isn't any code setting and they can't recreate the problem. They asked us if they could drive it, so one of the techs has been driving it back and forth to work. This morning we called for a status and were told that on the way home last night, it made a funny sound for a few seconds, but no code was set and the check engine light didn't come on.
Needless to say, we are beside ourselves over all of this. It's bad enough that this is our only vehicle, but the rental cars that we have been given in absentia have been substandard in lieu of all of the features that we so enjoy in the van.
Has anyone had any experience of this nature with their 2011 Town & Country?
Oh, the car has had 4 radios too.
Long story but the service manager is a [non-permissible content removed] too. Wolfchase in Memphis if you are interested.
I am selling it as soon as I can.
Good luck.
Is anyone haveing problems with the media center? It is difficult to work with your MP3 files and also I do not think the auto adjustment on the screen (night/day) works.
We took our van back to the dealership again today because the noise that it makes when first started is getting more frequent and louder. It sounds like a piston or valve problem, and then exceleration is very slow and he check engine light comes on.
The last time the dealership kept our van for a week and one of their service people drove it back and forth to work, about 70 miles round trip, for 4 days, without being able to recreate the problem We gave it to them with a full tank, but they it back to us with an empty tank!!!
The rental cars have all been okay, but we purchased a van to have the capacity to carry more than 4 or 5 people at a time.
I agree that the car is not safe, and it certainly isn't reliable, considering it has less than 6,000 miles!!!
Would you please let us know the outcome of your experience and I'll do the same?
Thanks again!
I just bought a Chrysler Town & Country a week ago. At less than 300 miles, our check engine light came on. About 15 minutes after that, the engine stalled at a red light. Decided to take it to the dealer immediately and on the way there the RPMS were in the 4000 range without me pressing the gas at all while doing 40 miles an hour. Very scary. Very sluggish acceleration after any stop. I'm waiting for the dealer to call me back to see what they have to say about it.
Since we drove it off the lot less than a week ago, and we only put 50 miles on it before the problems, should I ask for a different vehicle? I don't trust this one any more. I love the van, but the engine seems to have very bad problems...
Any advice?
A few weeks later, when using the remote starting feature, the vehicle started with a chugging sound which diminished after a few seconds. That day, the check engine light came on again and the vehicle was running very sluggish, so we took it to the dealership for repair. We were told that there wasn't any code setting, but they called Chrysler to be told that there could be moisture in some fitting that should be greased to dry it out.
A few days later, the check engine light came on again, and this time we were told that the CAM Sensor was faulty and it was replaced.
A week later on a Sunday, when the remote start was used, twice it started and then stalled. It was started with the key, and a few miles down the road, the check engine light came on again and it started running sluggish again. The next morning (Monday) it was taken back to the dealership for the 3rd time. When it was first started that morning and driven for about 10 miles it was running fine. It was shut off and restarted and the check engine light came on and it was sluggish again. It was shut off and restarted and the light was out and it ran fine.
That day, dealership called to tell us that there isn't any code setting and they can't recreate the problem. They asked us if they could drive it, so one of the techs has been driving it back and forth to work. This morning we called for a status and were told that on the way home last night, it made a funny sound for a few seconds, but no code was set and the check engine light didn't come on.
Then we werer told by the dealership that Chrysler have them an update to install that would eliminate the stalling problem that was happening when started remotely, and that a part had been ordered that would fix the engine noise/light problem, but in the meantime, we should pick up the van and it would be safe.
Now it sometimes makes funny engine noise when started and it sometimes stalls when remotely started, but the acceleration doesn't decrease. SOMETIMES is the magic word.
We asked Chrysler to arrange for the van to be checked at a different dealership in a different town, and they said they would, but that was over a week ago and we haven't heard another word from them. I left a message for the Supervisor at Chrysler who was to make the arrangements, but he has not returned our calls, so we are in a quandry about what the next steps should be.
My advice is, if you only have 300 miles on it, take it back and stay away from another 2011 Town & Country van............. :sick:
i'm thinking about getting the Dodge Caravan. and wondering if the bad experiences were with the caravans that were manufactured in Canada or Mexico?
just wondering if there's a difference.. or if i should switch back to the Sienna.
thank you
thanks
First noticed this shuttering or rough idle issue with my van - the day we bought it. At the time - assumed it was a simple to repair cold start issue.
But - over the past 3 months - I have discovered this cold start - rough idle is really a continuous shuttering at 1200 to 1400 RPM - exhibited both cold and hot. It's a little hard to hold the engine RPMS with the accelerator pedal - but possible. And this shuttering does occur when driving - but is not readily apparent as when in neutral or park - w/o the road vibrations.
Three trips to the dealer - including the last 2 with the regional service manager directly involved - and still no resolution, nor even the understanding Chrysler recognizes there is a problem and are working to resolve the problem.
While readily apparent... the "party line" response I have been given is - they (3.6L Pentastar - Chrysler & Dodge Vans) all exhibit this trait and it is "normal" characteristic.
Is any one else having this issue?
Have you had any luck resolving your issue?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Michelle
To quote Chrysler " Certain drivetrain combinations may experience a condition where at low vehicle speeds, the transmission fluid flowing from the impeller to the stator can be momentarily interrupted. This interruption causes torque to be briefly interrupted causing the perceived shudder. Once the vehicle moves above 2-3 mph, the shudder gradually disappears as the torque interruptions become less noticeable. Unfortunately there is no repair for this issue and is a common characteristic of most torque converters under high slip/low speed conditions but is most noticeable on these specific applications due to the low reverse gear ratio. If you compare to another similar vehicle, you'll most likely have the same condition." So our Chrysler dealer refuses to do anything about this and our "shudder" is in "forward" not "reverse"
like they claim. We are not letting this drop. We are going to pursue every avenue we can starting with contacting Doug Betts who is the VP of Quality and Consumer Satisfaction. Good luck with you decision and if you happened to have bought on already I would be curious to see if you have this problem.
My advice to all my family and friends, do NOT BUY CHRYSLER.
When you pay extra dollars for a new car you expect it to perform.
I have never ever had these problems with Japanese cars.
:lemon: :lemon:
http://www.odyclub.com/forums/54-2011-odyssey/151932-odyssey-touring-transmissio- n-issues.html
http://www.odyclub.com/forums/54-2011-odyssey/150081-hard-shifting.html
It is sort of leaving me with the Sienna which was my least favorite of the three.
We have had our 2011 T & C Touring Van for a year, and it took 6 months to finally get it fixed correctly. It was in and out of the dealership so many times and there was so much hate & discontent with their service department that we ended up going to another Chrysler dealership in a different town. Our big issue ended up being the "Phasers". The service manager at the Chrysler dealership in Lakeland, Florida, finally did the leg work needed to get to the bottom of the problem.
I started by calling Chrysler's Customer Service line (1-800-763-8422) and harassed every rep, and their manager, and their manager, and their manager, etc., until they were sick of me, and finally referred me to a number in Michigan (1-866-275-1420) because we are "special" customers, having had a 2008 T & C Touring Van before this one that we traded with only 40,000 miles, for the 2011 model. Those folks in Michigan sat up and took notice, and it was finally repaired. They even made a full month's bank payment for us! :mad: