-June 2024 Special Lease Deals-
2024 Chevy Blazer EV lease from Bayway Auto Group Click here
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee lease from Mark Dodge Click here
2025 Ram 1500 Factory Order Discounts from Mark Dodge Click here
2024 Chevy Blazer EV lease from Bayway Auto Group Click here
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee lease from Mark Dodge Click here
2025 Ram 1500 Factory Order Discounts from Mark Dodge Click here
Options
Chrysler Town and Country EX/LX/LXi/Limited
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
>I love the Town & Country, but wish it had a
>power sliding door. Does anyone know if
>Chrysler intends to incorporate that into a
>2000 model?
Dunno, I haven't heard one way or the other...
- Grego
Road Test: 1999 Chrysler Town & Country Limited AWD
KarenS/Vans Host
2001 redesign? What do you know about that? Any links to further info?
BTW, our T&C 1999 AWD LXi is a real joy. The dealer has been excellent in terms of service, prep, and price and the vehicle seems very solid at 20K miles.
hold back a new T&C '98 LX at present (5/99) would
be $21,800 excluding destination. Is this possible
and do any dealers actually still have them? If
you know, could you please respond to my email as
well? Thanks, mrfinagle@excite.com
Owned for 114 days, it was towed on a flat bed truck to the dealer in the first 17 hours of ownership and then again less than 24 hours later. After 35 days of owning the vehicle, we requested a new vehicle from the dealer. (See below for the repair list of why we requested a new car!)
In the 114 days of ownership, the car has been available for us to drive it 30 days (26% availability); has been at the dealers' for repair 36 days(31.6%); has spent 13 days (11.4% of the time) at the dealer, alignment and tire specialists, body shops, test driven, etc. to understand and resolve why the vehicle shakes itself of of the road at all speeds and has the other serious problems listed below. The remaining 35 days (30.7% of the time) the car has not been driven because we were traveling by plane on business or fearful of taking it to the mountains on weekends. Thus, 43% of the time we've owned this car, we've spent having it or trying to have it repaired.
Worse yet, we purchased an identical 1999 AWD Town & Country Limited six (6) weeks prior to purchasing this car. Like our other 5 Chrysler automobiles before it (two (2) of which were AWD vehicles), our first 1999 AWD Town & Country vehicle appears to be fine. We thought we would get the same quality in the our second AWD Limited, but not so. After being loyal Chrysler purchasers for the last ten years, Chrysler's failure to give us a new vehicle, when they've been unable to make this car operate like its advertisements say and like the other 1999 AWD Limited that we own, raises serious questions about Chrysler "top end" products, the company's valuing of customers, and their willingness to stand behind their products, when they are so clearly inferior in performance to any car we've ever owned.
Since 17 hours after taking delivery on our second 1999 AWD Town & Country Limited, we've had the following problems and service history: (1) malfunctions in the driver's memory seat, which jammed us against the ceiling, windshield, dash and steering wheel or alternatively threw us into a reclining position in the back seat; (2) continual severe vibration throughout the car and a continued severe "pulling to the right", even though the alignment was originally virtually "right on" the manufacturer's specifications; (3) replacement of the rear differential, drive shaft, and power take off unit (within the first 32 days)to try to resolve the vibration and drone in the vehicle; (4) repositioning of the exhaust to try to correct the continued vibration and noise problems; (5) dealer's inability to resolve a variable intensity harmonic tone which comes from the rear of the car at speeds of 15 mph to 38+mph and which appears to be related to the general vibration throughout the car; (6) testing, without success, five (5) different sets of tires and/or wheels on the vehicle to remove the vibration and pulling; (7)inability to resolve (and denial by Chrysler that it exists ... because the on-board computer shows "nothing") an engine power degradation, which occurs after driving the car at sustained high speed driving for more than 2+ hours in cold weather.
After two different dealers said there is "no reduction in the vibration" when different tires and wheels are placed on the car, Chrysler's Zone Representative now gives the car for the FOURTH TIME a "clean bill of health." This is after the alignment specifications (which were nearly perfect at the time of purchase) have been modified in 13 of 15 specifications. We were told a week ago by an alignment specialist, that the car was aligned nearly perfectly from the factory, and that we should not have any adjustments made to the alignment by the dealer, that the "problem pulling to the right" and vibration were being cause by "drive unit pull", not by alignment. In March the dealer's service representative also confirmed the pulling to the right was being caused by "torque pull," another name for "drive unit pull," and that if a car has "torque pull" it is very difficult, usually impossible to fix. The dealer told us that he wants us to drive the car, but that in honesty, the vibration is still in the car, and that the car will ONLY go straight, if on a completely flat road (i.e., no crown, otherwise the car will pull itself off the road).
If anyone has experience with these particular problems in 1999 AWD Chrysler Town & Country Limited Minivans, we would appreciate hearing from you. This process has been extremely time consuming and costly. We've now exceeded the number of days necessary to take this through our state's recovery process, since Chrysler has been unwilling to resolve this.
>consuming and costly
Get a lawyer involved (if you haven't already).
Take a look at http://www.allpar.com/trouble.html
there may be some advise that helps...
>we purchased an identical 1999 AWD Town
>& Country Limited six (6) weeks prior to
>purchasing this car. Like our other 5 Chrysler
>automobiles before it (two (2) of which were AWD
>vehicles), our first 1999 AWD Town & Country
>vehicle appears to be fine
2 T & C Ltd. AWDs? $$$$$$! 8)
- Grego ('99 T&C Ltd. AWD, non-lemon)
I am sorry to hear that you are having so much problems with your T&C. I think "gmarquez" is right about getting lawyer involved. I hope you can get some results. I just want to say I had 99 T&C limited for a 11 months (7,000 miles) and so far so good. I am happy with my T&C. Too early to tell yet but I did get extended warrenty on it.
disneydarby -
You should definitely get some legal aid at this point. You should be protected by state lemon laws.
When my so-called 5-star dealer botched some repairs on my T&C recently, I climbed the corporate ladder in Michigan and got to the Executive in charge of customer service. Left messages, notes, even letters for him and for the chairman.
Guess what? The head of customer service does NOT speak to customers! No wonder Chrysler was acquired by a far better customer oriented company like Daimler. Pathetic management that is NOT IN TOUCH with its customer.
On top of that, I own two other German vehicles where customer service is tops, and they talk to you. From the top of the company to the bottom of the dealership - they really want to know the customer.
Chrysler should wake up and stop living in the 60's - this ain't your father's Chrysler.
Bottom line - they expect the dealer to be the ONLY contact with the customer. Pathetic, simply pathetic.
It turned out to be a problem with the ABS control module, which my dealer replaced. They said they had never seen this problem before.
At least I can say I appreciate the free, equivalent loaner that my dealer gave me for the entire time my minivan was in the shop. And the professionalism in general from both the sales and service staff.
I'm the kind of guy that likes to buy a new car every 20 years and keep them maintained well, without major problems. Also, we have a son who races Opti's, a 7.5' sailboat. How much room is in the backend, with the back door closed tightly?
Thanks for your help. If you don't mind, please post your answers here and Email them to me at rar@cyberhighway.net, in case I have trouble getting back in here!
All the best,
ROGER
The Surburban is probably safer since it is a heck of a lot larger in every dimension compared to the T&C. It's also a lot heavier. Well, I have 2 T&C AWDs ('95 & '98 LXi), so I must vote for the Chrysler - get the AWD, the rear disc brakes are worth that alone. Not only are they easier to handle, but a lot more comfortable too. The Surburban is basically based on a 10 year old pickup truck chassis which finally receives its update for the 2000 model year.
The only negative side to my minivans is the less than stellar fuel economy. Since I am a little bit of a lead foot and a lot of my driving is uphill and down (800 feet above sea level up/down to my house and 1200 feet where I work). Therefore, the average fuel economy on a tank of gas usually is about 15mpg of the '95 - Range, about 289km/tank. It's a little less for the '98 at about 14.5mpg.
Hope this helps! Let us know what you decide on.
They finally replaced the plate and pulleys and showed me a technical bulletin from Chrysler they got on 2 July that says serpentine belts are a problem on these models and it tends to happen during rain or snow. All three times it was raining when mine failed. I had to call roadside assistance and be towed.
Needlsee to say I have been very disapoiinted. Next step is the GA lemon law if the repair isn't good this time.
I am now considering changing vans...but can't get a line on a Honda Odyssey for 3 months. If any of the new owners who have used this site log on...I'd like an update on the reliability of the 1999 T&C Limited AWD or LX. What I've read this evening makes me want to go for the Lexus RX300 immediately.
1) T&C has more cargo space than the Sienna
2) Sienna lack of availability
3) $1400 under invoice for the T&C
4) Had negative experiences with local Toyota salespeople and we liked the Chrysler dealership - small mom and pop operation, personalized treatment, etc.
5) Let's face it, T&C feels like a million bucks driving down the road. The Sienna felt nice but, well, it's a little more spartan in terms of fit and finish.
So my wife won out - by a hair.
The question is not so much "do we get an extended warranty." All of your posts have convinced me that we need one. The question is, do you have to get it through the dealer and why? My father purchased an extended warranty for his Oldsmobile through AAA. You don't have to purchase the AAA extended warranty right away and you can take your car to any mechanic, not just the dealership.
Does anybody have an opinion one way or the other as to the best bet? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Extended Warranties
guitarzan, Community Leader of Vans
I bought this van when the Chrysler had the only available 4th door, and paid sticker - over $30K total. So to all of you getting new Limiteds for that price - it's a great deal!
Please respond
I admit - I would have bought an Odyssey (that folding back seat is really nice - the T&C back seat weighs a ton!) or a Sienna (we own one at work and it's been wonderful - great motor, but floaty in handling) but this T&C L is really nice.
While I preferred the Sienna, the 99's were becoming impossible to get, the 2000's were back-ordered, and it was a pain even trying to find one to test-drive! That, plus the dealers were not really moving at all on price. So finally I succumbed and bought a '99 T&C Limited, Silver (which is a newer color and really nice!), for less than 30k (about $1400 below dealer invoice).
We will get an extended warranty (probably from AAA) at some point to protect against having to shovel $$$ into this car and we will also probably sell it after 3 or 4 years rather than hold onto it past 40,000 miles or so.
btw - both my wife and I love the new van so far. No problems thus far and from what I can tell, Chrysler has improved this product immensely, at least in terms of feature/functionality. I can't believe we ever lived without driver-side sliders! But then again, we've only just passed 2k miles on the odometer...
Good luck with your decision!
guitarzan
Community Leader/Vans Conference
much better deal than I could have on a 1999 close-out model (well under invoice). As soon as
I drove it off the car lot I made a tight U-turn
and heard the screeching sound mentioned by others
in this forum. It sounded to me like I didn't
have any power steering fluid at all. A quick
check showed that I did have fluid but it was a
white, milky color and quite sticky! When I took
it to the dealership and opened the fluid resevoir I was greeted by a volcanic explosion of fluid. They didn't know what it was but it was NOT power steering fluid since it had such a low boiling point and wrong consistency. They drained the fluid and had me going in 2 hours. I have not had any problems since then and have really enjoyed the driving and handling of this new model.
Also can someone please tell me that the T&C's problems have been rectified and that it is now a more reliable vehicle.
Thanks in advance for any info.
I purchased one 2 weeks ago; I don't know that I got a special "deal" but it's a fantastic car!!!
Automotive Safety Information
guitarzan
Community Leader/Vans Conference
Wheel cylinders and belt was covered under warranty, but ai had to pay for the rotors.
Love the style and comfort of my Limited, but as wondering about the workmanship of the parts that make it go!!
Brake parts are smaller and lighter on almost every vehicle, especially compared to 10 years ago. From my experience with Acura to your Chrysler minivan, the brakes are smaller to save weight, and I wouldn't consider them poor quality even from only 15k miles use.
guitarzan
Community Leader/Vans Conference