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Chrysler Town and Country EX/LX/LXi/Limited
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Comments
We will correct the problem on future vehicles because we know it will hurt sales. However, we will not correct the problem on the vehicles we have already produced because we care more about profits than the safety of our customers!
To those of you who bought the vans after the repairs, I say what else is Chrysler trying to cover-up? The faulty door locks that allow you to be ejected from the vans in a crash. The seat belts that do not hold in a crash! What else do they know?
To future buyers, how will Chrysler treat you on safety issues that may arise in the future. They have proven to you that once they have your money, you are on your own.
A large percentage of buyers for this vehicle consult the internet for information. If you own a Chrysler Van and are un-happy with the way Chrysler is dealing with this "Death Trap Issue", Post it here and let them know that they will live with the wrath until something is done. They have shown that money counts so show them they are correct. Tell all your friends who like your van about how Chrysler is treating you and your family.
Let it be known that you are not as stupid and defensless as they thing you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TIA
Pete
I drive a 2000 Chrysler Town & Country LX and love it. I know two friends who have gotten into accidents in their 96-00 DC minivans, both accidents were minor. Both friends said their vans held up admirably in the crash and they did not suffer from any back/neck injuries.
gatagonow, when was the last time you heard about a DC minivan exploding after a crash due to a fuel leak? I sure haven't heard any stories about that. Out of all of the 2001 DC minivans that are on the road some are bound to get into serious accidents, some even worse than the simulated crash test. None of these vans has suffered from a fatal or serious or even an uncomon gas leak after the crash.
-Adam
I am very happy with the van now that I have it.
It is a 2001 T&C LX. Here's my story...
Wednesday July 25th
I went to the Walser Dealership in Burnsville, MN. After dealing with a salesman who didn't know much, I decided to buy a '01 with 6,000 miles on it (a demo).
There were some light scratches on it that they told me they would buff out.
They needed to wash it as well as vacuum it out before I picked it up.
I already hate these guys
Thursday July 26th
My wife and I go to pick it up on Thursday night, (we are leaving on vacation Friday morning)
The lot kid has backed it into something and the bumper is all scratched.
The wheel cover is dented
The floor mats are missing
So, of course they don't mention it to us, until my wife notices it and they do the mad scramble to "figure out" what happened. The Sales Manager comes over and asks how we like the car. We tell him we are not going to but it now, and he gets the salesman out and starts yelling at him in front of us. When I tell him that the car has not been cleaned or buffed, he gets the lot boy out and starts yelling at him as well.
The sales manager is very concerned that we give him a five star rating or something to that effect. I just laugh.
Well we get it all written up on what they are going to fix (the front bumper needed to be replace as well - something I didn't notice when I test drove it, but they were not going to mention it until we spotted it.)
So it's getting late and I tell them we are going to eat and to get the van ready as we are taking it out of town tomorrow. They buy us a $35.00 dinner for our trouble and throw an oil change in as well. (oh boy!!!)
Tuesday July 31st
I Take it on vacation (really like the van) and drop it off to be fixed.
They give me a 1996 MAZDA MPV. (Piece of $hit)I take it back to them, and tell them to give me something else, cause my van isn't ready and we are going out of town again.
They give us a 2000 Mazda 626 (nice car).
Friday my wife drives it to work and the check engine light comes on... Call the dealer tell them to bring a new car to her work, Nope she can come down and get a new on.
I say she is 22 weeks pregnant and will not be driving to the dealership.
They deliver a 1998 Mazda 626. (ok car, still a steaming pile)
Tuesday – August 7th
They want me to pick up the van at 8:00 pm (in the dark??? no way)
Wednesday – August 8th
The Plates are on the van
The mats are in it
The wheel cover is replaced.
They still haven't buffed it, and now one of the air vents is broken.
So they order the vent and buff it out. ( I really hate these guys)
They are a 5 star dealer and I tell the salesman he better get a screwdriver out and pry about 4 of those stars off the building.
Saturday – August 11th
Salesman calls me and tells me the part will be in on Monday.
He tells me when I bring in the van he will rotate the tires for free.
The Manager wants to talk to me.
Manager calls me, he wants to find out what they can do better and where they messed up.
He offers me a year of free service (4 oil changes) no thanks
He offers me a free dinner for my trouble, I tell him I just want my van fixed.
I call the manager about an hour later and tell him, to make it up to me I want the new gas tank thingamabob that I read about on this board....He agrees.
I take it in this week for the fix.
I hate these guys.
IIHS did three tests. Two of the tests were done on the 2001 vehicles. The fuel plange leaked during the second of these two tests. This caused IIHS to look more closely at the first test, where they discovered that the fuel plange was cracked. While it did not leak, the part was cracked. Only in the third test, a 2002 model with the redesigned part, did the fuel plange remain intact. So by my count, we only have all of the information available for two tests. In both of the tests the fuel plange was broken (100% failure rate), and in one of the tests, the fuel leaked (50% failure rate). While I am sure that the rate of failure would be much smaller than this (in fact, it probably is a very isolated event), the 2001 Chrysler/Dodge minivan's have been on the road for less than 1 year. If a vehicle had been involved in a crash that involved gasoline leakage and an injury, we may not have heard of it. Lawyers often get a gag order on cases that are pending, or settle cases early to avoid publicity. There simply is not enough time that has gone past for us to make a fully informed decision of the safety of the 2001 D/C minivans.
That being said, when it comes to the health of my 22 month old daughter, nothing is worth the risk. Any of you who say that the risk is small, all I have to say is that any unneeded risk is too much. I had bought the 2001 Chrysler Town & Country Lxi. Luckily, I found a dealer who had a 30 day money back/no questions asked policy. I took advantage of that policy. I do think that the D/C vehicles drive better, look better, have nice amenities, etc., but my daughter is my #1 concern. She is alot better than comfortable seats, climate control, etc.
As for you pessimists who think that I am over-reacting, look more closely into Chrysler's responses into safety concerns. In 1998, after years of fighting a recall of their safety belts on the Cirrus and Stratus, a US District court judge ordered a recall, resulting in 91,000 cars being recalled. When it comes to minivans, D/C's recall performance has also been abysmal. Remember the rear lift gates and the transmissions that shifted into drive without a foot on the brake? Both took years of lawsuits and news stories before they were corrected.
I thought that the DaimlerBenz folks would "right the ship", but it seems as if it is business as usual at Dodge/Chrysler.
My daughter and wife will be much safer (both according to IIHS and the NHTSA tests) in a Honda or a Toyota. I know where my money is going. -- For the safety of my family.
Don't believe me, see the links below.
www.freep.com /business/qcirrus5.htm
www.autopedia.com /html/Recall_Chrysler032198.html
www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ ce/html/0102.htm
www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ ce/cecompoutc.asp
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/hot/ rollover/rollover20010620.pdf
Note: remove spaces in the URLs listed above (1 per entry). Edmunds won't let you post words with more than 100 characters. I had to add a space to fit within this constraint
http://www.car-safety.org/minivan.html
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
I too belive the DC minivans drive and look better as well as have more helpfull amenities than any of the competition, including the imaculate Honda Odyssey. Im assuming you were enjoying your 2001 Town & Country before you heard the news about the crash test. If the fuel problem is the only thing that is making you not want to drive the van any longer, why don't you try trading or exchanging our current van for a late-model 2001 Town & Country with the modified fuel part? You could also wait a few weeks (possibily even days) to get into a 2002 DC minivan.
The 2002 Chrysler Town & Country is a safe vehicle and does have the modified fuel part. In addition, it also has the side airbags to achieve the higher crash test rating. The late model 2001Town & Countrys also has safety features that not even the Odyssey has like 4 wheel ABS disc brakes (2001), automatic locking doors above 16mph, and door/hatch obstacle detection system.
Whatever you do, it's important to feel safe while driving your vehicle. Especially when you have young children. I know I feel safe in my 2000 Town & Country LX and I still would if mine were an early-model 2001 LX
-Adam
TIA
Pete
Pete
What will they tell new owners when the next safety issue comes up, my guess is the same thing they are telling us now "go to H". They are even rude when you call them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go elsewhere where you might be apprieciated.
Has anyone have any success in getting their dealership to repair or upgrade the cracked fuel planges or fuel tanks?
Thanks.
Although we hated the European JUNK, our 99 GC SE has been perfect. It is possible to get a bad vehicle in any brand and like us, many people are completely satisfied with DaimlerChrysler minivans.
Part II
So the dealer agrees to set me up with the new flange (or whatever) that is on the '02 van.
He calls me today and tells me that DC has told him that the current piece in production will not fit on the '01 model. He says if their is a recall DC will have to manufacture a retro fit flange piece for the '01.
I think he is feeding me a company line... Thoughts?
He did offer to throw in keyless entry. (so I got that going for me, which is nice.)
All in all, the Manager was very courteous, and did try to make me feel better about the whole experience.
Don't know about a retrofit option, as something not crash tested might not suffice; might as well just epoxy the old flange instead. Now there's an idea.
I had to take the van in for an oil change anyway so I asked them to check out the water dripping. They said that it dripped because of the large amount of condensation from the AC and the fact that we were driving at higher speeds. They said that they installed a hose that will direct the water down and not let it blow backwards... Haven't been out much since then but will let you know if it does not work.
Thanks again!
web site should be up in about 2 months (www.cannonbailey.com)
Suede - It has held up great 13,000 miles later
Clock Spring - recently replaced and cured my erractic airbag light illumination
Tailgate beep - the fix that was posted here works perfectly and took about 23 minutes.
Smooth saliing so far.
TIA
Pete
also the leaking fuel flange,are retrofits being made to the 2001 models to cirrect this,or only on the 2002 model.
Anyway, To get the seats I prefer I seem to be limited to models which have lots of options I don't want like a power sliding door etc. Has anyone bought a van with the bench seat and added the buckets themselves?
I have read great things about the Alpine DVD system similar to the ones offered in the Honda/Acura vehicles.
My questions are:
Does anyone have the Mopar system or know anything about it?
Has anyone installed an after market system such as the Alpine, in either a LXI or Limited van?
If so what is the best way to order the vehicle's audio system?
I assume the navigation system is part of the audio and therefore don't want to waste money on stereo components that will end up being removed.
My husband feels we would be better of with A garmin hand held or similar type system. I would much prefer one that provides voice directions and was intergrated into the van.
Any suggestions?
"THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL
NEW 2002 CARAVAN
$19,900 MSRP - 5000 DISCOUNT $14,989 Labor Day Sale
If a Dodge dealer is offering this type discount, it is highly probably Chrysler dealers will have similar discounts on Voyager and Town & Country.
Have you read about the NEW 2002 T&C EL model for $24,330? Here is a link to Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/2001/autos/0108/28/c01-279918.htm
I have to agree that the '01 Ltd w/ tow package could have a better ride, althought he handling is excellent. I think the real culprit is the lack of an independent rear suspension. I notice that the front of the car does fine on bumps, but the rear axle really transmits the bumps to the rest of the car.
Also, does any one know when the 2001's ended production? We would consider a 2001 that had the new fuel flange which supposedly was corrected in mid-July. Any information would be appreciated.
Not much activity on this board lately?