2001 Chrysler Town & Country Powertrain & Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN UNKNOWN FAILURE ON THE POWER TRAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

MY WIFE WAS KILLED WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT ENGAGED WHILE SHE WAS PUTTING GROCERIES IN THE BACK OF HER VAN IN THE STORES PARKING LOT. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES. FLORIDA STATE HIGH PATROL AT THE SCENE PIECED TOGETHER THE LIKELY EVENTS. WHEN THE CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD, SHE MAY HAVE REACHED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO STOP IT. THE DOOR MAY HAVE KNOCKED HER UNDER THE CAR, KILLING HER INSTANTLY. THIS WAS REPORTED TO CHRYSLER IN 2014. I RAISE IT AGAIN BECAUSE OF RECENT PROBLEMS WITH GEAR SHIFTS IN LATER CHRYSLER MODELS. ... UPDATED 08/23/16 *BF *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD ROARING SOUND EMITTED JUST PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMP FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PCM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PCM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE PCM WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PCM WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PCM WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

68 MPH ON HIGHWAY- RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC- LOUD NOISE- VAN JUST STOPPED. NO LIGHTS, WARNING, ETC. TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THANKFULLY THE KID BEHIND ME SWERVED WELL. BRUISES FROM SEATBELT & FACE TO KNUCKLES DUE TO SUDDEN STOP- CHYRSLER & NHTSA KNOW ALL ABOUT THE 41TE DEFECTIVE TRANNYS- ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE OR MANY DIE? 2ND TRANNY TO FAIL IN SAME MANNER. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND WHEN I WENT TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN MY TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND THE CAR STALLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE IS IN SAFE MODE AND IS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. I HAVE HEARD ALOT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WAS WONDERING ABOUT A RECALL THAT WOULD RELATE TO THE ISSUE. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT BADLY. *TR

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 80,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO A CHRYSLER DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SHOWING A CONVERTER CLUTCH MALFUNCTION IN THE TRANSMISSION. WELL THIS ENDED UP CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE I COULD GET IT REPLACED. MY CAR IS STILL IN NEW CONDITION TO I DO NOT KNOW HOW THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO MR TRANSMISSION SINCE IT LOCKED UP AND THEY SAID IT IS ABOUT $3,00 WORTH OF REPAIRS IN THE TRANSMISSION. WE WERE TOLD THE SOLENOID PACK IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

MY 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY SUFFERED A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2001 AND THOUGHT I WAS BUYING THE BEST MINI-VAN FOR THE MONEY. HOWEVER, I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED, POWER SLIDING DOOR HAS FAILED 3 TIMES, POWER LIFT GATE FAILED, AIR BAGS CAUSED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON ( REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY). ALL OF THESE WERE MINOR IN COMPARISON TO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH COST ME $3078 TO HAVE REBUILT. I'VE FOUND TOO MANY INSTANCES OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THE INTERNET, I QUESTION WHY CHRYSLER HASN'T BEEN CALLED OUT ON THIS BY THE NHTSA. CHRYSLER KNOWS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THEIR VEHICLES AND CONTINUES TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IN THE FUTURE I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

TWO CASES OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AT 41,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 80,000 MILES (APPROXIMATE) REQUIRING EXTENSIVE COST TO REPAIR, AND TOWING COST, RENTAL CAR COST FOR 6 DAYS. *TR

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN, I NOTICED THAT THE RPMS WERE AT 4000 AND THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T SHIFTING. MY HUSBAND PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND IT SAID IT WAS THE TCM FAILURE THIS IS A DEALER ONLY PART AT 336.00 WITH A 125.00 CORE CHARGE AND THEN IT HAS TO BE PROGRAMMED BY THE DEALER. AT A COST OF 45.00 IF YOU GET THE PART AND INSTALL YOURSELF . IF THE DEALER DOES IT, IT RUNS BETWEEN 700 AND 800 DOLLARS. WE FOUND A PARTS PLACE THAT SEND THEM OUT TO BE REBUILT FOR 255.00 PLUS SHIPPING AND HANDLING . WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR INFO ON THIS PART THERE WAS HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS COMPONENT IS LOCATED IN THE DRIVERSIDE WHEEL WELL AND WHEN MY HUSBAND REMOVED IT, IT WAS VERY CORRODED WITH RUST. *TR

MY 2001 T&C WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I DECIDED TO CRANK IT TO GE THE AIR CONDITIONING GOING WHILE I WENT TO SHUT THE GATE TO OUR YARD. WHEN I TURNED AROUND THE CAR WAS GOING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR STILL OPEN. THE VAN DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT RAN OVER THE NEIGHBOR'S FENCE AND GOT CAUGHT IN IT. WHEN I GOT TO THE CAR I NOTICED IT WAS IN REVERSE (HAD IT BEEN IN NEUTRAL IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE MOVED BECAUSE THE AREA IS SO FLAT). I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT INTO REVERSE BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN GET IN THE CAR, JUST MY ARM TO CRANK IT. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WASN'T ON SINCE IT WAS SUCH A FLAT PLACE. ONCE I GOT THE VAN LOOSE I TRIED IN VAIN TO SEE IF IT WOULD GO INTO REVERSE WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, BUT I COULDN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN SO THAT TELLS ME I DIDN'T ACCIDENTALLY CAUSE IT BY HITTING THE GEAR SHAFT WITH MY ARM. I ALSO TRIED REPEATEDLY TO TURN THE CAR OFF WITH IT IN GEAR (OF ALL KINDS) TO SEE IF IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT I HAD NOT LEFT IT IN PARK, BUT AGAIN I COULDN'T DO IT. THIS TELLS ME IT IS A VEHICLE DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND ALL I WAS TOLD WAS THAT THEY HADN'T HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THEY DIDN'T EVEN SUGGEST THAT I BRING IT IN! I'M VERY NERVOUS ABOUT MY VAN NOW BECAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. THANK GOD MY KIDS WEREN'T IN THE CAR AND THERE WASN'T ANYONE PLAYING BEHIND IT OR IN THE YARD TO WHICH IT CRASHED. THIS COULD'VE BEEN DISASTROUS. IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. MY VAN ONLY HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. WE BOUGHT IT NEW IN NOV. 2001. *JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. SHE IMMEDIATELY DROVE HOME CANCELLING THE APPOINTMENT SHE HAD, I TOOK CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE PLACED THE CAR ON HIS COMPUTER AND A CODE RELATED TO A TRANSMISSION SOLENOID CAME UP. HE SAID THE CAR WAS IN "LIMP MODE". THIS IS SOMETHING UNIQUE TO CHRYSLER TRANSMISSIONS.(CAR CAN GO INTO 2ND GEAR ONLY) HE CLEARED THE CODE AND SUGGESTED TO SEE IF LIGHT CAME BACK. IT DID. I TOOK CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST THE FOLLOWING DAY. HIS COMPUTER PULLED UP A DIFFERENT CODE BUT IT WAS RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION. HIS CODE SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE FRONT WHEEL WELL. HE OPENED THE WHEEL WELL TO INSPECT THE MODULE. HE SAID THE MODULE WAS RUSTED THROUGH AND CRACKED. THE REPLACEMENT COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE $400.00 RANGE. THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF CASES WHERE THE MODULE BECOMES DETERIORATED PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION IN THE WHEEL WELL. IT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ENGINEERS USING "LOGIC" IN THE PLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS. IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, I BELIEVE THE REPLACEMENT COST SHOULD BE BORNE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 35-40 MPH. *JB

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 75,000 MILES IN MAY 2006. NEW SEAL AND TORQUE CONVERTER INSTALLED. ANOTHER TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN JULY 2006. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING ON A VAN WITH ONLY 75,000 MILES ON IT. *NM

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR BUT FIRST. *JB

I HAVE A CHYRSLER 2001 TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN WITH 81,000 MILES. EXPERIENCED A MAJOR FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ON 2/12/06 FROM WESTERN NEW YORK TO MY HOME IN CLEVELAND, OH. FAILURE OCCURRED OUTSIDE ERIE PA ON INTERSTATE 90 . HAD THE VAN TOWED TO CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP IN ERIE PA. AND THEN I RENTED A CAR TO GET BACK TO CLEVELAND. DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID THAT THE OUTPUT/INPUT SHAFT HAD BROKEN AND SPRAYED METAL THROUGH OUT THE TRANSMISSION INCLUDING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION CASE. DEALER STATED THAT THE VAN REQUIRED A NEW RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AT $3,800.!! I CALLED CHRYSLER FOR ASSISTANCE BECAUSE I FELT THAT A VEHICLE WITH 81,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE A MAJOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE LIKE THAT, AND I ALSO FELT THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS EXCESSIVE. CHRYSLER'S RESPONSE WAS SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. CASE CLOSED. EVEN THE FACT THAT I HAVE OWNED 3 CHRYSLER MINIVANS DIDN'T MATTER TO THEM. SINCE THE VAN WAS 2 HOURS FROM MY HOME, I HAD NO OTHER REASONABLE OPTION BUT TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP PUT IN THE RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *JB

MY 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AT 73,000 MILES HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. MY WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY AND SHE SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE MOTOR WAS GOING TO FALL OUT WHEN SHE PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. WE HAD OUR LOCAL MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. HE SAID THAT THERE WERE TWO TRANSMISSION CODES SHOWING DEFECT BUT HE DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO CHECK IT OUT FURTHER AND WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE WORKING AGAIN SO WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO IS 50 MILES AWAY. ON THE TRIP TO THE DEALER IT WENT INTO "LIMP IN" MODE AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY DECELERATED AND ABOUT PUT MY WIFE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. SHE "LIMPED" IN TO THE DEALERS PARKING LOT WHERE THE VEHICLE DIED. 7 DAYS LATER AND $2800.00 I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. NO TRANSMISSION SHOULD COMPLETELY SELF DESTRUCT AT 73000 MILES BUT IT SEEMS THAT CHRYSLER PRODUCTS DO (AND SOMETIMES SOONER). MY NEIGHBOR ALSO HAS A 2000 CARAVAN THAT IS ON ITS THIRD TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, MY VAN HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW NOT OPERATING. THE SLIDING SIDE DOORS WILL OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE DRIVERS CONTROL'S FOR THESE DOORS DO NOT WORK. WHAT MORE DO I HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WITH CHRYSLER'S "QUALITY" PRODUCTS? *NM

MY WIFE AND BOUGHT OUR TOWN AND COUNTRY 2 MONTHS AGO. WE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP THINKING WE HAD A RELIABLE VAN. TWO WEEKS AGO MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR FOUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WHEN SHE WAS AT THE STOP LIGH AND GETTING READY TO MOVE IN TO TRAFFIC WHEN THE VAN JOLTED FOWARD AND STARTED TO SHAKE. IMMIDETLY THE CHECK ENGEIN LIGHT CAME ON AND SHE CALLED ME. I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT UP. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS ABOUT 45 MIN. FROM MY HOUSE. ON THE WAY UP I LOSE POWER 3 TIMES AND THEN WOULD GET IT TO CATCH. I MADE IT TO THERE EXIT AND LOST ALL POWER AND CONTROL. OUR VAN WAS TOWED IN AT OUR EXPENCE AND WE WERE CALLED THE NEXT DAY TO INFORM US THE COULD NOT DUE THE WORK IT HAD TO BE SENT OUT. WHEN THEY PLACED IT ON THE MACHINE 4 NUMBERS WERE REGERSTERING. WE THEN HAD TO WAIT FOR A INSPECTOR TO FLY DOWN TO DETERMIN IF THE PROBLEM WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS AND THAT THE TRANSFER PUMP AND CASE WERE THE PROBLEM AND A NEW TRANSSMISSION INSTALLED. WE HAD TO PAY $249.00 BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE RECEIVED OUR VECHICLE ON THURSDAY AND ON FRIDAY IT WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE ANY TIME YOU EXCERATED IT WOULD SHAKE THE VAN. WE WERE THEN TOLD WE COULD HAVE A RENTAL AT THERE EXPENCE THIS WAS A HASSEL IN ITS SELF WASTING THE WHOLE DAY WITH GETTING ONE. WE RECEVED A CALL MONDAY SAYING THEY COULDN'T GET THE PROBLEM TO DUBLICATE. AND WAS ONCE AGAIN RETURNED TO US ON TUESDAY. TODAY IS WEDNESSDAY AND WE ARE CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE FACT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I AM AT MY WITS END. HOW CAN A VECHICLE THAT HAS 65,000 MILES HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS. I CHOOSE THIS VECHICLE BECAUSE THE MANUF. HAS A GOOD REPUTATION. I JUST WANT MY VAN TO RUN RIGHT. TO ENSURE MY CHILDREN AND WIFE MAKE IT TO AND FROM WORK AND SCHOOL SAFELY. BESIDES THE HEADACS WE BOTHHAVE LOSE HOURS AT WORK RUNNING BACK AND FORTH AND NEEDS SOME HELP. THANKS

AT 49,000 MILES, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS A LEAK IN THE SEAL OF MY FUEL TANK. REPLACED TANK, AFTER SENDING FOR 3 AND THEY SENT WRONG ONE. COST 868.00. DAY AFTER I PICKED UP CAR, I WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND THE CAR LURCHED INTO NEUTRAL AND I PULLED TO SIDE. WOULD NOT GO IN ANY GEAR. TOWED TO DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT. WORST CASE 3500.00 REBUILT ONE IS 1600.00. WILL TRY TO HAVE CHRYSLER PAY AS THERE ARE SO MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK