2011 Chrysler Town & Country Suspension Problems

TRAILING ARM ON RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VAN SNAPPED, WHIE 'I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET CLOSE TO MY HOME. THE REAR OF THE VAN STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND STOP. I THEN PROCEEDED CAUTIOUSLY TO RETURN TO MY HOME. MY HUSBAND REMOVED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHERE WE SAW THE TRAILING ARM SNAPPED IN HALF.

I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN THROUGH A PARKING LOT WHEN OUR VAN STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE SOUND....WHEN I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE AND GOT OUT I SAW THAT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WASN'T WHERE IT SHOULD BE AND THERE WAS A MEDAL PART HANGING DOWN. WE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, DAVE GRANDOMINICO, CONTACT #614-882-9965, WHO LOOKED AT OUR VAN THE NEXT DAY AND SAID THAT THERE WERE ONLY 2 BOLTS IN THE TRAILING ARM AND THOSE TWO BOLTS SNAPPED. HE SAID THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 4 BUT IT HE COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS NEVER 4 (NO MARKINGS OR SCRATCHES WHERE THERE WAS NO BOLTS INDICATING THEY HAD NEVER BEEN ADDED). DAVE RECOMMENDED THAT WE TAKE THE VAN TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD DOCUMENT THE MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. DAVE THEN INSTALLED 2 BOLTS IN TO THE SLOTS WHERE THERE WAS NONE (SO THAT WE COULD DRIVE IT TO CHYRSLER); HE LEFT THE 2 SNAPPED BOLTS IN PLACE. HOWEVER, WHEN WE TOOK THE VAN TO CHRYSLER, THEY TOLD US (IN SO MANY WORDS) THAT WE COULDN'T PROVE THAT THERE WAS ONLY 2 BOLTS (SINCE DAVE HAD INSTALLED 2 NEW BOLTS), AND THEREFORE WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $400 - $500 FOR A REPAIR AND THEY WERE TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MATTER OUTSIDE OF REPAIRING IT.

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VANS FOR 2008, 2009, 2010, AND 2012 FOR WHEEL BEARING ISSUES. WHY IS THERE NONE FOR THE 2011 -- I HAD ONE REPLACED TODAY AND THE TWO REAR ONES ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. I SEE ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE OTHERS OWNING THE 2011 MODEL THAT ALSO HAVE THIS ISSUE. AT A $448.82 POP FOR ONE, THAT'S IS A LOT TO HANDLE WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE 3 OF THEM REPLACED. IF THEY WERE STILL HAVING THE ISSUE IN 2012, WHY IS THE 2011 NOT ON RECALL FOR THIS ALSO? *JS

VEHICLE BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PRIOR WITH A WOBBLE/SWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER ANOTHER 20 MILES CLINKS DEVELOPED FROM RIGHT REAR. THE FINAL INCIDENT HAD THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SEEMINGLY LOCK CAUSING ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SUDDEN STOP. AS IT TURNS OUT THE VEHICLE HAD 2 RIGHT REAR SWING ARM MOUNTING BOLTS MISSING AND THE OTHER 2 SHEARED OFF. THIS CAUSED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TO CONTACT THE INNER WHEEL WELL CUTTING IT. ADDITIONALLY THERE WERE 2 BOLTS MISSING FROM THE LEFT SWING ARM MOUNT. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND NOT AS I WAS EXITING IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR UPDATED 07-08-15 *BF UPDATED 8/30/2017*CN

VEHICLE BOTTOMS OUT AND SCRAPES THE BOTTOM OF THE GAS TANK AND ITS HOLDING STRAPS ON ANY DEEP DRIVEWAY APPROACH. OCCURRENCES HAVE PREVENTED VEHICLE USE AT CHURCH, DOCTOR'S OFFICES, US POST OFFICE, ETC. "BOTTOM HIT" HAS OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED YET BUT A HIGHWAY POTHOLE COULD PUNCTURE THE GAS TANK AND LEAD TO FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS A BRAUN CONVERSION VAN WITH AN ARTICULATED RAMP. THE LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR FOR BRAUN, THE ABILITY CENTER, CONTACTED BRAUN GOT THE SUGGESTION TO CHANGE TIRE SIZE ALONG WITH AN EXPLANATION THAT UNDER CLEARANCE DECREASED IN 2008 WHEN CHRYSLER CHANGED ITS BODY STYLE. I CONTACTED BRAUN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT NO RELIEF, NO OTHER SUGGESTION. I WORKED WITH THE ABILITY CENTER AND WE MADE A MODIFICATION ADDING A SHIM TO THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ELEVATING THE UNDERCARRIAGE SLIGHTLY. BRAUN MAD IT CLEAR THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS WORK. UNFORTUNATELY THE "FIX" DIDN'T COMPLETELY SOLVE THE PROBLEM, CLEARLY, THERE IS A RISK FOR ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND OF THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR SCRAPING SOUNDS LIKE A CAR CRASH, IS VERY DISCONCERTING AND VERY DISTRACTING. PULLING OUT OF CHURCH OR THE POST OFFICE, BOTH OF WHICH ARE ON WELL TRAVELED ARTERIALS, REQUIRES SOME ACCELERATION TO PROPERLY CLEAR TRAFFIC. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SUCH A MOVE IS WHEN THE BOTTOM HITS WHEN YOU NEED YOUR MOST CONCENTRATION. SUCH AN OCCURRENCE ON TODAY'S HIGHWAYS IN THEIR NATIONAL STATE OF DISREPAIR STRONGLY SUGGESTS A CAR FIRE FROM A RUPTURED TANK AT SPEED. THIS NEEDS A FIX! *TR