Chrysler: A Tale of Two Woes

[FISH]

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/12/c...e-of-two-woes/

Posted Feb 12th 2006 7:00PM by Joel Arellano


Chrysler's problems aren't limited to slowing sales - quality problems with older models are plaguing the automaker as well.

Autoblog reader Gardiner notified us that Douglas Flint of The Car Connection’s Mechanic’s Tale is seeking aid in dealing with the automaker over an old anti-lock braking system. The system, found in certain 1990-1993 Dodge, Chrysler, and (now-defunct) Plymouth vehicles, could cause total brake failure. The automaker issued a recall warranty for the system while covering the involved pump motor and piston assembly supposedly for life.

You can guess Flint’s situation: at the time he wrote his article, DaimlerChrysler still has not returned his repeated inquires about a customer's Plymouth Voyager (pictured).

Flint’s article can be found here.

[Continue after the jump]WFTV.com Action 9 reported on the other Chrysler issue.

According to the news source, a 2002 Dodge Durango self-ignited during the evening hours. (Pictured are the remains of the seating.) Fortunately, the owners were not in the vehicle at the time.

"I'm very lucky that I'm alive. My son and I could have died," said owner Valerie Davis.


According to the repair shop who examined the vehicle, the problem could have been caused by an “unused” electrical plug within the vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who has received similar complaints from owners, has contacted the automaker.

A response by DaimlerChrysler to Action 9's report can be found in the article.

[Bravada]

I undestand that the person the article is about is having trouble with ABS in his 1990-1993 Plymouth Voyager. If so, this is NOT the car picture, as the car pictured is a 1996 Voyager.

BTW - I've just learned that after Plymouth died Voyager actually continued 2000 through 2003 as Chrysler Voyager (the proper name of the vehicle for me, Chrysler's minivan was always Chrysler Voyager in Europe). I find this name perfect for a minivan like this, unlike Town & Country, which should be a luxury fancy wagon or something of that kind.

In 2003, Chrysler introduced its atrocious "crossover", the pregnant Pacifica, which, as terrible as it was, would be the exact vehicle to bear the T&C name. But no, Chrysler phased out Voyager off the minivan lineup rather than T&C at the exact time....

[boblutzfan]

The pacifica has been a success, albeit slow in the making. Next year it will get a larger engine to address the performance side of things. The Town & Country is a perfect name for their class leading minivan.

My parents have a 1996 T&C and a 2004 T&C Limited. Both have been problem free. My dad still drives the '96 T&C with 160K miles on it. They are hoping to keep it until the next generation T&C comes out and replace it with a new one in about a year.

Yes, Chrysler did have problems in the late eighties and early nineties. (just like GM and Ford) But in recent years, thier vans have been very good.

The next gen minivans are near the top of my family car shopping list - right next to the Outlook/Enclave.

[lightbrotha2004]

Yeah I must agree with boblutzfan T&C is a fitting name and my aunt until recently had one (gave it to her sister) and i think she had a least 200,000 miles on it i think it was an 85-88 not sure i know its almost as old as i am. It had its share of problems but a good van that much i can say about there vans but their cars are another story, especially the Intrepid,LHS et al and Cirrus Stratus, Breezes.

[bryce miller]

They may of had issues like everyone else but its pradctiaclly a whole new company now right down to the managment, they all look to be very improved over the the past decade.

[chrisbenz]

We all know that the old Chrysler vans from the 80s into the mid 90s where not that good.Even some people not into cars know about it.

[GMFreak8]

We had a 1993 Plymouth Voyager, that thing was the biggest POS we've ever owned. There wasn't anything that worked right in that thing.

[GMCSonoma]

Not to stick up for Chrysler, many vehicles have unused plugs hidden somewhere along the harness line. Now whether they are "live" or not...that is another question!

[asim]

Well Chrysler wasn't known for reliability back then...If this title was one word off...people from my school including me would go hunt down the author of the article...

[GotAWD]

Originally Posted by GMCSonoma

Not to stick up for Chrysler, many vehicles have unused plugs hidden somewhere along the harness line. Now whether they are "live" or not...that is another question!

true. the montana vans have a plug in the rear of the vehicle above the rear HAVC unit. a customer could smell a burning rubber smell for a bit. then after that the car would keep running after the key was out of the ignition steering locked. the plug in was for the trailer harness connector. the connector that you connect the harness to your trialer. looking threw all the diagrams we couldnt find the trailer harness anywhere in the whole Service Information database.

what had happend: the trailer harness connecter (not the one you plug in your trailer but theres another one hidden behind the trim panel as noted above)
water had gotten onto the connector for the harness and shorted out the connector. after that the ignition was getting backfeed threw the harness connector.

[kuns83]

i drive a 96 stratus es with 150k miles. Reading topics like this one get me a little worried...but as a student i really cant afford another car.

[Gm786]

Man! that looks bad!

[Gm786]

From my experience with Chrysler's cars, they are not reliable. Because If all the probelms I've had with Chryslers, I just stay away from them.

[Perfectionist]

Ugh, I wouldn't touch a Chrysler minivan with a forty foot pole. After my friend's incident with her 2000 T&C, I wouldn't even go for a test drive. Interior panels breaking, coming apart, falling off, A/C breaking after 3,000 miles, a weird radio problem(driving with the radio on, go to roll down the window and the radio shuts off), and many, many more problems.

[Gm786]

Originally Posted by Perfectionist

Ugh, I wouldn't touch a Chrysler minivan with a forty foot pole. After my friend's incident with her 2000 T&C, I wouldn't even go for a test drive. Interior panels breaking, coming apart, falling off, A/C breaking after 3,000 miles, a weird radio problem(driving with the radio on, go to roll down the window and the radio shuts off), and many, many more problems.

Man! Rolling the window down and the radio shutting off! That's ridiculous!
Now all the other problems you mentioned about your friend's Town and Country, I have been through all those kinds of problems with all kinds of Chryslers! I would never buy a Chrysler, period.