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2008 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

crash · 1216788 · 2015-09-08

Vehicle

Make
CHRYSLER
Model
TOWN AND COUNTRY
Year
2008
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Miles at failure
92,500
Speed
8 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

THE VAN WOULD STOP AT LOW SPEEDS WITH LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. NO CODES WOULD BE TRIGGERED, IT WAS AS IF THE IGNITION WAS JUST TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRICAL POWER WOULD STILL BE ON LIKE THE RADIO AND INSTRUMENTATION PANEL BUT THE STEERING AND BRAKING WOULD TIGHTEN UP; VERY SCARY FEELING. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE DRIVING THE KIDS EIGHT TO TEN TIMES AND MYSELF TWO TIMES. THE DEALER SAID THE IGNITION RECALL WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT I THINK IT IS SOMETHING ELSE (TOOK DEALER 6 MONTHS TO GET THE PART IN AFTER OUR FIRST INCIDENT). IT GOT SO BAD THAT MY WIFE WOULD HAVE ME WARM UP AND DRIVE THE VAN AROUND BEFORE SHE WOULD USE IT. AFTER MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE ISSUE MY PROCEDURE TO HER IS TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL WHILE THE VAN IS STILL ROLLING AND RESTART THE CAR (THIS IS ONLY IN THE CASE OF POSSIBLY BEING REAR ENDED). ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD FLICKER RIGHT AT ENGINE CUT OFF BUT NO ENGINE LIGHT. FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL, MY WIFE WITH KIDS AND PARENT WERE IN THE VAN ENTERING AN ON-RAMP TO THE FREEWAY WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF AGAIN CAUSING THE VAN TO REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT. THE ACCIDENT TOTALED THE VAN EVEN THOUGH THE SPEED WAS AROUND 8MPH; NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CHRYSLER OPENED AN INVESTIGATION BUT FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY FAILURE FROM THE VEHICLE. HOW CAN THEY FIND ANYTHING WHEN NO CODES ARE TRIGGERED WHEN THE ENGINE CUTS OFF?

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10762206
Machine
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