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2001 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

crash · 737943 · 2009-10-01

Vehicle

Make
CHRYSLER
Model
TOWN AND COUNTRY
Year
2001
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Miles at failure
177,000
Speed
50 mph

Severity

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

Narrative

BRAKE LINES RUSTING. I HAD A 94 VAN THAT WAS TOTALED BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES BURST DURING A PANIC STOP. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VAN AND A TRUCK WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT. MY SON SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND NOTHING. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR; THE VAN ROLLED DOWN A RAVINE INTO A GUARD RAIL AND TOTALED THE VAN. THE LEFT STRUT HOUSING WAS RIPPED OFF. AT THE TIME I WAS SUSPICIOUS OF WHAT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT THE BRAKES COULD HAVE BEEN PUMPED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, MY SON SAID HE TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CRITICAL ISSUE HERE IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE BRAKES, WHICH I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND. EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD THAT HAD THE LINES RUPTURE MENTIONED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES. THE VAN WAS TOWED HOME AND UPON INSPECTING A 3' PIECE OF BRAKE TUBING WAS MISSING FROM THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, THE REST OF THE LINES WAS BADLY RUSTED. I HAVE OWNED TWO 1991 VANS 218K, 198K WHEN THEY WERE SOLD FOR $25 EACH ONE 1994 VAN 170K WAS SCRAPPED I PRESENTLY OWN TWO 2001 VANS 150K, 177K I RECENTLY LOOKED AT BOTH MY 2001 VANS AND THE BRAKE LINES ARE BADLY RUSTED. I WAS QUOTED PART PRICES FOR THE TWO LINES THAT GO TO THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. 68031823AA LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE $227.49 4683792AD RIGHT REAR BRAKE $329.12 I DEFINITELY FEEL THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE MATERIAL THE BRAKE LINES ARE MADE OF. I WOULD HAVE NEVER EXPECTED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. CAN ANYONE HELP ME FIND THESE PARTS AT A REASONABLE PRICE? SHOULD A

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10285987
Machine
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