What 773 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Chrysler Town And Country

ARRIVING IN A PARKING LOT, I PARKED MY CAR, OPENED THE TRUNK DOOR, AND BEGAN TO UNLOAD A STROLLER AND OTHER ITEMS OUT. I WALKED AROUND THE VEHICLE TO GET MY 3 YEAR OLD OUT OF HER SEAT. I INSTRUCTED HER TO WAIT BY HER DOOR. I BEGAN TO WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE TO GET MY 2 YEAR OLD OUT WHEN I HEARD THE TRUNK DOOR SLAM DOWN. I INSTRUCTED MY DAUGHTER BACK INTO HER SEAT AND BEGAN TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION. I COULD NOT SECURE THE TRUNK DOOR PROPERLY AND SO I DROVE TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHO MANAGED TO TAKE SHOCK OUT CLAIMING THEY WERE GOOD BUT NOTICED IT BROKE OFF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, HE COULD NOT SECURE THE VEHICLE. DROVE TO ANOTHER AUTO SHOP WHO THEN WAS ABLE TO SECURE MY BACK DOOR AND COMMENTED HOW LUCKY WE WERE NOT TO HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED FOR THE REASON THAT THE BACK DOOR IS EXTREMELY HEAVY. AS OF NOW, I AM IN SHOCK OF WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER ALWAYS ALWAYS HELPS ME UNLOAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566100

WHILE VACUUMING OUT MY CAR, THE REAR LIFT DOOR FELL ONTO MY HEAD. NO MAJOR INJURY BUT COULD HAVE BEEN. REPLACED REAR DOOR STRUTS WHICH COST ME 199.26 TOTAL. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS THIS CAR IS ONLY 28 MONTHS OLD. NO EXCESSIVE USE OF DOOR. WE ARE TWO 60+ YEAR OLDS . THESE HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE PARTS. WE CHECKED WITH THE CHRYSLER DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS NOT COVERED AND THEIR WAS NO RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10548149

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOORS FAILED TO REMAIN OPEN AND WOULD INDEPENDENTLY CLOSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO AVOID CLOSING ON A PASSENGER AND PREVENTING AN INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED ON THREE OCCASIONS BUT THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN AND THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10547637

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, A PEASSENGER INFORMED INFORMED HER THAT SHE FORGOT TO CLOSE THE REAR SLIDING DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ALERT THAT TOLD HER THAT THE DOOR WAS OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. AP

NHTSA ODI 10543470

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DETACHED FROM THE SIDE PILLAR, CAUSING THE CHILD SEAT TO TOPPLE OVER INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE REAR SLIDING DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE REAR SLIDING DOOR FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A SYSTEM UPDATE WOULD NEED TO BE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 10535711

ON SATURDAY NOV 3, 2012 CHILDREN WERE ENTERING VEHICLE THROUGH POWER SLIDING DOOR. OLDER CHILD BUMPED INTO DOOR AS IT WAS OPENING, PUSHING IT FURTHER OPEN. DOOR THEN SHUT AND LATCHED RAPIDLY (FOUR SECONDS) ON TODDLERS HAND, REQUIRING VISIT TO EMERGENCY ROOM AND TREATMENT. ON MONDAY NOV 5, 2012 WE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VAN, AND THEY SAID IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE DOOR IS DESIGNED TO SHUT AND LATCH RAPIDLY IF YOU BUMP IT OR TRY TO PUSH IT OPEN WHILE IT IS OPENING. THEY SHOWED ME ANOTHER VAN THAT IS DESIGNED SAME WAY. I TESTED MY FRIENDS TOYOTA AND HONDA VANS AND THOSE DOORS RIGHTLY OPEN IF YOU BUMP OR PUSH THEM WHILE DOOR IS MECHANICALLY OPENING OR CLOSING. ALL MOTORIZED VAN DOORS REQUIRE SPECIAL AWARENESS, BUT CHRYSLER DOORS ARE UNSAFE. HOPING FOR RECALL SO THEY CAN FIX SAFETY ISSUE FOR EVERYONE AND NO ONE ELSE IS INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10486699

WITH VEHICLE PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH ENGINE TOWARD DOWNHILL, THE VERY HEAVY POWER SLIDING DOORS RELEASE AND SLAM SHUT WHEN CLOSING. IF THE PATH OF THE SLIDING DOOR IS INTERRUPTED (PULL THE DOOR HANDLE WHILE DOOR IS IN MOTION AND POWER DOOR SYSTEM DISENGAGES IMMEDIATELY), POWER DOOR SYSTEM JUST LETS THE DOOR GO. POWER SLIDING DOOR SYSTEM SHOULD EITHER OPEN THE DOOR OR HOLD IT IN AN HALF WAY OPENED POSITION, INSTEAD IT RELEASES THE DOOR TO GRAVITY. ANYONE CAUGHT IN THAT SLAMMING DOOR WOULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10486708

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE HEARD A HISSING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A SHOCK FROM THE REAR LIFT GATE BE SPEWED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE DENTED THE REAR FENDER AND FRACTURED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT. THE REAR LIFT GATE STOPPED WORKING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF ONE OF THE SHOCKS EXPLODING BEFORE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 14,000.

NHTSA ODI 10471581

I STARTED OUR 2011 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, STEPPED ON THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL TO RELEASE THE BRAKE. WHEN I GOT TO 65 M.P.H. THE HOOD STARTED SHAKING. I REALIZED THAT WHEN I RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE THAT MY TOE MUST HAVE TRIPPED THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER. THIS IS A SAFETY DESIGN FLAW IN THAT THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER SHOULD NOT BE LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL. I CALLED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 800-247-9753 TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM 7-6-2012. THE REFERENCE NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10464465

POWER SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT STOP CLOSING WHEN AN OBJECT IS ENCOUNTERED. MY WIFE WAS HURT BUT NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN SHE WAS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR WHILE IT WAS CLOSING. WE'RE CONCERNED THAT IF A CHILD WAS CAUGHT THEY WOULD BE MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED. CHRYSLER SAYS THERE IS NO AWAY TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY SO THAT THE DOOR STOPS EXERTING FORCE SOONER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10460405

MY ALMOST 2 YEAR OLD GOT HIS HAND FULLY CAUGHT IN THE SLIDING DOOR, EVEN THOUGH IT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH WOULD PREVENT IT. THE DOOR WAS CLOSING, CLOSED AND FULLY ENGAGED THE LOCKS ON HIS HAND. HIS HAND WAS LODGE FAR ENOUGH INTO THE DOOR THAT YOU COULDN'T SLIDE THE HAND OUT, YOU HAD TO PHYSICALLY OPEN THE DOOR TO GET HIS HAND OUT, HE COULDN'T JUST SLIDE IT OUT. AT THE TIME HE HAD INDENTS ON HIS FINGERS WHERE THE DOOR PUSHED IN THEM. NOW, A FEW HOURS LATER, HE HAS BRUISING AND SLIGHT SWELLING TO HIS FINGERS AND ONE OF THE FINGERS HAS A SLIGHT CUT ON IT. THESE DOORS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A SENSOR IN IT TO PREVENT THE DOORS FROM CLOSING ON SOMEONE, IT OBVIOUSLY FAILED IN THIS CASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10457529

ENGINE NOISE. COMPARED TO OUR OLD VAN, THE SOUNDS FROM THE NEW VAN ENGINE ARE LOUDER. I NOTICED WHEN WE BOUGHT THE 2011 VAN IN JANUARY, THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE A SOUND INSULATED HOOD. TODAY WHEN DRIVING A 2010 LOANER T&C - FROM THE LOCAL DEALER WHEN OUR TRANSMISSION WAS BEING SERVICED - THE 2010 HAS A PIECE OF INSULATION ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD. THE 2011 MODEL DOES NOT HAVE THIS INSULATION AND IS NOISIER. IS THIS A COST CUTTING EFFORT? NOTHING LIKE TRYING TO PLEASE CUSTOMERS TO HELP FUTURE SALES. *TR

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