My Town & Country is a budget buster!

[goofyboyzmom]

I had an 08 T&C. I got a squealing (like a bunch of birds), in the right rear area. I took it in about 12 times to the dealer. No one could fix it. Then the brakes went with less than 10K miles. Then I had some electrical issues where the door (side slider) would not open with the internal button, but the remote would work. Again, it couldn't be fixed by the dealer. I finally had enough of the squealing, and weird issues, and traded that thing. I really did love it for all the nice features it had, but geez the issues just outweighed the nice things the van offered. My kids still miss the headphones...

I mistakenly put mine as a 2009 - it was a 2008. I had exactly the same as above - the squealing was horrible! I had to take the dealership guy with me for him to hear it. I couldn't turn up the radio loud enough to cover the squeal!

 

[quentina]

I am on my 4th and am quite happy. I did have transmission problems in one however; it was covered by warranty.

I will probably buy a 5th.

 

[DISdreamin']

Um... I don't think so our vehicle lost over 30% from out the door pricing. We would be rolling over $6000 into a new vehicle with vehicle incentives.

I stand corrected - for giggles, I went and put in a basic T&C and I'm pretty much horrified by the resale. Unless they were inexpensive new (and I'm sure they weren't!) their resale value is definitely lacking IMO.

Sorry to have assumed all vehicles were in the same ballpark, I definitely know better now.

Oh, and FWIW, my inlaws have had two T&C's so far. They've had signifiant electrical issues with both, doors not working, AC going on the fritz, etc. When we were looking for a new car, they didn't show up on our radar for that reason.

 

[Halbleib1]

Yes my husband just mentioned tonight that the brakes and rotors have an extended warranty. Now we are just hoping for VW to do the same since their van is made by Chrysler. We have had our van since Nov 2010 and have already had the rotors and brakes replaced once in the front. We only have around 5000 miles on the thing. We knew going in that they had brake/rotor issues though. Apparantly if you change the rotors to the slotted type it does not do it because what is happening is the brakes are getting too hot and warping the rotors. Of course the dealer will only put on what VW says to and VW will not pay for the better rotors to fix the problem the right way once and for all. No other major issues but we do have one odd issue with the plastic molding melting. Yes you read that right they are litteraly melting. They replaced some of them once but it has since done it yet again and has spread to others. The worst is on the drivers side but I have taken notice to it on the passenger side as well but it is not as noticable. They are basically telling us now that the first time was a courtesy fix. What to heck plastic molding should not be melting under normal conditions. You can clearly see that this is not something intentionally done but is some sort of defect causing it. Yet they are insinuating that someone is doing it.

My fil has owned nothing but Dodge/Chrysler vehicles in the 12 years I have known him. Two of them were used vans and one brand new. He has not had any electrical problems with his but he did have transmission problems in the past. His newest he has not had any major problems with and he is close to 100,000 miles on it now. My mil just bought a brand new one last year as well and she went out a couple of weeks ago to start it and it would not start. The dealer sent a tow truck out to bring it in for fixing. I forgot to ask what was wrong with it though.

 

[neville04]

Your vehicle loses money the minute you leave the lot so we would have to roll that over into a new loan. Not exactly the optimal solution but we may have to. We were just in the shop 3 times in September and 2 times so far this month.

check to see if your state has a lemon law - if its been fixed so many times in a certain amount of time they have to give you a new one - or give you back waht you paid for it..

 

[bcinohio]

When did they do a recall on the brakes and roters? We have a leased 2010 T & C and had to replace the brakes and roters at 15,000 because they were squealing so bad. I pitched a fit with Chrysler and got them to pay for $500 but still cost me $250. This is our second leased on but won't get another one. I have had many leased vans (Ford and 1 other Chrysler) over 16 years and never had to put brakes and roters on any of them. That is what made me so mad when they went out at 15,000.

 

[melser13]

We've had issues with our 2007 T&C as well. We got it in 2009 with 20000 on it and it seems like there have been all kinds of problems. We had a dodge caravan before that with absolutely no issues. It's been one thing after the next, with recalls as well. We will run out the term of our loan (or when we get close to payoff) and find another car/minivan that can fit our family of 5. I've really regretted getting it, and I am now used to driving around with several of the dashboard lights on...not safe, but we are sick of taking it in and it always being the same problems!

We know we won't get another T&C, and are considering the Honda Odyssey for our next minivan...in a few years (I have to go to Disney again first)

 

[mrudman]

My sister had a 2010 for 8 months and got rid of it!! I almost bought one a few years ago... glad I went with the kia sedona, everyone laughed at me but 4 years and 70,000 miles later I have not had one mechanical issue other than a coolant line in the back rusting.

We bought a brand new Sedona in 2004, and love it! It was a top-of-the-line (dvd player, moonroof, etc, etc), and got it for about 30% less than what most other mini-vans would've cost.

Have only had to do minor repairs to it, and it's still covered under full warranty for another 3 years ($100 deductible).

 

[dbmarie]

Sorry to have assumed all vehicles were in the same ballpark, I definitely know better now.
Oh, and FWIW, my inlaws have had two T&C's so far. They've had signifiant electrical issues with both, doors not working, AC going on the fritz, etc. When we were looking for a new car, they didn't show up on our radar for that reason.

It's okay we had Saturns before and they didn't really lose value. It was 34,000 brand new and we can get about 22,000 for it now but with incentives and everything it would work out to be about $6000 we would roll over.

 

[okeydokey]

We had a Dodge Grand Caravan (the same at the T & C). It was nothing but trouble. We are a Honda family now.

 

[dbmarie]

We took our van to the West Herr Chrysler in Orchard Park, NY( where we bought the vehicle). Steve the service director was told to do a test drive we use. During the test drive the van made a growling noise from the front end, the steering wheel kept making a clicking noise, and our transmission slipped twice. Steve's response was, "Everything I saw was minimal, if I am not thrown back in my seat then it's not a problem with your transmission". If that wasn't bad enough he proceeded to say that he thinks our multiple problems with the seats was caused by a toy under the seat. Ummm...in the work order it states wire was shorting out due to the constant rubbing against a sharp edge along the underside of the front seat. Which happened not once, twice but three times before they tied the wires away from the seat.

 

[sldmh5]

Just put new brakes on my 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan with 22,000 miles on it because when I put the brakes on the whole front end shakes badly and it is hard to stop. BUT...it is not the brakes it is the rotars. They are badly warped. The brake guy said it is from excessing heat and that there was no scratches on the rotars and the brake pads were still good. I am writting to Dodge to try to get them to fix the rotars. Our Navigation/radio is also going out again. The first time it stopped working they said it was a software issue and now the touchscreen is not working. HATE THIS VAN!!!!

 

[Princess Nancy]

I lemon Lawed my Grand Caravan. I begged them to do an extended warranty, but to no avail. I had all my records. I did a one page spreadsheet on excel of the times it had been in the shop (17 in less than 3 years) and the outcome.

We were immediately called by the dealership after I filed the paperwork offering me the warranty I wanted. I said too late, I did the work now I will see you in arbitration.

They came in with a HUGE stack of papers, all their people. I showed up with my Dad. I played it up that my Husband was in Med School and we had sunk all we could into a reliable car because he was not available to help me out. He could not even get off to come to this, I had to bring my Dad! (truth was I wanted Dad there!, He's a great negotiator).

I think my one sheet, easy to see all the times I had been to the dealer was a huge factor in my favor. I was very clear about my issues and the number of days I had been without a car.

Anyway, I walked out with a new van!!

The dealer will do whatever they can to tell you that you cannot file for the Lemon Law, but call their bluff, it was a much less painful process than I ever imagined!!!!!!!

Good Luck!

 

[disneymom3]

Yikes. We have a 2003 which I love. It has over 170k miles on it and still drives like a dream. Gets great gas mileage. We always buy a car that is two or three years old but still under the 36k mark. After this thread it sounds like I should avoid a '10 or '11!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

We have a 2009. Same issues with brakes and the sliding door that others have mentioned. There was a thread like this awhile back with the same complaints and someone mentioned paying to replace the brakes and rotors with non-OEM parts and that would fix the brake issues. I haven't tried it but we will when it gets to that point.

We won't buy another Chrysler product.

 

[geniegirl]

I was so excitedbto get our but I hate that thing. So far we needed a new turn signal switch, sliding door motor for one side, brakes, 2 sets of tires because they ware bad even though we had them almighty several times, bushing and links and.........

If that wasn't enough the sun roof leaks every time it rains or we get the van washed. Im not talking about a drip. Its a flood thefront floor is always wet and if u are in the passenger seat during a storm u will get wet. Had it fixed several times and he says the lines clog. Ok I don't believe that how can they clog within a month plus we never open the thing. Someone suggested we caulk and put clear contact paper on the sun roof and we are almost at that point.

Finally don't get me started about rust spots.

Want to trade it in but estimates fall about 4000 short so we deal for now.

 

[Green Tea]

Yes I have all of the documentation and I have called both Chrysler and the dealership. The response has been well it's not a lemon because you have to have the same problem over 4 times under 18,000 miles. I guess they don't lump electrical under one problem.

The lemon law is more complex than that. There are multiple ways a car qualifies under the "lemon law." Look at your state's Attorney Generals website. Read the statute and see if it applies to you. Never trust the dealer to quote you the law.

I had a Chrysler van that was in the shop more than it was in my garage. Unfortunately, I had purchased it used and therefore did not qualify under my state's law. NEVER again will I purchase a Chrysler product.

 

[dbmarie]

Never trust the dealer to quote you the law.

I know I have given them every chance to fix the problems and at this point I am positive I have case from reading the lemon law in NY. I am just going to file and see what happens. It's too bad that there are some many people that continue to buy Chryslers when they continue to have so many issues with their vehicles and refuse to fix them. If we stopped buying from these companies they would be forced to make a reliable/dependable vehicle.

 

[Green Tea]

If you have a regular attorney, just ask him or her to send a letter stating the car appears to qualify for replacement or refund under the lemon law. Likely simply getting the letter will cause them to take you seriously. Mine didn't even charge me to send one, but if he had, I wouldn't have expected it to cost much.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We just bought a used 2009 T and C. It still has a little of the warranty left on it, but I hope we do not have a lot of the problems that are mentioned.

Dh wanted this van, I really wanted to look at a Honda too.

I guess time will tell.