We were stranded for four hours from home when our 2008 Chrysler Town and Country Minivan (with less than 20,000 miles) failed, due to a faulty transmission. The transmission was covered under warranty, but we were kept waiting for two days for the repair. We were away from home, so we required food and lodging. I was by the Chrysler dealership making the repair that the expenses for our stay would be reimbursed by Chrysler Customer Care. I submitted all expenses (totaling $581.86) to Chrysler Customer Care on July 27, 2011 by certified mail, and was notified on August 8, 2011 by phone that my claim had been denied. When I asked to speak with a supervisor, I was told no one was available and that I'd be given a call back. The call never came; I followed up by phone for three days running and finally reached a supervisor today (8/10/11), who also told me the claim was denied.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
I have a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan with 57,000 miles. While driving, the car started making a loud grinding noise and then died. I am told by the local dealer (Palmer South in Indianapolis) that the entire transmission must be replaced at a cost of approximately $2000.
My 1989 Chrysler minivan had two transmission replacements during the warranty period. All Chrysler has done to improve its transmission is to make it last past the warranty period. Jensen told me that it was my fault that I didn't purchase extended coverage. I think that it is Chrysler's fault to make a defective product -- had it not been defective I would not have needed extended coverage to have it replaced. Jensen refused to tell me what the life of a Chrysler transmission is and told me that nobody at Chrysler could tell me that.
I think people deserve to know when they buy a Chrysler that the transmission is going to die and leave them stranded. Jensen asked if I had the transmission service required by the owner's manual and whether I had the receipt. I told him that I thought I did have the receipt. After a long wait, he returned to the phone and said because I had no previous trouble with the transmission, because the A.T. service was not done at a Chrysler dealer and because I was out of warranty, I was out of luck. From his canned response, it was evident that I am not the only one with this problem.
Certainly we should expect a transmission to last longer than 57,000 miles. How come non-Chrysler vehicles don't need transmission replacements? The scary thing is that I now have a rebuilt transmission that probably failed on somebody else and somebody else will get my transmission!
My complaint is against Chrysler Corp. as a whole. Specifically their recall policy. This vehicle was purchased and I bought an extended warranty.
At 50,000 the transmission failed and left my wife, two daughters, a friend and her daughter stranded on a major Interstate. I got good road side assistance and the van was towed to the local dealer. ...
I know of seven people who have had transmission trouble with these vans and Chrysler is not doing what they should to solve the problem.
Am I to expect the transmission to fail after 50,000 miles? Does my extended warranty now cover this until I reach 60,000 miles on this transmission?
I am concerned that the vehicle is not reliable. I am concerned that my money is not well spent.
