NHTSA Complaint #10070323 — 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

I PURCHASED A 1996 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXI FROM A USED CAR LOT "AS IS".THE VEHICLE HAD SUPPOSEDLY HAD A 29 POINT SERVICE INSPECTION.THE NEXT DAY I HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED DUE TO LEAKING FLUID FROM THE FRONT SEAL.THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN WAS BROKEN WITH ALUMINUM SHAVINGS IN THE PAN AND THE FILTER WAS LAYING THERE LOOSE.IT APPEARS THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TRANSMISSION SERVICE PERFORMED,SAW THE SHAVINGS AND PARKED THE VAN UNTIL IT COULD BE TRADED IN.THERE WAS A LIGHT RUST COVER ON THE BRAKE ROTORS TO INDICATE IT HAD BEEN PARKED.I CAUGHT IT JUST IN TIME BEFORE THE PIN BROKE THRU THE ALUMINUM CASE WHICH WOULD HAVE COST AN ADDITIONAL $500.00.THE AAMCO DEALER HAS SO MANY OF THESE VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE A BROKEN ONE ON DISPLAY IN THEIR SHOWROOM.THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME HOW EASY IT WOULD BE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM BY GETTING THE PROPER LUBRICATION TO THE PIN.THE MODIFICATIONS HE MAKES TO DO JUST THAT ARE THE REASON THEY CAN OFFER A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THE REPAIRS.CHRYSLER COULD DO THE SAME IF THEY WERE INTERESTED IN PREVENTING THIS PROBLEM BUT THE LURE OF THE PARTS SALES MUST BE A BETTER PAYOFF.