NHTSA Complaint #10110558 — 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

THE VEHICLE, A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN, COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER STEERING WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITH THE VAN OVERHEATING WITHOUT DAMAGE OR INJURY. AS THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT POWER STEERING HAS BEEN LOST WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, WE UNDERSTANDABLY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTABLE AND IF THE VEHICLE CAN BE RENDERED SAFE. OUR MECHANIC PROVIDED ME WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY CHRYSLER WHICH IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM. FOR VANS FROM THE 1995-1999 MODEL YEARS, THE SERPENTINE BELT CAN SLIP OFF THE IDLER PULLEY WHEN THE VAN IS DRIVEN IN DEEP SNOW OR WATER. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SERVICE BULLETIN GIVES NO INDICATION OF WHAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT WANT ANYONE (EITHER IN MY FAMILY OR OUTSIDE IT) TO BE A FATALITY AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. WHILE MY MECHANIC CAN DO THE REPAIRS (LIKE HE DID THE LAST TIME), HE CAN GIVE ME NO ASSURANCE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN. *AK