NHTSA Complaint #10174484 — 2001 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

GENTLEMEN, I OWN A CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVAN (2001 MODEL LXI) WITH ABOUT 33,000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY I TOOK THE VAN TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOR ITS REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND TO HAVE A TIRE ROTATION AND ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. WHILE PERFORMING THIS SERVICE THE DEALER SERVICE CONSULTANT TOLD ME THAT THE LINES FROM THE FRONT HEATER TO THE REAR HEATER WERE CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE THE LINES WERE ABOUT TO BREAK AND/OR LEAK COOLANT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THEY SHOWED ME THE AREA AND SURE ENOUGH THE AREA BEHIND THE CROSS MEMBER IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FRONT WHEEL HAD THE MOUNTING BRACKET RUSTED OFF COMPLETELY AND THE LINE ITSELF FOR ABOUT 4 INCHES JUST BEHIND THE BEND TO GO UP IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL HAD METAL FLAKING OFF AND WAS ABOUT TO GIVE WAY. I HAVE MARKED THE AREA ON THE ENCLOSED FIGURE 6 FROM YOUR SERVICE MANUAL. THE CORRODED AREA WAS A FEW INCHES IN FRONT OF THE RUBBER LINE WHICH ACTS AS A CONNECTION FROM THE METAL FRONT HEATER LINE TO THE METAL UNDERBODY LINE TO THE REAR HEATER. FOR YOUR INFORMATION NO COOLANT HAS BEEN ADDED OR CHANGED IN THIS VEHICLE SINCE ITS ORIGINAL DELIVERY WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED COOLANT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS LINE SHOULD NOT HAVE CORRODED THIS RAPIDLY (FIVE YEARS AND LOW MILEAGE) AND THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THIS IS BAD DESIGN AND MATERIAL SELECTION. IN THIS DAY AND AGE NO LINES OF THIS TYPE SHOULD DETERIORATE THIS RAPIDLY EVEN IN A SECTION OF THE COUNTRY WHERE SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER ON THE HIGHWAYS. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IS THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT AND THE SAFETY HAZARD OF A MAJOR FAILURE. YOU SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A RECALL INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT IN THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE WINTER SALT IS USED. *JB