Chrysler review: defective brakes 23

I too own a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country. It has 22, 000 miles on it and has the same problem. A few days ago I did a front brake job because the pads were already worn! I am a 60 year old machinist and have done many brake jobs. This one baffles me. There is a very loud hammering noise when I apply the brakes. It sounds as it would if there was a crack in the rotors. I have taken the rotors off 3 times to see what the problen is and had a brake mechanic inspect also. Everything looks perfect but still the noise. My town and country has been in the shop many times with broken axle, broken power window motors, the entire wiring harness had to be replaced, power steering reservoir had to be replaced and the battery had to be replaced twice. I think I"ve been had. Trading in for a Chevy.

I have a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country as well. I'm at around 57, 000 miles and had my SEVENTH brake job done.
Never have I had a vehicle eat brakes the way this does. My first one was done at around 12, 000 miles as well.
The dealership is of no help.

I too have had the same problem. 70K and 5 sets of pads and 4 rotors. Dealer repair says no warrenty because they don't know how hard I am on my brakes.. LOL I would need to drive with my left foot on the brakes all the time. The best excuse was I finally did one job myself and he claimed that set failed early because I had put the anti-sqeel lube on. He claims that it gets hot and turns to glue and keeps the pads from free floating like they need to be.

I own a 2005 Town and Country van with 63, 000 miles. The brakes have been a problem since the first year that I purchased the van. I've had my brakes replaced four/five times in the last three years. I had them done three months ago and just had to have both front and back replaced again today. I've also had to replace front calipers, rotors resurfaced and replaced as well as rear cylendars replaced twice. I've been driving over thirty years and have never had a brake problem like this before. The dealer repaired my brakes the first times and Pepboys the last three. When I tried to talk to the corporate office they blew me off and the dealership actutally lied to meon several occasions so that is why I stopped going there and now go to Pepboys. I will never buy a Chrysler product again!

Trust me you are not alone. I purchase my van in March of this year. I have had my brakes serviced 4 times in the past 6 months. So unreal! I have been driving for years and have never had problems like this with brakes. Precision Tune serviced them twice and local garage serviced them twice. I just can not believe that this is real. I was told by both business that they the brakes on the 2005 models seem to have a lot of problems. Precision Tune informed me that they will not be able to repair my brakes under the lifetime warranty because I have defected parts and it will cost me $1308 to get my brakes fixed properly. I was told I need to replace front calipers, rotors resurfaced and replaced as well as rear cylinders replaced. This is one purchase that I truly regret! If I could turn back the hands of time that van would surely still be on the lot and not in my garage or driveway!

I can't directly comment on the 2005 model, but I've had the same problems with my 2001 Town and Country. I suspect that the problem is caused by warping or hard-spotting of the rotors caused by excessive brake temperatures. (I consider this to be a design problem. Undersized brakes with inadequate cooling.) To make matters worse, I've seen that there are a variety of brake rotor designs, and some of them are not as "long lasting" when subjected to these high temperatures. My rotors last only about 1 to 2 months after I change them before I have brake problems. (pulsations, shudder, knocking, etc.) After they're "cut" (resurfaced) once they tend to go bad even faster.

If it's any help, I've found that "better" grade rotors seem to last longer. Not to badmouth Raybestos, but theirs seem to go bad the fastest in this application. (I don't think it's their fault, the temperature is just too high.) I've had good luck with EBC rotors and pads, but unfortunately you need to change fronts and rears... (I'm swapping the rears for Centric rotors this weekend.) BTW, I have about 110, 000 miles...
--- John B

Have a 2005 and a 2008 Chysler Town and Country-Both have serious brake problems exactly the same as referenced by others. The 2008 with only 6k miles just had to have the rotors turned due to dangerous shaking when braking from 60+ mph. Rotors already out of round. These vans are comfortable and usefull for transporting things and people. Its unfortunate they can't make the vehicle safe after all these years they had to learn. No wonder they are going out of business.

The best way to identify any caliper dragging is to check the rotor surface temp with an infered heat gun. I have a 2004 T&C with 4 wheel disc. I had to replace two calipers which were dragging causing the rotor to overheat. If the rotor temps are checked after driving the vehicle you should see a slight variation in rotor temps between sides. A 0-20 degree difference is OK but anyting over that is cause to replace the caliper. Under normal driving the rear rotors should stay under 200 degrees at it's hottest point. Yes rotor surface temps will vary from top to bottom. I usually check the rotor for the highest and lowest temps then compare them to the other side. Front rotors will run at higher temps so expect to see rotor temps above 200 degrees under normal driving conditions. I usually see 200 - 250 degrees on the fronts.

Same problem with our 2005 Town & Country. It is in and out of a dealer maintanence shop all the time. My son in law is a service technician and he has had his top technicians repair and replace and inspect our brakes over and over again. I am totally frustrated with the fact that nothing works. The constant grinding and dragging noise is frustrating, embarassing and agravating. This started at around 30 thousand miles and now at 80 thousand, it is still a problem. I am getting rid of this problem and buying a Toyota Sienna. At least they admit and address their problems. I can't believe the trade-in value of these vans. Maybe I should say lack of value!

I have the same problem with mine. Actually that is what got me to this site was to see if others with a 2005 Town and Country have the same problem. I just replaced both my brakes a rotors about three months ago. The brake pads are now gone and the rotors are burned to where they can't be repaired. I am thinking that I may just want to sell my Town and Country and get something more reliable.

I bought a 2005 then traded in for 2008, I have had brake problems five times, once four months after I bought it, then I had to put new rotors the second time. It has been a trying time with this van. I think that when I have more money I will never buy a van again.. I have had ten DODGE vehicles.

There has to be a recall on those brake systems but Chrysler is too arrogant and donot care now that they got bailed out by the Government with taxpayers money.

My wife has complained to me several times about the brakes dragging in her 2005 T&C. Every time I checked the pad wear, they were fine. The vans ability to brake was fine and there was no pulsing. As I was outside one day I heard her pull in to the driveway and it sounded really bad. I decided I was just going to tear them down and investigate. I found there to be no issues with the front brakes which is wear we thought the noise was coming from.The back brakes which are disc also, had emergency brake issues which is where the dragging noise was coming from. The emergency brakes on rear disc are set up like drum brakes on the inside of the rotor. There was so much brake dust, rust, dirt and pebbles that the rotor would barely spin by hand. I adjusted the the inner breaks all the way in and could still not get the rotor off. After about 2 or 3 hours of beating with a dead blow hammer and prying back and forth with a screw driver it came off. I couldnt believe how the inside of the rotor looked, it was HORRIBLE. Everybody I talked to told me these vans brakes are subpar and recommended I get rid of the emergency brakes. To do that you have to take the bearing hub assembly off, which requires a special tool not any of the parts stores carried or knew about. The hub should come right out, but seizes up do to rust and dirt. You cant pound it out from the back because the back is made of plastic. So, I left the brakes adjusted all the way in and told her not to use them. Dragging noise was greatly reduced, but unfortunately can still slightly be heard. This is a very poor design. I am not happy. I plan on just taking the back brakes apart every few month and cleaning the junk out of the inside of he rotors. I have no plans on purchasing another one of these pieces of
Chryslers.

We Have a 2005 Town and country, we have had some many front brake jobs I have lost count, I think we are 8 or 9 and I think we are on our way to another set with only 62, 000 miles.

I wish they had told me after I signed on the dotted line at the dealer, thank you for buying our POS.

With other companies taking care of what they did wrong, why is chrysler not stepping up to the plate.

I own a 2006 Town and Country, and have the brakes replaced approx. 8 times (the rear brakes, which are being replaced now along with the rotors, have been replaced 3 times in the last year and a half). I have 73, 000 miles on my car (and you would think that highway travel would be easier on my brakes) and was hoping to have this car for a while longer. But am now sadly looking forward to never buying a Chrysler again. It may be just the mini vans, as the dealership keeps telling me, but I am jaded after taking my car in numerous times. The dealership says that it is such a problem with the Dodge and Chrysler mini vans that they cringe every time someone brings one in with brake issues. I am also suspecting the dealership service dept. tries to wait to identify the bad brake problem until it's been over 12, 000 miles since the lasts one (so they won't have to cover it under warranty). It's too bad that Chrysler doesn't stand behind their vehicles. This is the most problematic car I have ever owned. Not worth the 30, 000+ I bought it for.

My wife was driving her Chrysler Town & Country 2005 at 70 mph and she lost her brakes. She managed to bring the van to a stop after few miles. After towing the van to the dealership, the dealership called the next day and said there is nothing wrong . When we insisted there was, they called us back and claimed the rear cylinders need to be changed ($900). How can she trust driving this van again ?

I have 30 pages of repairs--bought this new--Chrysler would even laugh when we came in saying "oh not you again". 5 documented complaints of engine noise--always blown off. Was even given a free extended warranty to 70000 mi b/c of all the problems. Opened two client cases with them. Three sets of brakes, new engine, oil pump work, tire problems, and power steering sensors and pump replaced, transmission work, radio work, door tracks replaced twice on both sides, interior and exterior parts falling off and on and on. So last week at 72000, the engine blew a rod. We had free oil changes with the dealership and had them regularly--but they refuse to help! Last Phil Long closed-- they lost some of the repair records. Even the mechanic (whom works for GO Chrysler) said he could not believe they wouldn't help me--he was a very nice man but said it was out of his control! Oh but they can offer me a new engine for 6700.00. UGHHHHHHHHH I will never buy Chrysler again,

I bought my 2005 T & C new. At 26, 000 miles I needed new rotors and brakes. Cost me several hundred $. At 38, 000 miles I had to replace the rack & pinion steering system. I have changed tie rods, power steering pumps, more brakes, a new transmission, tires that leak around the rims constantly due to the oxidizing, and I could go on. I had a Chrysler LHS prior to this vehicle and thought I just got a bad one. It was a total cash drain. This must be Chryslers MO. Sell a car that looks good but falls apart once you drive it. I will never own a Chrysler again.

My 2006 T & C is not doing any better, it has 30K miles, brought it in to the dealer two weeks ago for a break check . had to replace front rotors and brake. Brought it back to them yesterday - rear noise, now they are saying I need to have the rear rotors / brake replace. This vehicle is just a big drag on time and a big headache since the day we bought it new. (so many trips to the dealerships for so many issues :replaced the rear latch twice due to liftgate not closing completely and still not working properly 100% of the time, had battery replaced, electrical system problems, sliding door problems and so on and so on .. ) This will be the first and the last Chrysler ever. No wonder we can't compete with foreign cars when we producing this type of junk.

i have a 2007 town and country mini van with 60'ooo miles and the rear brakes keep sezing up on it of course the warranty is up and theres nothing they can do so have to fix it myself so this will be the last time i ever buy another chrysler product i used to say mopar or no car now i say mopar is a ### car and iam going foreign american cars are junk and its sad

We purchased a 2006 Town and Country, within 2 months we needed a full brake job! They told us it was a fluke. 6 months we needed new front brakes again, I call Chrysler they were very rude, they did cover them again. 5 months later we needed another front brake job rotors and all, they would not cover the cost, they said they would only pay for 2. a 1 year old car and 3 brake jobs was ridiculous. We took the van in again and sucked up the cost again. It is now 2011 and we have had 8 braks jobs, unheard of, we now take it to a friend whos brakes jobs last much longer. I really dont think Chrylser cares or knows how to repair these things. WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHRYLSER AGAIN AND WE ARE SPREADING THE WORD TO EVERYONE TO NOT BUY CHRYLSER!

I bought a used 2005 T&C and it has been a wonderful drive> I replace oil regularly and monitor all water and fluids. This year at 110.000 miles the brakes went out. I mean I couldn't stop the car without using the emergency brake. Replaced the master cylinders and rear brake pads in February. In June replaced the master cylinder and front brake pads. Master cylinders are only warranteed for 3 months. Now the brakes are out again. The pedal goes to the floor and there is no stopping. I pump the brakes and stomp them and manage to slow down and eventually stop. It is freaky as hell driving to and from work. I can't afford another car and don't know how I can keep paying for brakes every couple of months. I loved this car now I fear for my life.

Okay - so I bought a 2011 Town & Country a year ago. I have 22, 000 miles on it and now a $400 bill for REAR brake pads and rotors! I will fix this vehicle once and begin a search for a non-Chrysler vehicle. The person that wrote that the help line is of no help is correct. They talk and treat you like they are not concerned and won't help! I really thought the Chrysler had gotten their act together but boy was I wrong. Don't buy a Chrysler unless you like throwing hard earned money at a useless vehicle!