Differential Unit problems of the 1996 Chrysler Town & Country

Chrysler has known about the differential pin problems in it's 41/te(a604) transmission for years. The remedy of proper lubrication is simple. They refuse to fix it and refuse to help owners who must pay for the repairs. These transmission need to be recalled and repaired before they break and knock a hole in the side of the transmission case creating a very expensive repair. I can give you the details of my individual case if you require it.

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.

While traveling approximately 60 mph there was a large "booming" noise that came from under vehicle, and vehicle suddenly lost all power. Dealership examined vehicle and determined that differential unit exploded, and has to be replaced. Please provide any additional information / documentation.

The differential pin, bearing pin for the center spider gears cracked more toward one end or closer to an end vs. At the center, the now two piece pin protrudes from the differential cage and wears through the case on the bell housing side ,and a transmission fluid leak appears that is extremely similar to a front seal or front pump leak. Once the hole is present the differential pin segments strike the edge of the opening and wear the hole large enough for the longer of the two segments to protrude and stop the entire drive line, engine, transmission and front wheels and axles instantainiously. This failure occurred at 25 mph, and was like hitting a brick wall. The transmission is a 41te. The dealership representative stated completely off the record that they have seen a large influx of this failure in these vehicles with the 41te with mileage averaging 65000, as little as 15000, and as many as 100000. If we were at highway speed when the pin let loose and locked the drive line, the vehicle would have been uncontrolable due to the locked front wheels. Chrysler has changed the designation of the a604 to the 41te in a cheap attempt to separate litigious action in progress by older van owners, from the owners, of the newer or latest body style. The 41te is the same design deficient transmission as the a604 with at different designation (ultradrive automatic). Having purchased replacement transmissions for two of the three Chrysler minivans we have owned, and having listened to innumerable persons I've met that own or have owned a chrylser/Plymouth/Dodge minivan tell of replacing their transmission, it's more than time for the federal government to protect the public from this lecherous and unsafe company. The failure of the differential pin is more than a nuisance repair, it is a hazard that will kill. Chrysler needs to be taken to task to recall, redesign, retrofit and repair the fleet now, before someone is needlessly killed.

Transmission problems have been known to occur on these vehicles and Chrysler has done nothing to my knowledge to correct this problem from occurring. I strongly think that in the right coditions it would cause a fire hazard. The transmissions are known to break the differential pin and shatter the case allowin fluid to come in contact with a hot exhaust system. I would be my opinion that they should recall these vehicles and repair this problem.

Differential unit blewout while driving putting a hole in the transmission case the company wants me to pay 2/3 of the total to fix it, and I think the problem came from the rebuilt transmission they put in last year, my problem is the vehicle is 5 years old and to go thru two transmissions just dont make sense expecially at the owners expense. Apparently there is a ploblem somewhere in the differential and the transmission for this to happen not only to be but other owners of the same vehicle for the same year they are telling me they wont know if it is there fault unless the open the area up to see what happen but I have to agree to pay for that to happen I dont think I should have to pay for there mistakes this is not the first time this has happen I owned a town@country before and had to put 2 transmissions in that thinking because they came oput with a new style and presumable a better vechicle I decided to give them another try. Please help me in this or provide me with who can help me in this matter. Thank you debra c jacob.

Driver heard a loud bang and a grinding noise while at a stop and vehicle shot forward. Driver was able to driver vehicle home. When vehicle was checked by a mechanic, he discovered that a hole was blown in the differential which, in turn, caused a hole to be blown in transmission. Vehicle will be repaired. Parts are on natonal back order.

Transmission in this vehicle has failed 5 times; repaired once; replaced 4 times. Most recent replacement 1/20/99 at 58000 miles. This failure characterized by transmission explosion with high speed projectile from transmission case destroying differential and starter. Car became unable to control and accident was narrowly avoided. If this occurred at high speed injuries would have been unavoidable.

Transmission has been replaced 4 times due to a pin within differential unit that punctured aluminum casing, causing transmission fluid to leak. Please give any further details. Please add VIN.