general problems of the 1999 Chrysler Town & Country

: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the rear passenger wheel separated from the vehicle once and the front driver wheel twice without warning. Each time the vehicle was maneuvered off the road, and towed to independent repair shops, who repaired the damage to the brakes and the hub however, the problem could not be determined. The dealer was not contacted.

Front right wheel fell off the vehicle unexpectedly at 20 mph. Consumer maintained control of the vehicle before pulling over to the side of the road. Taken to dealer for repairs, but the cause was undetermined.

Chrome wheels, which are standard equipment on the limited series, Chrysler minivan, become corroded, and leak air at tire bead. I've had 2 flats, replaced the tires with new tires, and had 5 more flats. Tire dealers say problem is caused by Chrysler manufacturing process that causes flaking. Chrysler declines to do anything to solve this safety problem.

Both rear tires began going flat on a weekly basis. Both began occuring at about the same time in August, 2000. No puncture could be found in tires. Reported problem to dealer (antwerpen Dodge, columbia, MD). Dealer serviced vehicle and reported they could find no problems. Tires continued going flat. Antwerpen again serviced vehicle, dismounted one rear tire from wheel and found severe wheel corrosion. Told us it was our fault because we had put fix-a-flat in the tire. . . We had not! we have put nothing but air into these tires. Chrylser was contacted (1-800-992-1997) and after speaking with antwerpen's service mgr declined to warrant defect. Chrysler wants us to pay $625. 00 per wheel to replace these defective wheels a that are only one year old! wheels have now been examined by a wheel specialty shop (ye ole wheel shop, 6363 washington blvd, elkridge, MD). This shop repairs damaged wheels and does work for several insurance companies. Specialty shop found no evidence of fix-a-flat or any other foreign material in tire/wheel. Informed me that this type of corrosion was common with chrome plated wheels that also had been chrome plated on the inside surfaces. Indicated that moisture had gotten into the tire/wheel assembly (probably through an air hose at a service station). The moisture then created a reaction between the chrome and the wheel material causing the wheel to "eat itself". Wheel examined has holes in the inside of the wheel where the reaction has eaten completely through the material. Shop informed me that quality manufaturers do not chrome plate the inside of the wheel to avoid this known problem. They also informed me that it was likely that all four of the wheels on this vehicle were bad. They will eventually become weak from corrosion and could break apart. Chrysler continues to refuse to recognize the problem as a warrantable defect. This is a safety issue as the wheels could fail at speed on the highway causing a crash.

Chrome wheels have a pin hole which causes a leak. Tires cannot be properly inflated. Tires can not hold air for more than a day due to pin hole leak in chrome wheel.

Vehicle's corroded, chrome-plated wheels are causing tires to deflate. The consumer's wife initially stop driving the vehicle because of the corrosion. When the dealer was confronted with this information, they denied the request for new wheels because the vehicle was out of warranty. Later on the consumer purchased four new wheels and the dealer reimbursed him $400. Dollars. The consumer was still upset because first, the new wheels destroyed the aesthetic appearance of this luxury minivan. Secondly, other drivers of the same model experienced the same defect.

The vehicle is experiencing severe deterioration of the aluminum wheel plating at the tire bead causing continuous air leaks which cause the tires to slowly deflate, the consumer was informed by a plating company that the wheels had not been properly prepared prior to the plating process, the dealer stated there appeared to be some type of electrolysis occuring between the tire and wheels. Nlm.