Automatic Transmission Control Module problems of the 2001 Chrysler Town & Country

The contact owns a 2001 Chrysler town and country. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for a diagnostic. The technician stated that the pcm would have to be replaced. The failure continued after the replacement of the pcm. The vehicle was taken to the dealer four different times. The pcm was replaced three times. The technician stated that there was no guarantee the replacement of the pcm would repair the failure. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic. The mechanic stated that the pcm was not the cause of the failure. The mechanic stated that the power distribution box would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

Transmission control module, driving down the road and the check engine light came on then, I noticed that the rpms were at 4000 and the transmission wasn't shifting. My husband put it on the computer and it said it was the tcm failure this is a dealer only part at 336. 00 with a 125. 00 core charge and then it has to be programmed by the dealer. At a cost of 45. 00 if you get the part and install yourself . If the dealer does it, it runs between 700 and 800 dollars. We found a parts place that send them out to be rebuilt for 255. 00 plus shipping and handling . When I was looking for info on this part there was hundreds of complaints on forums on this same problem. This component is located in the driverside wheel well and when my husband removed it, it was very corroded with rust.

My 2001 t&c was parked in my driveway when I decided to crank it to ge the air conditioning going while I went to shut the gate to our yard. When I turned around the car was going down the driveway with the driver's side door still open. The van didn't stop until it ran over the neighbor's fence and got caught in it. When I got to the car I noticed it was in reverse (had it been in neutral it probably wouldn't have moved because the area is so flat). I don't know how it got into reverse because I didn't even get in the car, just my arm to crank it. The emergency brake wasn't on since it was such a flat place. Once I got the van loose I tried in vain to see if it would go into reverse without my foot on the brake, but I couldn't make it happen so that tells me I didn't accidentally cause it by hitting the gear shaft with my arm. I also tried repeatedly to turn the car off with it in gear (of all kinds) to see if it was possible that I had not left it in park, but again I couldn't do it. This tells me it is a vehicle defect. I have contacted my local dealership and all I was told was that they hadn't heard of anything like that. They didn't even suggest that I bring it in! I'm very nervous about my van now because I just don't know what to expect. Thank god my kids weren't in the car and there wasn't anyone playing behind it or in the yard to which it crashed. This could've been disastrous. It is a serious problem and needs to be looked into. My van only has 52,000 miles on it. We bought it new in Nov. 2001.

My wife was driving the 2001 Chrysler Town & Country when she heard a noise. The check engine light went on. She immediately drove home cancelling the appointment she had, I took car to my mechanic. He placed the car on his computer and a code related to a transmission solenoid came up. He said the car was in "limp mode". This is something unique to Chrysler transmissions. (car can go into 2nd gear only) he cleared the code and suggested to see if light came back. It did. I took car to a transmission specialist the following day. His computer pulled up a different code but it was related to the transmission. His code said it was the transmission control module, which was located in the front wheel well. He opened the wheel well to inspect the module. He said the module was rusted through and cracked. The replacement cost is estimated to be in the $400. 00 range. The transmission mechanic said that he has seen a number of cases where the module becomes deteriorated primarily because of its location in the wheel well. It is an example of the engineers using "logic" in the placement of components. If this is a design flaw, I believe the replacement cost should be borne by the manufacturer. This is a potentially dangerous situation especially when on the highway at speeds above 35-40 mph.