IllustrationENGINE FAILS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. IT HAPPENS OFTEN AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. DEALER INSTALLED A CO-PILOT WHICH REGISTERED A NUMBER OF OCCURENCES. SINCE AUGUST 2003 DEALER TRIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *LA
1997 Chrysler Town And Country
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Chrysler Town And Country do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 216.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Town And Country years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 90 of 388 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports14 fire reports20 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
52 reportsTHE EVAPORATOR HEATER COIL AND EXPANSION VALVE MALFUNCTIONED. PRIOR TO THIS, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING THE VAN. THIS HAPPENED SINCE JANUARY 2002. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE ABOVE PARTS. *AK THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS, THE SE…
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THE EVAPORATOR HEATER COIL AND EXPANSION VALVE MALFUNCTIONED. PRIOR TO THIS, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING THE VAN. THIS HAPPENED SINCE JANUARY 2002. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE ABOVE PARTS. *AK THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS, THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER HAD BEEN REPLACED. *SCC ALSO THE HORN, DRIVER SEAT RACK AND GRILL WERE REPLACED. *JB
NAR 06/19/2003. *MR SOON AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLEH HAD A FLAT TIRE BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED, BUT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS DEFECTIVE. ALONG WITH THE PARKING BRAKES…
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NAR 06/19/2003. *MR SOON AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLEH HAD A FLAT TIRE BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED, BUT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS DEFECTIVE. ALONG WITH THE PARKING BRAKES SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS EXISTED WITH THE VEHICLE. A BELT TENSIONER AND TUNE UP WAS NEEDED. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR THE FUEL RAILS AND CLOCKS SPRINGS. HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO RECOGNIZE OTHER MALFUNCTIONS LIKE THE PARKING BRAKES IN WHICH THE CONSUMER FELT A RECALL NEEDED TO BE ISSUED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND GIVE PROMPT RESPONSE. *CB THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REASON THE PARKING NRAKE DID NOT WORK WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE NEEDED DISC PADS, BRAKE SHOES ROTORS AND DRUMS BECAUSE THEY WERE GLAZED AND COULD NOT BE RESURFACED. THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO CLEANED. *JB
VAN ENGINE DIES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT ANY SPUTTERING OR WARNING, LIKE SOMEONE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN AS SOON AS I PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND TURN KEY. OFTEN WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL JERK REAL HARD LIKE I JUST DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP, BUT ENGINE DOES NOT KILL. THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES FOR A SECO…
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VAN ENGINE DIES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT ANY SPUTTERING OR WARNING, LIKE SOMEONE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN AS SOON AS I PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND TURN KEY. OFTEN WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL JERK REAL HARD LIKE I JUST DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP, BUT ENGINE DOES NOT KILL. THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES FOR A SECOND. DEALER SAYS NOTHING SHOWS ON COMPUTER SO THERES NOTHING HE CAN DO. CHRYSLER IN DETROIT WAS CALLED AND SAID THE SAME THING. THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I SEE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM POSTED ALSO. HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS OR SO. IT SEEMS IF THE DEALERS COMPUTER DOESN'T GIVE THEM A CODE THEY ARE LOST AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP. IT'S A VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN!
SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF ON A REGULAR BASIS. A CHRYSLER EMPLOYEE TOLD THE CONSUMER TO EXPECT IT TO COME OFF WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN. *JB
1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER STATED THE CLOCK SPRING SHORTED OUT INTERNALLY, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL, REGARDING THE CLOCK SPRING AND THAT IT WOULD BE REPLACED REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER REPLACED THE EGR VALVE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE UNDER RAINY CONDITIONS, CONSUMER STATES" THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL POWER. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED SERPENTINE BELT HAD FALLEN OFF DUE TO DRIVING IN RAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT (TIMING BELT) CAME OFF. THIS CAUSED THE LOST OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND COOLANT. HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 OR MORE TIMES FOR PROBLEM WITH SERPENTINE BELT. TS
CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THE POWER STEERING ENDED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS RUNNING HIGH. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LOOK UNDER HOOD AND NOTICE MAJOR BELT HAD BROKEN. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THREE WEEKS AFTER REPAIR PROBLEM RETURN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLES ENGINE WILL DIED, AND THEN CONSUMER CAN RESTART AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. NLM
Official recalls
502V293000 · Air Bags:frontal
Nov 7, 2002
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON THIS COMPONENT FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
02V076000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
Mar 8, 2002
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SOME TRIM MATERIAL CAN LOOSEN AND DROP INTO THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRIM WITH FOAM BLOCKERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE ALL 3RD ROW SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 3, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
00V268000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Sep 13, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS BUILT WITH 3.3L AND 3.8L ENGINES HAVE FUEL RAILS WITH NITROLE RUBBER O-RING SEALS THAT CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME. FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE UNDERHOOD FUEL INJECTION FUEL RAIL COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEAL ON THE VEHICLE FUEL RAILS TO PREVENT EXTERNAL LEAKAGE OF FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL CROSSOVER TUBE, SHOULD THE EXISTING O-RINGS CONTINUE TO DEGRADE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2002. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE PHASED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
98V185000 · Child Seat
Aug 6, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT ON THE INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT WHEN THE SAFETY BELT LATCH PLATE BECOMES CONTAMINATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING A CHILD FROM THE RESTRAINT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE LATCH MECHANISM. AN EXTENDER WILL BE ADDED TO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE ANCHOR FOR THE CHILD SEAT SAFETY BELTS SO THAT THE RELEASE CLIPS ARE MORE VISIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE OPERATOR IN THE EVENT THAT THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED. IN ADDITION, AN INSTRUCTIONAL OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT CARD WILL BE PROVIDED.
96V215000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Oct 29, 1996
THE MASTER CYLINDER REAR SEAL, BETWEEN THE HYDRAULIC FLUID AND THE VACUUM RESERVOIR, MAY NOT SEAL ADEQUATELY ALLOWING HYDRAULIC FLUID TO BE DRAWN INTO THE POWER ASSIST VACUUM RESERVOIR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DECREASES, THE LEVEL SENSOR WILL DETECT THE LOSS OF FLUID AND ILLUMINATE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE WARNING LAMP. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED CAN RESULT IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. ADDENDUM (4-14-97): VEHICLES INSPECTED PER CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 707 AND FOUND TO BE OUTSIDE THE LISTED SUSPECT MASTER CYLINDER DATE CODE RANGE, MUST NOW HAVE THE MASTER CYLINDER PRIMARY PISTON REPLACED (CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 714).
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6EA01007 · Air Bag Clockspring
Opened Feb 21, 2001 · Closed Nov 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
RQ00008 · Dc Minivan Fuel Injector Rail Leak
Opened Mar 9, 2000 · Closed Mar 18, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA99013 · Post Collision Fuel System
Opened Jun 11, 1999 · Closed Aug 10, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
No summary supplied.
PE99010 · POST-COLLISION Fuel System Integrity
Opened Feb 3, 1999 · Closed Jun 11, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
There is no summary currently available
EA97003 · Integrated Child Seat Belt Lockup
Opened Jan 31, 1997 · Closed Aug 19, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
Child Seat
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT IDENTIFYING A SAFETY DEFECT AND OUTLINING THE PROPOSED REMEDY.RECALL NUMBER 98V-185 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS SAFETY RECALL.
SQ96016 · Integrated Child Seat Belt Lockup
Opened Sep 18, 1996 · Closed Feb 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:integrated Child Seat
ODI CONTINUES TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ALLEGING LATCHING/RETRACTOR MECHANISM PROBLEMS.CHRYSLER'S ASSESSMENT OF THE PROBLEM INDICATES THAT OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES ARE NOT ADHERING TO THE CLEANING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SEAT.THE SEAT APPEARS TO MALFUNCTION IF CRUMBS OF FOOD OR BEVERAGE RESIDUE ACCUMULATES ON THE LATCHING TONGUE IN THEWELL LOCATED BETWEEN THE CHILD'S LEGS.ODI HAS 19 COMPLAINTS OF RETRACT LOCKUP.SEVEN OF THESE COMPLAINTS REPORT CUTTING THE STRAPS TO REMOVE THE CHILD.TWO OF THE SEVEN CONSUMERS ALLEGE THE CHILD WAS CHOKING.CHRYSLER REPORTS 60 OWNER/FIELD REPORTS WHICH INDICATED 19 HARNESSES WERE CUT TO REMOVE THE CHILDREN.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO FULLY ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AND TO EVALUATE THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION'S RATIONAL FOR NOT CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN.