IllustrationWHILE DRIVING IN SNOW AND RAIN FOR ONE DAY THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE UP, THE BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON, AND I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE. I WAS ON A FLAT STREET AND IN MOTION WHEN IT OCCURRED.
1998 Chrysler Town And Country
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
30–25K
625–50K
2550–75K
2375–100K
33100–150K
21150K+
111 reports with mileage · 185 unknown
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 62 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports20 fire reports9 injury reports
Steering complaints
30 reportsVEHICLE CONTINUES TO TURN OFF WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND MUST RESTART VEHICLE WHILE APPROACHING A LIGHT OR GOING UP A HILL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP PRIOR AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE, REPAIR SHOP CONFIRMED ISSUES. HAVE REPORT FROM SHOP INDICATING CONCERN FOR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. LOOKED FOR RECALLS R…
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VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TURN OFF WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND MUST RESTART VEHICLE WHILE APPROACHING A LIGHT OR GOING UP A HILL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP PRIOR AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE, REPAIR SHOP CONFIRMED ISSUES. HAVE REPORT FROM SHOP INDICATING CONCERN FOR SAFETY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. LOOKED FOR RECALLS REGARDING THIS AND NOTHING REPORTED. AGAIN, VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING INTERMITENTLY AND MUST RESTART VEHICLE. ALL POWER TO VEHICLE STOPS. *TR
SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS WITH CHILD IN VEHICLE. CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL FAMILY TO BE PICKED UP. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO HAVE SERPENTINE BELT PUT BACK ON. *TR
AFTER DRIVING IN THE RAIN SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW, INCLUDING A MUDDY DIRT ROAD, HIT A MUD PUDDLE AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN STEERING. WAS A BELT LAYING ON THE GROUND UNDER RIGHT SIDE OF CAR. CAR TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP. WAS TOLD 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT RAINS. BELT REINSTALLED. NOW CAUTI…
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AFTER DRIVING IN THE RAIN SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW, INCLUDING A MUDDY DIRT ROAD, HIT A MUD PUDDLE AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN STEERING. WAS A BELT LAYING ON THE GROUND UNDER RIGHT SIDE OF CAR. CAR TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP. WAS TOLD 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT RAINS. BELT REINSTALLED. NOW CAUTIOUS OF DRIVING IN RAIN. WOULD LIKE TO FIND SOLUTION. *TR
REPEATED DISMOUNT OF SERPENTINE BELT FROM CRANKSHAFT PULLEY DUE TO WATER SPLASHING FROM RIGHT FRONT TIRE. HAS OCCURRED FOUR OR FIVE TIMES SINCE OWNING THE 1998 VEHICLE IN 2001. THIS CAUSED THE ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKING AND ELECTRICAL POWER FROM THE ALTERNATOR. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY CHRYSLER TO PROVIDE S SHIELD…
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REPEATED DISMOUNT OF SERPENTINE BELT FROM CRANKSHAFT PULLEY DUE TO WATER SPLASHING FROM RIGHT FRONT TIRE. HAS OCCURRED FOUR OR FIVE TIMES SINCE OWNING THE 1998 VEHICLE IN 2001. THIS CAUSED THE ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKING AND ELECTRICAL POWER FROM THE ALTERNATOR. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY CHRYSLER TO PROVIDE S SHIELD TO PROTECT THIS AREA. *TR
WHEN GOING THROUGH AVERAGE SIZE PUDDLE, SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. THIS DISABLES ALL STEERING CONTROL AND ALTERNATOR/COOLANT SYSTEM, ETC. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. HAVE REPLACED BELT MYSELF NUMEROUS TIMES. FAILURE OF TENSIONER AND 2 OTHER PULLEYS EVENTUALLY NEEDED AT COST OF $300+. WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN... …
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WHEN GOING THROUGH AVERAGE SIZE PUDDLE, SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. THIS DISABLES ALL STEERING CONTROL AND ALTERNATOR/COOLANT SYSTEM, ETC. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. HAVE REPLACED BELT MYSELF NUMEROUS TIMES. FAILURE OF TENSIONER AND 2 OTHER PULLEYS EVENTUALLY NEEDED AT COST OF $300+. WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN... I SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A SERPENTINE BELT PROBLEM. SHE REPLACED THE BELT THREE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE FIRST PROBLEM EMERGED WHEN THE BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHEN THE BREAKAGE OCCURRED. THE NEXT TWO TIMES THE BELT ITSELF DID NOT BREAK, IT CA…
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DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A SERPENTINE BELT PROBLEM. SHE REPLACED THE BELT THREE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE FIRST PROBLEM EMERGED WHEN THE BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHEN THE BREAKAGE OCCURRED. THE NEXT TWO TIMES THE BELT ITSELF DID NOT BREAK, IT CAME OFF THE PULLEY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ALL THREE TIMES.*AK
1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE ROD AND THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. *MR THERE WAS BINDING AND POPPING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. *SC *JB
THE VEHICLE, A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN, COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER STEERING WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITH THE VAN OVERHEATING WITHOUT DAMAGE OR INJURY. AS THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT POWER STEERING HAS BEEN LOST WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE LAST THREE …
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THE VEHICLE, A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN, COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER STEERING WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WITH THE VAN OVERHEATING WITHOUT DAMAGE OR INJURY. AS THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT POWER STEERING HAS BEEN LOST WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, WE UNDERSTANDABLY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROBLEM IS CORRECTABLE AND IF THE VEHICLE CAN BE RENDERED SAFE. OUR MECHANIC PROVIDED ME WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY CHRYSLER WHICH IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM. FOR VANS FROM THE 1995-1999 MODEL YEARS, THE SERPENTINE BELT CAN SLIP OFF THE IDLER PULLEY WHEN THE VAN IS DRIVEN IN DEEP SNOW OR WATER. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SERVICE BULLETIN GIVES NO INDICATION OF WHAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT WANT ANYONE (EITHER IN MY FAMILY OR OUTSIDE IT) TO BE A FATALITY AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. WHILE MY MECHANIC CAN DO THE REPAIRS (LIKE HE DID THE LAST TIME), HE CAN GIVE ME NO ASSURANCE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN. *AK
THE VAN LOST POWER STEERING EVERY TIME IT WAS DRIVEN OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER.*JB
Official recalls
504V480000 · Air Bags
Oct 6, 2004
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG MAY BECOME DISABLED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE HUB OF THE STEERING WHEEL.
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 COVERED VEHICLES WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. FOR THOSE VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 70,000 MILES, DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL OFFER AN EXTENDED LIFETIME WARRANTY UNDER WHICH IT WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING AT NO CHARGE IF IT FAILS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
02V293000 · 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.
97V231000 · Child Seat
Dec 15, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED CHILD SEATS. THE SHOULDER HARNESS RESTRAINT WEBBING WAS INCORRECTLY ROUTED AROUND THE METAL REINFORCEMENT BAR ON THESE SEATS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CHILD SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ROUTING OF THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING AND ANY FOUND INCORRECT WILL BE PROPERLY ROUTED.
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
6EA04013 · Driver Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Opened Jun 4, 2004 · Closed May 25, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
THE DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING CAN DEVELOP AN OPEN-CIRCUIT CONDITION RESULTING IN NONFUNCTIONAL DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED), AND/OR STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED).IN ITS OCTOBER 5, 2004 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL AND REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL MY 1998.5-2000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER MINIVANS, BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1998 AND AUGUST 2000, WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS.IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THIS COMPONENT ON MY 1998.5-2000 MINIVANS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE.THE DETAILS OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION ARE DESCRIBED IN DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S LETTER (SEE RECALL NO. 04V-480).THE AGENCY BELIEVES THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS WITH RESPECT TO THOSE VEHICLES COVERED ONLY BY THE LIFETIME WARRANTY.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE PAGE 2 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
RQ04001 · Driver Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Opened Jan 28, 2004 · Closed Jun 4, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal
COMPLAINTS REPORT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND THIS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING HORN AND/OR CRUISE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED).THIS IS INDICATIVE OF AN OPEN-CIRCUIT CLOCKSPRING FAILURE (RESULTS IN NON-FUNCTIONING DRIVER'S AIR BAG), SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE CONDITION THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S RECALL OF MODEL YEAR 1996-1998.5 MINIVANS (RECALL NO. 02V-293).THIS RECALL QUERY HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-013).
EA01007 · 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