IllustrationTHE VAN LOST POWER STEERING EVERY TIME IT WAS DRIVEN OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER.*JB
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
What owners actually said
296 reportsWHILE DRIVING IN RAIN THE FAN BELT WHICH PROVIDES POWER TO STEERING, BATTERY AND ENGINE COOLING FALLS OFF. FAILURE CAUSES IMMEDIATE LOSS OF STEERING & WITHIN 20 SECONDS ENGINE OVERHEATS & DISABLES VEHICAL UNTIL TOWED. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY 6 TIMES (NEW TENSIONER, NEW PULLEY WHEE AND NEW PIPES TO DRAIN WATER. …
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WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN THE FAN BELT WHICH PROVIDES POWER TO STEERING, BATTERY AND ENGINE COOLING FALLS OFF. FAILURE CAUSES IMMEDIATE LOSS OF STEERING & WITHIN 20 SECONDS ENGINE OVERHEATS & DISABLES VEHICAL UNTIL TOWED. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY 6 TIMES (NEW TENSIONER, NEW PULLEY WHEE AND NEW PIPES TO DRAIN WATER. SAME RESULT EACH TIME, AFTER PERIOD OF TIME OCCURS AGAIN. CAR IS TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE . *AK
ON MONDAY, JULY 26, 2004, WHILE ON A MINI-VACATION WITH MY FAMILY IN COVINGTON, KENTUKCY, WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON OUR 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY XLI, WHICH IS WELL KEPT AND HAS ONLY 63,000 MILES. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE PLACED MY FAMILY IN DANGER IN A STRANGE CITY, AND REQUIRED TOWING TO THE LOCAL DEALER …
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ON MONDAY, JULY 26, 2004, WHILE ON A MINI-VACATION WITH MY FAMILY IN COVINGTON, KENTUKCY, WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON OUR 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY XLI, WHICH IS WELL KEPT AND HAS ONLY 63,000 MILES. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE PLACED MY FAMILY IN DANGER IN A STRANGE CITY, AND REQUIRED TOWING TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND RENTAL OF A VEHICLE TO RETURN HOME TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, OVER 100 MILES AWAY. MARSHALL DODGE DEALERSHIP IN COVINGTON DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AND OFFER TO CONDUCT SUCH REPLACEMENT FOR NEARLY $2,500. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND INQUIRY, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MR. TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. REPRESENTATIVES AT MR. TRANSMISSION NOTIFIED US THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, AND EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS A DEFECTIVE PIN IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH COMMONLY WORKS ITS WAY OUT OF THE HOUSING UNIT ON THIS VEHICLE, AND DESTROYS THE TRANSMISSION. WE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR VEHICLE WITH 63,000 MILES AT A COST OF $1,848.00, PLUS VEHICLE RENTAL CHARGES AND DEALER FEES TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM (AN ADDITIONAL $169.00). I INTEND TO WRITE CHRYSLER AND INVITE YOU TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO CONTACT ME. THANK YOU. *AK
TRANMISSION PROBLEMS, STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. *AK
MAR. 03 AT 79,000 MILES, RATTLE IN FRONT END. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS AND LINKAGES. 7/04 AT 98,000 MILES SAME NOISE AND SAME DIAGNOSIS BY SAME DEALERSHIP: BUSHINGS AND LINKAGES ARE WORN. PARTS ARE STILL ON CAR. *LA
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT, AND PLACED A SHIELD AROUND IT TO PREVENT IT FROM FALLING OFF. *AK
BOLT SECURING THE HYDRAULIC PUMP TO THE TAILGATE BROKE OFF ALLOWING THE PUMP TO POP OFF. TAILGATE FELL CLOSED, IT WILL NOT REMAIN OPEN WITH ONLY ONE HYDROLIC PUMP. A PORTION OF THE BOLT IS LODGED IN THE BODY OF THE VAN.*AK
THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR AND TWICE IN ONE WEEK THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN WET WEATHER. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WITH HER 4 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF YOU LOSE, AMONG OTHER ITEMS, THE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A DANG…
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THREE TIMES IN ONE YEAR AND TWICE IN ONE WEEK THE SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN WET WEATHER. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WITH HER 4 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF YOU LOSE, AMONG OTHER ITEMS, THE POWER STEERING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY DEALER FOUND THE SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM (ONLY AFTER I TOLD HIM THE TSB NUMBER) BUT WOULD NOT SHOW IT TO ME. A CALL TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLY GOT ME AN OFFER TO SELL ME THE SERVICE BULLETIN. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THE SERVICE BULLETIN CALLS FOR REPLACEMENT AN INCORRECTLY DESIGNED IDLER PULLEY BRACKET. I BELIEVE THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE, MADE WORSE BY THE MANUFACTURERS UNWILLINGNESS TO SHARE ITS KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE CUSTOMER.*AK
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THE DRIVER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE. THE HORN STOPPED OPERATING AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINED ON. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD AN AIR BAG FAILURE WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO STOP FUNCTIONING. *NM
THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THE 1996-98 MINIVANS FOR THE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. DEALER SAYS THAT MY VAN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL AND CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IS OF NO HELP EITHER. MY 1998 T&C EXHIBITS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHER MINIVANS AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECTIVE DEVICE (AIRBAG LIGHT, CRUISE & HORN NOT FU…
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THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THE 1996-98 MINIVANS FOR THE CLOCKSPRING FAILURE. DEALER SAYS THAT MY VAN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL AND CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER IS OF NO HELP EITHER. MY 1998 T&C EXHIBITS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES AS THE OTHER MINIVANS AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECTIVE DEVICE (AIRBAG LIGHT, CRUISE & HORN NOT FUNCTIONAL). THE AIRBAG AND HORN ARE SAFETY DEVICES AND MUST BE REPLACED/REPAIRED. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART AT MY OWN EXPENSE. WHY IS MY VEHICLE NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL? IT HAS THE SAME MANUFACTURED DATE, SAME ISSUES, SAME DEFECTIVE PART... I EXPECT CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR ($233.94). *AK
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