IllustrationTHE VAN JUST DIED BY ITSELF WHILE RUNNING AT SPEED OF 60 MPH ON FREEWAY. *TR
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
21 reportsI REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND PUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH AND THE VAN QUIT ON ME. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD SMELL GAS. GAS WAS LEAKING ALMOST ONTO THE MUFFLER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE FUEL LINE SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING SO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST LINE. I T…
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I REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND PUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. WE WERE GOING TO CHURCH AND THE VAN QUIT ON ME. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND COULD SMELL GAS. GAS WAS LEAKING ALMOST ONTO THE MUFFLER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE FUEL LINE SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING SO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST LINE. I THANK GOD THAT THE VAN DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
ON JULY 5TH MY FIANCEE AND MY 2 DAUGHTERS WERE DRIVING TO MEET HER AUNT IN NEW JERSEY INTERSTATE 80. WHILE DRIVING MY CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 1997 AT THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SMOKING IN THE FRONT VENTS. AS THE SMOKE PROGRESSED SHE WAS CONCERNED AND WENT TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER, AS SHE DID SHE WAS NOT AB…
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ON JULY 5TH MY FIANCEE AND MY 2 DAUGHTERS WERE DRIVING TO MEET HER AUNT IN NEW JERSEY INTERSTATE 80. WHILE DRIVING MY CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 1997 AT THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT SHE NOTICED THE VEHICLE SMOKING IN THE FRONT VENTS. AS THE SMOKE PROGRESSED SHE WAS CONCERNED AND WENT TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER, AS SHE DID SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO USE THE BRAKE INITIALLY AND RODE SEVERAL METERS BEFORE THE CAR WOULD COME TO A STOP (OVER ON THE HIGHWAY). AS SHE PULLED OVER SHE SAW THE CAR START TO CATCH FIRE, WHILE DRIVING WITH OUR CHILDREN AGES 2 AND 10 MONTHS IN THE BACK FROM THE GAS LINE SIDE, SHE QUICKLY UNFASTENED THE KIDS AND WAS ABLE TO SINGLE HANDEDLY RESCUE THEM FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE MINIVAN WAS ON FIRE. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT A CAR FROM 1997 MAINTAINED WELL WOULD JUST EXPLODE INTO FLAMES DURING A TRIP WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR WITHOUT BEING HIT. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS. PAID IT OFF EARLY IN MARCH AND COULDN'T FATHOM HOW EASY I COULD'VE LOST MY ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD WITHOUT RECEIVING A WARNING ABOUT THE RECALL. NOW I AM OUT OF A VEHICLE, MY FAMILY IS TRAUMATIZED (I AM SOMEWHAT DISTURBED BECAUSE OF THIS) AND I HAVE TO FIND ALTERNATE MEANS FOR ME TO TRAVEL AND PERFORM BOTH OF MY JOBS PROPERLY. WHY AM I INCONVENIENCED BECAUSE OF THIS OBVIOUSLY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION. I WANT TO BE CONTACTED AND I DEMAND TO KNOW WHETHER YOUR COMPANY WILL SOLVE AND RECTIFY THIS AND ANY OTHER SITUATIONS PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE. I HAVE OWNED ONLY 2 CARS MY ENTIRE LIFE AND THEY BOTH WERE CHRYSLERS. I AND MY FAMILY ARE TROUBLED, DISTURBED AND LET DOWN THAT THIS OCCURRED. IF I AM NOT CONTACTED IN A TIMELY MANNER, I WILL HAVE TO DO MY OWN CONTACTING. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE TOTALED VEHICLE. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE WHEN PARKING HER VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE APART AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL #00V268000 FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY STATE THE RECALL WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED PRIOR TO HER …
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DT: THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE WHEN PARKING HER VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE APART AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL #00V268000 FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY STATE THE RECALL WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED PRIOR TO HER PURCHASE. *AK
WHENEVER I FILL UP THE GAS TANKS ON MY 97 TOWN & COUNTRY AND 98 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN, THE FUEL GAUGE INTERMITTENTLY GOES TO EMPTY AND YOU'LL HEAR THE "DING" SOUNDS. THIS OCCURS INTEMITTETLY UNTIL THE GAUGE IS HALFWAY EMPTY. THIS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR OVER 2 YEARS AND IT'S ANNOYING. *NM
JANUARY 2003 - R & R CROSS OVER PIPES HAD A CRACK. HAD TO REPLACE JANUARY 2003 - 3 LUGNUTS FELL OFF. HAD TO REPLACE JULY 2003 - KEY CYLINDER LOCKED UP. HAD TO REPLACE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. OCTOBER 2003 - FUEL PUMP WENT BAD. PART BROKE INSIDE THE GAS TANK. HAD TO REMOVE THE TANK AND BUY A NEW PART. I HAVE A TOYOTA WITH 128K…
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JANUARY 2003 - R & R CROSS OVER PIPES HAD A CRACK. HAD TO REPLACE JANUARY 2003 - 3 LUGNUTS FELL OFF. HAD TO REPLACE JULY 2003 - KEY CYLINDER LOCKED UP. HAD TO REPLACE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. OCTOBER 2003 - FUEL PUMP WENT BAD. PART BROKE INSIDE THE GAS TANK. HAD TO REMOVE THE TANK AND BUY A NEW PART. I HAVE A TOYOTA WITH 128K MILES AND IT HAS NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS! I'M THINKING ABOUT TRADING THE VAN IN.
THE PARTS FOR RECALL 00V 268 000 ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER , STORY CHRYSLER , LANSING, MI 517-323-6900, WAS NOTIFIED ON 22-MAR-2002. NLM
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 00V268000. CALLED DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, AND DEALER STATED THEY ONLY HAD A SMALL SUPPLY OF PARTS AVAILABLE.*AK
CONUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 00V268000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 895, AND UPON MAKING APPOINTMENT, PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER WAS ADDED TO A WAITING LIST UP TO 3 MONTHS. CONSUMER FILED COMPLAINT WITH MANUFACTURER.*AK
GOT RECALL 00V268000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 895 AND CALLED DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. DEALER INDICATED THERE WERE NO PARTS. DEALER DIDN'T KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE IN. *AK
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.