IllustrationAIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED. MISSED A RECALL BY 5 DAYS. *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 reportsOUR 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVAN HAS HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING BELT FALLING OFF WHEN THE VEHICLES DRIVES THROUGH STANDING WATER (OR SNOW). WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND A CHRYSLER DEALER IN AN EFFORT TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. EACH OF THEM (INCLUDING THE DEALER) HAS TOLD US THAT …
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OUR 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVAN HAS HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING BELT FALLING OFF WHEN THE VEHICLES DRIVES THROUGH STANDING WATER (OR SNOW). WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO NUMEROUS MECHANICS AND A CHRYSLER DEALER IN AN EFFORT TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. EACH OF THEM (INCLUDING THE DEALER) HAS TOLD US THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINIVANS, BUT THAT CHRYSLER HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY RECOMMENDED FIX. WE CONSIDER THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH WE HAVE PUT-UP WITH FOR SEVERAL YEARS.*AK
FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE DAYS AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS USED. TRANSMISSION LOCKED INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. REBUILT TRANSMISSION COST $1500. GOT IT BACK AND 4 DAYS LATER THE FAN TO COOL THE ENGINE WENT OUT. IN THE SHOP ANOTHER 2 DAYS COSTING AN ADDITIONAL $180.…
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FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED THREE DAYS AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS USED. TRANSMISSION LOCKED INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. REBUILT TRANSMISSION COST $1500. GOT IT BACK AND 4 DAYS LATER THE FAN TO COOL THE ENGINE WENT OUT. IN THE SHOP ANOTHER 2 DAYS COSTING AN ADDITIONAL $180.00. FEEL LIKE I AM HEMMORHAGING MONEY ON THIS CAR. LEFT DRIVERS WINDOW SWITCH DOESN'T WORK AT TIMES AND WINDOW GETS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION.
FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD, HAD TO TURN AROUND AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK UP WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. HAD TO BE TOWED. AGAIN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON AUGUST 23, 2003. IT IS JERKING WHEN I GO INTO REVERSE OR FORWARD. WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED TO GARAGE. LAST DECEMBER WAS COMING OF …
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FIRST TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD, HAD TO TURN AROUND AND WHEN I WENT TO BACK UP WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE OR FORWARD. HAD TO BE TOWED. AGAIN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON AUGUST 23, 2003. IT IS JERKING WHEN I GO INTO REVERSE OR FORWARD. WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED TO GARAGE. LAST DECEMBER WAS COMING OF AN EXIT AND BOLT BROKE OFF FROM STEERING THAT GOES INTO THE TRANSMISSION
AIRBAG DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING 55MPH MIDDLE LANE, COULD NOT SEE, VAN FILLED WITH SMOKE, ALMOST CRASH WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN VAN, INJURY BURNS ON ARMS IGNITION FAILED 4 TIMES REPLACED 2X UNDER WARRANTY
THERE IS A CHEMICAL WITHIN THE TIRES THAT CAUSES THE RIMS TO CORRODE, CAUSING THE TIRES TO DEFLATE. *AK IF THE TIRES ARE NOT INFLATED EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS, THE VEHICLE BECOMES UNSTABLE. THE VALVE STEM HAD A LEAK. *JB *NM
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE GAS TANK WAS HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE DEALER REBUILT THE FUEL STRAPS TO THE TANK THE NEXT DAY. THE FUEL LINE COUPLED AND HAD BROKE…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE GAS TANK WAS HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE DEALER REBUILT THE FUEL STRAPS TO THE TANK THE NEXT DAY. THE FUEL LINE COUPLED AND HAD BROKEN. THE VAN STOPPED AS THE REMAINING GAS IN LINE SPILLED ONTO THE STREET. *SCC *JB
WHEN DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND OVERHEAT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD COME OFF THE PULLEYS, THE POWER STEERING, AIR CONDITION (COMPRESSOR), DEFROSTER AND ALTERNATOR HAD GONE OUT. *AK IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE WINDOWS FOGGED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TENSIONER AND SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT. (THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD COME OFF DURING A RAIN STORM AND THE…
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WHILE DRIVING, THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD COME OFF THE PULLEYS, THE POWER STEERING, AIR CONDITION (COMPRESSOR), DEFROSTER AND ALTERNATOR HAD GONE OUT. *AK IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE WINDOWS FOGGED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TENSIONER AND SERPENTINE DRIVE BELT. (THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD COME OFF DURING A RAIN STORM AND THE TENSIONER WAS WORN OUT) *SCC *JB
THE VEHICLE IS A 1998, CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN (LXI). THE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE "BODY CONTROL MODULE," AS DEFINED BY SNETHKAMP JEEP & CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT START PROPERLY WHEN ENGAGED AND CONTINUE WHEN IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ENGINE HAS TO …
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THE VEHICLE IS A 1998, CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN (LXI). THE PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE "BODY CONTROL MODULE," AS DEFINED BY SNETHKAMP JEEP & CHRYSLER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT START PROPERLY WHEN ENGAGED AND CONTINUE WHEN IN THE OFF POSITION. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF TO DISENGAGE OR STOP WIPERS. ALSO, ALL DOOR LOCKS CONTINUE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK WHEN A DOOR OR DOORS ARE OPEN, WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED, AND WHILE DRIVING. OCCASIONALLY, BEFORE TURNING ON THE IGNITION, THE ALARM WILL AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE: MUST USE THE REMOTE KEY (UNLOCK) BEFORE ENGINE WILL START. OFTEN, WHEN INSIDE, THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK A DOOR OR DOORS IS TO USE THE REMOTE CONTROL KEY (UNLOCK). *LA
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