IllustrationTHE VIBRATES IS IN THE TRANSMISSION
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 DRVING ABOUT 30MPH, VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE FOR NO REASONSTEERING WHEEL WOULD SHIMMY & SHAKE. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIRES NEEDED CHANGING. MANUFACTURER OF TIRES (MICHELIN) IT WAS DUE TO DESIGN OF VEHICLE. *AK
THE TOWN & COUNTRY (T&C) MINIVAN DOES NOT HAVE A STEARING WHEEL GEAR SHIFT LOCK TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM ACCIDENTLY SHIFTING GEARS. YOU DON'T NEED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK IN THE TOWN & COUNTRY VAN. HOW DID THE SAFETY COMMISSION ALLOW CHRYSLER TO GET AWAY WITH THIS? DO WE NEED TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR HAVE A CH…
Read full complaint
THE TOWN & COUNTRY (T&C) MINIVAN DOES NOT HAVE A STEARING WHEEL GEAR SHIFT LOCK TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM ACCIDENTLY SHIFTING GEARS. YOU DON'T NEED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK IN THE TOWN & COUNTRY VAN. HOW DID THE SAFETY COMMISSION ALLOW CHRYSLER TO GET AWAY WITH THIS? DO WE NEED TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR HAVE A CHILD KILLED IN ONE OF THESE VANS FOR THE GOV. TO REQUIRE CHRYSLER TO INSTALL A SAFETY LOCK ON ALL OF THEIR POPULAR MINIVANS? I ASKED A DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT CHYSLER DOES NOT HAVE A SAFETY LOCK ON ITS T&C MINIVANS. THIS SURPRISED ME AND THE DEALER, SINCE MANY FAMILIES DO BUY THE T&C MINIVAN. I THINK THAT CHRYSLER NEEDS TO INSTALL THIS FEATURE IN ALL OF ITS POPULAR VANS! ALL I AM ASKING FOR IS CHRYSLER TO INSTALL A SAFETY FEATURE THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE IN ONE OF ITS MOST POPULAR MINIVAN SERIES.
3 CATASTROPHIC IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURES IN ~6300 MILES. ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING & NO SYSTEM & HAS TWICE STRANDED DRIVER ON AN INTERSTATE HGHWAY AFTER DARK. ENGINE STOPS. ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER AFTER STOPPING. LIGHTS, HORN, ETC. ARE OPERABLE AFTER FAILURE.
VAN ALWAYS PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING. DEALER STATED NO PROBLEM FOUND. CAN DRIVE ON HIGHWAY ON THE RIGHT-MOST LANE, LET GO OF WHEEL AND END UP IN PASSING LANE ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY WHICH RESULTED IN LOUD WIND NOISE AND SAFETY ISSUES. REAR HATCH DOOR DID NOT SHUT PROPERLY AND RAT…
Read full complaint
VAN ALWAYS PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING. DEALER STATED NO PROBLEM FOUND. CAN DRIVE ON HIGHWAY ON THE RIGHT-MOST LANE, LET GO OF WHEEL AND END UP IN PASSING LANE ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY WHICH RESULTED IN LOUD WIND NOISE AND SAFETY ISSUES. REAR HATCH DOOR DID NOT SHUT PROPERLY AND RATTLED WHEN THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WEATHER STRIPPING ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OUT OF POSITION. LOCK BUTTON ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CROOKED AND LOOKED TO BE DEFECTIVE.
WHEN DRIVER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHILE THE VAN WAS IN REVERSE ON A STEEP SLOPE, THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR 90% AND NOTHING HAPPENED. DRIVER THEN RELEASED THE BRAKES AND PRESSED DOWN AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES FOR THE 3RD TIME, THE DRIVER HIT A CAR PARKED DOWNHILL ABOUT 40 FEET AWA…
Read full complaint
WHEN DRIVER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHILE THE VAN WAS IN REVERSE ON A STEEP SLOPE, THE PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR 90% AND NOTHING HAPPENED. DRIVER THEN RELEASED THE BRAKES AND PRESSED DOWN AGAIN AND NOTHING HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES FOR THE 3RD TIME, THE DRIVER HIT A CAR PARKED DOWNHILL ABOUT 40 FEET AWAY. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE VAN, AND REFUSED TO TALK TO OWNER. AN ENGINEERING COMPANY WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK
DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT CONTAIN SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN CHILD MOVING GEAR AND VEHICLE ROLLING.
VAN HAS CONSTANT VIBRATIONS STARTING AT SPEEDS OF 45MPH TO 70 MPH.
THE GEAR SHIFT ENGAGES WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT NECK INJURIES BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION. HE WA SLOOKING FOR TRAFFIC FROM RIGHT SIDE AND WAS LEANING 3" FROM AIR BAG. *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