Power steering failure and water pump failure smoking under hood and power steering fluid all on the exhaust system almost caught fire.
2003 Chrysler Town And Country
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 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
188 reports with mileage · 57 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.
- Steering. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Wheels complaints
4 reportsTHE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM GETS HOT. I LOOSE STEERING, FRONT TIRE WOBBLES AND BRAKE STARTS SMOKING THE HOSE KINKS ALSO. *TR
REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, WHEN STOPPED TO ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, I WAS UNABLE TO GET SPARE TIRE TO RELEASE FROM ITS HOLDER UNDER THE CAR. TALKED W/ THE MECHANIC AND HE EXPLAINED THAT ALL OF THE MINIVANS SUFFER FROM THE RELEASE MECHANISM RUSTING IN PLACE AFTER A FEW YEARS CAUSING THE SPARE TO REMAIN LOCKED. ONLY REMEDY IS TO CUT…
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REAR TIRE BLEW OUT, WHEN STOPPED TO ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, I WAS UNABLE TO GET SPARE TIRE TO RELEASE FROM ITS HOLDER UNDER THE CAR. TALKED W/ THE MECHANIC AND HE EXPLAINED THAT ALL OF THE MINIVANS SUFFER FROM THE RELEASE MECHANISM RUSTING IN PLACE AFTER A FEW YEARS CAUSING THE SPARE TO REMAIN LOCKED. ONLY REMEDY IS TO CUTOUT AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY.
OVER 20 MILES PER HOUR, CAR PAUSES FOR MORE THAN A NORMAL MINIVAN PERIOD OF TIME, PRIOR TO ACCELARATING. ALSO NOISE IS HEARD COMING FROM BELOW MINIVAN, WHEN ACCLING., THAT WAS NOT PRESENT UP TILL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. DEALER SERVICE STATION CLAIMS THAT MINIVAN WAS TESTED AND PAUSE IN ACCL. IS NORMAL. NOISE STILL BE CHECKED OUT…
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OVER 20 MILES PER HOUR, CAR PAUSES FOR MORE THAN A NORMAL MINIVAN PERIOD OF TIME, PRIOR TO ACCELARATING. ALSO NOISE IS HEARD COMING FROM BELOW MINIVAN, WHEN ACCLING., THAT WAS NOT PRESENT UP TILL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. DEALER SERVICE STATION CLAIMS THAT MINIVAN WAS TESTED AND PAUSE IN ACCL. IS NORMAL. NOISE STILL BE CHECKED OUT. IF SLOW GAPS IN ACCL. ARE NORMAL, THAN WHY DID THIS NOT HAPPEN FOR FIRST YEAR WE OWNED THE MINIVAN? WE'VE HAD RECALLED POWER STEERING HOSE CHANGED AS PER RECALL INSTRUCTIONS, POWER STEERING HAD, PRIOR TO RECALL, MADE EXTREME NOISES AT TIMES THAT WERE NOT NORMAL, HOSE REPLACEMENT SEEMS TO HAVE SOLVED THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM. ALSO, IN PAST YEAR AND A HALF, HAD PROBLEM WAS A/C, AND ALSO DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. FINALLY, WHEN PURCHASING THE 2003 LIMITED OWN & COUNTRY, WAS TOLD BY REF. MATERIAL, THE WRITE-UP SALES LIT., & THE DEALER, THAT THE MEMORY UNIT COULD HAVE THE POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS PROGRAMMED INTO IT FOR MY WIFE & I'S DIFFERENT SETTINGS, AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS AND A MODULE REPLACEMENT BY SERVICE SHOP, TO LINK ADJ. PEDALS WITH MEMORY SWITCH, NOW THEY STATE THAT OUR 2003 MODEL WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO CONTROL THE PEDALS WITH MEM. SETTINGS?? WE REALLY THOUGHT WHEN PURCHASING THE TOWN & COUNTRY LIMITED, THAT WE WERE GETTING A TOP-NOTCH, QUALITY MINIVAN FOR THE NEAR $40,000 WE SAVED UP TO BUY IT!*AK
Official recalls
205V134000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock
Apr 6, 2005
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) LATCH MAY NOT ENGAGE THE STRIKER ALLOWING THE LIFTGATE TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN UNBELTED PASSENGER COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER LIFTGATE CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 26, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
04V386000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
Aug 5, 2004
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH 3.3 OR 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, THE UPPER POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE MAY SPLIT AND CAUSE A FLUID LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE UPPER POWER STEERING COOLER HOSE. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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
3DP14002 · Engine Stall After Refueling
Opened Sep 5, 2014 · Closed Apr 6, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
This defect petition evaluates July 7, 2014 allegations from an owner of a model year (MY) 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan that engine stall occurs in these vehicles without warning after refueling.The petitioner's vehicle is a Chrysler RS platform minivan.The RS platform includes MY 2003 through 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country and Chrysler Voyager minivans.NHTSA evaluated the petition by analyzing consumer complaints submitted to the Agency, analyzing field data, reviewing technical information provided in Chrysler's response to an Agency information request and testing an RS minivan identified by its owner as experiencing post-refuel engine stalls.After completing this evaluation, NHTSA has concluded that further investigation is unlikely to result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists.The stalls occurring in these vehicles only occur immediately after filling up the fuel tank and happen at low engine speeds. The failure rate is low, even after 8 to 13 years of the vehicles being in service, and there are no reports of crashes or injuries resulting from the stall condition.In the Agency's view, additional investigation is unlikely to result in finding the existence of a safety-related defect in the subject vehicles.Given the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the Agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.This action does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will take further action if warranted by future circumstances. More details concerning our review can be found in the Federal Register Notice for this action.The following 161 VOQs are included in the petition evaluation: 10209242, 10229468, 10240708, 10260923, 10275939, 10276532, 10296487, 10298175, 10328669, 10330144, 10346517, 10349789, 10354758, 10363689, 10372112, 10372368, 10372514, 10378031, 10379764, 10382938, 10387448, 10394063, 10398877, 10413918, 10418652, 10420924, 10427063, 10437525, 10445392, 10446902, 10470028, 10471249, 10473733, 10502231, 10503114, 10504260, 10509862, 10511988, 10512120, 10512385, 10512650, 10513147, 10538154, 10549841, 10551763, 10555188, 10555418, 10556754, 10565367, 10574012, 10574398, 10586555, 10587212, 10587559, 10593433, 10607841, 10607913, 10608922, 10615810, 10622468, 10628141, 10632112, 10632128, 10632172, 10632175, 10632231, 10632262, 10632266, 10632270, 10632305, 10632316, 10632326, 10632370, 10632385, 10632399, 10632492, 10632542, 10632765, 10632833, 10632928, 10633197, 10633281, 10633409, 10633421, 10633483, 10633507, 10637752, 10637804, 10637950, 10637975, 10638032, 10638289, 10638290, 10638401, 10638968, 10639218, 10639623, 10641157, 10641603, 10641614, 10641836, 10644339, 10644705, 10649713, 10649895, 10649932, 10650313, 10652590, 10653147, 10653783, 10654533, 10655226, 10658900, 10659679, 10660320, 10662588, 10662645, 10662662, 10663473, 10667056, 10667437, 10668081, 10668094, 10668131, 10668612, 10668969, 10668970, 10669584, 10669678, 10669729, 10669775, 10669866, 10669895, 10669992, 10670422, 10670506, 10676348, 10676732, 10677120, 10679795, 10679934, 10680057, 10680290, 10680342, 10680714, 10681512, 10682584, 10682906, 10683022, 10683114, 10683549, 10683620, 10683697, 10683743, 10689898, 10690761, 10691284, 10691556, 10691751, 10693061, 10694300
EA04031 · Power Liftgate Latch
Opened Nov 22, 2004 · Closed Apr 7, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages; Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AS PE04-054 REGARDING REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) OPENING WHILE DRIVING.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004 BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IN ITS SEPTEMBER 17, 2004 RESPONSE TO PE04-054. BY LETTER OF APRIL 5, 2005, DCC HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 70,235 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PLG OPTION.DCC HAS IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM IN EARLY PRODUCTION MY 2003 PLG CONTROL MODULES THAT CAN PREVENT THE PLG DOOR FROM LATCHING CLOSED IN A POWER OPEN/CLOSE CYCLE.IN THIS CONDITION THE PLG CAN RISE (NOT POWER OPEN) DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PLG CONTROL MODULE TO REMEDY THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.SEE SAFETY RECALL 05V134 FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Latches/locks/linkages
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AS PE04-054 REGARDING REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) OPENING WHILE DRIVING.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004 BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IN ITS SEPTEMBER 17, 2004 RESPONSE TO PE04-054. BY LETTER OF APRIL 5, 2005, DCC HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 70,235 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PLG OPTION.DCC HAS IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM IN EARLY PRODUCTION MY 2003 PLG CONTROL MODULES THAT CAN PREVENT THE PLG DOOR FROM LATCHING CLOSED IN A POWER OPEN/CLOSE CYCLE.IN THIS CONDITION THE PLG CAN RISE (NOT POWER OPEN) DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PLG CONTROL MODULE TO REMEDY THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.SEE SAFETY RECALL 05V134 FOR DETAILS.
Latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AS PE04-054 REGARDING REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) OPENING WHILE DRIVING.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004 BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IN ITS SEPTEMBER 17, 2004 RESPONSE TO PE04-054. BY LETTER OF APRIL 5, 2005, DCC HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 70,235 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PLG OPTION.DCC HAS IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM IN EARLY PRODUCTION MY 2003 PLG CONTROL MODULES THAT CAN PREVENT THE PLG DOOR FROM LATCHING CLOSED IN A POWER OPEN/CLOSE CYCLE.IN THIS CONDITION THE PLG CAN RISE (NOT POWER OPEN) DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PLG CONTROL MODULE TO REMEDY THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.SEE SAFETY RECALL 05V134 FOR DETAILS.
PE04054 · Power Liftgate Latch
Opened Jul 30, 2004 · Closed Nov 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Latches/locks/linkages; Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JULY 30, 2004, BASED ON ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING UNWANTED OPENING OF THE VEHICLE'S POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) WHILE DRIVING.IN DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC)'S SEPTEMBER 17, 2004 RESPONSE TO ODI' S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, IT PROVIDED ADDITIONAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUITS.DCC STATES IN PART, ...THE PLG LATCH BECOMES STUCK IN A SEMI-CLOSED STATE NOT ALLOWING THE PLG LATCH TO ENGAGE THE STRIKER, THUS NOT CLOSING THE LIFTGATE COMPLETELY.IN THIS CONDITION THE PLG AJAR WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT BE ILLUMINATED AND THE PLG CAN RISE (NOT A POWERED OPEN) WHILE DRIVING. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO EA04-031 FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Latches/locks/linkages
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JULY 30, 2004, BASED ON ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING UNWANTED OPENING OF THE VEHICLE'S POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) WHILE DRIVING.IN DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC)'S SEPTEMBER 17, 2004 RESPONSE TO ODI' S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, IT PROVIDED ADDITIONAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUITS.DCC STATES IN PART, ...THE PLG LATCH BECOMES STUCK IN A SEMI-CLOSED STATE NOT ALLOWING THE PLG LATCH TO ENGAGE THE STRIKER, THUS NOT CLOSING THE LIFTGATE COMPLETELY.IN THIS CONDITION THE PLG AJAR WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT BE ILLUMINATED AND THE PLG CAN RISE (NOT A POWERED OPEN) WHILE DRIVING. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO EA04-031 FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.
Latches/locks/linkages:hatchback/liftgate:lock
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JULY 30, 2004, BASED ON ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING UNWANTED OPENING OF THE VEHICLE'S POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) WHILE DRIVING.IN DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC)'S SEPTEMBER 17, 2004 RESPONSE TO ODI' S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, IT PROVIDED ADDITIONAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUITS.DCC STATES IN PART, ...THE PLG LATCH BECOMES STUCK IN A SEMI-CLOSED STATE NOT ALLOWING THE PLG LATCH TO ENGAGE THE STRIKER, THUS NOT CLOSING THE LIFTGATE COMPLETELY.IN THIS CONDITION THE PLG AJAR WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT BE ILLUMINATED AND THE PLG CAN RISE (NOT A POWERED OPEN) WHILE DRIVING. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO EA04-031 FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.
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