1997 Chrysler TOWN AND COUNTRY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
301 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
97,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 90 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 67 of 301 complaints (22.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 13.3% |
| Steering behavior | 40 | 13.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 26 | 8.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 5.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 67 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 28 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 27 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
Air Bags: 67; Vehicle Speed Control: 32; Electrical System:Horn: 28; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 27; Electrical System: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 11; Air Bags:Frontal: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 19
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 211 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 39 |
| 2001 | 64 |
| 2002 | 65 |
| 2003 | 42 |
| 2004 | 25 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 39; 2001: 64; 2002: 65; 2003: 42; 2004: 25; 2005: 18; 2006: 12; 2007: 3; 2008: 7; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 6; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 26 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008790 · 2002-05-05 (May 5, 2002)
THE FLIMSY PLASTIC CLIPS THAT HOLD THE WINDOWS TO THE TRACK OF THE POWER DOOR WINDOWS ARE A HAZARD. THEY BRAKE EXTREMELY EASY AND COULD LEAVE A PERSON TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR IN A EVENT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. OUR VAN IS CURRENTLY DISABLED TO THE PLASTIC RETAINER CLIP BRAKING. AS AN ENGINEER MYSELF I AM APPALLED AT THE POOR DESIGN. I'M SURE THE DESIGN WAS CHEAP TO MANUFACTURE, BUT ITS TOTALLY INCAPABLE OF SURVIVING ANY STRESS. *TS ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761559
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012418 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017913 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE POWER STEERING BELT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021270 · 2003-06-08 (June 8, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON WET STREETS AND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS. AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST THREE (3) YEARS. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001794 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WILL START TO MAKE A WINDING NOISE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS *DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005350 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
VAN ENGINE DIES AT ANY TIME WITHOUT ANY SPUTTERING OR WARNING, LIKE SOMEONE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WILL START RIGHT UP AGAIN AS SOON AS I PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND TURN KEY. OFTEN WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL JERK REAL HARD LIKE I JUST DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP, BUT ENGINE DOES NOT KILL. THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES FOR A SECOND. DEALER SAYS NOTHING SHOWS ON COMPUTER SO THERES NOTHING HE CAN DO. CHRYSLER IN DETROIT WAS CALLED AND SAID THE SAME THING. THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024175 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
THE EVAPORATOR HEATER COIL AND EXPANSION VALVE MALFUNCTIONED. PRIOR TO THIS, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COOLING THE VAN. THIS HAPPENED SINCE JANUARY 2002. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE ABOVE PARTS. *AK THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS, THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TENSIONER HAD BEEN REPLACED. *SCC ALSO THE HORN, DRIVER SEAT RACK AND GRILL WERE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 41,696 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089423 · 2004-09-20 (September 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. AS A RESULT, HEADLIGHTS/WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND HORN FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FAILED, AND IT WILL COST $1300 AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE TO FIX IT. *AK THE HARNESS WAS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY UNDER THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY CORRODED AND ACID LEAKED ONTO THE HARNESS WHICH CAUSED VARYING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. NM
Owner-reported narrative. 29,875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005591 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
DURING SERVICE HAD TRANSMITION OIL & FILTER CHANGED AT 69,000 MILES. NO SILVER SPARKLES IN OLD OIL NOTED. AT 86,000 COMPLEAT TRANS FAILURE. WHEN PAN REMOVED FROM TRANS. "CHUNKS" OF METAL NOTICED IN OIL!!!!! WARRANTY DID NOT COVER $3,700 TO REPLACE TRANS. REGARDLESS OF TEMP, TRANS SHIFTS WHEN IT WANTS TO AND WILL STALL ENGINE IN A MINUTE FOR NO REASON.
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020307 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 05/21/03 FAILED. *LJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024448 · 2003-06-19 (June 19, 2003)
NAR 06/19/2003. *MR SOON AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLEH HAD A FLAT TIRE BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPAIRED, BUT IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS DEFECTIVE. ALONG WITH THE PARKING BRAKES SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS EXISTED WITH THE VEHICLE. A BELT TENSIONER AND TUNE UP WAS NEEDED. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS WERE ISSUED FOR THE FUEL RAILS AND CLOCKS SPRINGS. HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO RECOGNIZE OTHER MAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,456 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070961 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,199 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070961 at NHTSA ↗