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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.

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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

Power Train complaints

42 reports
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195,045 miles · Sep 15, 2012
Air BagsPower TrainService Brakes

I WENT TO DMV TO HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED AND WAS GIVEN A REPORT THAT STATED SEVERAL PARTS ON MY VEHICLE WERE RECALLED. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF VEHICLE CAN BE SERVICED FOR FREE FROM DEALER BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTS OR WILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM? PARTS LISTED UNDER RECALL WERE RC-J25-09 EMISSIONS RECALL J25 MOPAR VALUE LINE CATALY…

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I WENT TO DMV TO HAVE MY CAR INSPECTED AND WAS GIVEN A REPORT THAT STATED SEVERAL PARTS ON MY VEHICLE WERE RECALLED. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF VEHICLE CAN BE SERVICED FOR FREE FROM DEALER BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTS OR WILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM? PARTS LISTED UNDER RECALL WERE RC-J25-09 EMISSIONS RECALL J25 MOPAR VALUE LINE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS MY CAR FAILED FOR EMISSIONS PROBLEMS B24-CLOCKSPRING SAFETY RECALL - LIFETIME WARRANTY 895- SAFETY RECALL FUEL RAIL SEALS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475511

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2009
Power Train

MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINI-VAN WHEN SHE STOPPED TO PICK UP YARD SALE SIGNS. WHEN SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT PARK, SHE EXITED THE VAN AND STARTED WALKING TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VAN WHEN IT SELF-SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, KNOWN AS THE PARK-TO-REVERSE DEFECT. THE VAN KNOCKED MY MOTHER DOWN AND…

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MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MINI-VAN WHEN SHE STOPPED TO PICK UP YARD SALE SIGNS. WHEN SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT PARK, SHE EXITED THE VAN AND STARTED WALKING TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VAN WHEN IT SELF-SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, KNOWN AS THE PARK-TO-REVERSE DEFECT. THE VAN KNOCKED MY MOTHER DOWN AND PINNED HER UNDER THE VAN WHERE SHE DIED FROM BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE HEAD. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED IN CHRYSLER VEHICLES. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND YOU HAVE EVEN INVESTIGATED THIS VERY DEFECT 3 OR 4 TIMES PREVIOUS TO MY MOTHERS DEATH AND HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT, NOW I DON'T HAVE A MOTHER. *TR THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN ENGINEER AND HE CONCLUDED THAT THE VEHICLE DID HAVE THE PARK-TO REVERSE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO FALSE PARK AND SECONDS LATER, IT WOULD GO INTO REVERSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED, IT HAPPENED FOUR OUT OF TEN TIMES. UPDATED IVOQ 11/17/10 THE CONSUMER STATED NONE OF THE RECALLS THAT WERE ISSUED, REALLY FIXED THE ACTUAL DEFECT IN THE SHIFT SELECTOR OF THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED IVOQ 12/10/10.*JB UPDATED 12/21/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10274625

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2005
Power TrainSteering

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE OWNING OUR 1997 TOWN AND COUNTRY CHRYSLER VAN, ANYTIME WE HAVE RUN INTO AN EVEN SLIGHT PUDDLE, TURNING LEFT ONTO OUR STREET, WE HAVE COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER AND UNABLE TO TURN....RUNNING INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD....WHERE CHILDREN HAVE PLAYED, AT TIMES. WE REPORTED SUCH TO OUR DEALER WITH THEIR SAY…

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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE OWNING OUR 1997 TOWN AND COUNTRY CHRYSLER VAN, ANYTIME WE HAVE RUN INTO AN EVEN SLIGHT PUDDLE, TURNING LEFT ONTO OUR STREET, WE HAVE COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER AND UNABLE TO TURN....RUNNING INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD....WHERE CHILDREN HAVE PLAYED, AT TIMES. WE REPORTED SUCH TO OUR DEALER WITH THEIR SAYING THAT "NO ONE HAS EVER REPORTED THIS." APPARENTLY, THEY HAVE NOW. WE WOULD LIKE IT FIXED PLEASE, AT NO COST TO US. ALSO, OUR TRANSMISSION FOR TWO YEARS WORKS AND THEN DOESN'T WORK, WITH OUR HAVING TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD, TURN OFF THE VAN, AND TURN BACK ON IN ORDER TO HAVE IT SHIFT PROPERLY....ESPECIALLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN ON. WE WOULD LIKE THAT FIXED, TOO, WITH NO COST TO US....FOR IT MUST BE A DEFECT AS IT HASN'T QUIT COMPLETELY. THANK YOU, LARRY WRIGHT 7/08/05

NHTSA ODI #10127858

90,000 miles · May 3, 2005
Power Train

THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION CONTAINED CHUNKS OF METAL. THE PLANETARY HAD DISINTEGRATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10119617

4 miles · Jan 1, 2005
Power Train

WHILE IN TRAFFIC THE CAR JUMPED TO NEUTRAL. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, BUT IT ALTHOUGH I COULD MOVE THE LEVER TO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. WHEN STOPPED IT WOULD START IN SECOND GEAR AND NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD. I CREPT IN TRAFFIC WITH EMERGENCY BLINKERS ON TO A TR…

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WHILE IN TRAFFIC THE CAR JUMPED TO NEUTRAL. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE, BUT IT ALTHOUGH I COULD MOVE THE LEVER TO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. WHEN STOPPED IT WOULD START IN SECOND GEAR AND NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD. I CREPT IN TRAFFIC WITH EMERGENCY BLINKERS ON TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE I LEFT IT. BEING NEW YEARS DAY IT WAS CLOSED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104902

97,000 miles · Oct 7, 2004
Power Train

VEHICLE STALLED, AND CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ARRIVING A TSCHOOL THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN TRAFFIC. HAD TO PUSH IT INTO THE PARKING LOT, THEN CALLED TOW TRUCK. CONTACTED NANUFACTURER AFTER DISCOVERING THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON FAILURE, BUT NOT RECALL ITEM.…

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VEHICLE STALLED, AND CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK ARRIVING A TSCHOOL THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN TRAFFIC. HAD TO PUSH IT INTO THE PARKING LOT, THEN CALLED TOW TRUCK. CONTACTED NANUFACTURER AFTER DISCOVERING THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON FAILURE, BUT NOT RECALL ITEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10095387

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2004
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. HAD TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO FOUR MECHANICS AND NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING. THEN, CONSUMER TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT AND THE MECHANIC SAID THEY HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE ON TOWN AND COUNTRY VEHICLES WITH STALLING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10089857

100,000 miles · Aug 18, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED . *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089159

73,000 miles · Feb 3, 2004
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, AND THE ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH. CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AND KILLED THE ENGINE. AFTER A MINUTE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OUT. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OUT OF SECOND GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSI…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, AND THE ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH. CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AND KILLED THE ENGINE. AFTER A MINUTE CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OUT. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OUT OF SECOND GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10057471

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2003
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE PART WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10042258

Official recalls

5

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.

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

6

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

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.