Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chrysler Town And Country submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 79 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 79, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL GRID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
ON IGNITION THE VEHICLES DASH GAGE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS (ODOMETER, GAS GAGE, WARNING LIGHTS) DO NOT TURN ON WITH IGNITION, VEHICLE RUNS 2-3 SECONDS AND SHUTS OFF, WITH NO SPUTTERING OR KNOCKING. SEARCHING ONLINE FOR PROBLEMS OF A SIMILAR NATURE MANY SITES INDICATE THE ERROR MAY STEM FROM AN INCORRECTLY SOLDERED INSTRUMENT DISPLAY PANEL, SPECIFICALLY THE GROUND RETURN ON THE INSTRUMENT CIRCUIT BOARD.
WELL I'AM HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES NOW I CLOSE MY HOOD AND MY 4 WAYS START BLINKING, I TURN ON MY VAN AND THE ABS & AND AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON WHEN I START IT BUT NEVER GO OFF.THE CV BOOT IS BAD AND THE HALF SHALF ON PASSENGER SIDE I THINK ITS MAKING ALOT OF SOUND WHEN I GO DOWN THE ROAD ,I ALREADY BROUGHT BRAND NEW OUTTER TIE ROD ENDS FOR BOTH SIDES, AND SWAG BAR LINGS BRAND NEW FOR BOTH SIDES SPRINGS AND MOUNTS, AND STRUTS THE RADIO SEEMS TO FADE IN AND OUT YOU CAN NOT SEE ANY STATION NUMBERS OR CLOCK TIME ON IT SO I FIGURED ITS AND ELEC ISSUES AND NOW IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAY LIKE ABOUT JULY29TH, 2015 , I GOT BACK HOME AND NOTICED MY TEMPERTURE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND IT SAID H IT WAS IT WAS HOT, THE DAY BEFORE I JUST PAID FOR AND OIL CHANGE AND THATS BECAUSE THEIR WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND TO FIND OUT THE BOLTS WERE ALL LOOSE BUT 1 WHICH WAS STRIPED, BUT ANYWAYS NOW MY FANS ARE NOT GOING AROUND AND ITS NOT KEEPING MY VAN COOL MY HUSBAND HAS CHECKED ALL FUSES BUT CAN'T FIND THE RELAY FOR THE RADIATOR FAN IF THAT EVEN HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, I HAVE PUT OVER 1,000 IN THIS VAN NOW, I'AM HANDID CAP AND I REALLY NEED MY VAN TO GET ME AROUND I ALSO DON'T HAVE THE REMOTE TO OPEN THE DOORS OR LOCK IT SO I HAVE TO DO IT WITH THE KEY , IT SURELY WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A REMOTE THAT GOES WITH THIS VAN , BUT IT SURELY WOULD BE GREAT IF THINGS WOULD WORK RIGHT TO, I CAN BE DRIVING IT DOWN THE ROAD AND THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL BE LOCKING AND UN LOCKING WHILE I'AM DRIVING ALL BY THEIR SELF ALSO THE WINDOW WIPERS WIPE BUT THE FLUID WILL NOT COME OUT ON THE FRONT WINDOWS OR THE BACK WINDOWS, I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME OUT I WALK WITH 1 TO 2 CANES AND SOMETIMES A WALKER, I HAVE BRACES ON MY LEGS AND HAVE TO HELP MYSELF AT PUTTING MY LEGS IN , I REALLY NEED A MINI VAN THAT WILL WORK FOR ME, THANK YOU.
THE VAN JUST DIED BY ITSELF WHILE RUNNING AT SPEED OF 60 MPH ON FREEWAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL GRID. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,900. UPDATED 08/15/13*LJ
ENGINE SUDDENLY TURNS OFF WHILE ON HIGHWAY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO ON AND OFF WITHOUT TURNING SWITCH, USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE LOCKING OR UNLOCKING DOORS. 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTY, ENGINE STOPPED, AND SO DID POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AROUND CURVE CAUSING DRIVER TO RUN OFF ROAD INTO FIELD. POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY ACCORDING TO LOCAL HOSPITAL, AM TO REPORT TO NEUROLOGIST ASAP. MECHANICS CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY LXI. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.
TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE DRIVER BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT ALL OF THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD DROP TO ZERO INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE STOPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. SM.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 163,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 164,000. UPDATED 9/1/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BAD CONNECTION AT THE END OF THE WIRING HARNESS. UPDATED 09/14/10*JB
I TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND I HAVE NO INSTRUMENT GAUGES WORKING ON THE DASH ALSO THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. I WENT TO A SERVICE TECH AND HAD THE DASH DISPLAY REPLACED, THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP? *TR
1997 CHRYSLER T&C VAN REPEATEDLY LOSES ALL DASH GAUGES SO YOU CAN NOT TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING ETC.. ABS LIGHT AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COME ON. NO REMEDY AS OF YET . HAD ONE MECHANIC TELL ME IT WAS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE BUT IT WOULD COST OVER $900 TO REPLACE{AND THAT MIGHT NOT FIX THE PROBLEM!}. ALSO LOST WIPER FUNCTION, I HAVE TO USE THE WASH FUNCTION TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD WHEN IT'S RAINING OR SNOWING. MECHANIC SAID THAT IS RELATED TO THE BCM ALSO. *TR
AS WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY ONE DAY THE GAUGES ALL FROZE FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS AND FROM THAT MOMENT ON THE LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, IT IS A CONTINUOUS THING EVERY TIME WE GET IN THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ONEDAY AND THE DOORS UNLOCKED ON HER AND THE DRIVER DOOR SLUNG OPEN , THE ONLY WAY THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEAL WITH THIS IS BY DRIVING WITH THE DOOR NOT FULLY CLOSED SO THAT IT WILL STOP LOCKING AND UNLOCKING, BUT THAT ONLY LASTS FOR SO LONG THEN IT DOES IT AT TIMES WHEN THE DOOR IS NOT FULLY CLOSED AS WELL. THIS HAS GOT TO BE SOME KIND OF A MANUFACTURERS THING BECAUSE MY HORN IS NOT WORKING EITHER AND IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF RECALL OR ANSWER PLEASE INFORM ME IN A HURRY, THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED. *TR
SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS VAN IN 2001 WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT NOT WANTING TO RUN, AT FIRST IT WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW IT IS JUST SITTING AT THE SHOP. WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES, AND TO 2 OTHER MECHANICS 4 TIMES AND FINALLY MAY HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON THIS VAN AND NOW THEY WANT ANOTHER $1000 THAT WE DO NOT HAVE. I HAVE BEEN READING LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE COMPUTER CONCERNING THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL FOR THIS??? *JB
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
THE POWER DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE LOCKS CLICK OFF AND ON EVERY 5 TO 10 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A MANUFACTURER INSTALLED REMOTE SECURITY SYSTEM. . *LA
THE MOST RECENT BRAKE FAILURE WAS THE MOST POTENTIALLY DEADLY. WITHOUT WARNING, WE HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS SEIZING UP. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, OFFERED TO SEND THEM THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE RECALL CENTER, WE WERE TOLD CHRYSLER WAS NOT INTERESTED. CHRYSLER CONTACTS WERE VERY RUDE. WE PULLED UP A RECALL FROM NHTSA ID NUMBER 96V215000. OUR CONCERN WAS THE REMARK IN THE CORRECTIVE SUMMARY. THE MASTER CYLINDERS IN 1997 MINIVANS MADE IN ST. LOUIS WERE DEFECTIVE. OUR MINIVAN WAS MANUFACTURED IN ST. LOUIS. ACCORDING TO CHRYSLER RECALL CENTER, THE RECALL WAS ON VEHICLES WITH TRACTION CONTROL. WE HAVE TRACTION CONTROL. PEOPLE AT CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT TALK TO US ABOUT THE RECALL NOTICE TO HELP US. OUR VAN IS HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE. SAFETY FOR OUR FAMILY AND OUT DISABLED SON IS OF UTMOST CONCERN. SINCE CHRYSLER IS NO HELP, WHO IS?
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *NLM *CB *NLM
THE HORN OFTEN DOES NOT HONK WHEN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS PUSHED. SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE TRIED TO HONK AND WAS UNABLE TO. ONE HAS TO PUSH HARD AND THEN "SEARCH" FOR THE SPOT THAT WILL MAKE THE HORN HONK. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR ME, BUT CHRYSLER HAS NOT HELPED ME.*AK
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
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 05/21/03 FAILED. *LJ
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON, THE CRUISE/HORN DOES NOT WORK, AND THE CLOCKSPRING WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE CLOCKSPRING WAS REPLACED. MR SCC
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE CLOCK SPRING WENT OUT CAUSING THE CONSUMER HORN NOT TO WORK. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
BEGAN AS INTERMITTENT HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTIONS, THEN AN AIRBAG LIGHT, NOW ALL THREE ARE CONTINUOUSLY INOPERATIVE. I DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM MYSELF, GOT A $200.00 ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING. HAVE NOT YET HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED AS YET DUE TO COST; AM AWAITING RECALL NOTIFICATION FROM MANUFACTURER. DT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL, SPEED CONTROL, LOCKS, WARNING LIGHTS. DT
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK SINCE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. DEALER WANTS $500+ TO FIX. SEVERAL OTHER CHRYSLER OWBNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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