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 1998 Chrysler Town And Country submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 62 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 62, in the owner's own words
THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER NO BRAKE HAD TO QUICKLY TURN OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND TRY TO RESTART IT IS HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS I HAD A RECALL PART REPLACED BY DEALER AND STILL NOTHING SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE AS I SEE THIS IS A COMMON FACTOR AND EVENTUALLY WILL CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT
WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW AND RAIN FOR ONE DAY THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE UP, THE BATTERY LIGHT WENT ON, AND I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE. I WAS ON A FLAT STREET AND IN MOTION WHEN IT OCCURRED.
CRANKED, STARTED, RAN FOR 1 SECOND, AND STALLED. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN A ROW. THEN IT WOULD NOT CRANK UNTIL WE RETURNED THE NEXT DAY AND IT STARTED AND RAN FINE. THIS BECAME AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OVER TIME AND EVENTUALLY FAILED ALTOGETHER. VERY MYSTERIOUS BUT I FOUND THE CAUSE AND REPAIRED IT. IT HAS NOT FAILED SINCE I REPAIRED IT 7-21-2012. THE PROBLEM WAS A COLD SOLDER JOINT ON THE BCM LOCATED BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL EXPLAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE BATTERY, ABS, TRAC OFF, AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,986.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN IN ACCESSORY MODE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 246,000.
THE FACTORY ALARM HAS BEEN SHUTTING THE VAN DOWN,THE SPEEDOMETER FREEZES THEN SHOOTS UP TO 120,THE FUEL GAGE,TEMP GAGE STOP WORK TRIES TO STALL GOING DOWN THE ROAD.I HAVE READ ON THE NET THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH ALARM SHUTTING THEM DOWN.THEY NEED TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.I DON'T NEED TO GET STRANDED SOME PLACE WITH MY GRANDKIDS IN THE VAN.THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR A WHILE,ITS GETTING WORSE.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHRYSLER DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS CHEAP MADE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V480000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. UPDATED 05/19/14 MA THE CONSUMER REPAIRED THE CLOCKSPRING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURES ALL OCCURRED BEFORE 118,000. THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. UPDATED 06/04/2014 *JS
TRAVEL ABOUT 15 MILES TO A RESIDENCE, PARKED VAN FOR ABOUT 3-4 HRS, ENTERED VAN AND TRY TO START, WOULDN'T TURN OVER *THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH STARTER AND OR BATTERY*, TRIED JUMPING, WOULDN'T TURN OVER. WAITED APPX 1HR LATER, TRIED STARTING, VAN STARTED, DROVE HOME. NEXT DAY, TRIED TO START VAN, WOULDN'T START, WAIT ABOUT 2 HRS, TRIED AGAIN, VAN STARTED. DAYS PASSED AND AS I WAS DRIVING, NOTICED ALL GAUGES GOING FROM NORMAL TO 0, DID THIS THROUGHOUT TRAVEL. TOOK VAN TO BRANCH AUTO ELECTRIC TO DO TESTS, WAS TOLD BCM WAS BAD AND THE COST WOULD BE OVER $1200.00 *LABOR INCLUDED*, I'VE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE REGARDING OTHER T & C'S WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. NOW ALL GAUGES ARE NOT WORKING, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON WITH THE SECURITY ALARM LIGHT. ABOUT 3 WKS AGO, STARTED VAN, FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT STOP *WHILE ALL *ABS/SERVICE ENGINE & ETC., STAYED ON* TRIED TURNING VAN OFF AND ON, LOCKING AND UNLOCKING LOCKS, ALARM STILL BLARED UNTIL I HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO RESET. SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, THERE'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER BOARD FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITHCH; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250,129.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WOULD INDICATE A READING OF ZERO. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. EVERY SINGLE GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED, INCLUDING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACK LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER FAILED AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WORKED PROPERLY. DUE TO THIS SHORT IN THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER, THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL AND TAKE A LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER OR THE CIRCUIT BOARD BEHIND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 162,000. THE GAUGES ON THIS VAN ARE NOW SEVERELY MALFUNCTIONING. SPEEDOMETER IS 23 MPH OFF. THE TACHOMETER BITS INCHES AWAY FROM THE RED LINE ALTHOUGH TRANSMISSION IS NOT OVER REVVING. UPDATED 11/09/2011 *LN *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE ON, IT WOULD START AND RUN FOR TWO SECONDS AND THEN TURN OFF. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO COME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE WHICH HAD OCCURRED SIX TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
REPEATED DISMOUNT OF SERPENTINE BELT FROM CRANKSHAFT PULLEY DUE TO WATER SPLASHING FROM RIGHT FRONT TIRE. HAS OCCURRED FOUR OR FIVE TIMES SINCE OWNING THE 1998 VEHICLE IN 2001. THIS CAUSED THE ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKING AND ELECTRICAL POWER FROM THE ALTERNATOR. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY CHRYSLER TO PROVIDE S SHIELD TO PROTECT THIS AREA. *TR
1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WOULD NOT START *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THREE WEEKS AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, HE MADE A STOP AND WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER WAITED 30-45 MINUTES AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK, BUT THEY WERE STILL UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER THEN STATED THE BODY CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WEEK. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER STATING THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BOARD. *JB
I OWN A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY AND BUYING IT WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I HAVE EVER MADE. MY PROBLEM IS A REPEAT OF A THOUSAND OTHER PEOPLES. I'LL GO TO START MY VAN AND IT WILL ACT LIKE IT WANTS TO START, BUT THEN DIES. AT FIRST IT WOULD START AFTER BEING UNTOUCHED FOR A FEW HOURS, BUT NOW IT CAN TAKE UP TO 2 WEEKS. WE HAVE HAD IT TOWED 3 TIMES AND TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS, INCLUDING 1 CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, AND EVERYTIME WE ARE TOLD THE SAME THING. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISARM THE ALARM BECAUSE IT IS BUILT INTO THE ENGINE. I HAVE A FAMILY THAT DESERVES A RELIABLE CAR AND THIS IS NOT IT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP TOWING IT BACK AND FORTH FROM SHOP TO SHOP. I NEED ANSWERS!..WHY WAS THIS ISSUE NOT RECALLED BY CHRYSLER, WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND FRUSTRATING. SOMEONE HAS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS!!!! *TR
I HAVE A 1998 TOWN & COUNTRY AND HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE ALL THE DIALS ON THE DASH WOULD FLATLINE AND THEN COME BACK UP. THEN IT STARTED CRANKING THEN DYING OUT IMMEDIATELY. IT WOULD CRANK 3 OR 4 TIMES AND THEN NOT CRANK AT ALL. IF THE BATTERY CABLES WERE REMOVED AND THEN REPLACED IT WOULD THEN START, BUT THAT NO LONGER WORKS AND IT DOES NOT RUN AT ALL. *TR
I BOUGHT A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY AND AFTER 2 WEEKS THE VAN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. THE CAR WOULDN'T START IN THE GAS STATION ON THE FIRST TRY BUT DID START ON THE SECOND. FROM THAT INCIDENT ON THE CAR WOULD NEED SEVERAL STARTS TO GET IT RUNNING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD GO DEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THEN SUDDENLY JUMP BACK ON AND DIE AGAIN. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF BEFORE IT STOPPED STARTING AT ALL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE FOR OVER THREE WEEKS AND NOT ONLY WASTED MONEY BUYING THE VAN BUT ALSO, TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE GUY REPLACED THE FUSE PANEL FOR $200 AND WANTED TO PUT IN A NEW COMPUTER BUT I TOLD HIM NOT TO. THIS VAN IS A DISGRACE AND AN INCONVENIENCE. *TR
THE VAN STARTS BUT WILL NOT TAKE ANY GAS AND DIE IMMEDIATELY. IT WILL START ABOUT 4-5 TIMES THEN NOT START AT ALL. LIKE OTHERS WHO HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT, THE GAUGES ACT FUNNY THEN FLATLINE. IT USUALLY TAKES SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE IT WILL START AGAIN. I HAVE HAD A COMPUTER HOOKED UP TO IT BUT IT DOESN'T READ ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT DEPENDABLE AT ALL. I HAVE REPLACED RELAYS AND GAVE IT A FULL TUNE UP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FLASHES ON AND OFF AND THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS 155,000 MILES, BUT THE ODOMETER CURRENTLY DISPLAYS 855 MILES. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE LIGHTS IN THE GEAR BOX (PRNDL) ARE DIM. THE DODGE DEALER STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $4,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
VEHICLE STARTS & DIES, STARTS & DIES AND AFTER A FOUR OR FIVE ATTEMPTS...IT WON'T START AT ALL. AFTER A FEW HOURS OR DAYS IT WILL START RIGHT UP. WHEN IT DOES THIS THE GAUGES ARE ALL FLATLINED. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, THE GAUGES FLATLINE AND ALARM SET LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT. NO CODES COME UP FOR THIS PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $119 JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY....NEW BATTERY, NEW STARTER...AMONG MANY OTHER NEW ITEMS. HAVE NOT REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, BRAIN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD BE EITHER ONE OF THESE THINGS......I AM TIRED OF JUST PUTTING IN RANDOM PARTS. *TR
HAS HAPPENED OVER 100 TIMES. DASHBOARD GAUGES ALL REMAIN AT ZERO, CAR WILL NOT START. TURNS OVER, THEN DIES IMMEDIATELY. I BELIEVE IT IS THE SECURITY SYSTEM KILLING THE CAR. AFTER 5 STARTS, WON'T EVEN TURN OVER. HAVE PAID FOR NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW STARTER, MECHANIC LOOKED AT NUMEROUS TIMES. **FINALLY FIXED** MECHANIC HAD ANOTHER CUSTOMER WITH SAME PROBLEM. FOUND IT WAS THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH NEEDED REPLACING. AT A COST OF $700 FOR OTHER CUSTOMER. I WENT WITH A USED MODEL WHICH IS RISKY, BUT IT HAS NOT DONE THIS AGAIN AT ALL FOR 7 MONTHS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THIS SITE ABOUT THIS, AND I THOUGHT I WOULD HELP PEOPLE OUT WHO HAVE ALSO SPENT A TON OF MONEY ON THIS PROBLEM, WITH NO RESOLUTION. *TR
-GAUGES ON DASH LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING -WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES LIGHT UP ON INFORMATION CLUSTER -OFTEN CAR WILL NOT CRANK ENGINE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START, BANGING ON DASH WILL CAUSE GAUGES TO WORK, AND THEN CAR WILL START. SEVERAL TIMES CAR WILL START AND DIE AFTER A FEW SECONDS, AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, CAR WILL NOT START FOR SEVERAL HOURS, LEAVING FAMILY STRANDED WITH NO TRANSPORTATION. *TR
ON A REGULAR BASIS, VAN WILL NOT REMAIN RUNNING. START VEHICLE AND IT STALLS IMMEDIATELY. IT WILL DO THIS FOR 5-6 STARTS, THEN WILL NOT EVEN TURN OVER. ALL GAUGES GO TO ZERO, NO DIGITAL ODOMETER, ETC. IF LEFT FOR A FEW HOURS, WILL START AGAIN. SOMETIMES GAUGES ZERO OUT WHILE DRIVING. USUALLY, TAPPING ON THE DASH HARD WILL RETURN THEM TO OPERATING POSITION. BUT NOT ALWAYS. HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS ANYTHING FROM ALARM SYSTEM, MAIN COMPUTER, AFTERMARKET AUTOMATIC STARTER SHUTTING DOWN ALARM. ONE DEALER REPLACED STARTER FOR +$300. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THESE VANS, AS I CAN SEE BY READING ON THE INTERNET, AND THIS SITE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR 3+ YEARS. NO SOLUTION. *TR
ON INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS THE MINIVAN WILL NOT START. IT WILL RUN FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS THEN STALL. AFTER 3-5 ATTEMPTS AT STARTING, IT WILL DO NOTHING AT ALL, NOT EVEN TURN OVER, BUT ALL THE GAUGES WORK. THIS EVENT DOES NOT GENERATE AN ERROR CODE. AFTER RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE AN HOUR OR TWO LATER THE CAR STARTS NORMALLY AND WILL BE FINE FOR DAYS. SERVICE TECH'S ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM - BATTERY, FUSES, STARTER, ARE ALL FINE. *JB
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.
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