Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 70 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 70, in the owner's own words
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
SERPENTINE BELT SLIPPED OFF WHEN DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS WITH CHILD IN VEHICLE. CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL FAMILY TO BE PICKED UP. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO HAVE SERPENTINE BELT PUT BACK ON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THE SERPENTINE BELT DETACHED WHICH WAS RECONNECTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE SERPENTINE BELT, TENSIONER PULLEY AND IDLER PULLEY WERE REPLACED. THE ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN ASSUMED THE COMPONENTS CONTRIBUTED TO THE MALFUNCTION; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE FAULTY SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER DRIVING IN THE RAIN. THE SERPENTINE BELT HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS PLACE OF RESIDENT. A LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE AND NO FAILURE CODES DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED ON FIRE AND FIRE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. OWNER JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 1 WEEK PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRING FROM A DEALERSHIP. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS SMOKE EVERYWHERE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, AND WITHIN 3-4 MINUTES OF PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO SMOKE OCCURRING, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE OWNER IS 9 MONTHS PREGNANT, AND THERE WERE 3 YOUNG CHILDREN ALSO IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. FIRE FIGHTERS TOLD THE OWNERS THAT IF THEY HAD CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANOTHER 100 FEET, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP WITH ALL OCCUPANTS STILL INSIDE. THE VEHICLE/ALL ENGINE PARTS ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE PREGNANT OWNER SUFFERED SEVERE SMOKE INHALATION AND BARELY ESCAPED FETAL DEATH DUE TO SEVERE SMOKE INHALATION. *TR
I OWN A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VAN AND FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FAN BELT COMING OFF USUALLY WHEN IT RAINS. MY MECHANIC PUTS IT BACK ON STATING THAT THE CHRYSLER BELTS SLIP OFF WHEN IT RAIN. I HAVE OWNED CHRYSLERS IN THE PAST BUT NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I USUALLY HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN WITH ME AND VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS TAKING MY SON TO HAVE SOME BLOOD WORK DONE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED STORMING AND THE VAN CUT OFF, BUT I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT OUT OF THE STREET. I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE SO SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *TR UPDATED 06/29/11*LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONE YEAR AGO UPON STARTING HIS VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT IT WOULD START AND THEN IT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE ALARM SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE ARMED ITSELF WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL IT WAS RESET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RESET OPTION FAILED TO FUNCTION. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS BEING PERFORMED BY A CHRYSLER DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR APPROXIMATELY $1100.00. THE OWNER STATED THAT CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN WOULD REMAIN RUNNING. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE FUSE IN ORDER TO STOP IT FROM CONSTANTLY RUNNING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE ISSUE WAS COMMON BUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000.
THE SERPENTINE BELT COMES OFF WHEN DRIVING THROUGH MINIMAL AMOUNTS OF WATER CAUSING POWER LOSS TO THE STEERING AS WELL AS OVERHEATING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK WHICH DESERVES A RECALL BY CHRYSLER. I HAVE LOST STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON 50 MPH ROADS WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL TIMES MY CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN STRANDED DUE TO THE SERPENTINE BELT FALLING OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE STEERING AND MY VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND HAD TO WALK DOWN ROADS WITH MY CHILDREN TO FIND HELP. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON-LINE IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS DUE TO DUE TO AN ENGINEERING MISCALCULATION OF THE PULLEY SYSTEM. *TR
1998 TOWN AND COUNTRY WILL STOP RIGHT AFTER STARTS. AFTER 3 TIMES IT WILL LONGER START. HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE MODULE FOR $250.00. THIS HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ATLEAST 2 YEARS. WHEN IT STARTED AGAIN I REPLACED THE MODULE AGAIN. IT IS STILL WORKING AFTER 14 MONTHS. CHEAPER THAN TAKING TO DEALER AND EASY TO REPLACE. *TR
I HAVE A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY VAN. THE FAN BELT SLIPPED OFF DURING A RAIN STORM, STRANDING ME AND MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN. I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTO MECHANIC THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY MODELS 1996-2000. I HAD TO BUY A "GATES" FAN BELT KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TWO YEARS LATER AND SIX KITS LATER THE FAN BELT IS STILL GIVING ME PROBLEMS. CHRYSLER SHOULD FIX THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACTS OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT THREE TIMES. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE IDLER PULLEY WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A KIT. WHEN THE PULLEY MALFUNCTIONS, IT ALLOWS THE SERPENTINE BELT TO DETACH. AS A RESULT, THE POWER STEERING FAILS AND ALL THE OTHER COMPONENTS OVERHEAT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT CANNOT PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE MAY EXPLODE OR CATCH FIRE. THE FAILURE WAS INITIALLY NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN THE RAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
WHEN GOING THROUGH AVERAGE SIZE PUDDLE, SERPENTINE BELT CAME OFF. THIS DISABLES ALL STEERING CONTROL AND ALTERNATOR/COOLANT SYSTEM, ETC. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. HAVE REPLACED BELT MYSELF NUMEROUS TIMES. FAILURE OF TENSIONER AND 2 OTHER PULLEYS EVENTUALLY NEEDED AT COST OF $300+. WAITING FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN... I SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED H (HOT) POSITION. STOPPED VEHICLE ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND INSPECTED COOLANT. NO COOLANT IN SYSTEM. ADDED COOLANT, DROVE 3 MILES, REPEATED. HAD TOWED TO PRIVATE GARAGE. MECHANIC REPLACED COOLANT LINES TO REAR HEAT AT A COST OF $321. MECHANIC STATED THAT LINES WERE ROTTED THROUGHOUT. STATED THAT EVERY T&C HE SEES WITH REAR HEAT HAS COOLANT LINE FAILURE SUCH AS THIS. STATES THEY ARE OF INFERIOR QUALITY, CHEAP ALUMINUM WITH NO PROTECTION. CANNOT GUARANTEE THEY WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN. *TR
SERPENTINE BELT/PULLEY DEFECTIVE BELT IS GUARANTEED TO SLIP OFF VAN) DURING WET WEATHER CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. BELT AND PULLEY HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED ,BUT STILL COULD NNOT DRIVE IN RAIN DUE TO BELT COMING OFF. THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE YOU LOSS OF STEERING, POSSIBLE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND LEAVES YOU AND YOUR PASSENGERS STRANDED ON THE ROAD. I WOULDN'T ATTEMP TO DRIVE IN SNOW OR SLEET, ESPECIALLY WITH LOSS OF POWER STERRING. *AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START SOMETIMES AND HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE. WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE GAUGES WILL GO TO ZERO AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIM. WHEN IDLING, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE. THE MECHANIC AND THE DEALER WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 121,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,900.
WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS THE SERPENTINE BELT FELL OFF, CAUSING AN INABILITY TO STEER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED , AND BELT WAS REPLACED AGAIN, THE 4TH TIME THIS YEAR!. VEHICLE IS A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY WITH A 3.8L ENGINE. *AK
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 10 MILES OR MORE AND ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE STEERING. THE FRONT AXLE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED, THE WHEELS WERE ROTATED TO ENSURE THEY WEREN'T BENT, AND NEW MOTOR MOUNTS WERE INSTALLED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED FOR OVER 2 YEARS. THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED EACH TIME THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON AND STAYED ON FOR A 1/4 OF A MILE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ABS PUMP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *AK
SERPENTINE BELT THROWS IN EVEN SLIGHTLY WET WEATHER, OFTEN AT HAZARDOUS PLACES AND CONDITIONS. BELTS AND PULLEYS HAVE BEEN REPLACED REPEATEDLY. POWER STEERING AND WATER PUMP, AMONG OTHER SYSTEMS FAIL INSTANTLY. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR AND CAN NO LONGER DRIVE IT IN WET WEATHER. BEEN FIGHTING THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. *JB
I OWN A 1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY MINIVAN AND I WAS GETTING REAL SLEEPY EVERY TIME I DROVE IT . UPON INSPECTION BY AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I WAS INFORMED THE EXPANSION JOINT ON THE EXHAUST PIPE CROSSOVER PIPE WAS CRACKED AND LETTING FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE REPAIR PART IS OVER $500 WHICH THE MECHANIC SAID WAS VERY MUCH OVERPRICED. THIS EXPANSION JOINT IS MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL WHICH GETS VERY BRITTLE WITH HEAT AND WILL CRACK OVER TIME WITH EXTENDED USE. THE PART WAS USED ON CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND VOYAGER MINIVANS. I FEEL DUE TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS DEFECT, THESE VANS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED WITHOUT COST TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS. *JB
1998 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TS THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE BELT AND TENSIONER WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOISY. THE HANDBRAKE DID NOT HOLD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEVER AND CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE SWAY BAR LINK WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS NOISY. THE REAR HATCH LOCK WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A SERPENTINE BELT PROBLEM. SHE REPLACED THE BELT THREE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE FIRST PROBLEM EMERGED WHEN THE BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHEN THE BREAKAGE OCCURRED. THE NEXT TWO TIMES THE BELT ITSELF DID NOT BREAK, IT CAME OFF THE PULLEY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ALL THREE TIMES.*AK
DT: CONSUMER OWNED CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 1998 VAN. CONSUMER HAS A DOCUMENT THAT SHE RECEIVED FROM A CHRYSLER DEALER THAT DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM SHE WAS HAVING. IT WAS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION 771. STATING THE PROBLEM WAS RADIATOR FAN RELAY, AND THE NEED TO REPROGRAM THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE. VEHICLE OVERHEATS DUE TO THE RADIATOR RELAY FAN NOT WORKING. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER REPLACED THE RADIATOR RELAY FAN TWICE AND IT KEPT FAILING. CONSUMER TALKED TO MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE IN THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM DESCRIBED IN THE DOCUMENT THAT CONSUMER RECEIVED AT DEALER BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS PROGRAM. CONSUMER WANTED TO HAVE VEHICLE FIXED BY CHRYSLER, AND IF THEY WILL PAY FOR WHAT WAS DESCRIBED IN DOCUMENT 771. THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM CONSUMER WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR SERVICE. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE A DEALER BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED. *AK
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN IT RAINED, THE DRIVE BELT FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL HER WHY THIS OCCURRED. THE DRIVE BELT WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO. THE TENSIONER WAS CHANGED, AND THIS DID NOT HELP THE BELT. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AT THIS TIME , AND THE CONSUMER DOESN'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION WITH THE VIN ON IT.*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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