2012 Chrysler Town And Country Body & structure Problems

The driver's side sliding door became inoperable suddenly. The locking mechanism was stuck in the locked position and would not release via key, manual, fob, or buttons. A buzzing noise occurred when trying to lock or unlock. This exit door being inoperable caused a safety concern to be able to exit the vehicle on the driver's side. It does now allow for quick, easy escape from the vehicle. If the danger was on the passenger side then the only exit is everyone climbing through the driver's door. This issue was verified by Dishman Dodge (Spokane Valley, WA) service team on 8/8/23. The lock actuator was the issue. They have replaced it at my expense. (This is the same issue referenced in: Chrysler TSB 23-017-20) There were no warnings or symptoms prior to this lock failing. We were on a trip July 22 when we first noticed the issue.

NHTSA ID

11538107

Incident

Jul 22, 2023

passenger side rear sliding door, this door is currently stuck half-way open (or closed). nothing works to open/close it. not by any button or manually. tried to reset and to disconnect battery. I push a button, it moves 3-4 inches and stops. i shutter to think if someone vulnerable like my wife was stuck in her wheelchair, trapped inside and it was zero outside. well i guess the fire department will be able to remove the door and lift her out. no response from either dealer, chrysler or accessible van. door seem to have open and closing issues when this cold or on any slight incline, but always worked manually. i don't understand why a sliding door with yearly inspections and maintenance does not always work manually, at least????

NHTSA ID

11505483

Incident

Feb 3, 2023

Both rear sliding door lock actuators have failed twice within the last 3 years. Before failure, they make a loud electronic honking noise. Sometimes they do not lock during this period, causing security concerns. After they fail, they stay locked and cannot be opened. This includes attempts to unlock manually. The passenger rear sliding door failed about 3.5 years ago, and the drivers rear sliding door failed soon after. They have both failed again currently. There is no way to open either door at the moment. This is a clear safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11452133

Incident

Aug 3, 2018

Driver side back sliding door lock is stuck in lock position and won’t open. Safety issue! Took it to a mechanic he stated it was the lock actuator. This is very dangerous and frustrating needs to be a recall!

NHTSA ID

11423980

Incident

Jul 8, 2021

DRIVER SIDE REAR SLIDING DOOR BECAME LOCKED AND STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION. IT WILL NOT UNLOCK ELECTRICALLY USING ANY BUTTON INSIDE THE VEHICLE NOR WILL IT UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB. THE DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE FORCEFULLY DISENGAGED MANUALLY EITHER. THIS CREATES A GREAT SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE REAR PASSENGERS CAN EGRESS ONLY THROUGH THE RIGHT SLIDING DOOR (OR OUT THE BACK HATCH IF THEY ARE MOBILE ENOUGH TO MOVE BY THEMSELVES). THERE IS MUCH DOCUMENTATION OF THIS IN ONLINE USER FORUMS AND ON CHRYSLER'S OWN WEBSITE, THERE IS NO USER-LEVEL REPAIR OR BYPASS INFORMATION AVAILABLE. THE ONLY AVAILABLE FIX IS TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR AN APPROXIMATE $1000 REPAIR CHARGE. THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE WITHOUT BOTH SLIDING DOORS OPERATIONAL AND THE DEARTH OF INFORMATION HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE IS WORSE. OCCURRED AT APPROX. 110000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11407976

Incident

Apr 1, 2021

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE VAN WILL JUST SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS IT HAS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY 32 TIMES WHILE IN MOTIONS SOMETIMES STARTING RIGHT BACK UP OTHER TIMES TAKES SO CRANKING TO GET IT TO TURN OVER. LAST WEDNESDAY 10/14 THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL IN A 45 MPH ZONE AND THE VAN WENT RIGHT OFF THE ROAD LUCKILY NO DAMAGE AND NO ONE BEING INJURES. IF THAT WAS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE DANGEROUS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY OF THIS YEAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO THE SLIDING POWER DOORS WILL NOT SHUT AND STAY SHUT WITHOUT HOLDING THEM WITH PRESSURE TO CLOSE THEY ALSO WILL CLOSE RANDOMLY AND ALMOST CLOSED ON MY 4 YEAR OLD IN IT LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY BODY IN THE DOOR SO SHE DID NOT GET SQUISHED. I CAN GIVE ME DETAIL ON EITHER IF YOU NEED ANY.

NHTSA ID

11365267

Incident

Oct 14, 2020

Mileage

157,676 mi

THE REAR SLIDING DOORS OF MY 2012 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VAN HAS ISSUES. WHEN BEGINNING TO DRIVE AND THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BUZZES A WARNING. PASSENGERS THINK THE DOOR IS ABOUT TO OPEN. SOMETIMES THE FOB WILL AND WON'T LOCK THE DOOR AS IT SHOULD. NO CONSISTENCY TO THIS FOB PROBLEM BUT THE BUZZING OCCURS EVERY TIME YOU PUT VAN INTO GEAR AND BEGIN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11361006

Incident

Sep 24, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

IT TURNS OFF WHEN I'M ON THE ROAD

NHTSA ID

11341272

Incident

Jul 24, 2020

Mileage

35 mi

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND THE POWER LIFTGATE MALFUNCTIONED, SLAMMED SHUT AND LOCKED ON POINTER FINGER CRUSHING MY DIGITAL NERVE. THE LIFTGATE MALFUNCTIONED TWO YEARS PREVIOUS TO THIS INCIDENT AND WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT IT BEING REPLACED WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THERE IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS PART OF THE VEHICLE. IM VERY LUCKY THE ONLY THING THAT WAS INJURED WAS MY FINGER. THIS COULD EASILY KILL SOMEONE

NHTSA ID

11322523

Incident

Nov 18, 2019

Mileage

157,000 mi

2012 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 3/3 VEHICLE LIFT GATE WILL NOT RESPOND TO REMOTE PRIOR TO NEW TIPM INSTALLATION AND NEW REMOTE REPROGRAMMING. THE LIFT GATE HAS ALMOST SQUEEZED AND TRAPPED AN ADULT MY SIZE IN IT. IT STILL DOES THIS. THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK DESPITE MANUAL OR REMOTE INPUT TO KEEP IT LOCK AND IT DOESN'T RESPOND OR CHANGE WITH THE NEW TIPM INSTALLED AND THE NEWLY PROGRAMMED REMOTE, DESPITE THE PROBLEM COMMENCING WHEN ALL THE ELECTRICAL ITEMS IN THE COMPUTER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. THE DRIVER SEAT FUSE WILL CONSISTENTLY BURN OUT AND STOP WORKING THIS CAN BE CHANGED AS OFTEN AS DAILY OR EVERY TWO DAYS.

NHTSA ID

11320221

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

Mileage

86,000 mi

PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR FELL OFF FROM THE TOP TRACK WHEN OPENED WITH BUTTON. THE DOOR WAS HANGING. CAR WAS STATIONARY ON A NYC STREET

NHTSA ID

11310553

Incident

Feb 21, 2020

HAND PINCHED IN DRIVER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND NOT STARTED.

NHTSA ID

11300016

Incident

Jan 16, 2020

Mileage

109,000 mi

GATE POPS OPEN DUE TO PROBLEM WITH LOCK.

NHTSA ID

11279770

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE AUTOMATIC LIFTGATE OPENED NORMALLY AND MOMENTS LATER FELL SUDDENLY AS THE OPERATOR WAS PLACING ITEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THE LIFTGATE STRUCK THE OPERATOR ON THE HEAD CAUSING INJURY NOT REQUIRING TREATMENT. THE LIFTGATE WAS CLOSED AND LATCH ENGAGED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. WITHOUT WARNING THE LIFTGATE MOTOR ENGAGED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND THE OPERATOR SUFFERED PROPERTY LOSS. THE OPERATOR PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THE LIFTGATE BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE LATCH TO ENGAGE. THE OPERATOR CONTINUED TO DESTINATION CAUTIOUS WITH THE LIFTGATE OPENED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE LIFTGATE AND ENGAGE THE LATCH. THE LIFTGATE WAS SECURE WHEN THE OPERATOR PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE BUILDING. SOME TIME LATER, THE OPERATOR WAS NOTIFIED BY A CO-WORKER THAT THE VEHICLE LIFTGATE WAS OPENED. THE RECENTLY REPLACED STRUTS ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE LIFTGATE AND IT FALLS SUDDENLY ON THE OPERATOR. THE LIFTGATE OD ALSO ENGAGING WITHOUT OPERATOR INITIATING THE ACTION, EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11183203

Incident

Feb 28, 2019

Mileage

126,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE REAR HATCH DOOR KEPT OPENING. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED REAR HATCH OPENS RANDOMLY. UPDATED 12/11/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11131969

Incident

Sep 26, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHEN REAR LIFT GATE BUTTON IS PUSHED, GATE LIFTS, THEN CLOSES AND DOES NOT STOP WITH RESISTANCE AND COULD CRUSH A PERSON.

NHTSA ID

11093875

Incident

May 4, 2018

Mileage

129,000 mi

OPENED PASSANGER SLIDING DOOR NOW IT STAYS OPEN AND WILL NOT CLOSE THE DOORS MELFUNCTIONING THE OTHER ONE SHUTS ON YOU AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T STOP LIKE THE SENSOR IS NOT PICKING UP SOMEONE IS BETWEEN IT POWER DOORS ARE NOT WORKING THE WAY THEY SHOULD AND I CAN'T DRIVE DOWN A HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN AND WORRY ABOUT HAVING A DOOR OPEN VERY UNSAFE THE VAN IS PARKED AND CAN'T BE USED BECAUSE THE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE BY RAMOTE OR BUTTON OR EVEN HANDLE ITS STUCK OPEN

NHTSA ID

11088942

Incident

Apr 16, 2018

Mileage

117,000 mi

REAR LIFT GATE KEEPS OPENING ON ITS OWN WHILE PARKED.

NHTSA ID

11084826

Incident

Apr 11, 2018

Mileage

69,000 mi

RESPONDED TO A VEHICLE FIRE AND FOUND THIS VEHICLE WIT FIRE AND HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR AREA. THE DRIVER HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN SHE STATED THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE DOOR OF HER VEHICLE. THE HEAT DAMAGE WAS MOSTLY IN THE AREA OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. OWNER AND DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE STATED THE WINDOW BUTTONS HAD BEEN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. FIRE MARSHAL WARMINSTER TOWNSHIP *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11064907

Incident

Dec 16, 2017

2012 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CONSUMER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY WHEN VEHICLE OPEN POWER LIFT GATE FELL AND STRUCK CONSUMER. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10873049

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. AFTER THE LIFTGATE WAS OPENED, IT INDEPENDENTLY CLOSED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A PINCHED ARM THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V191000 (EQUIPMENT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID

10872956

Incident

Jun 3, 2016

Mileage

104,000 mi

MYSELF, THE DRIVER AND MY WIFE WERE (RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT), WITH MY SON 2 YEAR OLD SITTING IN HIS CAR SEAT IN THE MIDDLE ROW. THE CURRENT OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS 70 DEGREES F . WE HAD JUST DROVE THROUGH A SMALL RESIDENTIAL AREA GOING APPROX. 30 MPH. WE CAME TO A STOP LIGHT , WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE THERE WAS A LOUD POP , ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE A FIRE CRACKER GOING OFF. WE INSTANTLY TURNED AROUND TO FIND THE REAR GATE WINDOW SHATTER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE VEHICLE SITTING BEHIND ME AT THE LIGHT HAD HIT MY VEHICLE, BUT WHEN I LOOKED HE WAS PARKED NEARLY 8 FEET AWAY. I TALK TO THE GUY AND HIS WIFE SITTING BEHIND ME AND HE SAID , THAT IT WAS WEIRD IT LOOK AS IF THE WINDOW BLEW OUT FROM THE INSIDE. THE WINDOW JUST EXPLODE. HERE WERE THE CURRENT VARIABLES TAKING PLACE IN THE CAR WHILE AT STOP. 1. THE REAR DEFROST WAS NOT ON 2.THE REAR SIDE VENT WINDOWS WERE BOTH FULLY OPEN 3. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS A COMFORTABLE 70 DEGREES F. NOW AS FOR THE AFTER MATH THERE'S NOT REALLY MUCH TO TELL OTHER THAN THE WINDOW SHATTERED(COMPLETELY GONE) AND GLASS ALL OVER THE PLACE INCLUDING RIGHT NEXT TO MY SONS CAR SEAT. THE FOCAL POINT OF THE BREAK SEEMED TO BE LOCATED AT NEAR DEAD CENTER. I'VE JUST CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS AND I AM GOING TOMORROW TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY. WHEN I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM I FOUND A HANDFUL OF TOWN AND COUNTRY FROM 01 TO 13 WITH THIS PROBLEM. BUT THEY TELL ME ON THE PHONE THIS IS NOT A COMMON THING AND WILL NEED FCA DEALER TO LOOK AT IT , WHICH IS FINE MY ONLY CONCERN IS THEY FIX THE ISSUE, BECAUSE I CAN REPLACE A WINDOW BUT THIS DOES NOT SOLVE THE UNDERLING PROBLEM. HAD THERE BEEN PEOPLE IN THE 3RD ROW SEATING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPEN TO THEM? THIS VEHICLE (MINIVAN) WAS PURCHASED TO BE USED AS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE AND NOW SADLY I AM WORRIED TO DRIVE WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD SON IN IT. HOPEFULLY A RESOLUTION CAN BE MADE

NHTSA ID

10779600

Incident

Oct 4, 2015

Mileage

41,170 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR BECOME OPEN. THE LATCH ASSEMBLY WAS NOT OPERATIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10723409

Incident

Feb 28, 2012

Mileage

52,000 mi

MY 2 YEAR OLD SON EXITED THE VAN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THROUGH POWER SLIDING DOOR. THE DOOR CLOSED ON HIS HAND AND DID NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY. WE REACHED OUT TO CHRYSLER WHO SENT AN INSPECTOR. THE INSPECTOR TESTED THE DOOR WITH A FOLDED TERRY CLOTH. I PROVIDED HIM WITH A DOLL, WHICH HAS A HAND THE SAME SIZE AND SHAPE OF A CHILD'S. THE PASSENGER DOOR CLOSED COMPLETELY ON THE DOLL HAND. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR OPENED AUTOMATICALLY. SO THERE EXISTED A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO DOORS. CHRYSLER STATED THEY BELIEVE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VAN. WE TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ALSO STATED THE DOOR CLOSES NORMALLY. WE REACHED OUT TO THE LOCAL NEWS STATION WFTV WHO AGREED TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR STILL CLOSED ON THE DOLL HAND, WHILE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO ZEMBOWER'S AUTO CENTER WHERE IMMEDIATE TESTING REVEALED THE CAR NEEDED A NEW BATTERY. THE COMMENT WAS MADE, HOW IS CHRYSLER ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BE SURE ITS OPERATING NORMALLY. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO THEN AGREED, THE VAN DOES NEED A NEW BATTERY. WE TOOK THE VAN BACK TO ZEMBOWERS FOR A BATTERY REPLACEMENT. UPON REPLACEMENT THE PASSENGER DOOR NOW SEEMS TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY. SO THE ISSUE STILL REMAINS, WHY IS IT THAT WHEN THE BATTERY IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT IN THE VAN, THAT THE PASSENGER POWER DOOR IS LESS SENSITIVE THAN THE DRIVERS SIDE, ALLOWING IT TO CLOSE ON HANDS OF CHILDREN? AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED, SO NO INDICATION WAS GIVEN AS TO THE VAN NEEDING A NEW BATTERY. SO, BASED ON THIS EXPERIENCE, ARE WE TO ASSUME THAT ANYTIME THE VAN BATTERY IS DEPLETED, EVEN BEFORE GIVING ANY INDICATION THROUGH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS, THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER DOOR WILL BECOME INSENSITIVE? THIS ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10691409

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE SOMETHING FROM THE BACK SEAT, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR CLOSED ON THE CONTACT'S ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10638879

Incident

Sep 25, 2014