1997 Chrysler Town and Country
This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 13 |
| 1991 | 25 |
| 1992 | 135 |
| 1993 | 214 |
| 1994 | 154 |
| 1995 | 58 |
| 1996 | 938 |
| 1997 | 388 |
| 1998 | 296 |
| 1999 | 362 |
| 2000 | 306 |
| 2001 | 462 |
| 2002 | 404 |
| 2003 | 245 |
| 2004 | 167 |
| 2005 | 857 |
| 2006 | 431 |
| 2007 | 219 |
| 2008 | 1939 |
| 2009 | 707 |
| 2010 | 1556 |
| 2011 | 773 |
| 2012 | 634 |
| 2013 | 680 |
| 2014 | 636 |
| 2015 | 381 |
| 2016 | 522 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.
22% of complaints: air bags — 84 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing frontal and side/window.
CRASH INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING AND SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20150608
AT AN IMPACT OF APPROX 100MPH, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ON MY 97 TOWN & COUNTRY LXI DEPLOYED HOWEVER THE DRIVER AIRBAG DIDNOT. THE IMPACT WAS THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND DOWN THE SIDE. WHY WOULD THE DRIVER AIRBAG NOT DEPLOY?
NHTSA ODI report, 20030325
21% of complaints: electrical system — 81 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing horn and 12v/24v/48v battery.
CRASH FIRE INJURY15% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 57 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing belts and associated pulleys and gasoline.
CRASH FIRE12% of complaints: service brakes — 46 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.
CRASH FIRE INJURYShow complaint excerpts
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?
NHTSA ODI report, 20120915
11% of complaints: power train — 43 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and park/neutral start interlock switch.
CRASH INJURY DEATHShow complaint excerpts
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION, THE CONSUMER CAN STILL SHIFT THE GEARS TO REVERSE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE REARVIEW MIRROR HAD FALLEN.
NHTSA ODI report, 20030826
Also filed under VISIBILITY
REAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE AT SPRING, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN CRASH/INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI report, 19961204
SAFETY TIMELINE
INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP
INTEGRATED CHILD SEAT BELT LOCKUP
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.
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 CYLIND
Campaign 96V215000 — check if this car was fixed
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 BE
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 OPER
Campaign 98V185000 — check if this car was fixed
POST-COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY
POST COLLISION FUEL SYSTEM
DC MINIVAN FUEL INJECTOR RAIL LEAK
AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING
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
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
Campaign 00V268000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SOME TRIM MATERIAL CAN LOOSEN AND DROP INTO THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
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 DEA
Campaign 02V076000 — check if this car was fixed
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.
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 M
Campaign 02V293000 — check if this car was fixed
CURT MFG IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS 3 RECEIVER HITCHES, P/N 13347, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON 1997-2007 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY VANS, 1996-2007 DODGE CARAVANS, AND 1996-2004 PLYMOUTH V
Remedy: CURT MFG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND WILL REPLACE THE HITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MFG AT 1-715-831-8713.
Campaign 10E034000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRAL CHILD SEATS. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY.
Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING PROVIDED WITH A VIDEO TAPE AND 2 HARNESS CLIPS. THE VIDEO TAPE INSTRUCTS OWNERS ON THE PROPER USE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE CHILD SEATS.
Campaign 97I001000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, MODELS WIX FILTER PART NUMBERS 33576, 33577, 33734; NAPA FILTER PART NUMBERS 3576, 3577, 3734; AND CARQUEST FILTER PART NUMBERS 86576, 86577, 86734 USED ON 1996-2000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, DODGE...
Remedy: WIX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. NOTE: THIS DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORP. NOR ANY DAILMERCHRYSLER DEALERS.
Campaign 03E053000 — check if this car was fixed
AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 17, 2002, AND JANUARY 20, 2003, SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES LISTED ABOVE.
Remedy: AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS FOR 1995-2000 SHORT WHEELBASE CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY, PLYMOUTH VOYAGER AND DODGE CARAVAN MINIVANS PART NO. 18232 AND DATE CODE 0237, 0249, OR 0252.
Campaign 03E045000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1997 Chrysler Town and Country — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for air bags issues (84 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for electrical system issues (81 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (57 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 97I001000 (seat belts) has been completed.
- Verify recall 03E053000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 03E045000 (equipment) has been completed.
- Verify recall 96V215000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
- Verify recall 98V185000 (child seat) has been completed.
- Verify recall 00V268000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 02V076000 (seat belts) has been completed.
- Verify recall 02V293000 (air bags) has been completed.
- Verify recall 10E034000 (equipment) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
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FAQ
Is the 1997 Chrysler Town and Country reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Chrysler Town and Country is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chrysler Town and Country?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 22% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1997 Chrysler Town and Country have?
9 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.