Model year record

1997 Chrysler Town and Country

5 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 546 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V293000

Air bags: frontal

Component
Air bags: frontal
Manufacturer
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
1,500,521
Reported to NHTSA
2002-11-07
Owners notified
2002-11-18

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN WOUND INCORRECTLY DURING THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION WILL MANIFEST ITSELF THROUGH ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A DRIVER'S AIR BAG OPEN CIRCUIT, IF THE PART IS NOT REPLACED IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

Manufacturer 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 MILEAGE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER WILL ALSO REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED ON THEIR VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 18, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V076000

Seat belts: rear/other

Component
Seat belts: rear/other
Manufacturer
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
545,311
Reported to NHTSA
2002-03-08
Owners notified
2002-06-03

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, SOME TRIM MATERIAL CAN LOOSEN AND DROP INTO THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer 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 DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V268000

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
Manufacturer
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
1,163,000
Reported to NHTSA
2000-09-13
Owners notified
2002-01-25

Defect description

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 COULD RESULT, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A VEHICLE FIRE.

Safety risk

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer 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 ON JANUARY 25, 2002. DUE TO THE LARGE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE PHASED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V185000

Child seat

Component
Child seat
Manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
157,000
Reported to NHTSA
1998-08-06
Owners notified
1998-11-30

Defect description

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 BECOMES CONTAMINATED.

Safety risk

THIS CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING A CHILD FROM THE RESTRAINT.

Manufacturer 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 OPERATOR IN THE EVENT THAT THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED. IN ADDITION, AN INSTRUCTIONAL OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT CARD WILL BE PROVIDED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V215000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
Manufacturer
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
18,997
Reported to NHTSA
1996-10-29
Owners notified
1997-04-21

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

AS THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR DECREASES, THE LEVEL SENSOR WILL DETECT THE LOSS OF FLUID AND ILLUMINATE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE WARNING LAMP. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED CAN RESULT IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Manufacturer 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 CYLINDER DATE CODE RANGE, MUST NOW HAVE THE MASTER CYLINDER PRIMARY PISTON REPLACED (CHRYSLER RECALL NO. 714).

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags69131,564 mi
Vehicle speed control3873,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission3186,000 mi
Electrical system29145,000 mi
Electrical system: horn28
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys1958,456 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline14
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer14
Air bags: frontal1338,928 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip13118,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine1157,350 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system1152,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1029,875 mi
Unknown or other10204 mi
Steering: rack and pinion8
Engine and engine cooling782,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights780,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system6
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly6
Service brakes, hydraulic697,077 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components6
Structure: body: door6
Suspension: front6130,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc553,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder5
Suspension571,738 mi
Suspension: front: macpherson strut5101,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior5
Electrical system: wiring4150,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood4
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system4
Fuel system, gasoline457,199 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch4
Steering457,199 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump4
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel3163,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash3
Equipment398,900 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.3
Exterior lighting: headlights: concealment devices380,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch3
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump3
Power train3195,045 mi
Seats341,696 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar3
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut3100,600 mi
Tires: tread/belt3
Visibility: glass, side/rear3
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: interior386,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring3
Electrical system: ignition2
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner241,696 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch2107,500 mi
Parking brake: conventional2
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter2
Power train: axle assembly2
Seats: front assembly: power adjust2
Seats: front assembly: recliner2
Service brakes215 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum241,696 mi
Structure241,696 mi
Structure: body2177,520 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system2
Visibility: windshield2
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor250,187 mi
Wheels2204 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module1140,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module1
Air bags: side/window1
Child seat1
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers1
Electronic stability control (ESC)1160,000 mi
Engine115 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan158,823 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system157,199 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control1
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)1
Equipment: electrical1
Exterior lighting1198,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail198,900 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors1
Fuel system, other: fuel injection system158,456 mi
Interior lighting1
Parking brake: conventional: mechanical1
Power train: driveline: differential unit1
Power train: manual transmission1
Seat belts1189,000 mi
Seat belts: front1
Seat belts: front: anchorage1
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly1
Seat belts: front: retractor1
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: wheel cylinders1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist1
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm1
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly1
Structure: body: tailgate: hinge and attachments1
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint1110,000 mi
Suspension: front: springs: torsion bar1
Suspension: rear1
Tires158,456 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control1133,000 mi
Visibility/wiper1125,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element1
Visibility: power window devices and controls140,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer: switch/wiring1

The 1996 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. The 1998 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.