1998 Chrysler Town And Country Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a wide range of problems on a van that is now well past its original design life. Two themes dominate the 80 sampled complaints: the serpentine belt slipping off in wet weather (which takes out power steering, charging and cooling at once), and intermittent no-start or stall episodes often linked to the body control module or instrument cluster. Coolant loss from rotted rear heater lines, fuel smell from the underhood fuel rail, and air bag warning lights are also frequently described.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start, stall and gauges dropping to zero

   • 59 complaints (20%)
   • median 132,000 mi at 11.0 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2017

   Owners describe the van starting, running for a second or two, then quitting, followed by several attempts where it turns over but will not fire and then no crank at all; after a few hours it usually restarts. Gauges dropping to zero, dim or dark instrument panels, and warning lights coming on are commonly mentioned alongside the stall, and some owners say tapping the dashboard brings the gauges back. Complaints describe dealers and independent shops finding no trouble codes and replacing starters, relays or modules with the symptom returning; some point to the body control module or instrument cluster. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 60,000 to over 240,000 miles, usually intermittently rather than permanently.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the body control module or instrument cluster has been repaired or replaced and whether any shop has been able to reproduce the no-start with codes stored; test-crank the van several times from cold and watch the gauges.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10278826, filed 2009-07, 90,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10640958, filed 2014-10, 185,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Serpentine belt slips off in rain, losing steering assist

   • 42 complaints (14%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2014

   Complaints describe the accessory drive belt coming off when driving through puddles, rain or a car wash, which on these vans immediately removes power steering assist and, within about half a minute, stops the water pump so the engine overheats. Several owners say the belt has come off repeatedly over months or years and had to be reinstalled or replaced, and some mechanics reportedly fitted a revised belt kit, tensioner or pulley. Complaints mention dealers replacing tensioners and pulleys under warranty with the problem returning. Reported from roughly 20,000 to 200,000 miles, most often in wet weather or after driving through standing water.

   What to check: Ask whether the belt, tensioner and idler pulley have been replaced and whether any splash shield or revised bracket was added; check belt condition and look for misalignment or missing splash guards near the right front wheel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10254008, filed 2009-01, 75,000 miles

   “Three times in one year and twice in one week the serpentine belt came off. Seems to be worse in wet weather. The last time it happened my daughter was driving with her 4 children in the car at 65 MPH on the interstate in rush-hour traffic. When the belt comes off you lose, among other items, the power steering. This is a dangerous situation. My dealer found the service bulletin addressing the problem (only after I told him the TSB number) but would not show it to me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10065805, filed 2004-04, 130,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at the underhood fuel rail

   • 16 complaints (5%)
   • median 131,062 mi at 11.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2012

   Owners report smelling gasoline inside the van or under the hood and finding fuel dripping from the injector rail or crossover tube area. Some complaints note the vehicle had already had the fuel rail recall work done, and that the leak returned in the same location; one describes a fuel line coming apart and the tank dropping, and another describes an underhood fire. Dealers reportedly quoted replacement of the whole fuel rail rather than a small connector part. Reported from about 130,000 to 200,000 miles in the sample, usually noticed while parked or at low speed after a fuel smell.

   Recall 00V268000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel rail recall work was completed and when, then check the rail and injector area for fuel smell, dampness or staining; have any gasoline odor under the hood inspected before driving.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A month ago my 1998 Chrysler town & country van exploded & burned. I was luckily not hurt but Chrysler refuses to tell me the findings of their inspection report. I really do not understand this. They say I have to get an attorney & sue them to have it released. I cannot afford to do this and I would like to know what happened.”

   NHTSA complaint #10141876, filed 2005-11, 120,124 miles

   “1998 Chrysler town & country. Smelled gas inside the car. I looked under the hood and noticed gas dripping from the fuel injector crossover tube. I called the Chrysler dealer and was informed that the problem was repaired in 2009 when I brought the vehicle in for a recall. The problem persisted so I called the dealer again and was told that the location of the gas leak was in the location where the recall was supposed to be fixed. I was asked to bring the vehicle into the dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10378855, filed 2011-01, 199,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag light on with horn and cruise control out

   • 44 complaints (15%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2014

   Complaints describe the air bag warning light staying on while driving, often together with a horn that will not sound and cruise control that stops working. Owners say they were told the clockspring in the steering wheel hub was at fault, and some report their vehicle was just outside the build range covered by the clock spring recall. In these accounts the light and the horn fault recurred after starting or at various speeds. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 120,000 miles, often noticed when starting the van or while driving.

   Recall 04V480000Recall 02V293000

   What to check: Check that the air bag light goes out after starting, test the horn and cruise control, and ask a dealer to confirm by VIN whether the clockspring recall applies and was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Cruise control does not work at all. The horn works but not when you need it, and you have to move around on the horn area to find a spot that will work. **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**770860”

   NHTSA complaint #10006833, filed 2003-01, 68,000 miles

   “While driving the vehicles air bag warning light illuminated and stayed on. Possible clock spring failure. Vehicle made in march 98, 2 weeks outside of recall limit.”

   NHTSA complaint #10017938, filed 2003-05, 90,000 miles

Buying note. With these vans now well past 100,000 miles, the practical checks are the belt drive, the electrical no-start behaviour and the condition of the rear heater and fuel lines. Confirm which open recalls apply to the specific VIN and whether the work was actually done before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.