2002 Chrysler Town And Country Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe power steering trouble — loss of assist, whining or a leaking hose — followed by airbag warning lights that stay on, electrical faults (flickering headlights, a hot light switch, dead instrument clusters) and transmission shifting/stall issues. Many complaints are filed between roughly 40,000 and 95,000 miles, and several describe problems appearing after the van sat unused or in cold, wet weather.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light stays on

   • 66 complaints (16%)
   • median 53,223 mi at 3.4 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2018

   Owners describe the airbag light coming on shortly after startup, sometimes flickering first and then staying lit, and several were told the clock spring was the cause. Complaints say the part was back-ordered, that dealers could not clear the light after repeated visits, and that some vans were not eligible for a prior clock spring campaign. A few owners also report airbags did not deploy in a collision, though the light is the most common complaint. Spread broadly from about 15,000 to 85,000 miles, with no clear mileage pattern.

   What to check: Turn the key and confirm the airbag light goes out after the self-test; if it stays on, ask for the stored codes and whether the clock spring has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The airbag warning light comes on in the 2002 town & country limited shortly after starting it and as we drove intermittently. It stayed lit for 5-20 seconds each time. I took vehicle to the dealer to ask the question, and was told the airbag warning light was probably caused by the clock spring. I was told that they were on back order, especially for steering wheels with the radio controls built in which mine had. The parts representative said he could order it but didnt know when it would be in. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10191236, filed 2007-05, 84,600 miles

   “My car collided with a 1999 ford f150. My car hit the truck from behind. The impact resulted in severe damage to the front of my car. In fact, my car was totaled and the airbags never deployed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10652236, filed 2014-11, 140,316 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering loss or noise

   • 73 complaints (18%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $962 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2017

   Complaints describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy, often while turning left at low speed, or after the van has been sitting; some say assist returned after a moment or after revving the engine. Others report a whine or groan in parking maneuvers and vibration through the wheel, and owners say dealers replaced the power steering hose or the whole rack. Several note that a hose repair did not end the noise or vibration, and one was told the vehicle was not covered by the steering hose campaign. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 95,000 miles, with a few at higher mileage, and several owners tie it to cold starts, rain, or left turns.

   Recall 04V3860001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the upper power steering cooler hose was replaced under the campaign and whether the system was bled afterward; check for whine at idle while turning the wheel and look for fluid around the hose and rack.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our 2002 Chrysler Town And Country with 30,000 miles on it began having problems with the power steering in december of 2005. The check engine light came on february 2006 so we brought the van into a Chrysler service shop. We were informed that the seal to the power steering fluid was leaking so we had to replace the entire steering rack. The check engine light indicated there was an internal transmission problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10150329, filed 2006-02, 29,990 miles

   “When I turned the car on the power steering did not work. It has happened before when it is raining outside. I waited a minute and the power steering came back. I drove for about 5 minutes in heavy rain and as I was pulling into the parking lot at about 20 MPH my power steering stopped working. I was lucky that I was going so slowly and that I could just pull straight into two parking spots and wait for the power steering to come back. This was the first time the power steering has stopped working while I was driving the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10555136, filed 2013-12, 122,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Headlights flicker or cut out; hot light switch

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe headlights dimming or going out entirely at speed, and owners say flicking the column switch brought them back. Several report the headlight switch or the panel behind it becoming very warm to the touch, and some had the switch replaced. Others describe a dead instrument cluster with no gauges or turn signals, a radio that took on water and shorted, or a heater/AC blower that stopped and smoked near the alternator. Mostly filed between about 13,000 and 147,000 miles, often after several years of use and sometimes in cold or wet conditions.

   Recall 04V5310001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Run the headlights on a dark road and watch for flicker, and feel the headlight switch and surrounding panel after a few minutes of use; ask whether the radio/vent campaign was performed if an original radio is fitted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My lights flicker on and off, replaced battery and alternator.. Not fixed.. Now I have been noticing that the panel behind my headlight switch gets very hot to the touch. Afraid of a fire... Can't find any info on internet as to what can be the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10481211, filed 2012-10, 74,000 miles

   “2002 Chrysler town & country lx minivan instrument cluster/gauges stopped working. No turn signals, no gauges MPH, fuel, RPM, oil, etc. Also no engine lights, ABS, overheat, etc. Nothing within the instrument cluster works. Dangerous to get home driving without speedometer, & turn signals! I saw a similar recall for the pt cruiser. Could this be the same software glitch in the t&c microprocessor as well. Please issue a recall!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10165562, filed 2006-08, 50,500 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shudder, hard shifts, stalls

   • 58 complaints (14%)
   • median 54,925 mi at 4.2 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,882 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2021

   Owners report harsh engagement into second gear, overdrive cycling, and the van stalling or hesitating at speed, sometimes with the speedometer dropping out. Some were told the problem was computer-related rather than mechanical and that no fix was available; others had the transmission rebuilt or replaced. Complaints also mention torque converter and seal replacement after the check engine light pointed to an internal transmission fault. Typically reported between about 30,000 and 85,000 miles, with a few failures at higher mileage.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at light and moderate throttle to feel for a clunk or flare into second gear, check the fluid level and color, and ask whether the transmission control module has been reflashed or the solenoid pack replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission failed at 38,048, car had to be towed, as it was a sat, before a trip we took it to a transmission shop, hoping it was a simple fix from the codes. The transmission had to be rebuilt but I felt it qualified for if you have an emergency and you have to get a repair from other than an authorized dealer... , Chrysler said this only is for things like batteries or water pumps even though these little details are not stated in the 7 year/ 70,000 mile warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10098706, filed 2004-11, 38,048 miles

   “I bought a Chrysler Town And Country and the transmission shifts hard into 2nd gear. After the 4th time to the dealer and transmission specialist the transmission specialist finally took the van to auto west dodge. Auto west dodge said they have a history on the vehicle from the previous owner and as of now there is no fix for the transmission, because it is a computer problem not a mechanical problem. I still have the problem and they say I am going to have to wait for a fix. The shifting occurs every time I drive the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10233150, filed 2008-07, 68,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Coolant loss from rusted rear heater lines

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the heater going cold and the temperature gauge jumping to hot within a minute, usually followed by a tow. Owners say the rear heater line had rusted through and dumped the coolant, and one was told this is a recurring problem in cold-climate states. Others report overheating with smoke from the engine bay and a check engine light that came on only after the engine began smoking. Mostly under about 60,000 miles, and several owners mention it happening during cold weather or on long highway trips.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the rear heater lines running under the van for rust and seepage, check coolant level and condition, and ask whether the lines have been replaced if the van has been in a road-salt climate.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A month after we bought it stop running would start do anything its been just sitting int he yard since we checked fuel pump put new one in nope that wasn't it we have checked everything .now our friend hins its the head gasketim sorry but we just gotthe van in july to only drive it for 2weeks can you help”

   NHTSA complaint #11299098, filed 2020-01, 10 miles

   “2002 Chrysler town&country - 45,000 mile. While traveling, suddenly heater began blowing cold air and within 1 minute car went from normal temperature range to extreme overheat and alarms. Stranded in the middle of nowhere had to have car towed over 30 miles to nearest service station. Told rear heater line rusted through and dumped all of the engine coolant. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10242910, filed 2008-09, 45,000 miles

Buying note. Check the power steering system, airbag light, headlight operation and coolant lines on any example before purchase, and get a transmission drive test, since these are the areas owners most often describe. Records showing recent hose, rack or cooling-line work are worth asking about, and a pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with this generation is a reasonable step.

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.