2006 Chrysler Town And Country Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2006 Chrysler Town & Country most often describe power steering problems — a whine that grows louder over time, fluid leaks and, in some cases, steering that becomes very hard or briefly locks. Headlight and electrical faults also come up frequently, and some owners report the airbag warning light staying on. Many of the steering reports come in between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles, while lighting complaints tend to appear at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering whine and rack-and-pinion leaks

   • 76 complaints (18%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (65 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 24 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2018

   Owners describe a whining or squealing noise from the steering area, sometimes louder in cold weather, followed by low power steering fluid and a puddle under the van. Complaints say dealers diagnosed a failed rack and pinion or leaking steering gear and quoted several hundred dollars for replacement; several owners report the problem returned after repair. Some describe the steering becoming progressively harder to turn as fluid was lost. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 90,000 miles, with several owners noting the noise was worse in winter or below about 80 degrees.

   What to check: Listen for a whine from the front while turning the wheel and check the power steering fluid level and color. Ask whether the rack and pinion or steering gear has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While my wife and daughter were pulling into the wataburger (fast food joint) off marbauch road at about ten miles per hour, the rack and pinion system of the steering mechanism basically exploded. They had almost no control over the direction the vehicle was going. It has failed but the once, and nearly caused my wife to hit parked automobiles. Vehicle was towed to ipac on loop 410 where the entire r&p unit was replaced with, I hope, new parts.”

   NHTSA complaint #10395966, filed 2011-04, 39,438 miles

   “I have a 2006 Chrysler town & country mini-van that has approx. 45000 miles on it. It started whining when the engine started. Then I noticed that the power-steering fluid was low and their was a small puddle on the driveway. I took it to the dealership to have it diagnosed. They said the rack & pinion steering failed on the vehicle and it needed a new steering rack. Chrysler acknowledged that there was a problem with this part but they would not do anything to fix it. I had to pay $750 to get it fixed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10276774, filed 2009-07, 43,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights cut out or fail while driving

   • 36 complaints (8%)
   • median 92,500 mi at 7.9 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2020

   Complaints describe headlights going dark without warning while driving at night, sometimes coming back after the switch is toggled off and on, and sometimes not returning until later. Some owners say the headlight switch itself failed; others report water getting into lamp housings and corroding or shorting the lights. Several complaints mention that the dealer could not reproduce the fault, and one refers to a service bulletin covering headlamp switch behavior. Often reported above about 65,000 miles, with many at 100,000 miles or more; described as intermittent and not tied to a specific speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test the headlights at night, cycle the switch several times and look for flickering or delay. Ask whether the headlight switch or multifunction stalk has been replaced and check lamp housings for moisture.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at night, headlights would turn off while driving. The headlight switch went bad and my model was made after november 30, 2005 (see TSB 08-052-12 dated 8/25/12). Big safety concern. Neither Chrysler nor the dealer would honor the lifetime guarantee of fixing the headlight switch. Cost me $110 to fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #10893395, filed 2016-08, 132,000 miles

   “Driving at nights whether on country, city, or major highways, whether driving straight or turning with the curve of the road, without warning the electrical system shuts off (headlights), leaving me in total darkness. I do have directionals. The system returns the headlights only after a series of quick on and off turning of the knob for the headlights . No low or high beams, simply no lights.”

   NHTSA complaint #10789054, filed 2015-11, 286,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on, sensor faults

   • 73 complaints (17%)
   • median 70,629 mi at 6.0 yrs old (64 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2021

   Owners report the airbag warning light illuminating and staying on, with dealers diagnosing a failed front airbag sensor or sensor control module. Some complaints note that the vehicle was not covered by the airbag sensor recall even though the same symptom was present, and a few describe airbags not deploying in a collision. Another owner reports the light returning after recall work was already done. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 130,000 miles, appearing intermittently whether the van was moving or parked.

   Recall 10V0080001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the airbag light goes out after the bulb check. Ask whether recall 10V008000 was performed and whether any front airbag sensors have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was involved in an accident in which I was hit by a vehicle traveling about 55 MPH and I was stationery sitting at an intersection on a freeway service drive going east and the person hitting me was going south. The impact turned my vehicle south I was waiting for the light to change. It hit me on the front driver side headlight and did $5000 damage. I suffered three fractured ribs and a head and back injury. My airbags failed to deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #11327945, filed 2020-06, 200,000 miles

   “Checking recalls and found NHTSA campaign number: 10v008000 involving airbag sensors. Virginia and tennesse and other northern states were listed but not north carolina. Why was that?. If this is a cold climate issue, my vehicle spends time in the mountains of nc which has a climate like northern states. Should I be worried about my air bags functioning when needed if the same make, model, and year in many other states required a recall and repair?”

   NHTSA complaint #10726241, filed 2015-06, 25,729 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Engine stumble or stall after refueling

   • 33 complaints (8%)
   • median 99,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2019

   Complaints describe the engine dying or stumbling shortly after a full fill-up, sometimes within minutes of leaving the station, with restart taking several attempts. Owners link it to the fuel tank and vapor system; one complaint says a vapor liquid separator valve failed and another describes a broken rollover valve on top of the tank. Some note the loss of power steering assist when the engine quits. Typically reported above about 90,000 miles, occurring right after refueling rather than at a particular speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the van has ever stalled after refueling and whether the fuel tank vapor or rollover valves have been serviced. A scan for fuel-level and EVAP codes before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine light came on and the speedometer read the words gas cap . We changed out the gas cap and turn the engine light off. About a week later it was back on again. I need to get the car inspected but when the mechanic smoked the system. He discovered that the module/rollover on top of the tank where 2 small lines goes in is broken and the assembly is not separate but a part of the entire gas tank. He stated there is no reason for the breakage. I have contacted Chrysler about this but have not received any response. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10533498, filed 2013-08, 7,000 miles

   “Have owned this unit for over 1 year, after purchase in 2013, noted that on fuel tank fill up, after leaving the gas station, the engine would either die, or stumble. Potential hazard at the stop light pulling out into traffic. Would only happen after full fill up and not every time. Being aware of this I could plan accordingly. Research shows that the stumble or die happens with the purge system activation after eng start and short driving, ie, leaving gas station . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10638289, filed 2014-09, 144,444 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Sliding door and power door faults

   • 36 complaints (8%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2021

   Owners describe power sliding doors that fail to open or close, and door sensors that do not stop the door on an obstruction. One complaint describes a rear sliding door that would not open at all, requiring exit through the rear of the van. Complaints also mention door lock and latch problems that the dealer attributed to electrical faults. Reported from about 35,000 miles upward, with complaints spread across the model year rather than a single mileage range.

   What to check: Open and close each sliding door several times, including from the remote and interior buttons, and check that the door reverses when something blocks it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The automatic sliding doors the sensors do not do their job!! We questioned this with the salesman upon purchase and we were reassured they work fine then we asked about it after purchase while in for other repairs still reassured they work fine cause if it doesn't do it while it is here then there isn't anything wrong with it . (that is what the tech's always say when they don't have an answer) we had the worst run in with the electronic doors this morning 6/19/2008! Drivers side. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10231614, filed 2008-06, 37,582 miles

   “Kept smelling a burning rubber smell, took car in for several things because of the extended warranty we have (we bought it when we bought our car new - always get an extended warranty with Chrysler products!!) they are now fixing the steering rack & pinion - and the electronic driver-side passenger door, the GPS/radio system, the throttle which they claim is a maintenance issue (but there are bulletins out about that too) and our auto locks and airbag warning signal (which wa replaced before).”

   NHTSA complaint #10298465, filed 2010-01, 40,000 miles

Buying note. Check the power steering for noise and leaks and test the headlights and airbag light before buying, since these come up most often in owner reports. Ask for service records showing whether the airbag sensor recall and any steering or lighting repairs were completed.

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.