2008 Chrysler Town And Country Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe electrical problems: instrument clusters lighting up, wipers and horns activating on their own, doors and windows losing power, and the engine cutting off while driving. Many connect the stalling and no-start complaints to an ignition-switch recall, and some report the same symptoms returning after that repair was performed. Brake wear at low mileage and air bag warning lights are also common themes, with most complaints filed between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or won't start (ignition switch)

   • 1,342 complaints (69%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (781 state mileage)
   • 39 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $610 (median of 44 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2026

   Owners describe the engine shutting off without warning at various speeds, sometimes with loss of power steering and power brakes, and other times a no-start or no-crank condition requiring jump starts. Several mention the key moving out of the ON position, or a fob that will not release from the ignition. Complaints describe dealers replacing the ignition switch and key fobs under recall, and some owners say the replacement later failed or that parts were unavailable for months. Reported from roughly 60,000 to 190,000 miles, with many complaints noting the problem continued after the recall repair.

   Recall 14V373000Recall 16V0470003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for documentation that the ignition-switch recall was performed and whether the module has been replaced since. Before buying, start the van repeatedly, try gently moving the key while running, and listen for a starter that clicks without engaging.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This has happened to us three times in the last three weeks. Shortly after starting the car we traveled less than a mile at about 25 MPH and the engine suddenly turned off causing the power steering and breaks to fail. The van restarted one we put it in park and continued to work fine after that. We were driving in a crowded neighborhood where children play at the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11301257, filed 2020-01, 86,000 miles

   “Car has suddenly shut off three times in past month, while being driven. Have had it in the shop for past two weeks. Chrysler says that there is no eta for recalled part to be delivered. No idea what to do. No keys on keyring. Am afraid to drive this car. Just purchased car in early february. First time it shut down, I was downtown, in traffic. Second and third times, thankfully, I was not in town.”

   NHTSA complaint #10706398, filed 2015-04, 62,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Electrical gremlins: cluster lights, wipers, horn

   • 1,048 complaints (54%)
   • median 81,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (533 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $933 (median of 26 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Complaints describe the instrument cluster lighting up with all warning lamps, windshield wipers and washers running on their own, the horn sounding continuously, and door locks cycling without input. Several owners say disconnecting the battery is the only way to stop the behavior, and some report the vehicle stalling at the same time. According to complaints, dealers have pointed to the totally integrated power module (TIPM), the wireless ignition node module, or wiring in the sliding doors that rubs in the track and breaks. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 175,000 miles, often appearing intermittently at first and becoming more frequent over time.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a scan tool check for stored body-control codes and ask whether the TIPM or wireless ignition node has ever been replaced. Test every window, door lock, wiper setting and the horn, and check the wiring harness at the sliding-door tracks for chafing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle was running in the highway. Check engine light goes on an the all panel lights began to flash make like a whisle noise and shut off. After a while it starts again but in about 2,000 meters do the same four times. We need to call a truck crane. I have read a lot of person with this issue, spent a lot of money replacing various pieces and remain with the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11307777, filed 2020-02, 1 miles

   “The wires became lose and unraveled in my power sliding doors on both sides. Now the door do not work/open on their own the windows won't go down, heated seats do not work. And when I try to open the door and shut the door, all of my dash lights will turn on, windshield wipers will go on”

   NHTSA complaint #11396864, filed 2021-02, 160,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Premature brake pad and rotor wear

   • 329 complaints (17%)
   • median 26,000 mi at 2.5 yrs old (302 state mileage)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $524 (median of 49 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Owners report needing front pads and rotors replaced at unusually low mileage, in some cases within the first two years of ownership. Complaints describe a mechanic flagging the wear during routine service and quoting several hundred dollars. A few owners also describe a soft or low brake pedal that persisted after bleeding the system and replacing the master cylinder. Frequently reported under about 40,000 miles for pad and rotor wear; pedal-related complaints appear at higher mileage.

   Recall 09V3510002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask when the pads and rotors were last replaced and inspect pad thickness at all four corners. Press the pedal firmly with the engine running and confirm it holds rather than sinking toward the floor.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After taking my family on a 3,000 + mile trip to florida and back to michigan through the mountains, I took my 2008 Chrysler Town And Country mini-van into meade dodge in grosse pointe, mi in for an oil change, tire rotation and warranty work to address issues that arose with the air conditioning and automatic sliding door during the trip. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10315591, filed 2010-03, 21,000 miles

   “I have a 2008 Chrysler Town And Country, I have several ABS problems. Not only the ABS warning light comes on but the slippery when wet light comes on a dry surface and I can't get past 20 MPH and the brakes feel like their are not working properly even though I have new brakes. Also the esp light comes on all of the time and the dealer told it is not covered under any type of warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10370846, filed 2010-12, 49,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the air bag warning light staying illuminated, with mechanics diagnosing a faulty air bag control module or occupant restraint module. Some owners link the light to water leaking from the air conditioner drain onto the restraint module, and others were told their vehicle was not covered by the relevant campaign. A few complaints describe air bags not deploying in a collision, or deploying without one. Mostly reported between about 90,000 and 190,000 miles; several owners mention the light appearing repeatedly over years.

   Recall 16V047000Recall 11V394000Recall 10V611000Recall 20V3960004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the air bag light goes out after the self-test on startup, ask whether the drain-grommet and control-module campaigns were completed, and look for dampness or water stains near the passenger-side footwell.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that there was a hole where the emblem was located on the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V396000 (Air bag, Steering) however, the emblem was removed but not replaced. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11443773, filed 2021-12, 190,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town And Country. The vehicle had previously been serviced by the dealer under the Manufacturer's Campaign Numbers: R03 (Wireless Ignition Node Module) and W09 (Driver Air Bag Emblem). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. Additionally, the anti-theft alarm system, windshield wipers, and door locks were inadvertently activated. The contact had to disconnect the battery in order to correct the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11454709, filed 2022-03, 167,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Stalling, hard shifting and limp mode

   • 107 complaints (6%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (98 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $742 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2023

   Complaints describe harsh shifting between reverse, drive and park, and the transmission dropping into limp mode so the van will not exceed about 45 mph with the engine revving high. Some owners report coolant or water leaks, with steam from the radiator and the temperature gauge not showing an overheat. Others describe the engine dying at low speed after start-up. Reported from very low mileage in a few cases up to about 170,000 miles, with the transmission complaints often noted early in ownership.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the van through several stop-and-go cycles and shift slowly through every gear, watching for clunks or delayed engagement. Check the coolant level and look for leaks or residue around hoses and the radiator.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Faulty transmission. Constantly hard shifts everywhere. Feels like the transmission is going to fall out of the vehicle every time you shift from reverse to drive ,or drive to park, or park to reverse. This is the second transmission on this vehicle.. I had the powertrain checked and the vehicle came out with no problems. Im afraid that I will be in an accident the vehicle shakes and stops abruptly while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #10544046, filed 2013-09, 8,552 miles

   “The transmission will lock up in limp mode so that the speed will not go over 45 while the engine is racing at a high RPM. This is not a great feeling to be driving on the interstate highway when this happens. Another poor design by the engineers. Also, there is not a dipstick on the transmission to check the fluid level. Also another pair engineer design. Chysler vehicles used to be top rated for performance and those are the only vehicles I've owned since 1967! …”

   NHTSA complaint #11298530, filed 2020-01, 167,589 miles

Buying note. Electrical faults and stalling dominate the complaint record for this model year, so verify the ignition-switch and air bag campaigns were completed and have the body-control system scanned before purchase. Low-mileage brake wear is common and inexpensive to check, but a van with repeated electrical repairs or any history of stalling deserves a careful pre-purchase inspection.

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.