2012 Chrysler Town And Country Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe stalling, no-start or intermittent start conditions, and electrical oddities such as wipers or interior lights staying on after shutdown; many complaints attribute these to the totally integrated power module (TIPM) and the fuel pump relay it controls. A second group of reports covers door and liftgate problems — sliding doors that will not lock or unlock, and a power liftgate that can close with force. Engine and transmission wear complaints appear at higher mileages, with many reports in the 100,000-150,000 mile range.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Stalling and no-start traced to TIPM / fuel pump relay

   • 72 complaints (11%)
   • median 101,500 mi at 7.7 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the van cutting out while driving — sometimes at highway speed, sometimes at low speed or from a stop — with no warning, no restart, or a restart only after several attempts. Others report the fuel pump relay staying energized after shutdown and draining the battery, or the van cranking without catching. According to the complaints, mechanics commonly point to the TIPM (the underhood fuse and relay box) or its fuel pump relay; some say a bypass kit was used, several note the part was unavailable, and some report that replacing the TIPM did not end the problem. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 58,000 to over 200,000 miles, with many reports in the 85,000-160,000 mile band.

   Recall 14V234000

   What to check: Ask whether the TIPM or fuel pump relay has been replaced or bypassed and keep records of it; check that the fuel pump stops running shortly after the key is turned off, and confirm the van restarts reliably after sitting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car would not start had to jump it. Thought battery, no took it to mechanic to diagnose the problem fuel tipm, relay switch. Told Chrysler did not recall my vehicle but recalled other vehicles that had the same problem and was built in the same year as mine. Vehicle was stationary the first time. Then it stalled out while I was driving. I was turning onto a city street from my residential complex.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317055, filed 2020-03, 140,000 miles

   “I purchased my vehicle in march of 2016 for the purposes of transporting 2 disabled family members. First, check engine light was coming on and stated that the crankshaft sensor we're not working. When I would drive while driving my vehicle would just shut off I feared getting hit by other vehicles. Then the fuel pump relay would stay on after shutting vehicle off until it would drain the battery. After, now my vehicle cranks but doesn't start at all. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11322954, filed 2020-05, 125,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalling with misfire or sensor codes

   • 145 complaints (23%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (106 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners describe the engine quitting at stops or at speed, sometimes with the check engine and traction control lights on, and sometimes accompanied by vibration or a ticking sound. Complaints mention diagnoses such as failed solenoids or pistons, camshaft roller wear, crankshaft sensor faults, and recurring misfire codes even after plugs, boots and gaskets were replaced. Several owners link their symptoms to the connecting-rod bearing recall but say their van was not included in it. Generally reported above 100,000 miles, with cases from about 108,000 to 157,000 miles.

   Recall 11V487000

   What to check: Ask for service records on ignition and sensor work, check whether the check engine light is on at idle and during a test drive, and listen for ticking or knocking from the engine when cold.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving even a slow or fast speeds it happens. This has been going on for months no warning the car will stall.. I lost power steering that is how I know the car had stalled. Then another time I did not go any where when I hit the gas again the that is how I knew the car stalled. It is a very dangerous thing for the car to be doing I have brought it to my mechanic on many occasion can not seem to find anything wrong”

   NHTSA complaint #11339269, filed 2020-07, 120,000 miles

   “When we are driving on streets, the power shuts off. I can barely pull over since the power steering shuts off. There is no lights or anything. Car must be shut off and turned back on to fix the problem. I have 2 children under 2 and I am so worried about getting rear ended. Luckily it's never happened on a highway. The dealership basically said it's not their problem. Mechanics cant figure out why it shuts off . It only happened once when we bought it in the fall. Now that its warm it happens a lot”

   NHTSA complaint #11341046, filed 2020-07, 135,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Intermittent no-start and key/ignition switch trouble

   • 142 complaints (22%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (103 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,450 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Complaints describe the van failing to crank or start, needing several key or push-button attempts, and sometimes refusing to shut off or release the key. Some owners say wiggling or pressing hard on the ignition switch is needed before it will start, and a few note the engine keeps cranking or the accessory mode stays on. Dealers and mechanics in these reports varied widely — some replaced the starter or battery without resolving it, and some owners were told the VIN was not covered by a related recall. Mostly reported between roughly 57,000 and 160,000 miles, at various temperatures and often after the van has been driven and restarted.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the van several times in a row during a test drive, including after it has warmed up, and check that the key or button turns the engine off cleanly and the key can be removed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It started with my wipers continueing to run and when the engine was turned off. The tipm was diagnosed by two machanics as being the issue. In waiting to have the funds to have the tipm replaced my car is now shifting into drive 2 and drive1 on its own while I was driving. I have seen several other complaints about other owners having the same safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353490, filed 2020-09, 149,000 miles

   “The vehicle continually fails to start when key fob is inserted in ignition and turned. It also often fails to allow us to turn the vehicle off or remove the key. This happens year round and at various locations. We have young children and have been stranded in locations, unable to start our vehicle due to this. The vehicle is stationary when this occurs, and it typically occurs more frequently after being used. For example, I will drive to the store and when I come back out, my vehicle will be able to start.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329716, filed 2020-06, 110,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, harsh shifting or loss of drive

   • 46 complaints (7%)
   • median 82,611 mi at 5.7 yrs old (40 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2025

   Owners report harsh or rough shifting, the transmission dropping into a lower gear on its own, shuddering, and in some cases losing engagement entirely so the van would not move and required replacement. Some note the van would not shift out of park until restarted, and others describe sudden loss of power with the engine revving. Complaints mention gear-ratio codes and dealer inability to duplicate the problem. Mostly reported between about 74,000 and 196,000 miles, sometimes during normal street driving at low speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive at low and highway speeds and feel for harsh or delayed shifts, check that the van engages drive and reverse promptly from park, and ask whether the transmission has been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2012 Chrysler town & country. Its started intermittently not shifting out of park. I can shut it off and turn it back on then it will work. Sometimes I have to restart it a few times before it will work. This happens whether it is initially parked and not running, our if its already running and I put it into park and try to put it back into drive (such as putting in park to wait on a train)”

   NHTSA complaint #11350355, filed 2020-08, 130,000 miles

   “While vehicle was being driven on neighborhood street, approx 25mph it lost transmission engagement and the engine began to rev, the vehicle then came to a screeching halt and would not move. Vehicle was turned off and then started again, moving from park, the transmission would not engage. Told by mechanic that transmission needs to be replaced due to complete failure”

   NHTSA complaint #11354273, filed 2020-09, 74,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Power sliding doors and liftgate lock or close problems

   • 58 complaints (9%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,002 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners report rear sliding doors that buzz a warning while driving, fail to lock or unlock with the fob or interior buttons, or become stuck shut and cannot be released manually. Others describe a power liftgate that ignores the remote, opens on its own while driving, or closes with enough force to injure a hand. In these complaints dealers sometimes replaced a module or remote programming, and some owners were told the repair was outside warranty. Reported from about 86,000 to 175,000 miles, often during normal driving or when locking the van and pulling away.

   Recall 12V191000

   What to check: Cycle both sliding doors and the liftgate with the fob and interior buttons, check that each door locks and unlocks reliably, and confirm the power liftgate reverses when it meets resistance.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I'm driving the rear hatch opens I have to pull over to close , I have replaced this once it cost me $300.00 & it is doing it again the machanic said it is the computer I called where I bought y car they said no recall , the back heater also smells like burning wires has stared to smoke on me as well , , I have to tie the rear door at this time which still opens when I am driving I have my grandbabies in the car makes me very worried on this”

   NHTSA complaint #11366602, filed 2020-10, 175,000 miles

   “Vehicle was in park and the power liftgate malfunctioned, slammed shut and locked on pointer finger crushing my digital nerve. The liftgate malfunctioned two years previous to this incident and was repaired by the dealer. When I inquired about it being replaced when this happened, I was told the warranty ran out. There is a major safety issue with this part of the vehicle. Im very lucky the only thing that was injured was my finger. This could easily kill someone”

   NHTSA complaint #11322523, filed 2020-04, 157,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws a lot of electrical complaints, so have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the TIPM, starting behavior and battery drain, and get any prior module or relay repairs in writing. Also test both sliding doors and the liftgate, and check transmission and engine behavior at operating temperature before committing.

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.