2015 Chrysler Town And Country Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2015 Town & Country most often describe transmission trouble — slipping, whining, failure to shift, and in some cases the van stalling or losing drive — that typically shows up between roughly 55,000 and 120,000 miles. The second most common theme is the front-seat active head restraint deploying on its own while parked or driving, with no impact, often because an internal plastic part breaks. Electrical complaints (door lock actuators, sliding doors that won't latch, batteries going dead, random stalls) and engine complaints round out the list.

1. 1
   Seats

   Front seat head restraint (AHR) deploys on its own

   • 107 complaints (28%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (57 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report the active head restraint on the driver or passenger front seat suddenly snapping forward and hitting the back of the head without any collision or hard braking, sometimes while the van is parked or sitting at a light. In several complaints an internal plastic bracket or mount holding the spring mechanism is found cracked or broken, and the headrest cannot be reset. Complaints describe dealers declining to cover the repair or quoting costs for replacement. Reported across a wide range of mileage, from under 40,000 to over 150,000 miles, often while stationary or at low speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Sit in both front seats and check whether the headrest sits flush and resets smoothly; ask whether either headrest was ever deployed and replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down a city street and the driver's side headrest spontaneously deployed forcing my neck and head forward causing whiplash,headaches and neck pain. I thought something exploded in the back of my van. Consumer stated local dealer was contacted but were of no help.”

   NHTSA complaint #11339885, filed 2020-07, 89,000 miles

   “My vehicle was parked in the driveway stationary, and as I walked to the vehicle to enter the car with my 2 young children and as we approached I heard a load pop noise. I found the ahr headrest had deployed, with no one touching or moving the vehicle. The vehicle has never been in an accident and the headrest has never been reset for any reason. The plastic joint mechanism and spring that holds it in and together cracked and broke. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11364289, filed 2020-10, 36,732 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, whining, or failure to shift/drive

   • 102 complaints (27%)
   • median 79,300 mi at 5.0 yrs old (56 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,050 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe hard or delayed shifting, a shudder, whining, or revving without movement, sometimes ending in complete loss of drive or a stall while driving. Several owners were told the transmission pump or the transmission itself needed replacement, with estimates often in the thousands of dollars; some were told their VIN was not covered by the transmission pump recall. A few owners also mention the dealer wanting to replace the A/C condenser alongside a transmission replacement as a warranty condition. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 120,000 miles, often while accelerating uphill, pulling away from a stop, or at highway speed.

   Recall 16V4610003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive from cold through stop-and-go and a hill climb, listening for whine or shudder, and have a shop check transmission fluid condition and whether the PCM reprogramming was ever done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 115,000 miles, the automatic transmission on my 2015 Chrysler Town And Country touring failed. It started with a shudder, and then high pitched whining, and then it slipped out of gear. It happened very fast, and without warning. We were on city roads, driving slow and stopping at intersections. Had to have it towed to a Chrysler dealer. Dealer says the transmission needs to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11362980, filed 2020-10, 115,000 miles

   “All of the sudden my van slipped and went forward after having it looked at my transmission fluid after only 64000 was completely black and have 4 broken aluminum pieces in it. So that's going to be an expensive fix. The van is a 2015. Only 5 years old. It should not be having this problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11328606, filed 2020-06, 64,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Random stalls, no-start, or electrical shutdown

   • 124 complaints (32%)
   • median 78,241 mi at 5.1 yrs old (77 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting out while driving or slowing for a turn, with the dash going blank and power steering and power brakes lost until the van is restarted. Other complaints describe repeated dead batteries, a no-start with a flashing check-engine light, and a dealer diagnosis of a failed fuse box or control module; one owner reports a fire after an unusual odor. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 110,000 miles, often while slowing, turning, or easing off the throttle.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any history of battery drain, module or fuse box replacement, and have the charging system and battery sensor checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at approximately 25 MPH, I lost all power to engine. No power steering, no brakes, no ability to a accelerate. I was able to put flashers on and pull off main road. I turned ignition off and was able immediately restart it. Two days prior, van wouldn't start and had to be jump started. Interior lights still worked but no power was getting to ignition.”

   NHTSA complaint #11330238, filed 2020-06, 179,500 miles

   “I've replaced the battery 3 times in the past 8 months. This last time the battery almost exploded because of the draw on it. My mechanic says there's nothing wrong with the van and the parts store says there's nothing wrong with any of the 3 batteries they sold me. Ive gone on line and other people complain of a parasitic battery drain.. My vehicle was in my driveway each time when the battery was found dead.”

   NHTSA complaint #11398085, filed 2021-02, 80,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Power door locks and sliding doors don't lock or latch

   • 40 complaints (10%)
   • median 72,500 mi at 5.5 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2025

   Complaints describe door lock actuators that stop working, leaving the sliding or rear doors stuck locked or unable to open from the inside, and automatic sliding doors that keep trying to latch or partly latch, especially in hot weather. Some owners say a door has popped open on its own or needs a firm manual push to close, and that rear passengers had to climb over the front seats. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 115,000 miles, often noticed when parked or right after locking the van.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Cycle every door lock and both power sliding doors several times, including from the key fob and interior buttons, and confirm each door latches firmly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The drivers side rear sliding door (automatic) does not fully latch, especially during hot days. It continues to try and fully latch until I manually close it by hitting the area where the latch is with a hip or fist. At times it will set off the alarm while stationary if the doors are locked as the door will even attempt to open on it's own. Based on other reports I've read of people having this same problem, their doors have even unlatched when driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11349251, filed 2020-08, 43,000 miles

   “I have two distinct electrical problems first front windows when using the window both side when rolling up window has broken letting window fall back down into door and will not work. I have already replaced driver side july 2020 am in process of repairing passenger side jan-fen 2021. Secondly side doors do not always shut securely and keep clicking like they are stuck and will not latch. Does this on both sides must get out and manually shut the doors a few times to get it secured. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11391075, filed 2021-02, 138,400 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Engine stall with reported PCM or engine internal failure

   • 65 complaints (17%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (39 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $3,100 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2016–2026

   Some owners report the engine shutting off at speed and losing power assist, with the dealer diagnosing a faulty powertrain control module that had to be replaced. Others describe the dealer saying the engine needed replacement due to internal rod damage. A few reports tie stalling or rough running to warning lights and repeated no-start episodes. Reported from about 25,000 miles upward, with several cases around 55,000 to 85,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the PCM or engine has been replaced and request service records; listen for ticking or knocking on a cold start and check the coolant and oil for condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle stalls and all electrical turns off when driving. When the vehicle is in motion and slowing down to make a turn the vehicle stops running and the whole electrical system turns off so there is no power steering, no brakes, the whole electrical system fails. The stability control light comes on after a few seconds and stays on until you pull over turn the key off and then back on. The vehicle restarts after you do this but it has happened 4 times in the last 3 days.”

   NHTSA complaint #11325259, filed 2020-05, 85,000 miles

   “My engine needs to be replace. The dealer says the upper rod has damaged the engine and the engine needs to be replace ($5200.00). Also, the actuator in the right sliding door had to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #11406754, filed 2021-04, 82,000 miles

Buying note. Before buying this model year, get a pre-purchase inspection that includes transmission fluid condition and a long test drive, and confirm both power sliding doors, the door locks, and the front head restraints all work properly. Service records showing any transmission or control-module work are worth asking for.

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.