1998 Chrysler Town And Country: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1998 Chrysler Town And Country: 5 recalls, 296 owner complaints and up to 18 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 5 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Child seat Vehicle recall #97V231000 · 1997 · 900 vehicles
What's wrong: The shoulder harness restraint webbing was incorrectly routed around the metal reinforcement bar on these seats.
Why it matters: The child seat occupant May not be properly restrained in the event of a collision.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the routing of the shoulder belt webbing and any found incorrect will be properly routed.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #00V268000 · 2000 · 1,163,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 3l and 3.8l engines have fuel rails with nitrole rubber o-ring seals that can degrade over time. Fuel leakage from the underhood fuel injection fuel rail could result, increasing the likelihood of a vehicle fire.
Why it matters: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install a seal on the vehicle fuel rails to prevent external leakage of fuel from the fuel rail crossover tube, should the existing o-rings continue to degrade. Owner notification began on January 25, 2002. Due to the large quantity of vehicles involved in this campaign, the owner…
Seat belts Vehicle recall #02V076000 · 2002 · 545,311 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain minivans, some trim material can loosen and drop into the rear outboard seat belt assembly, causing the seat belt to become inoperative.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant May not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the trim with foam blockers and inspect and replace all 3rd row seat belt assemblies. Owner notification began June 3, 2002.
Airbags Vehicle recall #02V293000 · 2002 · 1,500,521 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain MINI vans, the clockspring assembly May have been wound incorrectly during the vehicle assembly process.
Why it matters: This condition will manifest itself through illumination of the air bag warning lamp, and could eventually result in a driver's air bag open circuit, if the part is not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
The fix: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. An extended lifetime warranty will also be placed on this component for all affected vehicles, regardless of mileage. Daimlerchrysler will also reimburse owners who have paid to have the clockspring replaced on…
Airbags Vehicle recall #04V480000 · 2004 · 955,344 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain minivans, the driver's air bag May become disabled due to a failure of the clockspring, which is located in the hub of the steering wheel.
Why it matters: This condition will manifest itself through illumination of the air bag warning lamp, and could eventually result in a driver's air bag open circuit, if the part is not replaced in a reasonable amount of time.
The fix: Dealers will replace the clockspring assembly on all covered vehicles with 70,000 miles or less. For those vehicles with more than 70,000 miles, daimlerchrysler will offer an extended lifetime warranty under which it will replace the clockspring at no charge if it fails. Daimlerchrysler will also…
5 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment Equipment recall #03E045000 · 2003 · 45,870 vehicles
What's wrong: Aftermarket replacement fuel filters manufactured between September 17, 2002, and January 20, 2003, sold under the brand names listed above. The filter May experience malfunction of the quick connector either blocking fuel flow to the engine or causing a fuel leak. This does not involve any products manufactured by the daimlerchrysler Corp. nor any dailmerchrysler dealers.
Why it matters: If this condition occurred while the vehicle is in motion, the engine could stall. Also, in the presence of an ignition source, the fuel leak could result in a vehicle fire.
The fix: Aftermarket replacement fuel filters for 1995-2000 short wheelbase Chrysler town & country, Plymouth voyager and Dodge caravan minivans part no. 18232 and date code 0237, 0249, or 0252. Replacement fuel filters for 1995-2000 long wheelbase Chrysler town & country, Plymouth voyager and Dodge caravan…
Fuel system Equipment recall #03E053000 · 2003 · 68,563 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain aftermarket replacement fuel filters, models wix filter part numbers 33576, 33577, 33734; napa filter part numbers 3576, 3577, 3734; and carquest filter part numbers 86576, 86577, 86734 used on 1996-2000 daimlerchrysler town & country, Dodge caravan, and Plymouth voyager vehicles, can cause the fuel lines to leak.
Why it matters: A possible fire can occur in the presence of an ignition source.
The fix: Wix will notify its customers and replace the fuel filters free of charge.
Brakes (hydraulic) Equipment recall #06E022000 · 2006 · 7,440 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain Ford, daimlerchrysler, and Jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the brand names of napa, raybestos, aimco, ac delco, carquest, bendix, and wagner. Only products that were manufactured from July 27, 2005 through January 17, 2006 (date codes 0529 through 0602) are subject to this recall. When…
Why it matters: Loss of brake fluid can lead to a decrease in brake line pressure and an increase in stopping distance, which can result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Affinia (brake parts, Inc.) will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at 1-800-323-0354.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Equipment recall #07E104000 · 2007 · 1,657 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass Ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp Inc., identified as dot-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and foreign vehicles May not break into small pieces as expected of tempered glass and fails to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 205, "glazing materials."
Why it matters: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(s) May be seriously injured by shattered glass.
The fix: Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. Retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. Safelite will notify its wholesale customers and reimburse wholesale customers for current inventory and at a specified rate for replacing their…
Equipment Equipment recall #10E034000 · 2010 · 6,686 vehicles
What's wrong: When the hitch is loaded to the maximum rating, the hitch May fracture or break at the bend location where the main body of the hitch meets the hitch muffler strap.
Why it matters: If the area in question fractures or breaks, this could cause an unstable driving condition, possibly resulting in a crash.
The fix: Curt mfg will notify owners of record and will replace the hitch free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during August 2010.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 20 mention a fire, 11 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine & cooling (67): the most common themes are fire / smoke (13), stalls / loses power (12).
- Electrical (62): the most common themes are electrical failure (20), stalls / loses power (15), warning light on (11).
- Airbags (45): the most common themes are warning light on (12).
- Transmission & drivetrain (30): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (7), leaks (3).
The 1998 Chrysler Town And Country has 296 owner complaints, ranking #18 of 29 Town And Country model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 466). Complaints peaked in 2002 (42 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 97,000 miles. Neighboring years: 1997 (388 complaints, 5 recalls), 1999 (362 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 22 | 17 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1998 Chrysler Town And Country.
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FAQ
Does the 1998 Chrysler Town And Country have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 1998 Chrysler Town And Country, plus 5 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1998 Chrysler Town And Country problems?
Owners have filed 296 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine & cooling (67), electrical (62), airbags (45).
What gas mileage does the 1998 Chrysler Town And Country get?
EPA ratings run up to 18 mpg combined (3.3 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1998 Chrysler Town And Country repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.