Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Chrysler Town and Country owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The vechile stalls while driving down the road regardless of whether highway/city street driving, when attempting to restart it sometimes it starts right back up and other times it doesn't..when it does this jumping the vehicle does nothing. I have seen lots of people on the Chrysler Town and Country site below with the exact same problem: https://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-t27257_ds554284 sometimes when attempting to restart it there will be a click click sound when its not starting...
While driving the transmission failed and the vehicle was unable to shift gears. Transmission was replaced twice, however the problem recurred. The horn airbag and cruise control have been replaced. The vehicle had brake problems. The dealer determined that the front brakes were at 45% but the rear brakes were at 70%. The dealer cleaned and adjusted the brakes. The A/C failed, the dealer replaced the fan module. The power door locks failed. The cd player doesn't work. The low beam head lights do not provide enough light therefore the consumer has to leave the high beams on to see. This problem has been checked three times but the dealer said they seem correct. The passenger seat broke. The starter failed and as a result the vehicle would not start. The steering pump failed and as a result the steering wheel became tight when making turns. The rear heater lines were leaking. …
1996 Chrysler Town and Country minivan airbag light comes on and stays on. Horn does not work. Cruise control does not work. Article in newspaper indicated that the national highway traffic safety administration is investigating model years 1998 and 1998, but I am experiencing this problem with 1996 model.
While driving at any speed automatic transmission suddenly drops into second gear. When this occurs rpms rev up to 3000. Although the manufacturer is aware of the problem, a remedy has not been found.
While driving on us378 between saluda and lexington, sc, as I drove uphill on an undivided highway, the vehicle speed began to increase, reaching over 85 miles per hour with my foot off the accelerator. I braked back to about 25 miles per hour, but when I released the brake, the vehicle again sped to over 80 MPH. I pulled over and tried to place the vehicle in park, but the engine raced. I turned it off, but it continued to run, apparently "dieseling" for several seconds. I restarted the vehicle and made it to the dealer by riding the brake and driving in the lowest gear. I sincerely believe that had my wife or teenage son who recently started driving been behind the wheel they would have completely lost control. I was fortunate that the brakes had been replaced about a month earlier and managed to hold the vehicle, though it required both feet and most of my 220 pounds on the brake. …
Air bag light permanently on due to failed clock spring assembly, air bags disabled, also affected horn and cuise control. Vehicle suffers from unusual power drains/fluctuations, battery replaced 3 times within 3 1/2 years. Electronic door locks (four doors) frequently fail, can only service when failure is consistent. Vehicle occasionally stalls (abruptly) at any speed, throttle system serviced a few times (outside of tune-ups) with little benefit. Front and rear windshield wipers activate by themselves quite often (but never at the service shop/dealership), with no set pattern, multifunction switch replaced twice. All problems except for air bag (customer paid for repair as well as for other problems) still persist.
Clockspring ribbon wire broke disabling both front air bags, the horn and the cruise control. Clockspring ribbon conductors both severed and shorted to each other. Disassembly of mechanism found that ribbon wire was stuck together and not able to flex and rotate with steel wheel rotation. It appears that the lubricant used in the clockspring assembly degraded and glued the ribbon together. Free end of ribbon flexed back and forth during steering wheel movement until it folded over on itself (180 degree fold) and eventually failed. Vehicle operated in phoenix, arizona for the past four years. Extreme summer heat May have caused lubricant breakdown.
The clock spring in the steering wheel failed. This in turn controls the horn, cruise control and above all, the airbag. When I went to the dealership, the service advisor knew exactly what the problem was, without performing a diagnostic. This was one of several he knew of and was rumored to be a recall. I contacted customer service at Chrysler, but received the expected brushoff, and was told that as the steering wheel was turned it causes the part to wear. This seems unacceptable, especially with a safety component. You May as well tell me that the seatbelt latch will fail after so many connections.
In January 2001, my 1996 Chrysler Town & Country minivan's "airbag" warning light came on and has stayed on continuosly since that time. At the same time ... My horn and cruise control stopped working as well. I have checked the fuses and they are all in proper working order. Today, I learned from your web site that cnn.com reported on this very problem on 3-19-01. This article prompted me to file this report. With all three failures, airbag warning light, no horn and no cruise control, I'm assuming the airbag is defective and will not deploy in the event of a frontal crash.
The engine stalls with no warning, usually when slowing or coming to a stop, but it has happened a few times at speeds up to 45 MPH. After the engine stalls, it will sometimes not start unless I "race" the engine to keep it going. The dealer cannot duplicate this problem. We have paid to have the throttle body cleaned and to have the fuel filter replaced, but the problem continues. Since vehicle has power steering and brakes, these do not function during an engine stall, and I am concerned that this could eventually produce a collision.
NHTSA investigations
Dc minivan fuel injector rail leak
There is no summary currently available
Fuel leaks from the gas tank
Analysis to date indicates that some of the subject vehiclescontinue to experience fuel leaks from the fuel tank at the sending unit interface.most often the leak involves the o-ring seal.
Fuel tank leaks
This engineering analysis was opened on January 31, 1997 based on information gathered during preliminary evaluation (pe), pe96-051. The pe was opened on August 19, 1996, to investigate allegations of fuel leakage from the area where the fuel pump/sending unit joins the fuel tank.for brevidy, this area will be referred to as the pump/tank interface.these allegations were first received by odi on August 2, 1996 while…
Acceleration complaints in other Town and Country years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1996 Chrysler Town and Country?
NHTSA has 66 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1996 Chrysler Town and Country, 7% of the model year's 938 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Chrysler Town and Country acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 1996 Chrysler Town and Country, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Chrysler Town and Country acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 96,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.