Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chrysler Town and Country owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Nar 06/19/2003. Soon after the consumer purchased the vehicle he noticed the parking brake did not work. The vehicleh had a flat tire before entering the interstate. The car was taken to the service dealer to have the brakes repaired, but it was evident that the parking brake was defective. Along with the parking brakes several other problems existed with the vehicle. A belt tensioner and tune up was needed. There were two recalls were issued for the fuel rails and clocks springs. However the dealership failed to recognize other malfunctions like the parking brakes in which the consumer felt a recall needed to be issued. Please investigate and give prompt response. The consumer was told the reason the parking nrake did not work was because the vehicle needed disc pads, brake shoes rotors and drums because they were glazed and could not be resurfaced. …
The most recent brake failure was the most potentially deadly. Without warning, we had total brake failure due to rear wheel cylinders seizing up. We contacted Chrysler, offered to send them the defective parts. After numerous calls to customer service and the recall center, we were told Chrysler was not interested. Chrysler contacts were very rude. We pulled up a recall from NHTSA id number 96V215000. Our concern was the remark in the corrective summary. The master cylinders in 1997 minivans made in st. Louis were defective. Our minivan was manufactured in st. Louis. According to Chrysler recall center, the recall was on vehicles with traction control. We have traction control. People at customer service will not talk to us about the recall notice to help us. Our van is handicap accessible. Safety for our family and out disabled son is of utmost concern. …
Last December 2004 while driving, my steering wheel locked up and I was unable to make a turn. I looked under hood and found s belt had slipped off. I was able to have it fixed. I do not know what caused this. Today 5/9, again, the belt came off as my sister was about to go down an incline. Should she have been in the process of descending, she would have had an accident, because of a sharp turn in the road. At the repair shop I was told that there is a problem that exist with the tensioner in this vehicle, and that it slips off when it rains or if water gets into it. In order to put the vehicle in use I've had to have it repaired. From the complaints I've read, this should be made into a recall issue, and those who've had to make repairs and replace belts, should be reimbursed by the manufacturer.
Van engine dies at any time without any sputtering or warning, like someone turned off the ignition. Will start right up again as soon as I put transmission in neutral and turn key. Often when driving the engine will jerk real hard like I just drove over a speed bump, but engine does not kill. The engine light flashes for a second. Dealer says nothing shows on computer so theres nothing he can do. Chrysler in detroit was called and said the same thing. They were no help at all. I have almost been hit from behind several times due to this problem. I see others have had the same problem posted also. Happens about once every two weeks or so. It seems if the dealers computer doesn't give them a code they are lost and can't do anything to help. It's a very frustrating and dangerous situation to be in!
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact was driving approximately 55 MPH in rainy weather when the steering wheel became abnormally stiff and difficult to turn. The defroster also failed and the contact experienced an increase in stopping distance when applying the brakes. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact noticed that the serpentine belt was detached. The contact reattached the serpentine belt and continued driving. The failure recurred 3 times and only when driving in rainy weather. After each failure, the contact would reattach the serpentine belt himself. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or the vehicle repaired. The failure mileage was 185,000 and the current mileage was 187,000.
The evaporator heater coil and expansion valve malfunctioned. Prior to this, the air conditioner was not cooling the van. This happened since January 2002. The consumer was told by the manufacturer there was no recall on the above parts. The battery had been replaced on four occasions, the rear brake drums, the serpentine belt and tensioner had been replaced. Also the horn, driver seat rack and grill were replaced.
Consumer put vehicle in drive and vehicle experienced surged, crashing into a church, consumers foot was not on the accelerator at any time, the air bags failed to deploy. Consumer recently experienced a bad fuel smell and difficulty starting vehicle, a dealer stated that they could not find any problems and that the consumer needed to take the vehicle back to the dealer where it was purchased, consumer had the fuel pump replaced.
January 2003 - r & r cross over pipes had a crack. Had to replace January 2003 - 3 lugnuts fell off. Had to replace July 2003 - key cylinder locked up. Had to replace and had the car towed. October 2003 - fuel pump went bad. Part broke inside the gas tank. Had to remove the tank and buy a new part. I have a Toyota with 128K miles and it has never had any of these problems! I'm thinking about trading the van in.
When your serpentine belt breaks, is replaced because of damage or wear or just falls off the pulleys when you go through water puddles... Then you must replace the belt tensioner as well as the belt to reduce future problems... I have a 1997 t & c and have just recently replaced the belt tensioner of the 2nd time... Not hard or expensive.... Must do about every 3 to 4 years... The tensioners wears out.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Chrysler Town & Country. While traveling at speeds of 30 MPH during rainy weather, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the timing belt was replaced, however the failure recurred. The failure mileage was 196,000 and the current mileage was 198,000.
Engine complaints in other Town and Country years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1997 Chrysler Town and Country?
NHTSA has 53 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1997 Chrysler Town and Country, 14% of the model year's 388 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline › belts and associated pulleys (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chrysler Town and Country engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1997 Chrysler Town and Country, though it has 5 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 1997 Chrysler Town and Country engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.