Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
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).
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.
Consumer state while traveling 30 MPH without any indication the power steering ended the temperature gauge was running high. Consumer pulled over and look under hood and notice major belt had broken. Vehicle was repaired three weeks after repair problem return. Please provide further information. Ts
Somewhere between 82,000 & 86,000 miles, my engine began making a ticking sound. Since I was due for an oil change, I took the van in to a nearby shop for an oil change. The first thing the mechanic called me about was an oil leak...he thought the head gasket was blown and was calling for my authorization. When he removed the valve cover, he called back to inform me that I had a broken head. Somehow, one of the stanchions that holds the rocker arm assembly had broken off and the rocker arm next to that stanchion was loose and causing the clicking sound. Neither he nor I had never heard of that type of part failure and I went to the shop to see what he had found. The stanchion was broken through about 1/4 inch below the rocker arm. In my mind, since a head is a solid block of cast aluminum, this was not a part that should wear out or have to be replaced. …
Every time I drive into a puddle my steering wheel locks up, it takes about 2 minutes for the car to regain its steering. I have three children and this has happend dozens of times. I went to Chrysler in vero beach, florida and at first they told me they never heard of this happening to anyone. They then told me the belt got wet and replaced it. The next day it happened again on the highway when I was 1 1/2 hours from home and they said bring it back which I did that day. When I returned to new york with the same problem the dealership in larchmont, new york said they never heard of the problem and could not fix it. This summer I was in vero beach and they said they heard of the problem but fixed my problem 2 years ago and now the car is no longer under warranty. This is extremely dangerous! I cannot hit a puddle for if I do, I cannot control my car. …
1. Steering system locked up while making turns making control of vehicle difficult. Van also made screeching noises while turning. Was told rack and pinion needed replacing per "service bulletin". It was, but did not solve problem. Dealer recommended drive belt and tensioner be replaced. This finally helped. 2. Air bag light and ABS lights came on, and traction control went off at hwy speeds. Air bag light remained on constantly. Dealer says that both air bag clock spring and ABS controler must be replaced. Dealer stated that if these controlers were not replaced, neither the air bags, the horn, the cruise control nor the ABS braking system would work. Please reopen NHTSA action investigation #ea01007 for the air bag clock spring in this vehicle. It is important for people to know that if their air bag light won't go off it means that the system is not operational!
On numerous occasions since owning our 1997 Town and Country Chrysler van, anytime we have run into an even slight puddle, turning left onto our street, we have completely lost all power and unable to turn....running into the neighbor's yard....where children have played, at times. We reported such to our dealer with their saying that "no one has ever reported this." apparently, they have now. We would like it fixed please, at no cost to us. Also, our transmission for two years works and then doesn't work, with our having to drive off the road, turn off the van, and turn back on in order to have it shift properly....especially when the air conditioning has been on. We would like that fixed, too, with no cost to us....for it must be a defect as it hasn't quit completely. Thank you, larry wright 7/08/05
The serpentine belt came off during a slow speed turn in the rain, causing complete loss of power steering. The tensioner pulley is the root cause of the belt tracking problem. It is misaligned. Information from websites and NHTSA database, and my local dealer in wisoncin confirmed that his is a very common problem with these engines and can result in a complete loss of vehicle control. I believe this represents a serious design defect and Chrysler should redesign the part and replace it for free.
The power steering system functions properly at start-up, but somtime after driving, the steering system locks-up. It actually requires more force to turn the wheel than if the engine had stalled. Several trips to various Chrysler dealers failed to diagnose the problem until Tuesday, May 30 at walser chry. In burnsville, mn. This problem is especially treacherous because the vehicle operates normally at start-up.
Belt and the tension rod in power steering assembly broke with 30,000 miles on vehicle. Both components were replaced by dealership. On 04/10/2001, consumer was driving at approximately 10 MPH here was a popping noise, and power steering was lost. Dealership informed consumer that belt and tensioner rod went out again at 63,000 miles. Dealership stated that this needed to be replaced every 30,000 miles.
The courtesy light in the door burned out. Nlm consumer states while his wife was driving vehicle the steering wheel suddenly became extremly difficult to turn, consumer was told that the vehicle needed new struts and a new rack an pinion, also the windshield wopers come on by themselves and the air bag light on the dashboard stays on.
Steering complaints in other Town and Country years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1997 Chrysler Town and Country?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the steering of the 1997 Chrysler Town and Country, 7% of the model year's 388 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist system (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chrysler Town and Country steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering 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 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries to steering 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.