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 1998 Chrysler Town and Country owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving 30-35 MPH the vehicle caught fire under the hood. The consumer was able to pull over until the local fire department arrived to extinguish the fire. How the fire got started was not determined.
The car was brought to david ellis for a brake repair on 8/21/00. The car made a noise while driving and a loud noise when braking. Also the pedal did not feel right. They replaced the front pads, rotors, wheel cylinders and the master cylinder. They had to repalce the master cylinder twice while they had it under repair. The morning after I picked up the car, it wouldn't accelerate, it was revving very loud and with very high rpms and then it began to smoke and smell. When I got out of the car I observed flames shooting out of the front wheel. Chrysler has inspected and says they do not know the cause of the fire. They are willing to fix the fire damage but they cannot "fix" the cause of the fire because they do not know what the cause is. I do not feel the car is safe to drive unless they can pinpoint the cause and have it repaired or replaced. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Chrysler Town and Country. While driving in rainy weather conditions approximately 40 MPH, there was a loss of power steering without warning and the illumination of the battery warning indicator. The contact drove to the side of the road and the engine was turned off. Upon inspecting the vehicle she noticed the serpentine belt detached which was reconnected. The vehicle resumed normally and was taken to an independent mechanic where the serpentine belt, tensioner pulley and idler pulley were replaced. The alternator and water pump were replaced at different times because the technician assumed the components contributed to the malfunction; however the problem continued after the repairs. The faulty serpentine belt caused the failure and would occur whenever driving in the rain. The serpentine belt had been replaced four different times. …
Three times in one year and twice in one week the serpentine belt came off. Seems to be worse in wet weather. The last time it happened my daughter was driving with her 4 children in the car at 65 MPH on the interstate in rush-hour traffic. When the belt comes off you lose, among other items, the power steering. This is a dangerous situation. My dealer found the service bulletin addressing the problem (only after I told him the TSB number) but would not show it to me. A call to Chrysler customer service only got me an offer to sell me the service bulletin. I have since found out the service bulletin calls for replacement an incorrectly designed idler pulley bracket. I believe this is a critical safety issue, made worse by the manufacturers unwillingness to share its knowledge of the problem with the customer.
Engine spontaneously started on fire and fire destroyed the entire vehicle. Owner just purchased the vehicle 1 week prior to this occurring from a dealership. All of a sudden, there was smoke everywhere while driving on the interstate, and within 3-4 minutes of pulling to the side of the road due to smoke occurring, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. The owner is 9 months pregnant, and there were 3 young children also in the vehicle when this occurred. Fire fighters told the owners that if they had continued to drive the vehicle another 100 feet, the vehicle would have blown up with all occupants still inside. The vehicle/all engine parts are completely destroyed. The pregnant owner suffered severe smoke inhalation and barely escaped fetal death due to severe smoke inhalation.
Tl* - the contact owns a 1993 Chrysler Town and Country. While driving 10 miles or more and accelerating the vehicle shook. The contact stated it was not related to the steering. The front axle was replaced 3 times, new tires were installed, the wheels were rotated to ensure they weren't bent, and new motor mounts were installed and the failure continued to occur. This failure had occurred for over 2 years. The dealer and the transmission mechanic were unable to diagnose the vehicle. The ABS and brake warning lights illuminated each time the engine was turned on and stayed on for a 1/4 of a mile. This failure occurred for more than one year. The dealer stated that the failure was due to the ABS pump. The current and failure mileage was 130,000.
In June 2004 while driving in a rainstorm on the highway serpentine belt on my 1998 Chrysler Town and Country broke. It was replaced. In July of 2004, while driving on a wet street, the serpentine belt came off. It was put back on. On oct 8,2004, while driving in the rain, the serpentine belt came off, it was put back on along with the TSB shield recommended in 1999 by chrylser to prevent the belt from coming off in the rain. On nov 1, 2004 while driving in the rain, the belt came off. Chrysler put it back on and charged me $43. Chysler has known about this defect since 1999. No effort has been made to come up with a permanent solution. Allen samuels dealership in webster, tx sees 3-4 minivans come in with this problem each time it rains.
I own a 1998 Chrysler Town and Country minivan and I was getting real sleepy every time I drove it . Upon inspection by an auto repair shop. I was informed the expansion joint on the exhaust pipe crossover pipe was cracked and letting fumes enter the passenger compartment. This is a very dangerous situation. The repair part is over $500 which the mechanic said was very much overpriced. This expansion joint is made of stainless steel which gets very brittle with heat and will crack over time with extended use. The part was used on Chrysler Town & Country and voyager minivans. I feel due to the seriousness of this defect, these vans should be recalled and repaired without cost to the vehicle owners.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that one year ago upon starting his vehicle he noticed that it would start and then it would shut off. The alarm system on the vehicle armed itself when the ignition was turned off and the vehicle would not start until it was reset. The contact stated that the reset option failed to function. A diagnostic test was being performed by a Chrysler dealer for repairs. The dealer informed the contact that the body control module needed to be replaced at the owners expense for approximately $1100.00. The owner stated that Chrysler was aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The current mileage was 156,000.
Tl contacts owns a 1998 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that she has replaced the serpentine belt three times. She further stated that the idler pulley was defective and had to be replaced with a kit. When the pulley malfunctions, it allows the serpentine belt to detach. As a result, the power steering fails and all the other components overheat. While driving at various speeds, the contact cannot pull off the road. The vehicle May explode or catch fire. The failure was initially noticed while driving 35 MPH in the rain. The vehicle was towed to her mechanic for repair. There were no warning indicators prior to the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Engine complaints in other Town and Country years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1998 Chrysler Town and Country?
NHTSA has 70 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1998 Chrysler Town and Country, 24% of the model year's 296 complaints. The component named most often is engine › gasoline › belts and associated pulleys (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chrysler Town and Country engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1998 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 1998 Chrysler Town and Country engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 12 fires and 1 injury 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.