Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Chrysler Town and Country owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Strut mounts are very rusty, the Chrysler recommended repair could not be done, due to extensive rust around the strut tower. This is confirmed by many other owners of this year and generation of vehicle. The vehicle is is good shape except for this and the problem was caused by a manufacturing defect which allowed rusting in the strut towers. This problem started happening approximately when it was just 10 years old or less and got worse and worse over the years. I have not driven it for many years because it seems very unsafe.
There was no incident yet. The driver's side upper strut bracket is rusted about a 1/4 of the top side. Don't know where the moisture could have come from? The seals above that area seem OK. Couldn't find any past recalls for this issue but, the passenger's side is just fine. At this point the insurance company won't cover fixing it. And am not sure what could be done? This is my mom's car and the information below is mine.
Wanted to trade van in and they told me do to safety factors could not take in on a trade. Said that the rust on van under carriage was so bad that motor could fall out and it was not worth taking in on a trade do to this problem
We own a 1999 Chrysler Town and Country minivan. We purchased the vehicle used in 2001. We haven't had any problems with it until 2005 and then we had to replace the water pump. The mechanic noticed that the strut towers were severely rusted. He mentioned that this is a known defect with the Chrysler product. We would never have known otherwise--we didn't even know what a strut tower was until he pointed it out. If one or both of the the strut towers were to give way after hitting a pothole (or just from continued rusting) this could cause a sudden change in steering geometry, and or complete loss of steering, and or the tire well dropping onto the tire and acting like a brake, and or blowing out completely. Any of these scenarios could easily contribute to a serious, even tragic accident involving one or more vehicles. …
Tl contact owns a 1999 Chrysler Town and Country. In June of 2006, the contact was informed that the strut tower could detach from the vehicle and cause a crash. The vehicle was not repaired at that time and the mechanic warned him that a failure was eminent. In 2007, he took the vehicle to a repair shop for minor service and was informed that he could die if he continued to drive the vehicle. He was also informed that the strut mount tower was rusted out. As a result, it could separate at any given moment, burst through the hood of the vehicle, and cause the wheel to fall horizontally. However, the contact continued to drive the vehicle because he had no other means of transportation. He took the vehicle to jiffy lube for an oil change and had to sign a form acknowledging that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. …
The vehicle was equipped with heated seats. The owner took the vehicle to the dealer to have the seats checked. The problem was not detected. Now, the passenger seats are over heating also. The owner had the seats replaced on two seperate occassions. Provide further details. The consumer stated that all four seats failed. Both front seats had burn holes in them. The consumer heard a noise coming from the front of the vehicle when going over bumps. The consumer was told that the strut tower went bad and had it replaced. The consumer complained that a vibration is felt while driving as if the vehicle drove on four flat tires. The consumer heard a whining noise when using the am radio which only happed when using the brake.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that after adding oil in the vehicle, he noticed that the shock strut towers were rusted and would cause the structure of the vehicle to fracture. The vehicle was neither inspected nor repaired for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000. Updated 3/14/11 the consumer stated the strut tower was rusted and the strut broke through the body of the tower. The strut came to rest only inches away. The local body shop rebuilt the tower by welding sheet metal . He formed and reinforced the shock tower. Updated 06/30/11
While doing general car care (cleaning the battery) I noticed severe rust on the left strut tower at the spring seat. The area is supporting the weight of the vehicle and if it fails will cause the left front tire to move into contact with the car body and prevent normal steering to avoid collisions. Secondarily, suspension dampers cannot be replaced since the strut could not be re-attached. Poor damper condition of course affects the drivers ability to control the vehicle on imperfect pavement.
We took our 1999 Chrysler Town & Country to our mechanic to have the water pump replaced and he informed us of the drivers side strut tower rusting out and should have it replaced as it could be a hazard while driving. This was reported to us on 08-2011 with the car having 142000 miles on it. Nothing has been done to repair it at this point. Am looking to see if there are any recalls for this problem.
Dt*: the contact stated the front end made a noise at any speed. The dealership determined the driver side strut tower was severly rusted and was on the verge of collapsing. The dealer suggested that the vehicle be taken to an auto body shop. They suggested the manufacturer be alerted. Updated 4/4/2006 -
Suspension complaints in other Town and Country years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1999 Chrysler Town and Country?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the suspension of the 1999 Chrysler Town and Country, 9% of the model year's 362 complaints. The component named most often is front › macpherson strut (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Chrysler Town and Country suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 1999 Chrysler Town and Country, though it has 4 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 1999 Chrysler Town and Country suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 4 injuries to suspension 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.