Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Chrysler Town and Country owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
We had been having problems with our 2001 Chrysler Town and Country. The sliding door kept opening while we were driving down the road and the door would open. Then while we were on vacation I was driving down the highway and the door caught on fire. Within 2 minutes the whole car was in flames if my three children had been in the car I am not sure if I would of been able to get them all out. The fire department got there in good time but it was to late. The whole van and everything in it was totally destroyed.
My 2001 Chrysler Town & Country suffered a complete transmission failure. I bought this vehicle new in 2001 and thought I was buying the best Mini-van for the money. However, I've had nothing but problems with this vehicle. Power windows have failed, power sliding door has failed 3 times, power lift gate failed, air bags caused a check engine light to come on ( replaced under warranty). All of these were minor in comparison to the transmission, which cost me $3078 to have rebuilt. I've found too many instances of transmission failures on the internet, I question why Chrysler hasn't been called out on this by the NHTSA. Chrysler knows about the quality of their vehicles and continues to do nothing about it. In the future I will never buy another Chrysler product.
The driver's side rear automatic sliding door ceased working during cold weather conditions at random times over a couple of years & then suddenly the automatic function of the door would not work at all when the button is pressed from the inside. Even worse is that the door will not open when using the manual handle with the lever. This is extremely dangerous, as small children could be trapped. Earlier when I took it to a dealership, they stated that a new track harness & something else was needed at a cost over $500. We cannot afford this. Doors should work manually without $500 parts. There is nothing physically wrong with the door, nor has it been in a collision etc.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country. When the contact proceeded to enter the vehicle, the rear passenger side door failed and retracted quickly. As a result, the contact injured his left arm. He went to the hospital to have his arm examined. The contact is in the process of taking the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. The Chrysler manufacturer stated that a representative would give him a call back. The contact has not yet received any follow up calls. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 92,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that the rear driver side sliding door was unable to be locked by using the door lock feature on the driver's door or the keyless entry system with the key fob. On several occasions, when the vehicle was parked, the rear passenger side sliding door would be ajar. The contact stated that the door was only able to be locked manually. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
Drivers side sliding door power sliding function stopped working, then short time later the door wont open at all, manually or power. Took van to the dealer said it needed a new latch at a price of 250.00 dollars plus the cost of getting the door open and replacing the latch same vehicle the powerlift gate or rear door power function hasn't work since I bought it took it back replaced the control module 3 times still doesn't doesn't work.
Air bag sensor light blinks on and off. A recall was issued on the clock spring, however this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN. The vehicle had numerous problems such as steering problems, sliding problems, brake and acceleration problems, a strong odor of gas and thefront sway bars and rear shocks were replaced
2001 Chrysler Town & Country, sliding side door motor failed very quickly. Chrysler refuses to fix problem since I'm not original owner. Also, liftgate motor failed about the same time and again, Chrysler refuses to fix under warranty. Both doors are hard to open due to this problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chrysler Town & Country. The contact stated that the driver's side sliding door erroneously and independently opened. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 144,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Chrysler Town & Country. The paint on the body of the vehicle was chipping. The vehicle has not been repaired for the defect. The dealer has been notified. The failure mileage was 178,000. The current mileage was 187,000.
Body complaints in other Town and Country years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2001 Chrysler Town and Country?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the body & structure of the 2001 Chrysler Town and Country, 5% of the model year's 462 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Chrysler Town and Country body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2001 Chrysler Town and Country, though it has 2 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 2001 Chrysler Town and Country body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 68,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 4 injuries to body & structure 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.