2005 Chrysler Town and Country Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Rack and pinion
  23
• Rack and pinion › Rack
  6
• Hydraulic power assist system
  3
• Linkages › Tie rod assembly
  3
• Column
  2
• Hydraulic power assist › Power steering fluid
  1

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1212%
• 25k–50k
  2121%
• 50k–75k
  3839%
• 75k–100k
  1414%
• 100k–150k
  88%
• 150k+
  55%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Chrysler Town and Country owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I filled up my gas tank. I barely got down the road and my engine started sputtering. As I entered a left turn the steering wheel locked up. I ran into a curb and had to press the gas peddle several times to keep it from dying. After trying to turn the wheel several times the steering finally loosened up. The car continued to sputter all the way home. I took the car out an hour later and the sputtering had quit and the steering was better. 2 days later I was driving on the freeway. As I entered a left curve my steering locked up. This was very scary because I had my daughter in the car. I managed to get to the side of the freeway, but the steering wheel would not turn at all. I played with the wheel trying to turn it back and forth. I turned off the van and then back on again. The wheel was still locked. …

2005 Chrysler Town and Country, 96,000 miles, loses power and steering locks when driven through any wetness. The van is uncontrollable and seriously dangerous. No one can say for certain what is causing it therefor there is no reliable repairs. It could just be light rain and no puddles but exposure to wetness seems to be the common denominator. It has occurred turning leaving our driveway, I landed on my neighbors lawn and it has occurred at 50 MPH and caused me to drift into on coming traffic. The battery light comes one and the radio shuts off when it happens. I'm terrified to drive it. Chrysler said they know nothing about this but the discussions out on the internet tell a very different story. If we could have a clear recommendation on how to fix this it would be extremely helpful. I hope my family does not die in this van, or goodness forbid we hurt someone else. …

While traveling down hill in my neighborhood at approximately 15-20mph my 2005 Chrysler Town and Country shut down. I did not notice if any check engine lights came in because I was just focused on not hitting anything or dying. However I did notice that the gas hand said it was on e, the speedometer said 0, and the temperature gage was at the coolest setting. The breaks stoped working completely and the steering wheel was very hard to turn. If it had not been for the speed bumps in my are hood I would have wrecked for sure. Thankfully I didn't and inwas able to slowy make the turn (with a lot of effort) I needed to at the end of the hill. The headlights and the radio did work the entire time. Once I was able to stop the van completely I turned the key to the off position and restated it. It did start on the 1st try and I was able to make it home (less then 1 mile away). …

I was making a left turn and the steering wheel was hard to turn left,not to the right.while turning left the steering column made a load noise.when I parked took the key out the switch the motor continued to run for about 3-5 seconds before it stopped. When I came out of the store cranked up and went straight home slowly and the left turn was still hard to make and when I stopped in my drive way I put the vehicle in park and took the key out the motor ran for about another 5 seconds.I checked the power steering fluid , the oil and coolant all looked okay I waited about 15 min. And cranked the vehicle up the key seem to turn farther than normal but it cranked up okay,so I shut it back off took the key out and the motor ran another 3 -5 sec. I put the key back in the switch and the radio and mileage started flashing on and off so I took the key out and talked to a mechanic about it.

After filling up the gas tank my Chrysler Town and Country stalled on the road. All the electronic functions of my Mini van I.e. The brakes and the steering wheel were disabled and I had to pull it on the side. It was thanksgiving day so there was light traffic on the road. I immediately put on hazard lights to avoid any collision from the car that was driving behind me. The next day took the vehicle to Chrysler dealer and they did several things that costs total of $1335 but next time I filled up the tank it happened again. I went online to google this problem and found out that this is a very common problem with Town and Country Mini van. It does poses a dangerous situation to some extent. This was suppose to be a recall from Chrysler but they totally ignored this. The fix to this problem is replacing the fuel tank...a big expense.

This is dangerous - car stalled while on highway and during a turn, locking out the steering system and putting my car into oncoming traffic. This happened after filling the car up with gas - as with other Chrysler models of this year, it looks like there is a problem with the valve in the gas tank. I experienced sputtering after gas fill ups two days prior, and this final fill up the engine completely died. I had my whole family in the car. Fortunately we avoided an accident, but if we had been in one and survived I would have sued. There is a whole forum online at this address of people who have experienced the same issue and have been put in dangerous situations. Http://en.allexperts.com/q/Chrysler-repair-807/f/stalling-refueling.htm.

The power steering stops working while driving in the rain. The battery light will illuminate and warning chime is heard when this happens. Very difficult to turn the wheel while in motion, at any speed. Has happened while pulling out of driveway, turning into a bank parking lot and another time while at an intersection. Took the van into a repair shop, mechanic said belt was in good shape and tension on belt was fine, didn't need replacing. He had no other explanation as to why this would occur. Has happened to us on three different occasions now. Afraid to drive van when it is wet outside.

Lost my power steering at 70mph on i75, traveling from ohio to michigan, christmas, with my family in the car. The wheel on the rt had some wobble in it, but I was able to get the vehicle stopped with very little steering left. Steering fluid all over under the vehicle. I looked it up on line, and found that this is a notorious problem with the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country, with a $1300+ repair bill. Have there been crashes because of this? Is there a recall on this? Why not? We were very lucky this time.....

I just picked up the car after getting recall r03 performed at fowler Dodge in oklahoma city. I had never had the problem that was stated in the recall but was advised to get it fixed anyway. On my way home from the dealership on 07/27/15 at approx. 1800 hrs. I hit a bump and the key fob went to the off position leaving me with out power steering , brakes, and engine. That is what the recall was suspose to fix. The one problem I had never had with the vehicle, now I am having it after the recall.

Vehicle brakes and steering stopped responding while vehicle was in motion. This lead to crash with a steel gate in an elementary school. Chrysler replaced a defective fuel pump but denies any problem with brakes/steering or any correlation between fuel pump problem and failure of brakes/steering. This is an update on my earlier odi 10152826 to include repair details and manufacturer/dealer response on this critical safety issue.

Steering complaints in other Town and Country years