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 2008 Chrysler Town and Country owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I arrived at work and was going to park in my dedicated parking spot. I had to turn to the left and turned the steering wheel accordingly, but a car was approaching from the front so I stopped and waited for it to pass. I took my foot off the brake pedal and suddenly without any warning the car shot forward as if the gas pedal had been stepped on very hard. I had about 50 feet to the building and was fortunate to be able to correct the steering wheel from the turned position and straighten the wheels to avoid hitting the building full-on. As I hit the side of the building the car came to a stand still, but the engine kept running at full revs. I managed to force the car out of gear, but the engine kept running at high revs. I kept pushing the brake pedal down as hard as I could, and suddenly without doing anything else, the engine returned to normal revs. …
My wife was stopped on the I-94 freeway in detroit, mi. A vehicle was closing in behind her at a high rate of speed, and crashed into the rear end of the vehicle. Her vehicle then lunged forward and hit the vehicle in front of her. The front and rear of the vehicle experienced significant damage, yet none of the airbags in the vehicle deployed. My wife's head contacted the steering wheel. She was transported by ambulance to the hospital for evaluation. She currently has a fractured nose, and severely swollen/black&blue eyes. We have 2 children under the age of 5, who thankfully were not in the vehicle. The fireman on the scene had stated that he has been working as a fireman for 18 years, and he has never seen a vehicle with as much frontal damage in which the airbags did not deploy. …
The glass on the van steams up to easily during cooler weather when no heat is turned on or vent. The body of the van collects water in the doors housing the glass in the sliding doors on both passenger and driver's side. No repairs have been made to body and a recent visit to a break shop even replacement breaks the van still makes squeaks at times. A recent bumper accident I shared with a body detailer said the back bumper seems off and needs repair, I have done no repairs on the body and the van is in the original condition from owners that transferred it to me. I also feel the lighting for after leaving the van trunk light stays on anytime a door is not open and have noticed the lights in the front of the van take a while to go off after locking and turning off veichle
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. While the vehicle was parked, the key fob failed to unlock the doors. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be opened manually. The failure recurred on several occasions. The contact also stated while the vehicle was parked, the passenger rear sliding door opened without warning. The failure recurred on two other occasions. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V373000 (air bags, electrical system), however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000. Updated 09/21/15 updated 11/30/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and an unusual noise emitted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where both front and rear brakes were replaced. The failure recurred and the brakes were replaced on three separate occasions. The vehicle was repaired under a voluntary recall issued by the manufacturer related to the passenger side power sliding door. After the repair was performed, the failure persisted. As a result, the passenger side sliding door failed to close completely. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that the front passenger sliding door hinge failed and prevented the sliding door from opening or closing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called russell westbrook Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of van nuys at [phone] (located at 6110 van nuys blvd, van nuys, ca 91401) and was informed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V235000 (electrical system). The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.
This vehicle drove straight into a stopped vehicle resulting in $8990 in damages to the front including destruction of the bumper, replacement of the hood, etc. The air bag did not deploy; something the manager at the repair facility couldn't believe. In the past year or so, the vehicle will "capture" the key when you attempt to shut the engine off and remove the key. You have to restart the engine and cycle the key back off to remove the key. It takes as many as five cycles of shutting off the engine and restarting the engine before the key can be removed. The problem is consistent but sporadic; I.e., it happens a few times then is fine for a few weeks and then the problem resurfaces.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that a circuit in the front driver's door failed and caused melting and a burning odor to emit from the door. There were no warning indicators illuminated. Arrigo Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram at ft. Pierce (5851 s us highway 1, fort pierce, fl 34982) was contacted, but an appointment was not scheduled. The vehicle was repaired independently. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that they could not assist. The failure mileage was 104,000. K14 recall- driver side rear powersliding door wiring harness. Updated 9/18/18
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that the rear hatch door failed to open. The contact mentioned that the rear hatch door and the rear passenger doors were not equipped with key entry. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the rear hatch door motor was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 132,000.
The driver side sliding door has become stuck in a closed and locked condition. Nothing I do, whether electrical, electronic, or mechanical, will unlock or open the door. This occurred the last time the door was closed and locked (car was stationary, of course). Fuses has been checked. The door is effectively unavailable as a means of egress in event of an emergency.
Body complaints in other Town and Country years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country?
NHTSA has 48 complaints about the body & structure of the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country, 2% of the model year's 1,939 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (21 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Chrysler Town and Country body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country, though it has 7 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 2008 Chrysler Town and Country body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 26% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 10 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.