Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Chrysler Town and Country owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed in traffic, the vehicle stalled. The contact shifted to neutral(N) and was able to drive to the intended destination. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to stop the vehicle, the vehicle required to be shifted to neutral(N) repeatedly. In addition, the contact stated that on another occasion, the vehicle independently accelerated, prompting the contact to immediately depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. In addition, the check engine warning light later illuminated. The contact used a fuel treatment to clean the fuel; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with thermostat and transmission failure. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while shifting into reverse, the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she continuously moved the gear shifter from park to reverse(R) and drive(D) until the vehicle responded after shifting into drive(D). The contact was able to drive the vehicle however, the vehicle would not exceed 20 MPH. The contact engaged the hazards lights and continued driving. The contact stated that upon pulling into her driveway, the check engine warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the dealer needed to diagnose the vehicle before they could cover the repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train). The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift into gear properly. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission solenoid to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH on another occasion, the vehicle failed to shift into gear properly. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission and torque converter to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently down shifted to first gear. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift 3rd or 4th gear. The contact stated that after the vehicle down shifted, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he quickly pulled the vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the passenger's side sliding door failed to open as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the actuator failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town & Country. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the headlights became significantly dim; additionally, the taillights failed to work as designed. The vehicle was taken to a Pep Boys to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. Then, the vehicle was taken to an independent transmission specialist who diagnosed that the transmission torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the entire transmission needed to be replaced. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would cover the labor for the transmission replacement. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R), the vehicle stalled, and the power steering became inoperable. Additionally, the failure recurred while making right or left turns at various speeds. The contact depressed the brake pedal, shifted to park(P) and restarted the vehicle after each failure. The failure recurred intermittently. The check engine, power steering, and the ABS warning lights and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. While researching on the NHTSA.GOV website, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train). The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving approximately 15-20 MPH, the vehicle revved high several times, started jerking and stalled. The contact veered to the side of the roadway. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The vehicle was towed the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train) because the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not included. The manufacturer also informed the contact that she did not qualify for Good Will assistance due to the mileage on the vehicle and because she was not the original owner. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The contact was forced to place the gear selector into either park(P) or neutral(N), and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle resumed normal operation after being restarted. The contact stated that on one occasion, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that there was a sensor inside the transmission that was defective, and that the transmission needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train); however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated that he was able to veer the vehicle off the road and shift into park(P). The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle and shifted into drive(D) and then depressed the accelerator pedal however, the engine revved but the vehicle failed to respond. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and produced code: P0700. The contact was informed that the transmission pump failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town & Country. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH or more, the transmission jerked before shifting gear. Additionally, while driving 35 - 40 MPH, there was a grinding metal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle vibrated abnormally, without warning. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V461000 (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 198,000.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to April 18, 2016, 2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2015, to January 29, 2016, and 2016 RAM ProMaster vehicles manufactured August 15, 2016, to April 15, 2016.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission pump, free of charge. The recall began on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Transmission complaints in other Town and Country years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country?
NHTSA has 187 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country, 35% of the model year's 527 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission › torque converter (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Chrysler Town and Country transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-461 (automatic transmission, Jun 24, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Chrysler Town and Country transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles, and 3% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain 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.