Is the 2003 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
245 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Town and Country years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2003 Chrysler Town and Country are in line with other Town and Country years. Steering stands out for this year: see below.
3th quietest of 17 Town and Country years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2003 Town and Country owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 55,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 52 (21%) | 28k–71k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 40 (16%) | 50k–109k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 28 (11%) | 25k–84k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bags | 25 (10%) | 40k–92k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 22 (9%) | 45k–93k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (7%) | 33k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 16 (7%) | 40k–133k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 15 (6%) | 28k–119k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 15 (6%) | 9k–81k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Latches and locks | 14 (6%) | 19k–80k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Equipment | 11 (4%) | 25k–81k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 11 (4%) | 20k–84k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Fuel system | 13 (5%) | 60k–126k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seat belts | 10 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 55,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 245 complaints: 15 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 18 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Oct 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Both the rack and pinion steering and transmission went out at 58,000 miles on my 2003 town & country made by chrysler.
Car was in drive but went into reverse on numerous occasions. Engine light came on took the car in transmission, engine , and other parts was found out to be ok or was replaced or fixed.
We have a 2003 Chrysler town and country lxi. For over a year now, we have had problems with the transmission slipping and jerking.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 55,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2003 Chrysler Town and Country: 6
When the hitch is loaded to the maximum rating, the hitch may fracture or break at the bend location where the main body of the hitch meets the hitch muffler strap. If the area in question fractures or breaks, this could cause an unstable driving condition, possibly resulting in a crash.
Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain Ford, daimlerchrysler, and Jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the brand names of napa, raybestos, aimco, ac delco, carquest, bendix, and wagner. Loss of brake fluid can lead to a decrease in brake line pressure and an increase in stopping distance, which can result in a vehicle crash.
On certain minivans, the power liftgate (Plg) latch may not engage the striker allowing the liftgate to open while driving. In the event of a crash, an unbelted passenger could be ejected from the vehicle.
On certain minivans equipped with 3.3 or 3.8L V-6 engine, the upper power steering cooler hose may split and cause a fluid leak. Power steering fluid leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in an under hood fire.
Certain aftermarket replacement fuel filters, models wix filter part numbers 33576, 33577, 33734; napa filter part numbers 3576, 3577, 3734; and carquest filter part numbers 86576, 86577, 86734 used on 1996-2000 daimlerchrysler town & country, Dodge caravan, and Plymouth voyager vehicles… A possible fire can occur in the presence of an ignition source.
Aftermarket replacement fuel filters manufactured between september 17, 2002, and january 20, 2003, sold under the brand names listed above. The filter may experience malfunction of the quick connector either blocking fuel flow to the engine or causing a fuel leak. If this condition occurred while the vehicle is in motion, the engine could stall. Also, in the presence of an ignition source, the fuel leak could result in a vehicle fire.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chrysler: 19
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2003 Chrysler Town and Country. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Engine Stall After Refueling
Power liftgate latch
Power liftgate latch
Neighbouring years
2002 Town and Country: 403 complaints, keep it · 2004 Town and Country: 167 complaints, keep it.
Every Chrysler Town and Country year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · All Town and Country years side by side
Other Chrysler models: Chrysler 200 · Chrysler 300 · Chrysler 300C · Chrysler 300M · Chrysler Aspen · Chrysler Concorde · Chrysler Crossfire · Chrysler Crossfire Roadster · Chrysler PT Cruiser · Chrysler Pacifica · Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid · Chrysler Sebring · Chrysler Sebring Conv · Chrysler Sebring Convertible · Chrysler Voyager. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2003 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
245 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Town and Country years. At 55,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chrysler Town and Country?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (52), electrical system (40), transmission and drivetrain (28), air bags (25), engine (22).
How many recalls does the 2003 Chrysler Town and Country have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 10E034000), Brakes (NHTSA 06E022000), Latches and locks (NHTSA 05V-134), Steering (NHTSA 04V-386) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.