Is the 2004 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
167 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 2004 Chrysler Town and Country are in line with other Town and Country years. Fuel system stands out for this year: see below.
1st 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 2004 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 84,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 58 (35%) | 70k–120k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 24 (14%) | 52k–127k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 23 (14%) | 48k–124k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 14 (8%) | 45k–95k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (8%) | 25k–97k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 9 (5%) | 35k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 9 (5%) | 57k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 5 (3%) | 28k–105k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (3%) | 27k–93k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 22 (13%) | 39k–75k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 8 (5%) | 15k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 7 (4%) | 22k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
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 84,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 167 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jul 2021.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
After every fuel fill the vehicle runs rough or stalls. Most times for the first mile then clears up. Almost impossible to pull out in traffic after filling the tank.
My van completely shut down after I filled the tank with gas.
After refilling the tank at any gas station and restarting the vehicle, it runs rough and stalls. The stall can occur anytime from right after the engine restart or up to 5 minutes after restart.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 84,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 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 curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as DOT-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and foreign vehicles may not break into small pieces as expected of tempered glass and fails to conform to federal motor vehicle… In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(S) may be seriously injured by shattered glass.
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 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: 26
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Chrysler Town and Country. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Radiator If vehicle comes in for transmission fluid leaking from trans-oil cooler fittings on the radiator…
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: 1
Engine Stall After Refueling
Neighbouring years
2003 Town and Country: 245 complaints, keep it · 2005 Town and Country: 857 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 2004 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
167 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Town and Country years. At 84,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chrysler Town and Country?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: fuel system (58), engine (24), electrical system (23), air bags (14), transmission and drivetrain (13).
How many recalls does the 2004 Chrysler Town and Country have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 10E034000), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 07E104000), Brakes (NHTSA 06E022000), 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.