Is the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
857 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Town and Country years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country are in line with other Town and Country years. Electrical system, air bags and exterior lighting stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 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 85,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 164 (19%) | 48k–120k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 153 (18%) | 44k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 116 (14%) | 60k–114k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 95 (11%) | 57k–105k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 77 (9%) | 36k–114k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 38 (4%) | 37k–111k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 34 (4%) | 27k–99k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 28 (3%) | 39k–101k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Tires | 27 (3%) | 32k–124k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 24 (3%) | 27k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 121 (14%) | 42k–80k miles · mostly behind | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 70 (8%) | 16k–54k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Latches and locksSTANDS OUT | 60 (7%) | 38k–83k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 26 (3%) | 32k–65k 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 85,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 857 complaints: 47 mention a crash · 14 mention a fire · 36 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
We have a 2005 town and country Chrysler mini-van with a rack and pinion leak, oil pan gasket leak, and front timing cover seals leak.
Has happened numerous times now. Vehicle cuts out and steering goes out after getting gas. Has happened on busy road and is terrifying.
While driving the car at night, without any warning, the engine began rattling.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 85,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country: 7
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.
The front crash sensors may crack under certain environmental conditions and allow water to enter into the sensor. This can cause the sensor to become inoperative and illuminate the airbag warning light. These sensors were added to enhance the performance of the airbag system in certain frontal crashes. If the front crash sensors become inoperative, the driver is immediately alerted by illumination of the airbag warning light and the vehicle should be promptly serviced.
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.
The up-front (Uf) air bag sensors that contain brass bushings installed in these vehicles may corrode and crack allowing water to enter the sensor. These sensors provide enhanced air bag performance in certain types of frontal crashes. In one of these crashes, with one or both of the vehicle's uf sensors inoperative, the occupants will not benefit from the enhanced air bag protection that these sensors would provide.
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 vans and sport utility vehicles, the front windshield wiper motor armature shaft may break. During certain operating conditions, loss of front windshield wiping capability could occur, and the driver's vision could be obscured which could result in a crash.
After performing the ncap test, it was discovered that on certain minivans equipped without the available "Stow 'n go" Seating option, the right front seat belt retractor assembly may have been improperly assembled. As a result, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant during certain crash conditions, which can increase the risk of injury.
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: 29
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 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
Dodge/chrysler: behavior of headlamp switch function may impact lighting systems such as overload spike of electrical systems…
Dodge/chrysler: supplemental front airbag sensors on about 310,000 certain vehicles may crack under certain conditions and allow water to enter into the sensor
NHTSA defect investigations: 7
Engine Stall After Refueling
Loss of headlight illumination
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Loss of Headlight Illumination
Front air bag crash sensor failure
Neighbouring years
2004 Town and Country: 167 complaints, keep it · 2006 Town and Country: 431 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 2005 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
857 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Town and Country years. At 85,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (164), air bags (153), exterior lighting (116), fuel system (95), engine (77).
How many recalls does the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 10E034000), Air bags (NHTSA 10V-008), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 07E104000), Air bags (NHTSA 07V-192) 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.