Is the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
1,938 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 243, 6.8× a quiet Town and Country year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 62k–110k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 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 87,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 1,241 (64%) | 60k–110k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 239 (12%) | 62k–110k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bags | 374 (19%) | 65k–129k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 95 (5%) | 65k–115k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Visibility and wipers | 63 (3%) | 63k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 58 (3%) | 37k–96k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 53 (3%) | 61k–133k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 48 (2%) | 18k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 41 (2%) | 70k–128k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 29 (1%) | 50k–98k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Fuel system | 25 (1%) | 46k–100k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Seats | 16 (1%) | 23k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 318 (16%) | 17k–60k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Tires | 36 (2%) | 30k–78k 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 87,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,938 complaints: 29 mention a crash · 17 mention a fire · 29 report an injury · 12 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jul 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Incident with Chrysler town & country 2008 2/9/15 between 4:26-4:29 p.m. Driving slow after just having gotten a green light (25MPH or less) hit a big bump in the road.
1.THERE are times when right after shutting the vehicle off and coming back to the car several minutes later, it will not start.
The EGR valve has failed resulting in the check engine light coming on. Now the right rear brake caliper has seized causing the brakes to smoke.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 87,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country: 7
These vehicles may have a loose or missing brand emblem in the center of the steering wheel. The loose emblem or the securing nuts for the emblem within the driver air bag module may become projectiles in the event of a driver air bag deployment. Projectiles as a result of driver air bag deployment in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.
In the affected vehicles, the air bag control units may corrode and fail. If the air bag control unit fails, the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury. Additionally, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. If the ignition key inadvertently moves into the OFF or ACCESSORY position, the engine will turn off, which will then depower various key safety systems including but not limited to air bags, power steering, and power braking.
Over time and with use, the vehicle's rear axle may develop cracks which could lead to axle failure. Failure of the rear axle may increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles may experience a heating and air conditioner (HVAC) condensate leak from the HVAC drain grommet onto the occupant restraint control (ORC) module, which can lead to the illumination of the airbag warning light and a potential inadvertent airbag deployment without warning. An inadvertent airbag deployment could result in injury to the seat occupant in front of the deploying airbag and/or a vehicle crash.
These vehicles may experience a water leak at the heating and air conditioner (HVAC) drain grommet which can lead to illumination of airbag warning light and a potential inadvertent airbag deployment. An inadvertent airbag deployment could result in injury to the seat occupant in front of the deploying airbag and/or a vehicle crash.
The rear brake lines may have been improperly routed and not secured properly during the alteration. If not routed and secured properly, the brake lines could rub against the vehicle causing a brake fluid leak. A brake fluid leak could result in a loss of braking ability, possibly causing a crash.
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: 53
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
UConnect and Voice Recognition Inoperative
Sliding Door Trim Contacting Vehicle Rear Quarter This bulletin depending on production date…
Chrysler/dodge: radiator cap on about 276,000 grand caravan and town and country vehicles may experience engine coolant weep and/or a slow leak resulting…
Dodge/chrysler: the air conditioning (A/C) discharge hose on about 182,000 certain vehicles may crack and leak refrigerant
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Air Bag Non-Deployment/Engine Stall
Neighbouring years
2007 Town and Country: 219 complaints, keep it · 2009 Town and Country: 706 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
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 2008 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
1,938 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 243, 6.8× a quiet Town and Country year. At 87,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 62k–110k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (1,241), engine (239), air bags (374), steering (95), visibility and wipers (63). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 62k–110k miles.
How many recalls does the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 20V-396), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-047), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-373), Suspension (NHTSA 14V-055) 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.