Is the 2009 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
706 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 106, 2.9× a quiet Town and Country year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 59k–111k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 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 82,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 452 (64%) | 61k–105k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 191 (27%) | 71k–116k miles · around this mileage | — |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 105 (15%) | 59k–111k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 36 (5%) | 50k–108k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 33 (5%) | 45k–90k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Wheels | 33 (5%) | 40k–90k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Speed control | 19 (3%) | 38k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 19 (3%) | 70k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 12 (2%) | 27k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (2%) | 55k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 9 (1%) | 56k–102k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 (1%) | 64k–130k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 7 (1%) | 22k–104k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 69 (10%) | 20k–69k 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 82,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 706 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 12 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 13 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was 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
Vehicle refused to start on several occasions, lights on, power on, engine would not turn over, no sound from starter.
My wife was driving our 2009 Chrysler town and county down the road when the vans engine completely turned off as if she shut the ignition down.
Driving down the road the car turned off. Don't know if my knee hit the key chain to turn off the car or if the car just turned off.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 82,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Chrysler Town and Country: 6
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.
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.
Unused electrical connectors for the blind spot detection system may become corroded and could short circuit, which can cause a variety of conditions. If the fuse for this circuit does not blow, the connectors could overheat and potentially catch 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: 56
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Chrysler Town and Country. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
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…
Sliding Door Trim Contacting Vehicle Rear Quarter This bulletin depending on production date…
Chrysler/dodge: power sliding doors inoperative
Sliding door will not latch in the full open position
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Air Bag Non-Deployment/Engine Stall
Neighbouring years
2008 Town and Country: 1,938 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2010 Town and Country: 1,556 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 2009 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
706 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 106, 2.9× a quiet Town and Country year. At 82,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 59k–111k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chrysler Town and Country?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (452), air bags (191), engine (105), steering (36), transmission and drivetrain (33). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 59k–111k miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 Chrysler Town and Country have?
6 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.