Is the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
634 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 2012 Chrysler Town and Country are in line with other Town and Country years. Electrical system and fuel system 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 2012 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 79,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 395 (62%) | 43k–110k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 58 (9%) | 71k–129k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 101 (16%) | 64k–126k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 36 (6%) | 49k–118k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Body structure | 33 (5%) | 48k–117k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 18 (3%) | 35k–99k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 16 (3%) | 32k–104k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Seats | 12 (2%) | 42k–106k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 12 (2%) | 31k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 9 (1%) | 44k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 25 (4%) | 12k–66k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 22 (3%) | 19k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 17 (3%) | 22k–70k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Lane assist | 8 (1%) | 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 79,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 634 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 16 mention a fire · 19 report an injury · 11 say the car was towed.
7 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
Rough idle and bucking at stop or slow speeds with loss of power at speed when shifting between 4 and 5. Like it miss's 5 altogether and goes straight to 6th gear.
Door caught fire while driving, smoke everywhere, smoke coming from under hood.
I purchased my vehicle in march of 2016 for the purposes of transporting 2 disabled family members. First, check engine light was coming on and stated that the crankshaft sensor we're not working.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 79,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country: 5
The retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from being properly secured. An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit, increasing the risk of injury.
The affected vehicles may experience overheating of the vent window switch in the driver's door armrest. An overheated switch may result in a vehicle fire.
Some vehicles may be equipped with a right side liftgate pinch sensor that does not function properly. As a result, increased force may be required in order to stop the power liftgate during final closing stages. The power liftgate door may close on an appendage, increasing the risk of injury.
Some vehicles may be equipped with right rear hub and bearing assemblies that were not fully machined. This could result in a decrease in durability, which may lead to wheel separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
These engines may experience connecting rod bearing failure due to debris inside the engine block. Connecting rod failure may lead to engine seizure which may increase the risk of 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: 104
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
ADAPTER, Engine Oil Filter (Pentastar V6) For all 2014MY replace the Oil Filter Adapter (OFA)
Gear Ratio DTC's, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
Oil Filter Adapter If replacing Oil Filter Adapter due to oil leak, please be aware a seal kit is available for repair
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Totally Integrated Power Module Failure
Neighbouring years
2011 Town and Country: 773 complaints, keep it · 2013 Town and Country: 681 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 2012 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
634 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Town and Country years. At 79,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (395), fuel system (58), engine (101), transmission and drivetrain (36), body structure (33).
How many recalls does the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Adaptive equipment (NHTSA 25V-876), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-234), Equipment (NHTSA 12V-191), Suspension (NHTSA 12V-141) 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.