Is the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
527 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 187, 5.7× a quiet Town and Country year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country were filed between 67k and 104k miles. You're at 84,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 187 (35%) | 67k–104k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 70 (13%) | 60k–92k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Seats | 23 (4%) | 50k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 107 (20%) | 48k–77k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 75 (14%) | 49k–73k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 16 (3%) | 45k–83k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 14 (3%) | 18k–59k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Latches and locks | 16 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (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 84,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 527 complaints: 12 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 7 report an injury · 33 say the car was towed.
19 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
It randomly starting making a whinning noise on the way home from son basketball practice. The vehicle was parked that night and scheduled to be seen by a mechanic next morning.
Transmission pump fried and caused the transmission to not get enough oxygen so had to get a completely new transmission.
The transmission hydraulic pump failed and caused complete failure of the trans at 105000 miles. The rocker arms failed at 97000 miles.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 84,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country: 5
A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. If the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.
The transmission pump may seize causing a loss of hydraulic pressure. If the transmission loses hydraulic pressure, the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The nuts on the third row seatbacks were incorrectly torqued and may become loose. If the third row seatback becomes loose, it may separate from the seat frame, increasing the risk of injury.
The windshield on the affected vehicles may have been installed using expired urethane primer, allowing the windshield to become displaced in the event of a crash. If the windshield dislodges during a crash, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
In the affected vehicles, the bolts that attach the hood striker may loosen and, as a result, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving. If the hood opens while driving, the driver's vision may be obstructed, increasing 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: 138
Repair instructions Chrysler sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Suspected engine coolant leak
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
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Sliding Doors Inoperative
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2015 Town and Country: 383 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
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 2016 Chrysler Town and Country a bad year?
527 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 187, 5.7× a quiet Town and Country year. At 84,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country were filed between 67k and 104k miles. You're at 84,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (187), engine (70), seats (23), electrical system (107), body structure (75). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 67k–104k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chrysler Town and Country have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 17V-824), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 16V-461), Seats (NHTSA 16V-300), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 16V-044) 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.