2008 Chrysler Town and Country Problems: Electrical (1,924 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country is Electrical (51% of 1,924 owner reports). There are 7 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Electrical — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,924 complaints · 7 recalls

What problems show up on the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country?

972 of 1,924 filings named Electrical (51% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Brakes (244 reports).

There are 7 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags and Suspension. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2007 has 218 reports on file; this year has 1,924. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 7 campaigns on file below.
  2. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  3. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Electrical. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Electrical 972 complaints · 50.5% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 28
  • Fires 17
  • Injuries 37
  • Deaths 0
All Chrysler Town and Country years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) appears in 972 of 1,924 owner complaints (50.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 972 complaints, 50.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 crash reports 5 fire reports 972 · 50.5% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 244 complaints, 12.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 crash reports 5 fire reports 244 · 12.7% Engine (ENGINE): 160 complaints, 8.3% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 4 crash reports 160 · 8.3% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 96 complaints, 5.0% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 9 crash reports 1 fire reports 96 · 5.0% Steering (STEERING): 51 complaints, 2.7% of reports Steering (STEERING) 2 crash reports 51 · 2.7% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 49 complaints, 2.6% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 49 · 2.6% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 36 complaints, 1.9% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 2 crash reports 36 · 1.9% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 34 complaints, 1.8% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 34 · 1.8% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 31 complaints, 1.6% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 fire reports 31 · 1.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 432 complaints, 22.5% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 6 crash reports 4 fire reports 432 · 22.5% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 972 50.5% 3 crashes · 5 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 244 12.7% 5 crashes · 5 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 160 8.3% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 96 5.0% 9 crashes · 1 fires
Steering (STEERING) 51 2.7% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 49 2.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 36 1.9% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 34 1.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 31 1.6% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 432 22.5% 6 crashes · 4 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2007; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 2009. 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q2: 9 owner reports 9 2008-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2008-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2009-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2009-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2009-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2009-Q4: 58 owner reports 58 2010-Q1: 82 owner reports 82 2010-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2010-Q3: 19 owner reports 19 2010-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2011-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2011-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2011-Q3: 46 owner reports 46 2011-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2012-Q1: 20 owner reports 20 2012-Q2: 37 owner reports 37 2012-Q3: 32 owner reports 32 2012-Q4: 17 owner reports 17 2013-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 2013-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2013-Q3: 24 owner reports 24 2013-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2014-Q1: 38 owner reports 38 2014-Q2: 45 owner reports 45 2014-Q3: 76 owner reports 76 2014-Q4: 104 owner reports 104 2015-Q1: 154 owner reports 154 2015-Q2: 190 owner reports 190 2015-Q3: 210 owner reports 210 2015-Q4: 132 owner reports 132 2016-Q1: 147 owner reports 147 2016-Q2: 46 owner reports 46 2016-Q3: 26 owner reports 26 2016-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2017-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2017-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2017-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2017-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2018-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2018-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2018-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2018-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2019-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2019-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2019-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2020-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2020-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2020-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2021-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2021-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2022-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2007 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 09V351000 ◆ Recall campaign 09V351000 Recall campaign 10V611000 ◆ Recall campaign 10V611000 Recall campaign 11V394000 ◆ Recall campaign 11V394000 Recall campaign 14V055000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V055000 Recall campaign 14V373000 ◆ Recall campaign 14V373000 Recall campaign 16V047000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V047000 Recall campaign 20V396000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V396000 Investigation RQ14002 ● Investigation RQ14002 Investigation DP14004 ● Investigation DP14004
  • Campaign 10V611000 was reported 1,088 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 11V394000 was reported 547 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 14V055000 was reported 2,108 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V047000 was reported 2,187 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V396000 was reported 3,808 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 3
2008-Q2 Owner reports 9
2008-Q3 Owner reports 8
2008-Q4 Owner reports 12
2009-Q1 Owner reports 7
2009-Q2 Owner reports 4
2009-Q3 Owner reports 15
2009-Q4 Owner reports 58
2010-Q1 Owner reports 82
2010-Q2 Owner reports 12
2010-Q3 Owner reports 19
2010-Q4 Owner reports 12
2011-Q1 Owner reports 15
2011-Q2 Owner reports 12
2011-Q3 Owner reports 46
2011-Q4 Owner reports 30
2012-Q1 Owner reports 20
2012-Q2 Owner reports 37
2012-Q3 Owner reports 32
2012-Q4 Owner reports 17
2013-Q1 Owner reports 16
2013-Q2 Owner reports 16
2013-Q3 Owner reports 24
2013-Q4 Owner reports 19
2014-Q1 Owner reports 38
2014-Q2 Owner reports 45
2014-Q3 Owner reports 76
2014-Q4 Owner reports 104
2015-Q1 Owner reports 154
2015-Q2 Owner reports 190
2015-Q3 Owner reports 210
2015-Q4 Owner reports 132
2016-Q1 Owner reports 147
2016-Q2 Owner reports 46
2016-Q3 Owner reports 26
2016-Q4 Owner reports 10
2017-Q1 Owner reports 13
2017-Q2 Owner reports 13
2017-Q3 Owner reports 15
2017-Q4 Owner reports 18
2018-Q1 Owner reports 8
2018-Q2 Owner reports 10
2018-Q3 Owner reports 16
2018-Q4 Owner reports 7
2019-Q1 Owner reports 13
2019-Q2 Owner reports 11
2019-Q3 Owner reports 12
2019-Q4 Owner reports 7
2020-Q1 Owner reports 11
2020-Q2 Owner reports 4
2020-Q3 Owner reports 8
2020-Q4 Owner reports 6
2021-Q1 Owner reports 5
2021-Q2 Owner reports 3
2021-Q3 Owner reports 7
2021-Q4 Owner reports 6
2022-Q1 Owner reports 3
2022-Q2 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 5
2022-Q4 Owner reports 4
2023-Q1 Owner reports 4
2023-Q2 Owner reports 2
2023-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 2
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
2025-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
2026-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 09V351000
Recall campaign 1 10V611000
Recall campaign 1 11V394000
Recall campaign 1 14V055000
Recall campaign 1 14V373000
Recall campaign 1 16V047000
Recall campaign 1 20V396000
Defect investigation 1 RQ14002
Defect investigation 1 DP14004
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Safety Recalls (7)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags and Suspension.

  1. Recall campaign 09V351000

    Safety recall 09V351000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A BRAKE FLUID LEAK COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    ELDORADO NATIONAL AMERIVAN DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND IF THE BRAKE LINES WERE IMPROPERLY ROUTED THEY WILL BE CORRECTLY REINSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ELDORADO NATIONAL AT 1-800-955-9086. THESE MINIVANS HAVE BEEN ALTERED INTO WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES BY ELDORADO. THIS RECALL IS NOT BEING CONDUCTED BY CHRYSLER GROUP LLC AND WILL NOT BE PERFORMED AT NO COST BY DODGE OR CHRYSLER DEALERS UNLESS THEY ARE ALSO AN ELDORADO NATIONAL DEALER.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 10V611000

    Safety recall 10V611000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    AN INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN FRONT OF THE DEPLOYING AIRBAG AND/OR A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HVAC DRAIN GROMMET FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 11V394000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    AN INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN FRONT OF THE DEPLOYING AIRBAG AND/OR A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED AIR BAG MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 14V055000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    Failure of the rear axle may increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Freedom Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected axles, free of charge. The recall began on April 1, 2014. Owners can contact Freedom Motors at 1-800-561-9600. Freedom Motors' number for this recall is ENGF0216-3.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 14V373000

    Safety recall 14V373000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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. Loss of functionality of these systems may increase the risk of crash and/or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch and key FOBs, free of charge. The recall began on May 26, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R03. Note: This is an expansion of recall 11V-139.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 16V047000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    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.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control unit, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S07.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Recall campaign 20V396000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    Projectiles as a result of driver air bag deployment in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag cover with a redesigned cover, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W09.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 1,924 complaints · page 1 of 77
2026-07-20Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11751690
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The vehicle turned off while in drive the dash went dead and the key fob will not turn the engine back on while in the middle of traffic with kids in the car no warning lights came on before hand my radio would randomly shut off so my battery and fuses were checked as well as the starter and are all in working condition I was told it is a faulty win module and cam BUS network line crash. There are previous recalls associated with these issues and I need it repaired please help.
2026-05-09Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11736801
CrashFireInjuryDeath
dash lights do not come on, the turn signals do not operate the horn does not sound. There's no display for speedometer or tachometer or odometer no reading for anything.
2026-01-28FUEL SYSTEM
NHTSA ODI 11713823
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I was driving from getting my daughter from school and felt heat and saw smoke coming from under the dashboard. I immediately pulled over and pulled my daughter out of the car the dashboard became engulfed in flames. I was told by the fire department that it looked like and electrical and fuel issue under the dash. There are known problems with this vehicle catching fire but my cin number when I looked up recalls did not have any on it. My insurance company also stated they had many claims against the make model of vehicle regarding fire issues do to manufacturers issues.
2025-10-26Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11695703
CrashFireInjuryDeath
REPORT OF SUSPICION OF REMOTE CONTROL AND MANIPULATION OF VEHICLE COMPUTER BY UNKNOWN AND UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUAL(S). VEHICLE MODULES AND COMPONENTS ARE BEING DESABLED, ACTIVATED MAKING STARTING IMPOSSIBLE AND DRIVING UNSAFE. BATTERY IS BEING DISCHARGED, LIGHT BEING TURNED ON, ETC... THANK YOU FOR ASSISTANCE
2024-05-13Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11588589
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I have an ABS module for my 2008 Chrysler Town and Country van that has gone bad. All of the warning lights came on for the brake system (ABS, Brake, ESP/BAS, traction). I took it to my local garage and they said that it was a bad ABS module and only the dealer could replace it because it needed to be re-programed. I took it to the dealer who also did a diagnostic and said that it was bad and needed to be replaced. BUT the part has been discontinued and they cannot find the part any where else. No other dealer has them. This sounds like a safety concern to me. The car does not have ABS and cannot be fixed. Can you do anything to force Chrysler to start making this part. It is not safe to drive on slippery roads and will lead to accidents and possibly deaths. Please help. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2023-12-19Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11560956
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a defective air bag module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
2023-10-13Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 11549825
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V373000 (Electrical System, Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and determined that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2023-08-12Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11538110
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Engine shut down while driving. Will restart if put back into park and restart. Has happened two times in the past.
2023-05-22Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11523264
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the driver’s and passenger’s side curtain and front air bags suddenly deployed. During the failure there was no collision to cause the air bags to deploy. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V394000 (Air Bags, Equipment). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced that failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 170,160.
2023-05-04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NHTSA ODI 11520369
CrashFireInjuryDeath
T & C 2008 VAN UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION happened 2x. Service dept. Of the dealer says no problem found but it happened again. Today I am at dealer service again.Hope they solve the problem, cause several incident like this occured aluready.04

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country?

Owners named Electrical most often — 972 of 1,924 reports (51%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country?

NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags and Suspension. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources