2001 Chrysler Town and Country EX from North America - Comments

I have a 2001 Town and Country van that I bought new that now has 120,000 miles on it. It has needed very little work other than normal maintenance in that time: new bushings for the sway bars, a small oil seep from the top cover, and a new battery.

This is my second Chrysler van. My first was a 1991 Town and Country that had transmission problems. While that was bad, it schooled me on what NOT to do with Chrysler automatic transmissions if you want to avoid spending a lot of money for transmission repairs. Do NOT switch from 'R' to 'D' or from 'D' to 'R' while the wheels are moving even the tiniest amount. The worst offenders are impatient people who snap the lever from 'R' to 'D' while backing out of their driveway with the wheels still turning. The Chrysler automatic transmission is actually a very good transmission (as is the V-6 3.3L or 3.8L engine) but using the transmission to stop the vehicle is guaranteed to break it as that is the one thing it's otherwise advanced design cannot tolerate. I learned that the hard way and now everyone in our family uses the brakes to stop the car, not the transmission and it still runs like new and will probably last the life of the vehicle without repairs. Happy trails...

I own a 2001 T&C EX that I bought in 2003 with 33,000 miles. I am up to a little over 115,000 miles now and I have had some problems with it but no more than any other vehicle may have experienced. I usually keep a vehicle 10 years before buying a new one, and hopefully this van will last me another 2 years. If not, I think I have gotten my moneys worth from this van. It comfortably seats me and my 4 grandchildren and has taken us on many adventures. Now that Chrysler has gone belly-up I don't know if I would buy again tho - but will definitely buy another van. My previous vehicle was a 1992 Chrysler Concorde that I had for 10 years and served my family well. So there are good stories and bad ones, mine just happens to be one of the better ones! I don't think all 2001 Chrysler vans are lemons.

I see many bad experiences with the T&C. I bought a 2001 in 2005 with 50,000 miles on it. It has been great to us, considering what all could have gone wrong.

The alternator was replaced right before I bought it. Never had a problem with it.

The battery died right at 5 years of life (normal).

Transmission control module went out in 07' ($400+).

The A/C went out in 08' ($800+) (missed that factory extended warranty by 5,000 miles).

And that is it. I have not changed the brakes at all and are still good. Can't complain at 96,000 miles. It is a smooth ride (specially for road trips).

I have the Limited with all the comfort features and the 3.8lt engine that is running strong. I take care of it and give it all the maintenance. I recommend you use full synthetic like I do. I think I might upgrade to a slightly newer model with the all wheel drive. I am not getting a new one (don't like the body). I prefer this over the Grand Cherokee that I drive (my wife hates it when I take her car). I think some of you just ran WITH some bad luck as I did with a Ford Taurus (NEVER AGAIN - CURSE YOU FORD TAURUS).