2005 Chrysler Town and Country electrical problems

164 complaints (19% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 85,000. 2 crashes reported.

owner complaints: 164
of this car's complaints: 19%
typical mileage: 85,000
crashes: 2
recalls: 0

Which part fails

Instrument cluster/panel
6
Wiring
4
Wiring: interior/under dash
2
Alternator/generator/regulator
2
Starter assembly
1
Software
1
Propulsion system: traction motor
1
Ignition: switch
1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k

25k-50k

50k-75k

75k-100k

100k-125k

125k-150k

150k-175k

175k-200k

200k+

Chrysler Town and Country electrical problems in other years

Specific symptoms reported on the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country electrical

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Warning lights 13 Fire or smoke 9 Key fob 6

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Related investigations

Loss of headlight illuminationOpened September 6, 2011, closed November 29, 2012

The subject vehicle (SV) population includes MY 2005-2006 vehicles built between March 2004 and December 2005 manufactured with a TRW supplied headlight switch assembly (HSA).The HSA was the primary focus of the investigation; earlier and later vehicles utilized different HSAs.Consumers complain that the headlights in the subject vehicles do not illuminate when the HSA is turned on, or that the headlights extinguish while on (subject failure).No other driving lights are affected.The front marker, tail, and instrument lamps operate.Also, the high beams can be illuminated by holding the turn signal stalk in the up position.As reported by consumers, turning the HSA off and on typically corrects the failure.Initially the failures occur infrequently but they become progressively more frequent with age.Chrysler has indicated its intention to offer of an extended lifetime warranty on the HSA, so that consumers with this problem can have their HSA replaced at no charge when they begin experiencing the subject failure.Commencing sometime in early 2013, Chrysler will send letters to SV owners notifying them of the lifetime warranty.The SV headlight system design is essentially the same as that described in EA 05-009, which involved headlight anomalies in earlier model Chrysler minivans; refer to it to for additional information.The subject failure is caused by friction between the plastic cam and metal surfaces of the electrical contacts in the HSA, which results in the production of plastic particles (debris).Analysis shows that debris can collect on the electrical contact that controls the headlights, resulting in an open circuit and preventing the headlights from turning on.Subsequent operation of the HSA may temporarily displace the debris, at which time the headlights operate correctly.Lubricant was applied to the plastic cam beginning in December 2005, reducing debris production.Consequently, subsequent failure levels were lower.The report counts shown above include only those that involve the subject failure.Reports involving other failure modes which were identified have not been included either because they were not safety related, or if they were safety related, because there was no defect trend.The single crash event listed in the Failure Report Summary Table above involved a deer strike allegedly due to loss of headlights in February 2006.No injuries were reported in this crash.An April 2004 non-crash incident (?Other? above) involved a momentary loss of headlights.The consumer drove into a ditch, and one minor injury was alleged. The subject vehicles experienced a 2.2% warranty claim rate.While standing alone this would appear to be significant, a portion of these warranty claims likely involve other problems with the HSA unrelated to the subject failure.In view of the on road experience of drivers in rapidly restoring headlight illumination by turning the headlight switch off and on again, the rate and particularly the recent trend in problems with the switch, and Chrysler?s extended lifetime warranty coupled with the owner notification of that extended warranty, further investigation does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Details on Chrysler?s lifetime HSA warranty extension for the SV population will be available in the public file for this investigation.

EA11010

Loss of Headlight IlluminationOpened July 12, 2010, closed September 13, 2011

To date, ODI has interviewed several complainants who confirmed that the headlights fully extinguish, and remain extinguished, on an intermittent basis.In most cases this occurred while the vehicle was in motion.The occurrences do not show a repeatable pattern, and the problem occurs at a low frequency, typically one or more weeks between failures.For this reason most complainants have not attempted diagnosis or repair of the problem, so the cause is unknown, and the problem continues to occur.In the cases where repairs have been attempted, which consisted mainly of headlight switch and body control module replacements, mixed success is reported.In interviews complainants advised ODI that they can usually toggle the headlight switch, or turn on the high beams by actuating the column stalk (pulling it upward), when the headlights unexpectedly turn off.Complainants report that toggling the switch is usually effective, and the high beams have always been available when the column is used.During the course of the interviews ODI was able to obtain a few suspect headlamp switches for further evaluation.No verifiable crashes or injuries have been identified in the vehicle owner complaints (VOQs).Chrysler notes that its complaints also include allegations of dimming or flickering of the headlights in addition to loss of headlamps, and that their analysis of available data indicates a declining trend occurring in the field.Chrysler data reports two alleged crash incidents; one where a consumers vehicle lost forward lighting and struck a deer, and one where a consumer alleged their lighting stopped working, causing them to depart the roadway and drive into a ditch.A minor injury is alleged in this second incident.Both incidents occurred several years ago, and neither allegation has been confirmed by ODI.ODI is upgrading this investigation to an Engineering Analysis (EA11-010) to continue its analysis of the alleged defect and its consequences, which will include additional analysis of consumer reports, their frequency and trend, and Chrysler's technical information for the headlight system and its components.Additionally testing will be conducted to evaluate possible root cause(s) of the alleged defect, and will include analysis of suspect components collected from the field, and/or assessment of subject vehicles that have reportedly experienced the condition.

PE10022

What 2005 Chrysler Town and Country owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Apr 19, 2022 · Electrical · 152,000 miles · FL · crash · fire · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country. While driving on a country road when a truck turned in the front on the contact. The motor came through the firewall crushing his legs and trapping the contact in the vehicle. The neighbor came and pulled the contact out of the vehicle. The contact sustained blood clots in one leg and pinched nerves. The ambulance came and rushed the contact to the hospital and he was in the hospital for 15 days. A police report was filed. The fire department came and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was totaled. The contact was the only person in the vehicle. The airbag did deploy. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The mileage was 152,000

Filed Jul 27, 2021 · Acceleration, Electrical · 190,000 miles · SC · fire

The contact owns a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the parking brake warning light had illuminated the instrument panel. After she checked her parking brake and saw that it was not engaged, she continued to drive and noticed an abnormal rubber odor coming from the vehicle. She continued driving and then noticed white smoke coming from the dashboard. The contact panicked and attempted to stop the vehicle however, the vehicle continued to accelerate independently. The contact was able to drive the vehicle into a parking lot and placed the vehicle in park. The smoke then progressed from white to black as she tried to exit the vehicle however, she was unable to exit the vehicle since all the electrical features were inoperable. The contact then heard her doors unlock after multiple attempts to open them and immediately ran out of the vehicle. The contact called her husband who was a mechanic and he was able to drive the vehicle to their home. The authorities were not called to the scene and no injuries were reported. The contact's husband was able to assess the vehicle damage and discovered an active fire inside the dashboard module which he was able to extinguish. Her husband was able to determine that internal wiring within the module had caused the fire. Several electrical failures, as well as severe internal damage, rendered the vehicle undrivable. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

Filed Jun 9, 2021 · Electrical · OK · fire

Instrument cluster started spazing out then smelled wires burning. Resulted in the body control module catching fire.

Filed Oct 7, 2020 · Electrical, Fuel system · 1 miles · GA

Vehicle starts up and as you accelerate into an intersection the van dies. Mechanic replaced intake manifold and related sensors and check the computer but believes the problem is the wiring harness. Diagnostic was run on the computer and that is not the problem. Mechanic thought he had fixed it but 2 minutes out from the mechanics shop the vehicle died and kept dying as I pressed on the accelerator. I had to make it back to the shop going about 5 miles per hour. After a $843 repair bill the van still won't run without dying and is dangerous to drive.

Filed Mar 5, 2020 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · MI

My windshield wipers will turn on by themselves or stop working when they are in use. This also causes the headlights not ot work and some of the dashboard lights to light up. This is caused by water somehow getting under the fuse box and shorts the wires out. This has happened to me while driving on a busy highway in the rain. I never know when this is going to happen and it is very dangerous.

Filed Jun 11, 2019 · Electrical · 165,000 miles · MN

During a heavy traffic on hwy the engine died casing me to stop in the middle not being able to merge right or left. After several months of investigation, I found out that the electrical harness that powers the injectors was not well insulated causing the wires to melt. The ecu didn't record any codes which LED me to start the repair by elimination. The ecu was replaced and programmed because no codes were registered. The coil pack was replaced because of the random firing loss. The fuel pump was replaced because the new spark plugs were completely dry, and finally after replacing all sensors, the harness was checked for corrosion that where I found this section of the harness melted.

Filed Aug 1, 2018 · Electrical · 213,128 miles · CA

I was driving on the freeway and my van died.I was lucky there wasn't anyone hurt.it dies when I make a right turn.I can't afford to take it to a shop.im disabled and I need my van. For drs appoitmets.

Filed May 3, 2018 · Electrical · 213,000 miles · CA

Driving on streets and freeway it will all of a sudden die. Dies when you put it in reverse. Open side doors flashers come on. Check engine comes on disconnect battery for about an hour the engine light will be gone. Happens out of the blue sometimes scary. But it happens every outing we take..

Filed Apr 17, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 119,000 miles · NY

I own a 05 town and country and the electrical system has been failing though the entire vehicle from the radio shorting out, headlights flicking on and off, rear sensors failing, upper display above the mirror gone black where the temp. And miles till empty controls are. On top of that the car is now randomly stalling while driving has me in fear to drive it with my kids. I have read hundreds of reports about this same issue with not only this year but all the way up through 2012. My mechanic has changed the erg valve and many other parts but there has got to be a bigger issue. Cars should not be stalling out while driving. If you look into all the complaints about this specific car stalling randomly you will see that there is a huge issue with this in many years of this car and someone is going to get hurt if they haven't already due to this issue with this specific make and model. I am requesting a full investigation into all the reports on this issue scattering the internet and I hope action is taken to save lives. When the car stalls while driving the power steering and brakes fail and is extremely dangerous

Filed Apr 1, 2018 · Electrical · 165,124 miles · SD

Vehicle in motion or stationary. Gauge cluster flutters, tach, fuel, temp gauge have erratic movement fluttering up and down at a rapid rate. Speedometer not affected when in motion. Fluttering can be activated on it's own, or turn signal, power window switch or brake switch can cause the fluttering of gauges as well, at some points, fluttering becomes so bad, it will restart the radio and cause the dash warning lights to flicker as well (oil light, seat belt light etc...). I have a video of this happening on my dash but it looks like only images are allowed to be uploaded. Happens at any time. 5 miles, 100 miles, 50 miles etc... This is my 2nd mini van that this has happened on and eventually it gets so bad that vehicle will refuse to start. The other mini van that this has done this one was a 2006 chrysler town and country also. Vin for that vehicle can be provided as well if need be, or a separate report can be made on that vehicle. Only one date can be selected on this form but this problem has been ongoing for about 3 months now.

Questions about the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country electrical

Does the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 164 complaints about the electrical of the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country, 19% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2005 Chrysler Town and Country electrical problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 85,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country electrical?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Chrysler Town and Country have the most electrical problems?

The Chrysler Town and Country model years with the most electrical complaints are 2008 (1,242 complaints), 2010 (978 complaints) and 2011 (523 complaints).