Steering System Inspection After a Collision This bulletin documents the FCA US LLC position regarding conditions under which replacement or repair of steering system components are required.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Chrysler Town and Country steering problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 53,500 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Town and Country | 21 |
| 2012 Town and Country (this page) | 15 |
| 2013 Town and Country | 26 |
| 2014 Town and Country | 22 |
| 2015 Town and Country | 13 |
| 2016 Town and Country | 11 |
1crash
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Cooler line, Power steering return The clips that hold the line to the core support are not available at this time and will need to be reused. Use care when opening and re-latching clip.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CHRYSLER/DODGE: WHEN BRAKING, STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE, BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES AND/OR FLOOR PAN VIBRATES AND NEED TO REPLACE, BOTH, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BRAKE LININGS AND RESURFACING, AND INSTALL NEW RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. MODEL 2011-2012 CARAVAN, TOWN AND COUNTRY.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Front Brake Judder And/Or Vibration This bulletin involves installing new right and left front lower control arms, brake linings and resurfacing or replacing both front brake rotors. Brake pedal pulsation, steering wheel shake and/or floor pan vibration when braking.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2012 Town and Country vans report the engine shutting off completely and without warning while driving, with no diagnostic codes appearing. The stalling happens at any speed—from a few mph to 70 mph on highways—and leaves drivers with zero power steering and zero power brakes. The dashboard goes black. To restart, owners must jiggle the key, shift to Neutral or Drive, or wait 45 to 60 minutes.
One owner's dealership replaced the ignition switch and charged $450; another owner's dealership kept the van nearly a month, diagnosed a faulty part, found none available, and told the owner they couldn't guarantee safety even if parts arrived. Chrysler refused reimbursement because the vehicle was out of warranty.
A separate complaint describes a tie rod disconnecting at low speed, with a lug nut found improperly tightened.
Another owner reports intermittent stalling specifically during turns and over bumps, with research pointing to similar recalls on earlier Mopar models.
Owners emphasize the danger: children in cars, near-miss collisions, stalling in intersections, stalling on highway overpasses. No recalls have been issued for the stalling condition.
Same Chrysler Town and Country steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Ignition switch or electrical failure causing complete engine shutdown while driving
Engine shuts off completely and unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion. All electrical systems lose power simultaneously, including power steering, power brakes, and dashboard lights. The vehicle becomes unresponsive to restart attempts until the ignition key is jiggled, the gear is shifted to Neutral or Drive, or the vehicle sits for 45-60 minutes.
When: May 2022 through September 2022; reported at various speeds from 5 mph to 70 mph on highways and local roads
Symptoms owners cite: Engine dies without warning while driving; Complete loss of power steering; Complete loss of power brakes; Dashboard lights go black; No diagnostic codes appear; Vehicle becomes unresponsive to restart until key is jiggled or gear shifted; Intermittent stalling with no pattern; Traction control light may illuminate before shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced ignition switch in one case; another owner reports dealership diagnosed but could not source replacement part (estimated cost $1000 parts and labor). One owner reports dealership kept vehicle nearly a month and could not guarantee safety even with potential part replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner requested reimbursement of $450 for ignition switch replacement; Chrysler refused because it was not on recall list and vehicle was out of warranty on mileage. Owner alleges Chrysler has known about defective ignition switches for years.
Tie rod disconnection and wheel alignment failure
Front passenger side tie rod disconnected while driving, resulting in loss of steering control. A lug nut was found to be improperly tightened at the time of repair.
When: Approximately 2,766 miles; occurred while driving at 5 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Loud screeching sound from under vehicle; Loss of steering control; Three wheels pointing forward when tie rod disconnected
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced tie rod and tightened lug nut. Repair completed without further incident reported.
Intermittent stalling with loss of power steering during turns and rough road conditions
Vehicle stalls unexpectedly when turning corners or driving over bumps and potholes. All power systems shut down simultaneously. Independent mechanic research identified similar recalls on earlier Mopar model years.
When: Not specified; complaint filed regarding intermittent occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuts off while turning; Vehicle shuts off when going over bumps or potholes; Complete shutdown of power steering, dashboard, and engine; No warning lamps or messages before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle inspected by independent auto mechanic only; not taken to dealer or service center.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Independent mechanic research identified similar recalls on earlier Mopar vehicles.
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2012 Chrysler Town and Country?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 37,000 and 155,000 miles, with the median around 53,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,000; a quarter make it past 155,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Chrysler/Town and Country.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.