When engaging parking brake, pedal went all the way to the floor after a loud snapping noise. Dealer stated entire parking brake assembly needed replacing. Vehicle was parked on level surface of driveway. Vehicle at approximately 64,000 miles.
2013 Chrysler Town and Country brakes problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 12 brakes complaints filed for the 2013 Chrysler Town and Country, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Chrysler Town and Country in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Town & Country has widespread brake issues documented at low-to-moderate mileage: sticking rear calipers, warped rotors, loss of braking force, and brake locking. Chrysler acknowledges some problems but has refused warranty coverage; a power brake booster recall exists for similar vehicles but excludes this model.
Owners of the 2013 Chrysler Town & Country consistently report rear brake calipers sticking and overheating—one owner was nearly in danger at highway speed after 1,000 miles. Rotors are warping prematurely, even with light pad wear; one owner had corrosion and warping at 38,000 miles after a state inspection found nothing wrong. Rotors are failing so often that dealers can't keep calipers in stock to complete repairs.
The brake pedal itself is failing. Multiple owners report the pedal going to floor without warning, requiring forceful pressure or a tow truck. Two owners believe the power brake booster failed—identical to recall #P14—but their Town & Country VINs were excluded from that recall, despite having the same symptoms as covered Dodge and Jeep models.
Brakes are also locking unexpectedly; one owner hit a building at low speed after brakes froze during a parking maneuver. The parking brake has failed with a snapping noise at 64,000 miles. Chrysler has been made aware of these issues but refuses warranty coverage, instead charging diagnostic fees. Owners report this is a known, recurring problem Chrysler won't address.
Same Chrysler Town and Country brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Stuck/Sticking Rear Calipers
Rear brake calipers seizing or sticking, causing excessive heat buildup, smoke, and rubbing noise from the rear wheels. Owners report both rear calipers affected, with temperatures high enough to be dangerous at highway speeds.
When: 1,000 miles; 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke from rear wheel area; Rubbing noise from rear brakes; Both rear calipers running hot; Roaring noise from rear; Rear pads worn metal-to-metal
Repairs/costs cited: Replace rear brake pads, rotors, and calipers (Narrative #1); rear pads and calipers at 30k miles (Narrative #5; calipers unavailable at multiple dealers)
Warped/Overheated Rotors
Rear rotors warping or overheating excessively under normal braking, particularly on grades. Brake specialists identified rotor issues; one owner was charged a diagnostic fee rather than covered under warranty. Corrosion and warping documented at 38k miles.
When: 18,000 miles; 38,000 miles; mountain driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Shuddering sensation when braking on inclines; Grinding noise from brakes; Vehicle feels unstable during braking; Rotors corroded and warped; Pads with minimal wear (10%) but rotor failure
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors cut/resurfaced at 18k miles (Narrative #3); rotors and pads replaced at 45k miles (Narrative #9); rotors replaced at 38k miles due to corrosion and warping (Narrative #8)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler refused warranty coverage for rotor defect; Narrative #8 states Chrysler aware of design issue but unwilling to repair (Narrative #2, #3, #8)
Brake Pedal Loss / Reduced Braking Force
Brake pedal becomes unresponsive or goes to floor, loss of braking authority requiring hard pedal pressure or tow. Two instances link to power brake booster failure; one shows brake pedal failure with no booster issue found.
When: 36,000 miles; unknown mileage; unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor; Brake pedal unresponsive at light throttle; Requires forceful pedal pressure to stop; No warning light illuminated; Complete brake failure in traffic
Repairs/costs cited: Tow required in Narrative #6; independent mechanic unable to duplicate failure in Narrative #4 and #7
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall #P14 covers 2011–2014 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee brake boosters, not Town & Country; owners report VINs not included in recall despite identical symptoms (Narrative #6, #10)
Power Brake Booster Failure
Power brake booster losing function, leaving only manual brake force. Owners report identical symptoms to recall #P14 but their Town & Country VINs excluded from that recall.
When: Unknown mileage on both reported instances
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal to floor without warning; No brake response in motion; Vehicle requires tow truck
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall #P14 exists for Durango/Grand Cherokee only; owners argue Town & Country should be included (Narrative #6, #10)
Parking Brake Failure
Parking brake assembly failure, pedal going to floor after snapping noise. Entire assembly requires replacement at 64k miles.
When: 64,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud snapping noise when engaging parking brake; Pedal drops to floor; Parking brake unable to hold vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Entire parking brake assembly replacement (Narrative #11)
Brake Freeze / Locking
Brakes suddenly freezing or locking during low-speed maneuvers, immobilizing vehicle. One owner struck building at low speed; airbags did not deploy.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes feel unusual before failure; Complete brake lock during parking maneuver; Vehicle immobilized
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2013 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 brakes problem on the 2013 Chrysler Town and Country?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 17,564 and 64,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,564; a quarter make it past 64,000. 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 $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2013/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.