2013 Chrysler Town and Country steering problems
moderate 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Of the 6 model years of Chrysler Town and Country we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 26.
Owners have filed 26 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Town and Country has a widespread, poorly understood electrical issue that causes the engine to shut off abruptly without warning—even at highway speeds—leaving the driver without power brakes or steering. No fix has been confirmed effective, dealer diagnostics often fail to find codes, and Chrysler's response has been inadequate despite this being a known problem on earlier model years.
The dominant complaint across these 26 narratives is sudden, unannounced engine shutdown while driving—the vehicle goes completely dead with zero warning lights or error codes to help diagnose it. When this happens, power steering locks up and power brakes fail, leaving the driver fighting a stiff wheel and hard pedal to regain control. Owners report shutdowns at any speed from 10 mph to 70+ mph, in traffic, on highways, during turns, or going straight. One owner experienced seven stalls in three miles; another reports it's happened multiple times across summer, fall, and winter with no pattern. A handful report power steering loss while the engine still runs, and one owner notes the van stalls only at complete stops.
Dealerships consistently cannot replicate the problem or find fault codes, leaving vehicles unrepaired even after multiple visits. One owner reports the TIPM was replaced at 99,000 miles without solving it; another had alternator work done to no effect. One repair shop quoted $2,057 for a WIN module replacement, citing a prior recall on 2008–2010 models with the same module. Chrysler's responses have ranged from blaming E85 fuel to asking owners to keep a journal of incidents to offering a buyback. The absence of any current recall despite prior recalls for this exact issue on older Town and Country models is a glaring gap. Children have been passengers in several of these incidents, and owners describe being stranded in traffic, nearly hit by vehicles, or forced to use emergency brakes to avoid collision.
Same Chrysler Town and Country steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Complete engine shutdown during operation
Engine shuts off abruptly with no warning while the vehicle is moving at any speed. Power steering and power brakes become inoperative. Owners typically must shift to neutral or park and restart the engine to regain function.
When: Random, occurring at speeds ranging from 10 mph to 70+ mph, on highways and city streets. Some owners report multiple occurrences in a single trip. One owner reported 7 stalls in 3 miles over several months.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts off without warning; Loss of power steering (wheel locks or becomes stiff); Loss of power brakes (brake pedal becomes hard or unresponsive); No warning lights or error codes on dash; Lightning bolt warning symbol appears on some vehicles; Vehicle must be restarted to regain function; Radio and instrument panel may remain powered
Repairs/costs cited: WIN module replacement reported by one owner ($2057.38 for part and programming). TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) replacement performed on one vehicle at 99K miles; issue persisted. Alternator replacement tried on at least one vehicle, ineffective. Multiple dealership visits yield no diagnostic codes and unable to replicate problem.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall #72674 exists for prior Town and Country models with this same problem. WIN module recall existed for 2008-2010 models. No current recall issued for 2013 model. Chrysler instructed one owner to keep a journal of shutdowns. One owner offered buyback option (case #58294804). E85 fuel blamed by engineers on one occasion without evidence owner caused the problem.
Power steering loss without full engine shutdown
Power steering fails while engine continues to run, making steering extremely difficult. Vehicle remains operational but steering wheel becomes rigid and hard to turn. Brakes may or may not be affected.
When: One incident reported at low speed (backing out of parking space). Another at 20 mph while turning. One vehicle at only 38K miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering while engine running; Steering wheel becomes very stiff; Difficult to turn steering wheel; Sloppy steering feel (described as flat tire-like); Steering wheel misaligned with tire direction; No dash indicators light up
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to replicate or determine cause. No repair documented.
Vehicle stall only when coming to a complete stop
Engine stalls specifically at stop lights or when braking to a stop, but does not stall while moving at any speed. Radio and instrument panel remain powered.
When: Only occurs at complete stops, not while driving.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls when coming to stop; Brakes and steering do not work when stalled; Radio and instrument panel stay powered; Engine restarts when put into park and restarted
Steering drift to the right
Vehicle pulls or drifts to the right at any speed, requiring constant steering correction. More pronounced at highway speeds. Persistent after multiple dealer visits.
When: Occurs at all speeds. At highway speeds, drift is greater. Unresolved after 5 dealer visits.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drifts to right; Steering wheel must be held 8-10 degrees to left to maintain straight path; Drift worse at higher speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Five dealer visits have not corrected the issue.
Intermittent electrical/power system malfunctions
Unrelated to the main stall problem, some vehicles exhibit random electrical gremlins including windshield wipers activating on their own, warning lights flashing, windows lowering without command, doors opening and closing by themselves, horn blaring, and smell of electrical fire.
When: Intermittent, some occurring prior to or alongside shutdown events.
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield wipers operate without being activated; Warning lights flash on dash; Windows lower without being powered; Doors open and close by themselves; Horn blares or goes off repeatedly; Smell of electrical fire; Traction control light comes on in normal driving conditions
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. Dealerships find no codes.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler instructed owner to keep a journal of shutdowns with no other solution offered.
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2013 Chrysler Town and Country?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 26 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 38,000 and 97,000 miles, with the median around 81,400. A quarter of owners report trouble before 38,000; a quarter make it past 97,000. 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.