2015 Chrysler Town and Country electrical problems

Recurring misfiring in cylinder #3 causing violent engine shaking, eventually culminating in spark plug failure with cylinder head cracking. Owners report repeated diagnostics across multiple dealerships identifying fuel injectors or spark plugs, but the root cause was identified by one dealership technician as PCM failure.

When: Multiple instances during highway driving; most recent incident at 20 miles post-repair

Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking resembling broken engine mount; Check engine light illumination; Engine misfire concentrated in cylinder #3; Spark plug insulation cracking; Spark plug explosion

Codes mentioned: Cylinder #3 misfire code

Repairs/costs cited: Fuel injector replacement (multiple times); spark plug replacement; cylinder head cracking damage estimated at $2,500; warranty claim denied by insurance

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Lifetime warranty purchased at time of purchase in 2014 covered initial repairs; final spark plug/cylinder head damage claim denied by Chrysler insurance

Vehicle unexpectedly accelerated during highway driving after driver removed foot from gas pedal. Red lightning bolt warning symbol (electronic throttle control malfunction) appeared on dashboard. Unintended acceleration continued even after braking, ceasing only when vehicle reached low speed on exit ramp.

When: November 25 on Route 80 at highway speeds while attempting lane change

Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected acceleration with foot off gas pedal; Continued acceleration after brake applied; Red lightning bolt electronic throttle control warning illuminated; Symptom resolved after vehicle restart

Codes mentioned: Electronic throttle control malfunction indicator

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostic testing found no computer or electrical malfunction; dealership theorized stuck floor mats caused incident

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler customer service notified; replacement vehicle requested

Ignition switch allows key removal when transmission is not in Park, creating dangerous rollaway condition. Owner reports key could be removed while engine running and vehicle in motion. No audible warning or dashboard alert when key removed from Drive gear.

When: Recurring issue; one incident caused $6,000 damage when van rolled into tree; vehicle only 2,000 miles out of warranty

Symptoms owners cite: Key removable when transmission in Drive; Key removable while engine running and vehicle moving; No warning chime or lamp when key removed outside of Park; Automatic transmission does not prevent key removal

Repairs/costs cited: Faulty ignition switch diagnosed by dealership; no prorated warranty offered despite being 2,000 miles out of warranty; vehicle damage $6,000

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership diagnosed faulty ignition; owner reports similar Dodge models have key-removal prevention and audible warning

Instrument panel, digital displays, and gauges suddenly turn off and on while driving. In multiple cases, this occurs without warning at highway speeds. Electrical system loses power affecting steering and other functions.

When: At various speeds (25 mph, 45 mph, 70 mph); mileage ranging from 70,000 to 94,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Instrument panel goes blank; Digital display screen goes blank; Gauges turn off then on; Vehicle shaking and vibration; Loss of power steering capability; Engine indicator illuminates

Codes mentioned: IOD main fuse fault

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed battery as faulty but did not replace; independent mechanic identified faulty IOD main fuse but did not replace; fuse box replacement recommended by dealership after second failure

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; referred contact back to local dealer; problem recurred after dealership repair

Vehicle displays instrument panel blackout at highway speed followed by transmission locking in Park position with shifter unable to move. Creates a trapped condition where driver cannot shift gears.

When: While driving at 70 mph; at approximately 70,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Instrument panel and display screen blank; Gear shifter locked and unable to shift; No warning light illuminated

Repairs/costs cited: Fuse box replacement recommended and completed; failure recurred after repair

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; referred contact back to dealer

Automatic sliding doors fail to fully latch and continuously retry closure. Sensor or mechanical detection of door closure malfunctions. Doors require manual force-closing. Problem has persisted intermittently for years without improvement despite cleaning and maintenance. Doors occasionally attempt to open while driving.

When: First noticed in 2018, ongoing to present; occurs especially during hot days

Symptoms owners cite: Door does not fully latch; Door continuously retries to close; Manual force required to keep door closed; Door alarm activates while stationary when door locked; Door attempts to open while driving; Closure detection sensor malfunction

Repairs/costs cited: Owners report manual force-closing required; cleaning and oiling attempted without improvement; no dealer remediation recommendations provided

Passenger rear sliding door will not unlock with remote control. Malfunction occurs in all weather conditions and requires manual unlocking by reaching between front seat and B-post to access lock. Creates safety concern, particularly for rear-seated passengers and emergency responders.

When: Ongoing, all-weather issue

Symptoms owners cite: Remote unlock non-functional for passenger rear sliding door; Door requires manual unlock access; Occurs in hot and cold weather; Intermittent failure pattern

Door lock actuators fail to function reliably, leaving doors locked or unable to lock. Passenger and driver-side door actuators malfunction, preventing door opening in locked position or preventing proper locking when desired. Multiple door-lock-related failures reported with this model.

When: Passenger side: 35,000 miles; driver side: recurrent across various mileages

Symptoms owners cite: Passenger door lock actuator non-responsive; Door stuck in locked position; Manual unlock method non-functional; Driver-side door lock actuator failure; Doors fail to lock when commanded

Repairs/costs cited: Passenger sliding door actuator repair required; manual door operation necessary when locked

Loud buzzing noise emanates from passenger rear sliding door when vehicle is unlocked or when doors are opened. Noise occurs consistently, every time rather than intermittently. Multiple owners report identical issue on online forums.

When: Upon unlocking van or opening door; occurs every time

Symptoms owners cite: Loud buzzing from passenger rear sliding door; Buzzing occurs when unlocking vehicle; Buzzing occurs when opening passenger door; Consistent occurrence rather than intermittent

Cinch motor (door actuator) vibrates like a jackhammer when rear passenger door slides closed. After less than one week of vibration, door becomes completely inoperable and will not open.

When: Initial vibration while vehicle stationary; failure within one week

Symptoms owners cite: Cinch motor vibrates violently when door closes; Vibration resembles jackhammer; Door becomes stuck shut after vibration episode

Repairs/costs cited: Door refused to open after vibration failure

Vehicle completely stalls and loses all electrical power while in motion, with no warning signs or check engine light illumination. Occurs at both low and highway speeds. Power steering and braking fail during stall event. Vehicle restarts after turning key off and back on.

When: Multiple occurrences at varying speeds (parking lot speeds to highway speeds); 4 incidents reported within 3 days; happens sporadically

Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off completely without warning; All electrical power lost; No check engine light warning; No rough running or audible warning before stall; Power steering inoperable during stall; Brakes non-functional during stall; Stability control light illuminates after stall; Engine restarts after key cycle

Codes mentioned: Stability control light activation (post-event)

Repairs/costs cited: Mechanics unable to find cause; TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) replacement attempted but failure recurred; issue continues at random intervals

Vehicle experiences extreme parasitic battery drain, requiring battery replacement up to three times in eight months. One battery nearly exploded due to excessive draw. Multiple new batteries from different sources exhibit same drain behavior, ruling out faulty batteries.

When: Recurring within 8-month period; vehicle parked in driveway each time

Symptoms owners cite: Battery found dead in driveway; Battery drain while vehicle parked and off; Extreme current draw on battery; Battery nearly exploded from drain

Repairs/costs cited: Three battery replacements in 8 months; independent parts stores tested all three batteries and found nothing wrong; mechanic found no electrical malfunction

Push button start intermittently fails to start engine when key fob is in vehicle. Engine has stalled while vehicle in motion on city street with driver experiencing loss of steering feel. Key fob appears to lose connection to vehicle.

When: Intermittent; one incident while spouse driving on city street

Symptoms owners cite: Push button start does not activate; Engine stops running while driving; Loss of steering sensation reported; Key fob connection loss suspected

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to find any malfunction; no diagnostic codes present

Vehicle spontaneously caught fire while running with charging port button engaged. Abnormal burning odor detected before ignition. No reported injuries. Fire department extinguished fire.

When: While vehicle running with charging port engaged; 103,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal burning odor; Spontaneous vehicle fire; Fire initiated while charging port button engaged

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to independent lot after fire extinguished by fire department

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted; investigator indicated would inspect vehicle

Blind spot detection sensors corrode and fail prematurely due to vulnerable location and lack of protection. Both sensors fail after 2.5 years. Owners report widespread problem across Chrysler range. Sensors stopped working suddenly after corrosion.

When: After 2.5 years of ownership; 8 weeks before report; at 43,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Blind spot monitor light fails to illuminate; Audible beeping inoperable; Dashboard error message 'SERVICE BLIND SPOT SYSTEM'; Sensor corrosion visible; Constant false warnings with chime

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler denies design flaw despite acknowledged location vulnerability and corrosion pattern

Auto door lock system activates via remote or manual button, doors appear locked, but locks re-engage and open when door handles pulled. Event occurs within seconds to hours or overnight. Vehicle cannot be securely locked.

When: After auto-door lock activation; timing varies from seconds to overnight

Symptoms owners cite: Door locks activate then re-open on handle pull; Unpredictable re-locking and re-opening cycles; Vehicle unable to remain locked

Tire Pressure Monitoring System warning light randomly illuminates within less than one month of ownership. Sensor reset performed multiple times at dealership without permanent remedy. Warning light continues to flash despite repeated resets.

When: Within less than one month of ownership; at 1,000 miles; continued throughout ownership

Symptoms owners cite: TPMS warning light random illumination; TPMS light continuous flashing

Repairs/costs cited: Sensor reset more than twice by dealership without permanent fix

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified numerous times; no permanent solution provided; vehicle not repaired

Low beam headlights repeatedly fail and go out within short timeframe. HID headlight ballast failure identified as root cause. Ballast replacement corrects issue temporarily but failure recurs after 2 months.

When: Headlights replaced twice in less than 3 months; ballast replacement provided 2-month reprieve before recurrence

Symptoms owners cite: Low beam headlights go out; No power to low beams; High beams, signals, and parking lights functional; Ballast failure prevents headlight operation

Repairs/costs cited: Low beam bulbs replaced twice; HID ballast replaced once; problem recurred

Front window regulators fail, allowing windows to drop into door cavity and become inoperable. Multiple window failures on same vehicle affecting both driver and passenger sides within short timeframe.

When: Driver side window July 2020; passenger side window January-February 2021

Symptoms owners cite: Window falls down into door while closing; Window will not operate after failure; Regulator breakage

Repairs/costs cited: Driver side window replaced July 2020; passenger side in repair process January-February 2021

Side doors do not always shut securely and repeatedly fail to latch. Doors continue clicking as if stuck and require multiple manual closures to engage latch. One door had complete electrical failure requiring repair.

When: 2020 electrical repair required; ongoing latching issues through 2021

Symptoms owners cite: Door fails to latch securely on first closure; Continuous clicking sounds from latch area; Multiple manual closure attempts required; Complete door electrical failure (one instance)

Repairs/costs cited: Electrical repair completed on driver-side door in 2020 by independent mechanic

Front window motors fail and stop operating, rendering windows inoperable. Multiple window failures on same vehicle.

When: Recurring failures on both sides

Symptoms owners cite: Window does not respond to operation commands; Window motor non-functional

Random electrical failures cause selective loss of power to various systems while engine runs. AC, dash lights, windows, and radio lose power while windshield wipers activate independently. Problem persists even after TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) replacement.

When: While driving; episodic lasting about 5 minutes before resolving independently

Symptoms owners cite: AC compressor loses power; Dash lights go out; Windows non-functional; Radio loses power; Windshield wipers activate independently; Partial electrical system shutdown

Repairs/costs cited: TIPM replaced by dealership; problem recurred after replacement

All digital displays (radio, speedometer, vehicle info display) suddenly go black while driving without warning. Analog instruments continue to function. Condition persists until vehicle reaches dealership, then displays return to normal function.

When: While driving on city street; displays did not return until entering dealership

Symptoms owners cite: Radio display goes black; Speedometer display goes black; Vehicle info display goes black; All analog instruments continue functioning

Repairs/costs cited: Push button ignition also required multiple presses to activate prior to display failure

Cruise control randomly stops working and becomes inoperable. Issue occurs intermittently.

When: Intermittent; chronic issue

Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control stops functioning; Randomly becomes inoperable

ABS and vehicle stability indicator lights cycle on and off intermittently. Lights activate without corresponding fault codes or warning conditions.

When: Episodic activation and deactivation

Symptoms owners cite: ABS light flashes on and off; Vehicle stability light flashes on and off; No corresponding warning codes

Headlights, dashboard, and radio screen flicker and lose power intermittently during operation. Multiple repair attempts by mechanic have failed to identify or resolve issue.

When: Intermittent; ongoing despite multiple repair attempts

Symptoms owners cite: Headlights flicker and lose power; Dashboard lights flicker; Radio screen loses power; Loss of ability to see gauges; Inability to know vehicle speed

Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic inspected and attempted repair 3 different times; no identifiable problem found; new battery, battery cable, and alternator installed

Defroster fails to function while vehicle is operating at normal highway speeds. Associated with instrument panel indicator illumination.

When: At approximately 45 mph

Symptoms owners cite: Defroster fails to operate; Instrument panel indicators illuminate

Repairs/costs cited: Taken to independent shop; cause could not be determined

Rear window defrost suddenly explodes with loud sound resembling gunshot while vehicle driving. Rear glass shatters but held together by window tint. Burning smell detected following explosion.

When: While driving approximately 30 mph after defroster on for about 20 minutes in 70-degree weather

Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang sound resembling gunshot; Burning smell; Rear glass complete shattering; Defrost system explosion

Driver seatbelt alarm continuously triggers even when seatbelt is securely fastened. Alarm activates both while driving and while parked. Issue becomes increasingly frequent. Also reports of single warning ding with no corresponding dashboard warning.

When: Ongoing, increasing in frequency; both while driving and parked

Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt alarm activates with secure seatbelt; Single warning ding without dashboard indication; Increasing frequency of false alarms; Alarm activates while stationary

Lane detection system corrodes and fails to function, subsequently causing electrical short in vehicle electrical system. Short causes multiple system malfunctions including unintended wiper activation, multiple warning lights, and speedometer failure.

When: System failure before 70,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Lane detection system corrosion; Lane detection system non-functional; Electrical short caused by corrosion; Wipers engage unintentionally; Multiple warning lights illuminate; Speedometer becomes non-functional

Repairs/costs cited: Owner attempted to disable system but electrical short persists

Instrument cluster control panel goes out intermittently. When cluster fails, digital displays flash repeatedly and show incorrect readings (odometer and tachometer display 00). Center navigation system goes out simultaneously. HVAC controls cycle up and down unintentionally. Heated seat controls flash.

When: Intermittent; while driving vehicle

Symptoms owners cite: Cluster control panel goes out; Lights flash on and off multiple times; Odometer displays 00; Tachometer displays 00; Navigation system goes out; HVAC controls cycle unintentionally; Heated seat indicator lights flash

Vehicle experiences intermittent start failure related to fuel pump relay in fuse box. Multiple owner reports and YouTube tutorials document the issue and aftermarket fixes. Owner reports van is unreliable for business travel.

When: Intermittent start failures; ongoing issue

Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to start intermittently; Fuel pump relay malfunction

Repairs/costs cited: Multiple engineering-designed fixes available on YouTube; issue appears design-related

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reports Chrysler has ignored this major issue

Driver side heat output does not reach passenger side heat output temperature. Driver side vents produce only lukewarm air while passenger side delivers hot air. Issue persists even when defrost is used.

When: Ongoing temperature differential issue

Symptoms owners cite: Driver side heat lukewarm while passenger side hot; Uneven heat distribution; Driver side defrost less effective

Backup camera stopped working at 35,000 miles. Camera becomes inoperable without warning.

When: At 35,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera non-functional; No video feed from backup camera

Automatic transmission jerks and hesitates when shifting between gears, particularly at speeds below 40 mph. Shift quality degraded.

When: At speeds less than 40 mph

Symptoms owners cite: Transmission jerking during gear changes; Shift hesitation below 40 mph

Vehicle experiences cylinder #4 misfire causing vehicle shaking and acceleration issues. Electrical diagnostic identified cylinder #4 malfunction.

When: Before 67,000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Cylinder #4 misfire code; Vehicle shaking with acceleration; Vehicle shaking at idle

Codes mentioned: Cylinder #4 diagnostic code

Turning on windshield wipers causes dashboard lights to go completely out or dim significantly. Every wiper activation triggers the light loss condition.

When: Every time wipers engaged

Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lights turn off when wipers activated; Dashboard lights completely off or very dim; Occurs every time wipers used

Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) failure causes engine to stop while vehicle in motion. Vehicle unable to restart after failure.

When: While driving; affects ability to restart

Symptoms owners cite: Engine stops running during motion; Vehicle unable to restart; TIPM malfunction

Vehicle experiences unintended acceleration. Dealership identified wiring issue related to handicap modification as cause, indicating aftermarket modification or design incompatibility caused the failure.

When: At approximately 82 miles (very early in ownership)

Symptoms owners cite: Unintended acceleration

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership identified faulty wiring from handicap vehicle modification

Electrical control unit that controls wipers, turn signals, and other vehicle functions fails and requires replacement. Occurs within less than 4 years of ownership.

When: Within less than 4 years of ownership

Symptoms owners cite: Electrical control unit malfunction; Control of wipers fails; Control of turn signals fails

Repairs/costs cited: Electrical control unit requires replacement

Owner received recall notification (NHTSA Campaign 14V234000 for electrical system) but required repair parts were unavailable. Manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for providing recall repair parts.

When: At time of recall notification

Symptoms owners cite: Recall parts unavailable

Repairs/costs cited: Recall repair parts unavailable for extended period

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V234000 (Electrical System) recall issued but parts availability issue