What 679 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Chrysler Town And Country

I experienced a no start situation. The vehicle would crank but not start. I did some research on the internet and found other Dodge/Chrysler vehicles with the same problem. I noticed they all had a similar, if not the same TIPM fusebox. The remedy was the same. You can put a bypass jumper wire on the fuse and the car will start. The problem is a fuel relay failure that is soldered to a circuit board inside the TIPM. There are after- market remedies. I don’t know if these remedies protect in the event of a crash, severed fuel line, and fire. Some Dodge/Chrysler models have a recall on this issue. This recall should be extended to my vehicle and many more. This is not my vehicle. I do some of the service of this vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11653035

Today, we experienced, for the FOURTH time, a complete stall while driving. Accelerator would not work at all. Van died while driving approx 25 mph. We just had the entire fuel pump & fuel pump relay completely replaced. We have replaced both of these twice now, in less than 3 years. Same problem keeps happening. Mechanic agrees, that the core problem lies within a failure of the TIPM system. It's an electrical problem causing the fuel pump to fail while driving. This is extremely dangerous. It happened to us previously, while we were on the interstate driving approx 65 mph, and it almost caused us to crash the vehicle. Another problem to also note, is this same problem has caused the A/C unit to stop working. Blows out hot air, but will not produce cold air. A/C was completely replaced. Still not working. Mechanic says yet again, it's a failure of electrical sources due to the TIPM module. This should be an immediate recall from Chrysler, for 2013 Town N Country Minivan. Over 200 logged complaints of the exact same problem. They manufactured a broken TIPM module in these make & model vehicles. Now, my husband is stranded 200 miles from home, on the side of the road, and it's 98 degrees out. This is 4th time, weve experienced a total power failure. So it doesn't matter if you replace the fuel pump, it will still DIE. We are having this POS towed to our local mechanic, AGAIN. Its available for inspection. Problems have been confirmed by an independent servicer. Check engine remains on. Someone is going to die, if Chrysler doesn't issue an recall for this ongoing problem. The interior power is still on,and engine will turn over, will not start.

NHTSA ODI 11599870

On multiple occasions, and without warning, the car died while driving creating extremely dangerous and stressful situations. Additionally, the defective fuel pump relay caused the fuel pump to run even when the car was not running. This then caused damage to the fuel pump and required replacing both the relay and pump itself. As the Fuel Pump relay is a single unit soldered together, it could not be independently tested during normal checks. A recall was issues and executed for the same issue on Jeep and Durango models. I also see that this was brought up previously for this T&C model but was determined not to warrant a recall. A known, dangerous, costly, and preventable issue that was corrected elsewhere but not in this model. How is that possible? I've noted approximately the first time I recall the car shutting itself off while driving (this was not the only or last time it happened - nor is it the date of service when we had to pay to have the car repaired).

NHTSA ODI 11576935

Started the vehicle and traveled maybe about 50 feet. Noticed loss of power steering. This was due to the engine stalling out. The vehicle would not start and there was a strong odor of fuel fumes in the vehicle cabin. Exited the vehicle and observed a large puddle of oil running downhill from the vehicle. The puddle also smelled of gasoline. I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop. The issue was determined to be a cracked oil filter housing assembly and the clip on the fuel return line had failed causing fuel to be sprayed onto the engine. The repair cost will be just over $800. It is fortunate that the engine was still cold and that the loss of oil caused the engine to shut off. If the engine had been hot enough to ignite the fuel, this could have had tragic results with a potential loss of my family's life. The oil filter housing assembly is a known issue with the Pentastar V6 3.6L engine. Chrysler so far has failed to take responsibility for this issue. I recently had to have repairs due to a faulty fuel pump relay. There appears to be related Chrysler TIPM recalls on almost every other model but the 2013 Town and Country. This issue appears to cause the vehicle to not start or allow the fuel pump to remain running after the vehicle is shut down. My Town and Country would not start and it produced strong fuel fumes. As noted, there are multiple safety issues noted with this model of vehicle that remain unresolved. It is a 2013 model but the issues are ones that have existed since the production of the vehicle and Chrysler has yet to assume responsibility. I will add a copy of the repair invoice shortly.

NHTSA ODI 11566987

Fuel pump continues to run after shut down, draining battery. Related to my other report (11498461).

NHTSA ODI 11498464

What started as an intermittent crank / no start issue quickly progressed to complete failure of fuel pump relay that is part of TIPM. During the first crank no start issue on the day in question I was able to use remote start and the vehicle started normally. (Probably do to slightly higher system voltage as some accessories are turned off during remote start vs pushbutton start). Later the same day is when the complete failure occurred. This could be a major inconvenience for many, but in the harsh Minnesota winters it's more than just inconvenient when you have a wife and young kids in a vehicle away from home that will not start when air temps are in the single digits and wind chill is far below zero. Fortunately / sadly, this is such a common problem that I was able to diagnose it rather quickly with Google, but not before getting a frostbitten finger. I was able to bypass this fuel pump relay by forcing a paper clip into fuse holder M37 and getting keyed power from an alternative source, fuse M25. I don't, however, recommend this fix. What I do recommend is that Chrysler Corporation expand the recall of affected vehicles with this TIPM to include ALL vehicles that this was installed in. In hindsight, a totally unexplained, drained battery overnight while hundreds of miles from home was probably my first sign of this failing relay as it most likely stuck on forcing fuel pump to stay running with ignition off. This occurred 26 days prior to my crank / no start issue. After jump starting and fully charging, battery was tested and passed. Battery resting voltage tested day after crank / no start issue is 12.8V. If I remove relay jumper, crank no start persists.

NHTSA ODI 11495948

Vehicle shuts off while driving, stopping and slowing down.

NHTSA ODI 11487769

The contact owns a 2013 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH uphill, the vehicle independently stopped. The vehicle was shifted into reverse(R) and the vehicle inadvertently drove forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic with the check engine warning light illuminated. The mechanic replaced the fuel pump, spark plugs, and alternator. The mechanic stated there might also be a failure with the TIPM. The vehicle was also towed to another independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined there was a failure with the fuel line connector and an abnormal clicking noise. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11471100

The car will not start when cold. We did replace the battery and a few other parts. But it can not be diagnosed. My girls and I were stranded in the cold, far from home due to the issue. When it gets nice out than the van starts. I think sometimes should be done, due to family kids, and handicap need accessible vans.

NHTSA ODI 11450053

The issue is the fuel pump relay which is internal to the total intigrated power modual or tipm. The van wouldn’t start.

NHTSA ODI 11448913

Over a year ago, we began to have a problem in which the vehicle would, on occasion, not start. The “check engine” light would come on, along with another icon that looked like a lightning bolt between two inverted parentheses. Sometimes it started up on the first try, other times it would take a few attempts, and sometimes it would not start at all. Then a new wrinkle emerged: the van conked out on us a few times while on the road -- once while merging onto a highway. We now had a serious (and potentially dangerous) problem on our hands. We had the fuel pump replaced, but the problem persisted. I took the van to our local Chrysler dealership to have them figure it out. They replaced the throttle body and cleaned the fuel injectors and fuel system. I drove the car home without incident, but the following morning, I tried to start it, and the same old situation emerged — the engine cranked but never turned over. I then had it towed back to the dealer for another round of diagnostics. I mentioned that I had seen on the Internet about a possible faulty Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM), an issue in various Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram products. Later they called saying the battery was the problem (even though they earlier reported that the battery was okay), and had nothing to do with the TIPM. For about a week, the van is started up without a hitch, but then same old hesitating-before-starting situation reared its ugly head, albeit briefly. It is only a matter of time before it stalls out again in traffic. These vehicles should be recalled and the TIPM needs to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI 11432664

PURCHASED 2013 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY IN JULY OF 2020 AND IT HAD A CLEAN RECORD, WAS A FORMER CARMAX VEHICLE AND MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REVIEWED THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT A GOOD PURCHASE. I HAVE SINCE CARED FOR THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS RUN WELL UNTIL RECENTLY SEVERAL ERROR CODES CAME UP. P0300, P0456, P0455, P0175. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THIS COULD BE A VEHICLE MANUFACTURER ISSUE. THE CODES SAY SOMETHING ABOUT EVP LEAK, MISFIRE AND SYSTEM RUNNING TOO RICH. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO ENSURE A RECALL ISN'T NECESSARY. REPAIRS ARE WELL OVER $1000 AND NOT DUE TO ANY PRE EXISTING ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11406732

FUEL PUMP KEEPS RUNNING AFTER KEY IS REMOVED. VAN WON'T START NO FUEL. IRATIC ENGINE KEEPS TRYING TO START WITH KEY RELEASED. NOT A CONSTANT 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK. STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11399709

THE VAN DIES ON ME WHILE DRIVING. NOT IN IDLE, ONLY WHILE DIVING. THE SHOP REPLACED ALTERNATOR (I TOOK IN OLD ALTERNATOR TO GET TESTED, ALL GOOD). VAN SILL DIES, SHOP THINKS IT'S FUEL PUMP. BEEN DOING THIS OVER A MONTH, THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE EGR RELATED BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD 2013 DOES NOT HAVE EGR. PLEASE ADVISE. IT'S NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11399492

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL LINE HAD DISCONNECTED CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND RECONNECTED THE FUEL LINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND RECONNECTED THE FUEL LINE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAYTONA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM & FIAT (1450 N. TOMOKA FARMS RD SUITE A, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32124) AND REMAINED IN THE DEALER POSSESSION. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE FUEL LINE WAS RESCUED TO THE FUEL RAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,581.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11386674

ONE NIGHT 2 YEARS AGO I WAS DRIVING MY VAN. I DROVE IT AS USUAL ON MY DAILY ROUTINE. I WENT HOME AND ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF BEING HOME I WENT AND GOT IN MY VAN AND STARTED IT UP AND IT STARTED NORMALLY JUST AS IT ALWAYS DID. IT RAN FOR PRY 3 TO 5 SECONDS ONLY AND JUST DIED. I TRIED TO START IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD NOT START. TRIED STARTING IT FOR AN HOUR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THAT'S WHEN I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TIPM PROBLEM THAT DODGE HAS. I NEVER KNEW FOR SURE UNTIL RECENTLY IF THAT WAS INDEED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. UNTIL RECENTLY AND ONLY FOUND OUT BECAUSE I SOLD MY HOUSE AND HAD TO GET IT MOVED OUT OF MY GARAGE WHERE MY VAN SAT SINCE THE DAY IT DIED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY VAN FOR PRY OVER 2 YEARS. MY VAN IS A 2013 AND HAS ABOUT 80,000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE THE ONLY OWNER. AFTER PAYING ALMOST $40,000 FOR A BRAND NEW VEHICLE I DEFINITELY DIDNT THINK I WOULD NOT BE VEHICLE LESS ANYTIME SOON. ONCE MY HOUSE WAS SOLD I HAD SOMEONE I KNEW COME TO TRY TO GET IT STARTED SO I COULD MOVE IT. A GUY LOOKED AT IT FOR A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE HE GOT IT STARTED. I WAS THRILLED. THAT'S WHEN I KNEW IT WASN'T THE FUEL PUMP THAT WENT OUT. TO GET IT STARTED WE HAD TO HOOK THE FUEL PUMP UP WITH A DIFFERENT WIRE THAT IS RAN TO ONE OF THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER SPOTS IN THE VAN. THAT WAS IN SEPTEMBER. THAT'S HOW I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY VAN SINCE. NOW THE OTHER DAY AS I DROVE OVER A BRIDGE MY VAN JUST DIED. REASON IS BECAUSE THE WIRE THAT IS PLUGGED INTO CIGARETTE LIGHTER TO FUEL PUMP GOT TO HOT AND BEGAN MELTING INSIDE THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER PLUGIN. THE WIRES BEGAN TO MELT AS WELL FROM BEING TO HOT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT CAN START A FIRE IN SOMEONES VEHICLE. SOMEONE CAN BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS AND IT CAN BE PREVENTED IF DODGE FIXED ALL THE VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME TIPM INSTEAD OF JUST SOME OF THE VEHICLES THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR.

NHTSA ODI 11384944

THE TIPM IS BAD CAUSING A FPR PROBLEM, CAUSING COLD STARTS OR NO START AS WELL AS STALLING OR A COMPLETE POWER DRAIN OF A BRAND NEW BATTERY PURCHASED 11.22.20 THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11375982

FUEL PUMP RELAY INSIDE THE TIPM FAILED, CAUSING CAR TO STALL WHILE IN MOTION WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND OTHER DODGE/CHRYSLER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SIMILAR FAILURES IN 2011 MODELS. SUGGESTED INTERNET FIXES INVOLVE BYPASSING THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WITH A JUMPER THAT COULD RESULT IN FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11363570

FOR WEEKS CAR WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNINGS BEFORE WORK OR AFTER BEING PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. CAR BATTERY NEEDED TO BE BOOSTED/JUMPED IN ORDER TO START, AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF THIS BATTERY DRAINED, BAD BATTERY (HAD TO PURCHASE NEW BATTERY AND TOLD THIS WAS THE ISSUE.) EVEN WITH THE NEW BATTERY CAR WOULD NOT WANT TO START AFTER BEING PARKED A FEW HOURS OR OVERNIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN VERY COLD WEATHER. CAR CRANKS BUT NOT START UNTIL AFTER SEVERAL TRIES OF TURNING WOULD START TO RUN THEN SHUT OFF AFTER A MINUTE THEN WOULD START AFTER A FEW TIMES OF STALLING OR TURNING OFF. CAR HAS STALLED AND/OR REFUSED TO START SEVERAL TIMES WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE LEAVING US STRANDED A FEW TIMES AND INCONVENIENT AND UNSAFE FOR MY 4 AND 5 YEAR OLDS, ESPECIALLY MY 4 YEAR OLD WHO IS A TYPE ONE DIABETIC. CAR HAS HAD DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AND HAS STALLED ON MAJOR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS AND I HAVE REQUIRED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ON THREE OCCASIONS IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE THAT I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND ALL SAY THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND ONE SAID POSSIBLY THE FUEL PUMP OR FUEL PUMP RELAY AND THERE IS A HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS IN 2012 CONCERNING THE SAME ISSUE AND PART THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, HOWEVER THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THE 2013 TOWN AND COUNTRY YET THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND DODGE RAM ALREADY OFFERED RECALLS FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND YEAR. MANY PEOPLE WITH THE 2013 TOWN AND COUNTRY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND WE SHOULD BE OFFERED A RECALL AS WELL FOR THIS FAULTY PART WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT CAN CAUSE A VEHICLE TO STOP AND /OR NOT START AT ANYTIME.

NHTSA ODI 11291683

WHEN TRYING TO START MY VAN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON BUT THE VAN WILL NOT START AND THE ETC LIGHT COMES ON. THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND IN THE FUSE BOX AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FOR CERTAIN TOWN & COUNTRY VANS BUT FOR SOME REASON DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS PARTICULAR ONE.

NHTSA ODI 11288726

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CAROLINA CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (LOCATED AT 1001 HALSTEAD BLVD, ELIZABETH CITY, NC 27909, 252-335-0724) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER NUMBER FOUR. THE VEHICLE'S COIL AND PLUG WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT FOUND A TSB FOR NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10136484 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER) THAT RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT DUE TO THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE TSB. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11280005

CAR WOULD NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED...PAID OVER $950 TO FIX. ALSO HAD OVERHEATING..REPLACEMENT OF HEATER HOSE THAT GOES TO FIREWALL. PART ALONE COST $250. OVERHEATING ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11223153

2013 ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHIN FIRST 7 MINUTES OF DRIVING. NO WARNING IT DOESN'T STALL AND RADIO GPS AND OTHER COMPONENTS STAY ON JUST ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 60% OF THE TIME. FIRST TIME WAS ON HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING 5 MINUTES GOING 60 MPH SHUT OFF AND IT ACTUALLY TURNED ITSELF BACK OUT WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. ANOTHER TIME WAS AFTER DRIVING 3 MINUTES AT A STOP SIGN STARTED TO GO AND CAR SHUT OFF AFTER 1/4 MILE I HAD TO PULL OVER TO RESTART. IT'S SHUT OFF DOZENS OF TIMES REGARDLESS OF SPEED OR LOCATION. 2ND TO LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACK AT ABOUT 15 MPH AND LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. ONCE IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY, I THOUGH IDLING IT A WHILE BEFORE DRIVING WOULD HELP BUT IT SHUT OFF WHEN I ADJUSTED MY STEERING WHEEL AFTER IDLING FOR 7 MINS.

NHTSA ODI 11184407

VEHICLE TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING; LOSING POWER STEERING. EXTREMELY UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11144649

MY FUEL PUMP INITIATOR IS NOT SENDING SIGNAL TO START MY CAR. IT IS DRAINING MY BATTERY AS WELL. MY CAR MAY START GOING TO WORK BUT NOT ON MY LUNCH BREAK THEN START AFTER WORK BUT IT HESITATES MANY TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11132064