Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2012 Chrysler Town And Country
The 2012 Chrysler Town and Country has several known issues, mostly related to the electrical system and engine. With over 600 owner complaints and five recall campaigns from the NHTSA, potential buyers should pay attention to frequent problem areas. Be particularly cautious about electrical faults and engine performance, as they are recurrent complaints. Overall evidence on this model year is substantial enough to warrant a detailed pre-purchase inspection.
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Chrysler Town And Country has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 634 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #25V876000 Wheelchair Restraint Retractor May Not Lock NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V234000 Vent Window Switch may Overheat NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V191000 RIGHT SIDE LIFTGATE PINCH SENSORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V141000 REAR HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V487000 ROD BEARING FAILURE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 395 complaints
- Engine 100 complaints
- Unknown or Other 58 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 56 complaints
- Power Train 36 complaints
- Structure 33 complaints
Of the 634 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 16 a fire; across all 634 complaints, owners report 24 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Known issues to inspect
Vent window switch overheating
How to check: Inspect driver's door armrest for switch damage.
Connecting rod bearing failure
How to check: Listen for loud knocking noises from the engine.
Right rear hub not fully machined
How to check: Check for abnormal tire wear or noises at rear.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Check for unusual engine noises or vibrations.
Red flag: Loud knocking sounds
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Observe any warning lights on the dashboard.
Red flag: Persistent warning lights
- 03
City driving
What to check: Test power window switches for functionality.
Red flag: Non-functioning or overheating switches
- 04
Highway acceleration
What to check: Evaluate the smoothness of power delivery.
Red flag: Hesitation or rough shifting
- 05
Braking
What to check: Check for vibrations or noises in brakes.
Red flag: Grinding noises or shuddering
- 06
Parking
What to check: Engage and disengage the liftgate and sliding doors.
Red flag: Doors not responding or require excessive force
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Have there been any electrical repairs?
- Has the engine shown any knocking sounds?
- Are there any outstanding recalls?
- Were any parts replaced recently?
- Have there been suspension issues?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Service history records
- Recall repair documentation
- Previous inspection reports
- Title and ownership history
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Chrysler Town And Country at the time. AI output can be wrong; confirm anything you find with a mechanic.
Next step
Looking at a specific 2012 Chrysler Town And Country? Check the actual car
This checklist covers the model. From your free try.vin dashboard you can go further — paste the seller's listing for a deal score, or drop their photos for an AI condition report.