Diagsheet

2016 Chrysler Town & Country · symptom sheet

Doors, latches or locks fail

  • 33owner reports
  • 60,000median miles
  • $800median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Dec 18, 2025 · checked Sep 19, 2026

89 of the 523 complaints on this car are about the structure. 33 of those describe door latch.

Tick what matches of 33 reports

1
6
16
4
24

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the latch (11 reports), the actuator (10 reports) and the handle (5 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the structure covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

15V-595Sep 24, 2015
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured August 19, 2015 to August 27, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that attach the hood striker may loosen and, as a result, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving.

Risk and remedy
Risk: If the hood opens while driving, the driver's vision may be obstructed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install new hood striker bolts with the proper torque, free of charge. The recall began on October 22, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler's customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's recall number is R53.

NHTSA investigations into the structure on the Town & Country

PE21-016opened Jul 9, 2021
Latches/Locks/Linkages · model years 2016

Sliding doors inoperative. Closed jul 22, 2022.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-016 on July 7, 2021, to investigate 364 complaints alleging that one or both sliding doors on 2016 Model Year (MY) Grand Caravan or Town and Country vehicles could not be opened. The door(s) could not be opened using the mechanical handle or electronic remote switches. Many of the complaints described having to remove passengers seated in the rear of vehicles through the front doors, the second sliding door (if it was operational), the window, or the car?s rear hatch. The complainants have expressed concerns that if the sliding door(s) cannot be opened in the event of an emergency or crash, it could trap passengers or delay their egress.On June 4, FCA published TSB# 23-017-20 instructing dealers to replace the door lock actuator instead of the entire door latch assembly on the subject vehicles when consumers complained about either one or both of the sliding door locks not functioning and/or emitting a loud buzzing noise during lock/unlock operation. On June 16, 2021, FCA approved a Quality Warranty Extension for fifteen years/150,000 miles from the vehicle's in-service date for sliding door lock actuators on vehicles built between May 1, 2015, through January 9, 2017. FCA has started notifying owners about the new program. FCA will provide reimbursement for owners who previously paid for sliding door repairs.Consumers whose sliding doors are inoperative will have the opportunity to have their vehicle diagnosed, and if a f
EA04-031opened Nov 22, 2004
Latches/Locks/Linkages · model years 2001 to 2003

Power liftgate latch. Closed apr 7, 2005, led to recall 05V-134.

NHTSA summary
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AS PE04-054 REGARDING REPORTS OF ALLEGED POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) OPENING WHILE DRIVING.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004 BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) IN ITS SEPTEMBER 17, 2004 RESPONSE TO PE04-054. BY LETTER OF APRIL 5, 2005, DCC HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 70,235 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY AND DODGE GRAND CARAVAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE PLG OPTION.DCC HAS IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM IN EARLY PRODUCTION MY 2003 PLG CONTROL MODULES THAT CAN PREVENT THE PLG DOOR FROM LATCHING CLOSED IN A POWER OPEN/CLOSE CYCLE.IN THIS CONDITION THE PLG CAN RISE (NOT POWER OPEN) DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PLG CONTROL MODULE TO REMEDY THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.SEE SAFETY RECALL 05V134 FOR DETAILS.
PE04-054opened Jul 30, 2004
Latches/Locks/Linkages · model years 2003

Power liftgate latch. Closed nov 22, 2004.

NHTSA summary
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JULY 30, 2004, BASED ON ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING UNWANTED OPENING OF THE VEHICLE'S POWER LIFTGATE (PLG) WHILE DRIVING.IN DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC)'S SEPTEMBER 17, 2004 RESPONSE TO ODI' S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, IT PROVIDED ADDITIONAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND LAWSUITS.DCC STATES IN PART, ...THE PLG LATCH BECOMES STUCK IN A SEMI-CLOSED STATE NOT ALLOWING THE PLG LATCH TO ENGAGE THE STRIKER, THUS NOT CLOSING THE LIFTGATE COMPLETELY.IN THIS CONDITION THE PLG AJAR WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT BE ILLUMINATED AND THE PLG CAN RISE (NOT A POWERED OPEN) WHILE DRIVING. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO EA04-031 FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.

What owners paid

6 of the 33 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $700 to $1,100.

$700$800$1,100
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 51,200 and 80,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.

217
619
920
921
322
223
225

What owners wrote

“The passenger side sliding door will not open. The lock became stuck in the locked position and it will not unlock. It cannot be unlocked by hand, the unlock button inside the van, or with the key fob. This is dangerous because nobody can get out through that door in the case of an emergency.”

Filed Aug 22, 2022

“Passenger sliding door lock intermittently inoperable and makes a loud buzzing sound when locking. Drivers side sliding door will not open manually or with automatic controls.”

Filed Dec 6, 2021

“Body: Driver's side sliding door will not open- neither with the button or manually Electrical: The back up camera/radio unit turns off or refuses to power on when starting the vehicle Fuel/Propulsion System: The vehicle does not change gear smoothly (automatic vehicle), The driver must manually change the gear speed to avoid collisions.”

Filed Nov 12, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 33 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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