2016 Chrysler Town & Country · symptom sheet
Sliding door won't open, close or latch
- 138owner reports
- 60,000median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 15, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
266 of the 526 complaints on this car are about other. 138 of those describe sliding door failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Town & Country.
Tick what matches of 138 reports
Sliding door failure on other Town & Country years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015.
What this problem usually is
Owners in this group describe a minivan or van sliding door that won't open, won't close all the way, or won't unlock, usually with a buzz or a grind from inside the door. A smaller share say the door kept closing on a hand or a child.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the door lock actuator (33 reports), the latch (13 reports) and the sliding door motor (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on other cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
A list of the affected trailer models is available at: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17V824-0103.pdf.
The windshield on the affected vehicles may have been installed using expired urethane primer, allowing the windshield to become displaced in the event of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the bolts that attach the hood striker may loosen and, as a result, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving.
All 5 recalls on the 2016 Chrysler Town & Country, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into other on the Town & Country
Sliding doors inoperative. Closed jul 22, 2022.
Interior vehicle fire. Closed apr 4, 2022.
Totally integrated power module failure. Closed jul 24, 2015.
Loss of headlight illumination. Closed nov 29, 2012.
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
Loss of headlight illumination. Closed sep 13, 2011.
Headlight malfunction. Closed may 2, 2006.
Headlight malfunction. Closed jun 1, 2005.
Power liftgate latch. Closed apr 7, 2005, led to recall 05V-134.
Power liftgate latch. Closed nov 22, 2004.
Speaker fire in the rear of the vehicle. Closed nov 5, 2004, led to recall 04V-531.
Air bag clockspring. Closed nov 22, 2002, led to recall 02V-293.
Overheating of front seat heaters. Closed jan 5, 2001.
Front windshield wiper. Closed jul 27, 1999, led to recall 99V-189.
Windshield wiper failure. Closed sep 30, 1997.
Windshield wiper failure. Closed apr 2, 1997.
Alleged rear liftgate support failure. Closed may 16, 1997, led to recall 97V-079.
Sliding door latch failure. Closed jul 30, 1998.
Sliding door latch failure. Closed oct 15, 1996.
Alleged rear liftgate support failure. Closed oct 31, 1996, led to recall 97V-079.
Liftgate latches. Closed oct 25, 1995.
Rear hatch latch failure. Closed jan 31, 1994.
Rear window shattering. Closed apr 29, 1993.
What owners paid
13 of the 138 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $650 to $1,200.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 45,000 and 77,000 miles, from the 81 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Chrysler Town & Country that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Sliding Door Lock(s) Inoperable Warranty Extension X98 The customer may describe one or more of the following: ● Either one or both of the sliding door locks do not function.
Manual Sliding Door May Not Open after The Fuel Door Is Opened Then Closed This bulletin involves replacing the latch assembly for the fuel fill door blocker.
What owners wrote
“My back sliding door on the left side just locked up and will not release. This car is a 2016 with only approx 43,600 miles . The door just will not open at all. This has a tsb#23-017-20 i found on line where others have complained”
Filed Jul 27, 2025 · 43,600 miles
“The second row, sliding doors have always made a buzzing sound when closing. Last year the driver's side sliding door stopped making the buzzing sound and a light would come on while driving down the road indicating a door was open, then the door became inoperable and the motor had to be replaced. Now the passenger side sliding door is doing the same thing and looks like it may have to be replaced as well.”
Filed Sep 18, 2021
“Driver side rear sliding door is inoperable in the locked and closed position creating safety concerns for second and third row passengers,”
Filed Sep 6, 2021
“The sliding door behind the driver's seat will not open. It is an automatic door that can also be opened manually. I'm unable to open the door at this time. This is a safety issue because it is preventing exit from the vehicle. The light on the button to open that sliding door is not working as well. There have been no other indications as to why this is not working properly.”
Filed Aug 31, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 138 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 81 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 42 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 35 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 33 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 26 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 25 reports