2016 Chrysler Town & Country · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 35owner reports
- 72,015median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Feb 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
187 of the 526 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 35 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 35 reports
Transmission shudder on other Town & Country years
No other Town & Country model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every Town & Country year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The transmission pump may seize causing a loss of hydraulic pressure.
All 5 recalls on the 2016 Chrysler Town & Country, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 67,000 and 93,930 miles, from the 26 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice 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.
Gear Ratio DTC?s, Transmission Shift Concerns, Does Not Shift At Times, Shudders
What owners wrote
“Vehicle slipped out of gear causing vehicle to jerk suddenly and wouldnât drive. Vehicle had transmission flushed and now drives but intermittently (frequently) vibrates hard/shakes like itâs coming out of gear while at certain speeds. This make/model vehicle had a recall issued for this issue but my VIN wasnât part of the recall. It has all the issues the recall listed.”
Filed Aug 4, 2024
“Transmission is slipping, hard shifting, delayed engagement. I checked and it says this van is not in recall but it is doing the same thing”
Filed May 3, 2024
“Loss of motive power. Transmission slip, engine revs with no acceleration. Clunks in transmission. Clicks in transmission. No gears working. Not motive power cold or hot. Sudden failure with no previous symptoms. In town 25 mph. Inoperable. approx 67,000 miles. My VIN was not included on the Recall. My Van meets the Dealer recall specifications.”
Filed Jun 17, 2021 · 67,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 35 reports involved a crash. 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
- Sliding door won't open, close or latch 138 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 81 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 42 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 33 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 26 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 25 reports