Chrysler›Town and Country›1996›2.4L L4/chrysler/town-and-country/1996/2-4l-l4/

NS platform

1996 Chrysler Town and Country — 2.4L L4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Town and Country 2.4L L4.

Body VANEngine 2.4L L4

The 1996 Chrysler Town and Country is a minivan built on Chrysler's NS platform and, in this particular configuration, powered by a 2.4L inline-four engine — a modest powerplant for a vehicle whose primary mission was family hauling rather than performance. With 1,109 owner complaints logged and 12 recalls issued, the 1996 model year stands as one of the more problematic entries in the Town and Country's long production run spanning 1990 through 2018, with fuel system issues topping the complaint ledger. While the model's worst year for complaints would come later in 2011, the 1996's complaint volume far exceeds the low-water mark of just 14 complaints set by the 1990 model, signaling that this year represents a period of elevated reliability concern for researchers evaluating the platform's early generations.

Model year2003 2002 2001 1999 1998 1997 1996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tire sizeP215-65R16OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	199.6 in
Overall width	75.6 in
Overall height	68.5 in
Wheelbase	119.3 in
Curb weight	4156 lb
Track (front / rear)	63 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	57/43

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid

DOT 3

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts

40 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	85-115 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	180 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	180 ft-lbs

Ignition

Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	720 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	120 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.45-.65 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	7000-15,800 ohms
Spark Plug Gap	0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	ND 8 oil
Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	ND 8 oil

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	46.0-50.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	13-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC BRAKES
Torque to Knuckle	16 ft-lbs / 30 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC BRAKES
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.482 in / 0.939 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 52,500 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified

Tool required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module

Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified

When needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1996 model year, while absent from the year-by-year federal record, shows 157 fuel system, 147 engine, 119 powertrain, and 60 air bag complaints, along with 35 crash and 76 fire incidents. This contrasts sharply with the 1990 and 1991 models (14 and 28 total complaints, respectively) and precedes the 473 complaints seen in 2001, indicating the 1996 falls in a period of escalating issues. The high fire complaint count (76) is particularly concerning, and no recall data is provided for this year. Given the significant complaint volume in critical areas and the upward trend in problems across the generation, the 1996 Chrysler Town and Country is not a recommended purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

157

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

1,109

Owner complaints

35 involved a crash · 76 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’01 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,109 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline157

Engine & Engine Cooling147

Power Train119

Air Bags60

Electrical System58

Service Brakes, Hydraulic57

Steering57

Visibility48

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 157 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
08-049-20	2020-04-22	Electrical System	Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
3100519	2019-11-20	Structure	Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
3100619	2019-11-20	Structure	Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…
3100319	2019-11-20	Structure	Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31-006-19	2019-11-20	Structure	Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Town and Country. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

NS-platform vehicles

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1996 Town and Country have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.