ChryslerTown and Country19972.4L L4/chrysler/town-and-country/1997/2-4l-l4/
NS platform

1997 Chrysler Town and Country — 2.4L L4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Town and Country 2.4L L4.

Body VANEngine 2.4L L4

The 1997 Chrysler Town and Country is a full-size minivan on the NS platform, powered by a 2.4L inline-four engine. With 421 owner complaints and nine recalls, its most commonly reported issue involves the electrical system. Within the model’s complaint history from 1990 to 2018, the 1997 model year falls between the lowest (14 complaints in 1990) and the highest (773 in 2011), indicating a moderate reliability record for this generation.

Model year2003200220011999199819971996

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 length199.6 in
Overall width75.6 in
Overall height68.5 in
Wheelbase119.3 in
Curb weight4156 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 FluidDOT 3

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts40 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts85-115 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug6.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub180 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub180 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 Resistance7000-15,800 ohms
Spark Plug Gap0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)43.0-53.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC BRAKES
Torque to Knuckle16 ft-lbs / 30 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC BRAKES
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.482 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; spark plugs every 100,000 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 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 miBrake Linings (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Tie Rod (inspect)
At 52,500 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miPCV Valve (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)

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 requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter 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 neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe 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 federal year-by-year record provided does not contain a 1997 entry, yet the earliest model years shown—1990 and 1991—logged only 14 and 28 total complaints respectively, while 2001 and the 2011–2016 period mark a steep escalation into the hundreds of complaints annually. For the 1997 model itself, the data lists Electrical System (48), Air Bags (42), Power Train (39), and Engine & Engine Cooling (36) as the top complaint areas, alongside 27 crash-related and 17 fire-related complaints, though it does not specify root causes. Because the record omits 1997, precise year-over-year placement is impossible, but its category-specific complaint counts alone exceed the total complaints logged for 1990 and 1991, placing it above the low early baseline and well before the later surge. Given that documented grievances include crash and fire incidents plus elevated counts in electrical, air-bag, and powertrain systems, this model year carries clear federal-risk exposure. Buyers should approach a 1997 Town & Country with caution and confirm individual service history, as the available data suggests it is a riskier proposition than the earliest years shown.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
153
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
421
Owner complaints
27 involved a crash · 17 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 421 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System48
Air Bags42
Power Train39
Engine & Engine Cooling36
Service Brakes, Hydraulic32
Visibility29
Steering20
Suspension17

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 153 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
08-049-202020-04-22Electrical SystemCharging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
31005192019-11-20StructureUse of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31006192019-11-20StructureRepair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…
31003192019-11-20StructureUse of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
31-006-192019-11-20StructureRepair 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 1997 Town and Country have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.