Reliability of 2016 Town & Country Touring

FamilySearchVehicle

I'm new to the group and I'm looking at buying a used minivan for my family. I was originally looking for a Toyota or Honda, but I've come across this Town and Country with 140,000 miles with great maintenance records for a good price. I'm looking for advice or knowledge from anyone who has owned one of these vans and has driven it for a longer period of time or higher mileage. Very curios about the reliability and any problems I might experience as it gets older. Thanks in advance!

oldfarmer50

By reputation the Chrysler minivan transmission is their weak spot so I would make sure the fluid was changed at recommended intervals. Various electrical problems are a frequent complaint. My company owns hundreds if not thousands of those and they seem pretty reliable but we never keep them to that mileage. I have driven the occasional one with 120k or so miles and was surprised how well it shifted and drove but that’s just a one off example.

A coworker had a T&C with about 140k miles that ran fine until a tree fell on it.

Do you have a trusted shop that can inspect it before you buy?

In my area those go for $7500 to $10,000 with that mileage.

xwesx

Also, knowing the model year and drivetrain in the T&C would be helpful.

kyfdx

xwesx said:

Also, knowing the model year and drivetrain in the T&C would be helpful.

It's a 2016

FamilySearchVehicle

kyfdx said:

xwesx said:

Also, knowing the model year and drivetrain in the T&C would be helpful.

It's a 2016

And it's FWD

oldfarmer50

xwesx said:

Also, knowing the model year and drivetrain in the T&C would be helpful.

If it’s a 2016 it has the 3.6L which is a good engine if you change the oil often.

thecardoc3

Do you have a regular shop/technician that services your vehicles? If so, schedule a visit to them to do a used car check. 140,000 miles on a 2016 wouldn't concern me because there is nothing that can go bad on that van that I cannot repair, as long as parts availability isn't an issue. If the owner refuses to allow it to be taken for an inspection that's a red flag. Make sure that you drive this a good distance, more than 20 miles in varying traffic. It can take that long to get familiar with the car and start noticing any concerns. The shop/technician doing a used car check would likely do the same.

FamilySearchVehicle

thecardoc3 said:

Do you have a regular shop/technician that services your vehicles? If so, schedule a visit to them to do a used car check. 140,000 miles on a 2016 wouldn't concern me because there is nothing that can go bad on that van that I cannot repair, as long as parts availability isn't an issue. If the owner refuses to allow it to be taken for an inspection that's a red flag. Make sure that you drive this a good distance, more than 20 miles in varying traffic. It can take that long to get familiar with the car and start noticing any concerns. The shop/technician doing a used car check would likely do the same.

I have to travel about an hour to see the car, but I'm going to try and setup and mechanic in the area to take a look. My biggest concern is that I've heard the Town & Country is known for having transmission issues.

oldfarmer50

There are mobile inspection services who will go to the location for you. Any auto transmission can have trouble if it’s neglected or abused. You’re lucky in that minivans aren’t usually used for drag racing.

thecardoc3

Yes, the T&C can have transmission issues. But they are far from the only vehicle out there that can develop a transmission problem. The real question is, should it happen are you in a position to have the transmission repaired or replaced? Properly repaired when necessary is a good thing, not a mark against the vehicle and it may have already been repaired. Even when doing the used car check, beyond the fluid condition the only thing they can tell is whether there is an obvious concern right now, which is one of the reasons to drive the van at least twenty miles if not more.