2012 Chrysler Town And Country: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2012 Chrysler Town & Country: CAUTION — 634 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 5 campaigns, 2 for fire or crash risk; top issue: electrical system (395 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2012 is 1.44, where 1.00 is a typical Town & Country year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. 35% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system. Its raw count is below the median year, but it has been on the road only about 14 years, so complaints are arriving faster than for older Town & Country years.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2009–2020 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
634
NHTSA complaints
1.44
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Town & Country year)
188
Service bulletins
5
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2012 Chrysler Town & Country problems
Electrical system dominates the record — 62% of complaints name it.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2012 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 395 | 62% |
| Engine | 100 | 16% |
| Unknown or other | 58 | 9% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 56 | 9% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 36 | 6% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2012 Chrysler Town & Country recalls
5 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2012, reported between Sep 29, 2011 and Dec 18, 2025.
2012 Chrysler Town & Country service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 188 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2012 — more than the 142 of the median Town & Country year from 2009 to 2020. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (56), structure (31), powertrain / transmission (30). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2012 vs. the year before and after
From the 2011 to the 2012, owner complaints fell 18% (773 → 634) — an improvement. The 2013 that followed held roughly level (634 → 681).
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Town & Country | CAUTION | 773 | 169 | 3 | — |
| 2012 (this page) | CAUTION | 634 | 188 | 5 | — |
| 2013 Town & Country | CAUTION | 681 | 236 | 4 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Chrysler Town & Country years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2012 Chrysler Town & Country
Electrical system (395 complaints on the 2012): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Engine (100 complaints on the 2012): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Fuel / propulsion system (56 complaints on the 2012): smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
Powertrain / transmission (36 complaints on the 2012): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Structure (33 complaints on the 2012): look under the car for rust or damage around the subframe and rockers, open every door and the liftgate, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
Recalls: confirm all 5 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Nearby Town & Country years with a better rating: 2015.
Know what to pay for the right 2012 Chrysler Town And Country — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
Is the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country reliable?
2012 Chrysler Town & Country: CAUTION — 634 owner complaints, rated on its recalls: 5 campaigns, 2 for fire or crash risk; top issue: electrical system (395 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2012 is 1.44, where 1.00 is a typical Town & Country year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2012 Chrysler Town & Country problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country are electrical system (395, 62%), engine (100, 16%), unknown or other (58, 9%). The manufacturer has 188 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country have?
5 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country, most recently 25V876000 (Dec 18, 2025, equipment adaptive/mobility); 14V234000 (May 7, 2014, electrical system); 12V191000 (May 2, 2012, equipment). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2012 Chrysler Town And Country before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.