ChryslerTown and Country19963.0L V6/chrysler/town-and-country/1996/3-0l-v6/
NS platform

1996 Chrysler Town and Country — 3.0L V6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Town and Country 3.0L V6.

Body VANEngine 3.0L V6

The 1996 Chrysler Town and Country is a van riding on the NS platform and motivated by a 3.0L V6, a model year that accumulated 1,109 owner complaints, with the fuel system, gasoline category emerging as the top trouble spot alongside 12 recalls. Within the nameplate’s complaint history spanning 1990 to 2018, this output places the 1996 edition well below the 773-complaint peak of 2011 but far above the 14-complaint low of 1990, marking it as a mid-pack performer whose reliability record, while not the worst, demands attention to the fuel system.

Model year199919981997199619951994

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.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP215-65R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05281090AB
Engine air filter04213583AB discontinued
Fuel filter05140676AA discontinued
Spark plug68303949AA discontinued
BatteryBB34F101AA alt 82300133
Front wiper blades05096134AC
Thermostat04573560AE discontinued · alt 04781661AB

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
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
RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeND 8 oil

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)46.0-50.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance13-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
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; 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) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 52,500 miEngine 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 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.

**Analysis of the 1996 Chrysler Town and Country** The 1996 model year falls within a significant data gap in the federal record provided, as year-by-year data jumps from 1991 directly to 2001 without coverage for the mid-1990s model years. However, the target-year-specific complaint data reveals that the 1996 Town and Country generated substantial consumer concerns, with fuel system gasoline issues (157 complaints), engine and engine cooling problems (147), and power train deficiencies (119) comprising the primary complaint categories. Particularly noteworthy are the 76 fire-related complaints and 35 crash-related complaints filed for this model year, numbers that, while not directly comparable to the sparse early-1990s data (1991 recorded 28 total complaints and 11 investigations), suggest persistent safety concerns. The trend visible in the later-model years (2001–2018) shows complaint volumes that increase dramatically with vehicle age before declining—indicating that older vehicles like this 1996 generate more sustained complaints over time. **Concrete takeaway:** The absence of 1996 from the continuous federal tracking dataset limits definitive trend analysis, but the high volume of fire and crash complaints specific to this model year, combined with the known complaint categories involving fuel systems and engine components, suggests this is not a favorable year to purchase without thorough professional inspection and documentation of all safety recall completions.

12
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
157
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
14
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

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.

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

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 1996 Town and Country have open recalls?

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