The 2003 Chrysler Town & Country is a very good minivan, but 2003 was a big year for these vehicles. That year’s Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna both outclass the Town & Country in almost every way, but they also range from one to two thousand dollars more in the Blue Book. You can find better used minivans than the Town & Country, but not at this price.
Is the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country a Good Used SUV?
- Overall Rating 7/10 – The 2003 Chrysler Town & Country is middle-of-the-road in more ways than not. There’s nothing really terrible about the minivan, but there’s nothing all that exceptional about it, either.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – One major complaint is that the third row doesn’t fold down. If you’re trying to move apartments in just a couple trips, you’ve got to take the seats all the way out. Other than that, it’s a living room on wheels.
- Reliability 7/10 – It’s a trooper, but bear in mind this was probably some busy parent’s daily-driver before you bought it. Expect 200,000 to 250,000 miles on the original powertrain.
- Safety 7/10 – Adequate, but dated safety technology make the Town & Country kind of middling in this category.
- Gas Mileage 7/10 – The V6 will get you 18/25 miles to the gallon, city/highway, while the V8 will do 16/23. We’ve seen worse from 2003 minivans, and we’ve seen a whole lot better.
- Value 8/10 – With typical listing prices averaging below three thousand dollars, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the 2003 Town & Country is a bit underwhelming.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country?
Consumer Reports didn’t hate the smooth handling and spacious interior of the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country, but they named the Toyota Sienna the superior ride, and the Dodge Grand Caravan the better deal.
Kelley Blue Book users give the Town & Country an 83% recommendation. Positive remarks praise the comfortable interior and chilly air conditioning. Negative remarks point to rain leaks and recurring maintenance issues (note that time has proven the Town & Country more reliable than you might guess).
Edmunds found the ride smooth and the handling comfortable. They liked the luxurious interior. They didn’t like the vehicle’s reliability issues, high price tag, and note that the lack of a folding third row feels like an oversight, as this was pretty much industry-standard by 2003.
What Common Problems Does the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country Have?
Steering issues have been a recurring issue for some 2003 Town & Country drivers, with a report from 2015 stating that the steering will make a loud winding noise and then lock up. The failure mileage here was reported at 165,000. Other drivers have reported wobbly front wheels.
Electrical problems have also been a source of headaches for a handful of drivers. Reports include burning wires, tailgates failing to latch, and dashboard lights going out.
There are only 28 powertrain complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is a good sign for longevity. The most recent was filed in 2017 with the driver reporting a rumbling noise while shifting. The reported failure mileage was 200,000.
In total, the vehicle has 241 complaints and just 6 recalls on file with the NHTSA. Both of these numbers suggest that the Town & Country has proven to be a real trooper.
How Long Will the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country Last?
Most drivers report the Town & Country lasting anywhere from 200,000 to 250,000 miles. The minivan can potentially reach 300,000 with excellent maintenance, but that may be unrealistic for a used Town & Country given how much wear is put on these vehicles after twenty years of driving busy families around.
RepairPal report that an older Town & Country should cost around $417 a year in maintenance, with the most expensive common repair being new cylinder heads starting at around $2,987. But at that point you might just want to retire the van to the scrapyard.
It tends to have issues with the odometer going out and the AC this has been issue with several friends I know that have this make vehicle.
Yes there are some problems there's mud flaps that scrape the ground almost every turn. the front seats sit up high so you most likely hit your head on the roof getting in
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is adequate for 2003. You don’t have to pay extra for the CD player, but other minivans released around this time already had DVD players for the back row.
Safety features are solid, if dated. With full anti-lock brakes and airbags, the Town & Country delivers everything you expect from a 2003 minivan, but it’s not exactly ahead of its time.
Is the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country a Good Value?
The 2003 Chrysler Town & Country is a fair value. There are better minivans out there, and there are used SUVs that do everything you expect of a Town & Country, but better. But, the Town & Country is priced to move, with typical listing prices on an entry-level model averaging $2,983.
This is for a model with just under 160,000 miles on the odometer. If you can get it anywhere close to 250,000, that’s a pretty good deal for the price, as many 2003 minivans are going for $5,000 and up.
What are the Different Models of the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country?
The 2003 Chrysler Town & Country is available in six trim levels, from the entry level EL and Base to the top-of-the-line Limited.
With the entry-level EL you get:
- Heated mirrors
- Remote keyless entry
- Manual air conditioning
- Cloth seat trim
- Radio with cassette and
- CD player and six speakers
- Power windows
The Base is basically the same as the EL, but it adds a full bench for the third row, rather than a split bench.
The next trim level up is the LX, which doesn’t add anything, but opens up the Quick Order packages, which include:
- 8-way power driver seat
- Power sliding door
- Second row bucket seats
The mid-range EX adds:
- Rear air conditioning with separate controls
- Anti-lock brakes
- Traction control
With the next one up, the LXi, you’re also getting:
- Dual zone automatic air conditioning
- Leather seat trim
- Driver lumbar support
- Fog lights
The high-end Limited adds:
- Perforated suede and leather trim
- Heated front seats
- Infinity speaker system
What Engines Come In the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country?
- The base engine in the 2003 Town & Country is a 3.3L V6 delivering 210 lb.-ft. of torque and 180 horsepower. This is paired to a 4-wheel drive automatic transmission in front wheel drive, and it’s available in the EL, Base, LX, and EX models.
- If you want a little more oomph when you hit the gas, there’s a 3.8L V8 available in the EL, LX, EX, and Limited models. This one gets you 245 lb.-ft. of torque and 215 horsepower. It’s paired to a 4-speed automatic in all wheel drive,
What Colors Does the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country?
You’re not going to find any complaints here when it comes to comfort. There are RVs that don’t offer this much space, the ride is smooth thanks to the refined drivetrain, and the suspension has held up well over the years. The interior materials are pretty nice too, with woodgrain trim even in the lower trims.
You’ve got nearly 68 inches of hip room, which is enough for most passengers to lay out on the backseat and take a nap. So when Chrysler says seating for seven they mean it.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country Have?
You’ve got 20 cubic feet of storage space in the back end of the Town & Country, and you can take the seats out for 167.9 cubic feet, which is enough to use it as a moving van if you like.
But, the lack of fold-down seats is an issue here. You have to take the seats out entirely in order to make use of that extra storage space. That can be a bit of a pain when you just want to pack up and go.
On the other hand, there’s more than enough pockets, slots, and cup holders for your drinks, books, tablets, phones, and whatever else you’re taking with you.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2003 Town & Country was part of the RS, or 4th Generation, running from the 2001 model year up to 2007.
2001: The Town & Country was totally redesigned for 2001, intended as an upscale version of the Dodge Grand Caravan with a larger body frame than the previous generation.
2002: After some disappointing crash test scores in 2001, the 2002 was given some structural redesigns for an Acceptable rating from the IIHS.
2003: New for 2003 was a one-touch sunroof.
2004: Chrysler dropped the LXi and EL editions for 2004, and added a short-wheelbase variant of the Base model to replace the recently-discontinued Voyager minivan.
2005: Styling was given a bit of an overhal for 2005, and the safety tech was updated and modernized.
2006: A DVD system was added to the back. Most changes this year were simple reconfigurations of trims and optional packages.
2007: The LX model finally adds Stow’n’Go fold-flat seating for 2007.
How Does the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country Compare to the Competition?
Where the 2003 Town & Country really excels is in its pricing. The Toyota Sienna is more efficient, the seats actually fold down flat, and the entry level model starts you out at 210 horsepower, thirty points above the Town & Country. But, the Sienna costs two thousand dollars extra.
The Honda Odyssey is even more powerful, at 240 horsepower, and, being a Honda, more likely to pass 250,000 miles. And, it costs about a thousand dollars more than the Chrysler.
Make no mistake, the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country is a good minivan, but it came out alongside a lot of even better minivans. A 2003 or 2004 Odyssey is probably the best value overall, but the 2003 Town & Country is the best minivan you’re going to find for under three grand.
Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Chrysler Town & Country?
Yes it has A lot of room for storage and is convenient for car pooling, while it has decent gas mileage
Yes, it is very spacious safe for my kids good on gas air condition controls in the rear heated front seats automatic doors
