ChryslerTown and Country19973.3L V6/chrysler/town-and-country/1997/3-3l-v6/
NS platform

1997 Chrysler Town and Country — 3.3L V6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Town and Country 3.3L V6. Covers both the standard and High Output 3.3L V6.

Body VANEngine 3.3L V6Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1997 Chrysler Town and Country, a minivan built on the NS platform and powered by a 3.3L V6 paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission, delivers an EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined while consuming 4.5 quarts of 5W-30 oil with each service. With 421 owner complaints logged across the 1990-2018 model span and nine recalls issued, the vehicle carries a service history marked by persistent Electrical System concerns. Positioned near the complaint baseline established by the 1990 model year—which recorded just 14 complaints—this generation reflects moderate ownership satisfaction relative to later years, including the peak 2011 model which accumulated 773 complaints, suggesting early-production Town and Country models like this one experienced fewer systemic issues than those built during the following decade.

Model year200320022001199919981997199619951994

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 34 · 500 CCA battery, 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 Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 34 · 500 CCAOEM · verified
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
Serpentine belt05086140AB alt 04612828
Thermostat04573560AE discontinued · alt 04781661AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

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

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt w/ filter

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts40 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts70-75 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16.7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16.7 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9 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
Standard BCI Group Number34
Standard BCI Cranking Performance500 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)43.0-53.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance12
Engine Compression100
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure30-80 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
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

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
140 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9040 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep M8 x 1.25 bolt No. 9, 3 steps in sequence: · Final torque: 25 ft. lbs. · M11 x 1.5 bolt Nos. 1-8:

145 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
265 ft. lbs.65 ft. lbs
365 ft. lbs.65 ft. lbs
490 degrees.90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs

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 provided federal record does not include data for the 1997 model year, preventing direct comparison to adjacent years within the same generation. The available data spans 1990–1991 and 2001–2018, showing a dramatic rise in complaint volumes over time, but the 1997 model falls in a gap between these periods. For 1997, the top complaint categories are Electrical System (48), Air Bags (42), Power Train (39), and Engine & Engine Cooling (36), with 27 crash complaints and 17 fire complaints reported. The data does not specify root causes for these issues, nor does it provide total complaint, recall, or investigation counts for 1997 to benchmark against other years. Given the significant number of complaints in critical safety and drivetrain systems, and the absence of federal recall or investigation data for this year in the record, a thorough pre-purchase inspection is essential. This year cannot be confidently recommended as a good buy based solely on the provided federal record.

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

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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

How much oil does the 1997 Town and Country 3.3L V6 take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

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.

What gas mileage does the 3.3L V6 get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.