Chrysler›Town and Country›2000›3.8L/chrysler/town-and-country/2000/3-8l/

NS platform

2000 Chrysler Town and Country — 3.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 Town and Country 3.8L.

Body VANEngine 3.8LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

Built on the NS platform, the 2000 Chrysler Town and Country van pairs a 3.8‑liter engine with a four‑speed automatic transmission, delivering 15 city, 22 highway and 18 combined mpg while requiring 4.5 quarts of 5W‑30 or 10W‑30 API oil with filter. Owner data show 315 complaints and seven recalls, with the power train ranking as the top complaint category. Across the 1990‑2018 model history, the 2000 year sits well below the 2011 peak of 773 complaints but above the 1990 low of 14, placing it in the middle of the complaint spectrum and underscoring a powertrain‑focused reliability profile for this model year.

Model year2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2000

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 / 10W-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 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 Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 sizeP215-70R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	05281090AB
Engine air filter	04213583AB discontinued
Fuel filter	05140676AA discontinued
Spark plug	68303949AA discontinued
Battery	BB34F101AA alt 82300133
Front wiper blades	05096134AC
Thermostat	04573560AE discontinued · alt 04781661AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	199.6 in
Overall width	75.6 in
Overall height	68.5 in
Wheelbase	119.3 in
Curb weight	4489 lb
Track (front / rear)	63 / 64.2 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 22 / 18 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular 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 / 10W-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 Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API · 10W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt w/ filter

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	40 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	AT: 55 ft-lbs, MT: 70 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Upper: 8.8 ft-lbs; Lower: 16.6 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	16.6 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	20.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	9 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	85-115 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	PTU: 20.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	PTU: 14.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	180 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	180 ft-lbs

Ignition

Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.45-.65 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	7000-15,800 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Champion
Spark Plug Gap	0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque	20 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Gap	0.048-0.053 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	ND 8 oil
Optional BCI Group Number	34
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	50.0-60.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	43.0-53.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	4.2-5.0 na CNG ohms
Engine Compression	100
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure	30-80 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	3000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC BRAKES
Torque to Knuckle	16 ft-lbs / 30 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC BRAKES
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.482 in / 0.939 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

40 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

40 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep M11 x 1.5 bolt Nos. 1-8:

1	45 ft. lbs.	45 ft. lbs
2	65 ft. lbs.	65 ft. lbs
3	65 ft. lbs.	65 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

30 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

30 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 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 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 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 22,500 mi	Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark 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 required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter 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 needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The 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 2000 Chrysler Town and Country is positioned at the start of a significant upward trend in complaints, bridging the gap between the 1991 model's 28 complaints and the 2001 model's sharp increase to 473 complaints. For the target year, the most frequent issues involve the Power Train (45 complaints) and Engine & Engine Cooling (36 complaints), though the data does not specify the root causes for these failures. Additionally, the 2000 model recorded 27 complaints regarding Seats, 21 regarding Air Bags, 26 crash complaints, and 18 fire complaints. This trajectory suggests a decline in reliability as the generation progressed toward the high volumes of complaints and TSBs seen from 2001 through 2016. Given the reported fire and crash incidents, this is not a good year to buy.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

315

Owner complaints

26 involved a crash · 18 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’01 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 315 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train45

Engine & Engine Cooling36

Seats27

Air Bags21

Service Brakes, Hydraulic19

Suspension16

Structure16

Steering16

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 83 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
9004275	2020-07-22	Electrical System	KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
9004275	2020-07-22	Electrical System	KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
08-049-20	2020-04-22	Electrical System	Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
3100519	2019-11-20	Structure	Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
3100619	2019-11-20	Structure	Repair 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

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Town and Country. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.5 qt w/ filter NS-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 05281090AB Engine air filter 04213583AB Fuel filter 05140676AA Spark plug 68303949AA

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2000 Town and Country 3.8L take?

4.5 qt w/ filter of BELOW 32 F: 5W-30 API, BELOW 100 F: 5W-30 API, ABOVE 0 F: 10W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2000 Town and Country have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.8L get?

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