The 1998 Town & Country minivan rides on Chrysler's NS platform with the 3.3L or 3.8L V6 paired to the 41TE four-speed automatic transmission. These vans are plagued by chronic transmission failures and head gasket issues that often make them economic write-offs beyond 150,000 miles.
41TE Transmission Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh or delayed shifts, especially 2-3 and 3-4, Slipping under acceleration or loss of reverse, Burnt transmission fluid smell, dark or metallic fluid, Check engine light with transmission solenoid codes
Fix: The 41TE is a weak point—solenoid pack failures lead to valve body damage, and the overdrive clutches burn out. Rebuilds rarely last; most shops recommend a remanufactured unit. 8-12 labor hours for R&R plus fluid service.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800
Head Gasket Failure (Both Banks)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 100,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust, especially at startup, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, overflow tank overfilling, Rough idle, misfires on multiple cylinders, Oil milky or chocolate-brown on dipstick
Fix: The 3.3L and 3.8L both suffer from head gasket erosion between coolant and oil passages. Requires heads off, resurfacing, new gaskets, timing components. If overheated, expect warped heads or cracked block. 14-18 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Intake Manifold Gasket Leak
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant dripping from front of engine, passenger side, Coolant smell in cabin when heater is on, Slow coolant loss, no external puddles under vehicle, P0300-series misfire codes if coolant enters cylinders
Fix: Plastic intake plenum gaskets deteriorate and leak coolant into the valley or externally. Upper intake removal required, replace all gaskets and thermostat while in there. 4-6 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $600-1,100
Transmission Cooler Line / Radiator Contamination
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Strawberry milkshake appearance in coolant overflow, Transmission slipping or total failure after coolant leak, Overheat and transmission fault together, Pink or red fluid in radiator
Fix: The internal trans cooler in the radiator fails, mixing coolant and ATF—kills the transmission. Requires radiator, transmission flush or replacement, cooler lines. If trans is damaged, add rebuild cost. 6-8 hours plus trans work.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (plus transmission if damaged)
Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start condition, cranks but won't fire, Stalling at idle or while driving, restarts after cooling, Intermittent dying, then runs fine for days, P0320 or P0340 codes stored
Fix: Sensor in the bellhousing area fails from heat cycling. Engine must be supported, passenger-side mount dropped, sensor accessed from underneath. 1.5-2.5 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $180-350
Lower Engine Bearing / Rod Knock
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 120,000-200,000 mi
Symptoms: Heavy knocking from bottom of engine, worsens with RPM, Low oil pressure warning at idle, Metallic debris in oil filter or pan, Knock increases under load, may seize suddenly
Fix: The 3.3L/3.8L can spin rod or main bearings if oil changes are neglected or the oil pump fails. Requires shortblock or full rebuild—pistons, rods, crank, bearings. 18-24 labor hours. Often not worth it on high-mileage van.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
ABS Pump / Wheel Speed Sensor Failures
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: ABS and brake warning lights on dash, Pulsing brake pedal at low speeds or on dry pavement, No ABS function, conventional brakes still work, Codes for individual wheel speed sensors
Fix: Wheel speed sensors corrode (especially rear), and the ABS pump motor can fail. Sensor replacement is straightforward (1 hour each), but pump module is $600-1,000 used. 2-3 hours for pump R&R.
Estimated cost: $150-300 per sensor, $1,200-1,800 for pump module
Only buy if under $2,000 and you can wrench yourself—transmission and head gasket time bombs make these poor bets for anyone paying shop rates.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.