NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
11 reportsClear category filter99,877 miles · Oct 21, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE LIGHT ON THE ODOMETER GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL STOPPED WORKING. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE ENTIRE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FAILED. THE HORN ALSO BEGAN BLOWING WITHOUT APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE LIGHT ON THE ODOMETER GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL STOPPED WORKING. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE ENTIRE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FAILED. THE HORN ALSO BEGAN BLOWING WITHOUT APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN ALONG WITH THE HORN SWITCH. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR THE FUSE FAILED WHEN USING THE HORN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT UPON FURTHER INSPECTION SHE NOTICED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL SINCE NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 45,000 . THE CURRENT WAS 99,877.
NHTSA ODI #10289254
70,560 miles · Sep 6, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 3 TO 4 MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT CLEANED THE CRANKSHAFT IN A REPAIR ATTEMPT, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. UPDATED 10/25/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10167471
58,500 miles · Jun 2, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS FOR THE TRANS AXLE, THE CONSUMER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE OTHER PROBLEMS, SUCH AS DROPPING GEARS, AND CUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RECTIFIED AS OF YET. *…
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UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS FOR THE TRANS AXLE, THE CONSUMER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE OTHER PROBLEMS, SUCH AS DROPPING GEARS, AND CUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RECTIFIED AS OF YET. *AK *BF *NM AS OF APRIL 5, 2005, THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM. RECALL CAMPAIGN# 98V183000 & 04V021000. *AK *TT THE IDLE WAS RE-ADJUSTED. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10115456
86,000 miles · May 21, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury
WHILE DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT MY 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS STOPPED RUNNING AND THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10019036
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEAD GASKET BEGAN TO FAILED. INITIALLY THIS ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL. EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE HEAD GASKET FAILED. OIL WAS SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING AND STALLED. THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN ABOUT 200 YARDS TO THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE ENGINE STALLED AGA…
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THE HEAD GASKET BEGAN TO FAILED. INITIALLY THIS ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL. EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE HEAD GASKET FAILED. OIL WAS SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING AND STALLED. THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN ABOUT 200 YARDS TO THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THE ENGINE WILL NO LONGER START.
NHTSA ODI #764977
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
IN APRIL, 1998, THE HEAD GASKET AND CAM SEAL FAILED AFTER ONLY 21,000 MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. AT THE TIME OF REPAIR, THE SERVICE MANAGER, STEVE GREY, AND THE MAN WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIRS, RAY, BOTH TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR WAS TEMPORARY...THAT CHRYSLER ENGINEERS HADN'T DEVELOPED A SOLUTION TO THE HEAD GASKET PRO…
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IN APRIL, 1998, THE HEAD GASKET AND CAM SEAL FAILED AFTER ONLY 21,000 MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. AT THE TIME OF REPAIR, THE SERVICE MANAGER, STEVE GREY, AND THE MAN WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIRS, RAY, BOTH TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR WAS TEMPORARY...THAT CHRYSLER ENGINEERS HADN'T DEVELOPED A SOLUTION TO THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. IN SEPT., 1999, TSB 09-08-99 WAS ISSUED CONCERNING MULTI-LAYER STEEL HEAD GASKET FOR THE 2.4L ENGINE. IN JAN., 2001 TSB 09-008-00 WAS ISSUED CONCERNING CAM SEAL RETENTION ON THE 2.4L. THE HEAD GASKET AGAIN FAILED IN JANUARY, 2002 WITH THE ODOMETER AT 83,000 MILES. CHRYLSER ONLY AGREED TO PAY 50% OF THE COST OF REPAIRS DESPITE NOT HAVING A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF THE INITIONAL REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INVESTIGATE A TOTAL RECALL OF THE CHRYSLER VEHICLES WITH THE 2.4L ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI #759139
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE TRIED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED WITH THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL.THE ENGINE FAILURE STATED HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THEIR WORK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #748969
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
THERE WAS A VERY SEVERE OIL LEAK. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED HEAD GASKETS. *AK DEALER REPLACED THGE CYLINDER HEADS AND HEAD GASKETS. *YH
NHTSA ODI #890442
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING UP TO 80 MPH. BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 80 MPH. EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND IT CAME TO A SLOW STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED …
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WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING UP TO 80 MPH. BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 80 MPH. EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND IT CAME TO A SLOW STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE PART # 4573693. *AK AT FIRST THE ENGINE HEATED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE A BLOWN UP HEAD GASKET. *YH
NHTSA ODI #875404
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CAUS EOF FIRE UNDETERMINED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #520795
NHTSA investigations
4EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock
Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.
EA99028 · Steering Shaft Binding
Opened Sep 10, 1999 · Closed Jul 26, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE99030 · Steering Shaft Binding
Opened May 3, 1999 · Closed Sep 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
EA97016 · Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Failure
Opened Sep 29, 1997 · Closed Nov 20, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
BY LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 6, 1997, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THIS AGENCY OF ITS DECISION TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THIS EA.THE RECALL WILL ALSO COVER 1996 AND 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS/DODGE STRATUS VEHICLES, AS WELL AS 1995 THROUGH 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE AND PLYMOUTH BREEZE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH IDENTICAL LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS.AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 599,00VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL.THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT PROCESS VARIABILITY, TOGETHER WITH THE BALL JOINT HOUSING COVER CRIMPING OPERATION, CAN RESULT IN AN INEFFECTIVE SEAL THAT PERMITS A LOSS OF LUBRICATION AND ACCELERTED WEAR OF THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY.THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO FAILURE AND SEPARTION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED AS NHTSA 97V-201 AND A COPY OF CHRYSLER'S LETTER TO NHTSA IS ATTACHED HERETO.
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