Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
125–50K
450–75K
775–100K
4100–150K
4150K+
21 reports with mileage · 48 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
69 reports
89,000 miles · Oct 26, 2005
Steering
DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS AT A SPEED OF AROUND 5 MPH WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE. THE TIE ROD WAS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ON THE FRONT. THE MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE TIE ROD SHOULD BREAK AT LOW MILEAGE. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE TIE ROD WAS FLIMSY. THE TIE ROD HAS B…
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DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS AT A SPEED OF AROUND 5 MPH WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE. THE TIE ROD WAS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ON THE FRONT. THE MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE TIE ROD SHOULD BREAK AT LOW MILEAGE. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE TIE ROD WAS FLIMSY. THE TIE ROD HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. CHRYSLER HAS ALSO NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *SC
NHTSA ODI #10138678
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2005
Structure
CONSTANT INFILTRATION INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT BY RODENTS, CAUSING FAILURE OF BLOWER MOTOR AND ALSO TRAPPED RODENTS DYING ON TOP OF HEATER BLOCK, BLOWER MOTOR AND WINDSHIELD COWL AREA. NO POSSIBLE FIX ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER. COST TO REMOVE NESTS FROM BLOWER MOTOR: $80. COST TO REMOVE RODENTS FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENTS: $418. …
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CONSTANT INFILTRATION INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT BY RODENTS, CAUSING FAILURE OF BLOWER MOTOR AND ALSO TRAPPED RODENTS DYING ON TOP OF HEATER BLOCK, BLOWER MOTOR AND WINDSHIELD COWL AREA. NO POSSIBLE FIX ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER. COST TO REMOVE NESTS FROM BLOWER MOTOR: $80. COST TO REMOVE RODENTS FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENTS: $418. NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES: 5 SINCE 2000. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS WELL AS HEALTH ISSUES FROM DEBRIS/DEAD ANIMALS TRAPPED INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENTS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10139702
52,771 miles · Aug 18, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
DT: ON JULY 3 THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HIRED AN INVESTIGATOR AND THEY FOUND IT STARTED ON THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE BOTH CALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN USE FOR FOUR HOURS. THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE UPPER FRONT OF THE LEFT DOOR TRIM PANEL AD…
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DT: ON JULY 3 THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HIRED AN INVESTIGATOR AND THEY FOUND IT STARTED ON THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE BOTH CALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN USE FOR FOUR HOURS. THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE UPPER FRONT OF THE LEFT DOOR TRIM PANEL ADJACENT TO THE DASH. THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT THE LOCATION OF THE POWER MIRROR AND LOCK SWITCHES ON THE UPPER FRONT OF THE DOOR TRIM PANEL. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED HIGH RESISTANCE HEATING IN ONE OF THE SWITCHES. THE EXACT SWITCH THAT CAUSED THE OVERHEATING COULD NOT BE DETERMINED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE DAMAGE. *JB THE FOLLOWING ARE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED BEFORE THE FIRE: THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE UP TO TEN MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD CATCH. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AT TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOLENOID WHICH MAY HAVE NOT OF CURED THE PROBLEM. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE SOLENOID REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER PLACED A NEW DISTRIBUTOR IN THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE WIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10129963
30,000 miles · Jan 4, 2005
Structure
WE HAVE TWO OF YOUR1998 CIRUS. THEY BOTH HAD WARRANTIES. MY CAR HAD THE PAINT SHIELD, AND NOW, AND NOW FOR 3 YEARS, THEY BOTH HAVE RUST ON THE HOODS. I JUST FOUND THIS SITE, BUT, HAD TAKEN THE CARS TO THE DEALERS AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX EITHER CAR.*AK THANKS FOR ANY HELP, GREGG. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10105694
Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10103794
59,000 miles · Nov 8, 2004
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A POPPING NOISE CAME FROM BOTH FRONT WHEELS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10099608
93,000 miles · Sep 20, 2004
Suspension
REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10092833
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UPON PARKING. THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A PARKING BUMP AND SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10091425
95,000 miles · Aug 29, 2004
Structure
I HAVE A 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. IT HAS DEVELOPED RUST ALONG THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE HOOD, FOR A CAR THAT IS SIX YEARS OLD THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10088761
80,000 miles · Feb 23, 2004
Wheels
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WOBBLED VIOLENTLY. DEALER DETERMINED LUGS NUTS BROKE. *AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP AND WEAR A HOLE IN IT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. 843. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE TUBE COULD LEAK, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE-HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEM, AND RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBES FOR VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP. IF THE TUBE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CONTACT, IT WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CONTACT EXISTS, THE TUBE WILL BE FASTENED WITH A CLIP.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
EA03011 · 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
1998 Chrysler Cirrus Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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