1996 Chrysler Cirrus Owner Complaints

MY FRONT TIRES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO BREAK OFF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINTS,STEERING CONTROL ARM, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS; ACCELERATES ALL BY ITSELF. WILL NOT LOCK SHIFTER WITH KEY OUT OF IGNITION. ECM IS FAULTY BECAUSE IT SHUTS THE LIGHTS OFF,TURNS ENGINE,ALL LIGHTS, OFF . UNPREDICTABLY! SEAT BELTS DO NOT ENGAGE WHEN STOPPING. IF I WERE TO BE CRITICALLY INJURED BECAUSE OF MALFUNCTIONING OF SAID VEHICLE? WHO WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF MY SAFETY AND WELL BEING? THIS ALL HAPPENS WHILE OPERATION OF VEHICLE. TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 55 MPH. ABS MALFUNCTIONS AS WELL EVEN WHEN DRIVING 15 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10943875

Incident

Dec 25, 2016

Mileage

107,000 mi

MY 1996 CIRRUS WITH ONLY 87+++ MILES SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTS WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. THIS IS A RECENT PURCHASE. I LIVE IN WYOMING AND IT IS WINTER TIME WITH ICY ROAD CONDITIONS NEARLY EVERYWHERE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO US ON THE HIGHWAY, IT CAUSED US TO SPIN OFF OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY WE WERE UNHURT. THIS AUTOMOBILE IS UNSAFE!!! THE LIMP MODE APPEARS TO BE ACTIVATED DUE TO FAULTY/LOW QUALITY PARTS BY CHRYSLER. WHY ISN"T THIS RECALLED??? I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I WILL SUE CHRYSLER IF WE HAVE ANOTHER INCIDENT!!! THIS INCIDENT OCCURED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 50 MPH.

NHTSA ID

10821703

Incident

Jan 17, 2016

Mileage

87,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS SMOKE SEEN FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V006000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,063.

NHTSA ID

10452239

Incident

Mar 17, 2012

Mileage

49,063 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LATERAL LINK FRACTURED, CAUSING THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO FOLD INWARD WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSTICS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ID

10438730

Incident

Dec 5, 2011

Mileage

118,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 42 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXCESSIVELY LOOSE. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED OFF THE ROAD, AND CRASHED INTO A ELECTRIC POLE, YET THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. SHE THEN CRASHED INTO A SECOND POLE, JUMPED A CREEK AND CRASHED INTO A TREE AS THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER AS SHE PLUNGED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, SHOULDER, CHEST AND A MINOR CONCUSSION. SHE ALSO SUFFERED SHORT-TERM MEMORY LOSS AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V201000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT) WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EVER REPAIRED IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10355793

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09E056000 (SUSPENSION; FRONT CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT) IS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE PER THE RECALL REMEDY. THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AND HAS BEEN NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10289165

Incident

Oct 13, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE CAR STARTED MAKING A CREAKING SOUND IN LIKE THE AXLES AND THEN IT BECAME A GRINDING SOUND . WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TIRE JUST CAME OFF WE SLID LIKE 20 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258858

Incident

Feb 15, 2009

Mileage

136,000 mi

HTTP://NHTHQNWWS111.ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/DOCSERVLET/ARTEMIS/PUBLIC/RECALLS/1998/V/RC-98V183-NN.PDF RECALL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY MADE IT WORSE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10239936

Incident

Jul 31, 2008

Mileage

127,505 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER TIE ROD DROPPED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRE TURNED AT A NINETY DEGREE ANGLE. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE TO GET A TOW AND, WHEN HE RETURNED, THE POLICE REMOVED THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V201000 (CONTROL ARM: BALL JOINT SEPARATION). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/16/08*JB

NHTSA ID

10235729

Incident

Jun 20, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

OIL IN MY RADIATOR. SLUDGE INSIDE OF MY ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232602

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN BETWEEN 10-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND WAS REPAIRED EACH TIME FOR A TOTAL COST OF $2,283.04. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS LISTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER ON THREE OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THEY STATED THAT THEY DO NOT OWN THEIR DEALERSHIPS AND IT WOULD BE THE DEALER'S DECISION TO MAKE THE REPAIR OR ISSUE A RECALL. DAIMLER CHRYSLER FURTHER STATED THAT THEY WOULD TRY AND SEND A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS YET TO ARRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED, OR MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,784 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,261.

NHTSA ID

10214499

Incident

Aug 16, 2007

Mileage

49,784 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE THREE RECALLS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH WERE NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY. THE FUEL PUMP RECALL #06E091000, HOOD ATTACHMENTS #97V095000, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH #98V183000 WERE THE 3 RECALLS. ALL 3 RECALLS WERE COMPLETED BUT THE PROBLEMS WERE NOT CORRECTED, AND THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT WILLING TO CORRECT THESE ISSUES FURTHER UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10174803

Incident

Nov 30, 2006

Mileage

135,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SHIFTER COULD BE TAKEN OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A NHTSA RECALL, #98V183000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10174575

Incident

Nov 28, 2006

Mileage

91,960 mi

CONSUMER'S 1969 CHRYSLER CIRRUS DID NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO A SO CALLED RECALL ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE EMISSION SYSTEM. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE OIL WAS THICK AND DIRTY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GROOVE ON THE DIP STICK. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED AND OR REIMBURSED FOR THE TIME LOST FROM WORK. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10125838

Incident

May 17, 2005

1996 CHRYSLER CIRRUS HAS PROBLEMS WITH MICHELIN TIRES P195/65X15.*MR TWO OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRES BLEWOUT WITHIN AN HOUR OF EACH OTHER. THE LAST BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT LIGHTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10117311

Incident

Feb 14, 2005

AFTER HAVING THE FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED EMERGENCY BRAKE LOCKED AND MELTED THE BRAKE DRUM WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. WHILE DRIVING A PASSING MOTORIST NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER. EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM AND DRUMS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10094463

Incident

Sep 24, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STALLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. AFTER A FEW TRIES THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. AFTER DRIVING A FEW FEET THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE AGAIN. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT RAINED. WHEN THE WIPERS WERE ON INTERMITTENT THEY WOULD MOVE VERY FAST FOR THAT SPEED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10073837

Incident

May 11, 2004

Mileage

95,000 mi

LEAKING EVAPORATOR. STRONG REFRIDGERANT ODOR COMING FROM HVAC HOUSING. (INSIDE VEHICLE) . *AK

NHTSA ID

10059999

Incident

May 15, 2003

Mileage

100,000 mi

LOSS OF ABS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL LEVELS OF BRAKING, I.E. HEAVY, MEDIUM AND MINIMAL BRAKING. WHEN LOSS OF ABS HAPPENS, THE PEDAL DECENDS TO THE FLOOR AND A BUZZ/RACHETING NOISE IS HEARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEAD TO POTENTIALLY 4 MAJOR ACCIDENTS. TO SOLVE THE LOSS OF BRAKING, DRIVER HAS TO "RE-PUMP" THE PEDAL AFTER LOSS HAS OCCURED. (NO MIL/SCAN TOOL CODE RECORDED) . *AK

NHTSA ID

10059998

Incident

Feb 23, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

I BOUGT A CAR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO USED AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR ALREADY. FROM THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON TO THE BATTERY LIGHT. THE 3RD DAY I HAD THE CAR IT DHAD TO GO IN THE SHOP. I FEEL THE PROBLEM IT HAD IT WAS THEIR WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I DID NOT HAVE THEW CAR LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE CAR IS A 96 CHRSYLER CIRRUS . *AK

NHTSA ID

10051572

Incident

Nov 6, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS A EXPLOSION DUE TO THE TRANS AXLE LOOSENING AND BUSTING THE TRANSMISSION CASE. *AK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED. *PH *JB *JB *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10032324

Incident

Aug 6, 2003

Mileage

89,455 mi

PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL "KNUCKLE" BROKE OFF WHERE SUPPORT ARM TO VEHICLE ATTACHES. THIS CAUSES REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO LOOSE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT. REAR WHEEL IS THEN FREE TO TWIST IN ALL DIRECTIONS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS CAN CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. THE "KNUCKLE" IS CAST ALUMINUM AND HAS NO MOVING PARTS WHICH CAN WEAR OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037217

Incident

Aug 26, 2003

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023509

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

125,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, DEALER NOTIFIED SAID WIRING NEAR CONTROLS WAS THE CAUSE. TS

NHTSA ID

10001521

Incident

Sep 10, 2002

THE REAR BRAKE HOSE COLLAPSED FROM EXCESSIVE HARDWARE DUST, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER TO LEAK, THE REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL, HOWEVER IT HAD TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. TS *JB

NHTSA ID

8023876

Incident

Nov 21, 2002

Mileage

71,980 mi