RoadVitals

1996 Chrysler Cirrus Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Jan 9, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 160 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Chrysler Cirrus submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Jan 9, 2017

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
Suspension
Filed Dec 6, 2011

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
AirbagsSeat beltsSuspension
Filed Sep 15, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported

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
Suspension
Filed Oct 20, 2009

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
Suspension
Filed Feb 16, 2009

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
Suspension
Filed Jul 25, 2008

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
Suspension
Filed May 3, 2002

FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE, AND FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT WENT OUTWARDS TO THE GROUND. DEALER STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH LATERAL ARMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009115
Incident
Apr 9, 2002
Suspension
Filed Nov 30, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN TO EITHER SIDE VEHICLE WILL MAKE A CLICKING NOISE BECAUSE BALL JOINTS HAD SEPARATED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
899772
Incident
Nov 30, 2001
Suspension
Filed Nov 6, 2001

WHEN TURNING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING SOUND, METAL TO METAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 4 MONTHS, REPLACED SWAYBAR/ WHEEL BEARINGS, AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
898818
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Suspension
Filed Sep 14, 2000

INTERMITTENT POPPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF POPPING NOISE TO REPAIR IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
870515
Incident
Jul 24, 2000
Suspension
Filed Oct 7, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT CONTROL ARM LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
850234
Incident
Sep 24, 1999
Suspension
Filed Sep 21, 1999

WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATION. HAD AA A CHECK & MECHANIC FOUND PROBLEM WITH LEFT/LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS ROLLING OFF SUSPENSION BALL ROLLERS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC, NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
848156
Incident
Jul 30, 1999
Suspension
Filed Sep 3, 1999

NO CRASH; SEVERE RATTLING AS THOUGH JOINTS WERE DISCONNECTED

NHTSA ID
710899
Incident
Mar 1, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jan 14, 1999

THANKS TO YOUR WEB SITE THE CIRRUS IS NOW AT THE DEALERS FOR RECALL (6) CHECKS, I RECEIVED A CALL TODAY THAT WHILE CHECKING THIS VEHICLE THE "SWAY BAR LINKS" ARE WORN, COST TO REPLACE $266.00. I CALLED DEALER/SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND IF NOT REPLACED IMMEDIATELY COULD SNAP. I ASKED IF THIS IS NORMAL FOR A CAR TWO YEARS OLD, ANSWER WAS NO. I ASKED IF THEY HAVE SEEN ANY OTHER CASES OF THIS. THE ANSWER WAS YES, A FEW. SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT PRIOR TO 1996 MODELS THIS PART COULD BE GREASED AND NO PROBLEMS OCURRED, BEGINNING WITH THE 1996 MODEL THERE IS NO WAY TO GREASE THIS PART, THEREFORE THE WEARING OCCURS

NHTSA ID
702212
Incident
Jan 14, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jan 11, 1999

BALL JOINT FAILED (SHATTERED WITH LOUD POP) CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN WHEEL LOCKED UP.

NHTSA ID
702115
Incident
Jan 9, 1999
Suspension
Filed Oct 7, 1998

FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILED THREE TIMES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
541877
Suspension
Filed Jun 17, 1998

DEALER REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT DUE TO RECALL. BUT DEALERSHIP DID NOT REALIGN SUSPENSION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. DEALER REFUSES TO DO THIS. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
824429
Suspension
Filed Sep 19, 1997

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE IN THE SUSPENSION, AND THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. THE DEALER FIXED THE STREERING UNDER A RECALL. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THE SUSPENSION. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
816488
Incident
Sep 19, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .