1996 Chrysler Cirrus Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about brake problems — a pedal that sinks toward the floor, repeated pad and rotor work, and ABS behaviour — plus front-end suspension and steering failures where ball joints, tie rods or rear linkages break. Many complaints are filed on cars well past 70,000 miles, so several of the described failures reflect wear on an older vehicle rather than something that appears early on.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinks or brakes fade

   • 16 complaints (10%)
   • median 52,500 mi at 7.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2004

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and having it drop toward the floor, sometimes with a buzzing or ratcheting noise, then returning to normal after the pedal is pumped. Some complaints mention extended stopping distance, grinding front brakes, or fluid loss traced to the master cylinder, and several report the brakes, pads or rotors being replaced repeatedly. Dealers in these accounts either replaced the master cylinder, found the wrong-size front rotors fitted, or could not duplicate the problem. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 miles to around 70,000 miles and above, often during normal stops or sudden braking.

   Recall 96V075000Recall 96V074000

   What to check: Ask whether the master cylinder and ABS hydraulic unit have been serviced, and check brake fluid level and condition. Have a mechanic inspect rotors and pads for correct size and even wear before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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) .”

   NHTSA complaint #10059998, filed 2004-02, 60,000 miles

   “When consumer applied the brakes suddenly to avoid a collision, the brakes locked up which caused vehicle to skid. Vehicle had been checked by 2 dealers and an independent mechanic who have all confirmed the hydraulic control unit had failed. Ts”

   NHTSA complaint #8023517, filed 2002-12, 16,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front ball joint, tie rod or rear linkage breaks

   • 23 complaints (14%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 13.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2017

   Owners describe front lower ball joints separating or collapsing so the vehicle drops onto the ground, tie rods detaching so a wheel turns sharply, and rear lateral links or knuckles fracturing so a rear wheel folds inward. Several complaints mention clicking, popping or creaking noises beforehand, and some note the dealer could not find the source. In a few accounts the work had been done under a recall and the part failed again later. Mostly reported from about 70,000 miles upward, including several cases at 100,000 to 136,000 miles.

   Recall 97V201000

   What to check: Have the front lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rods, and rear suspension links inspected for play, torn boots or missing grease. Ask whether the lower control arm recall work was performed and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10258858, filed 2009-02, 136,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10943875, filed 2017-01, 107,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission downshifts or will not hold gear

   • 17 complaints (11%)
   • median 90,707 mi at 15.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2017

   Owners report the transmission dropping out of gear or downshifting on its own while cruising, with engine speed rising but the vehicle unable to accelerate, and one account describes the transaxle loosening and breaking the transmission case. Another describes a shift interlock that would not engage park or drive properly. Some of these complaints were filed after interlock recall work had already been done. Reported from roughly 85,000 to 92,000 miles, and in some cases at highway speeds on downgrades or with cruise control engaged.

   Recall 04V021000Recall 98V1830001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test the shifter through all positions with the key in and out, and take a highway test drive to watch for unexpected downshifts. Ask whether the shifter and ignition interlock recalls were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While traveling on the highway and without prior warning there was a explosion due to the trans axle loosening and busting the transmission case. The vehicle experienced loss of power steering and brakes. The transmission was serviced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10032324, filed 2003-10, 89,455 miles

   “A week ago while driving at 40 consumer felt like car was down shifting, RPM's would rev up, but consumer could not go faster than 40 MPH. On 14th of september, while on the interstate car down shifted. Consumer said gears would not shift.”

   NHTSA complaint #870602, filed 2000-09
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Stalls and rough running, distributor and electrical faults

   • 15 complaints (9%)
   • median 72,392 mi at 10.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2008

   Owners report the engine cutting out at intersections or while slowing from highway speed, hesitating and misfiring at idle, and refusing to restart until a distributor or related component is replaced. Gauges, interior lighting and headlights are also described as dropping out, with one account pointing to the dashboard computer. Reported mostly above 60,000 miles, with several complaints in the 90,000 to 135,000 mile range.

   What to check: Ask about any history of stalling or no-start conditions and whether the distributor and ignition components were replaced. Check that all gauges, warning lights and interior lights work when the car is started.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car started to hesitate at take off and misfire while idling. It was running really rough. It was time for a tune-up, which was done, and the mechanic informed me that there are internal problems with my catalytic converter and that distributor unit would need to be replaced. He also informed me that I would have to pay for the distributor to be replaced, but catalytic converter is covered under factory warranty. I do not have a copy of the factory warranty or an owners manual and would like to know how I can get one. Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #738510, filed 2000-12

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10073837, filed 2004-05, 95,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Engine oil galley plug leak and engine-compartment fire

   • 16 complaints (10%)
   • median 49,063 mi at 16.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2012

   Owners describe oil escaping from the cylinder head oil galley plug, coating the exhaust manifold and igniting, with smoke and flames seen from under the hood while driving or shortly after parking. Some owners say the plug failure was covered by a recall, while others state their vehicle was excluded from it by VIN or that the repair was not actually completed. Other complaints mention a head gasket oil leak at low mileage. Reported at mileages from around 36,000 to 49,000, usually while driving or after the car was parked.

   Recall 96V006000

   What to check: Look for oil residue around the head and exhaust manifold, and check whether the oil galley plug campaign was completed for this VIN. Ask for service records showing the repair was actually performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at 75mph down the highway a flash of fire was noticed coming from under hood. When pulled over to lift hood, the engine burst into flames. The fire suddenly went out on its own. Dealer was contacted. It was found that the galley-plug had blown out, thus dumping all the oil out onto the manifold causing the fire. This plug was recalled and was taken in for repair, but according to the investigator, the actual repair was never done.”

   NHTSA complaint #833015, filed 1999-01

   “The head gasket at 36000 miles leaks oil this is a disappointment at this milage!!! The radio stays full of static all the time and I was told they would fix the gasket but not the radio even though they are both factory defects.”

   NHTSA complaint #704262, filed 1999-03

Buying note. This is a vehicle old enough that condition matters more than the model's record: have the brakes, front and rear suspension links and shifter interlock checked by an independent mechanic, and confirm which open recalls apply to the VIN and were completed. Service records showing the oil galley plug and control arm campaigns were actually done are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.