2000 Chrysler Cirrus Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2000 Chrysler Cirrus most often write about the high-pressure power steering hose leaking and, in several cases, underhood fires starting while the car was parked. Brake complaints also appear at unusually low mileage, and a smaller group describes intermittent stalling or no-start conditions with no warning lights. Many reports come from vehicles with well over 100,000 miles, though a few brake and ball joint reports arrive under 60,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering hose leak and underhood fire

   • 20 complaints (20%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 15 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2012

   Owners describe the power steering system failing or the car catching fire under the hood, sometimes minutes after parking with the engine off. One owner reported that a mechanic traced the damage to the high-pressure power steering hose, which had heat-aged and developed a leak. Several complaints mention receiving recall 06V001000 only after a fire had already occurred, and a few say a dealer repair did not resolve the leak. Reported from roughly 70,000 to 135,000 miles, often within minutes of the vehicle being parked.

   Recall 06V001000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 06V001000 was performed and keep the paperwork; inspect the high-pressure power steering hose and surrounding area for fluid residue or heat damage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had just parked my car in my friends driveway. While getting out I noticed there was smoke coming from under the hood. It smelled like it was about to catch fire and a few seconds later I saw flames. I called 911. Before they could get there my friend and a neighbor put the fire out. The fireman made a report and took pictures. The fire damaged the electrical wiring, piping and hoses,and anything else that was a composed of plastic melting in the vehicle. I feel like the fire should be covered under NHTSA campaign id #06v001000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10182092, filed 2007-02, 10,000 miles

   “I received a recall notice in the mail from Chrysler. The recall was for a high pressure power steering hose. Smith Chrysler made the repair on 07-06-06. When I started the car I noticed that the drive belts were slipping and making a strange sound. Later that night I jacked up the vehicle and inspected the work that was performed. I found power steering fluid on numerous parts pf my engine and frame. There was also fluid on the belts which was causing them to slip. On 07-07-2006 , I returned to the dealer to have the fluid cleaned. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10161774, filed 2006-07, 86,143 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Intermittent stalling and no-start conditions

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 81,000 mi at 10.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2015

   Owners report the engine cutting out without warning while driving or when slowing to a stop, sometimes restarting after a wait and sometimes not starting at all. Several mention that no trouble codes were stored, and one owner found the anti-theft system and fuel pump involved. Other reports describe rough idle and difficulty starting in the morning, and a mechanic replacing the throttle control sensor without being certain it was the cause. Spread from about 17,000 to 185,000 miles, with several reports between 60,000 and 130,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, fuel pump and anti-theft system have been serviced, and take a test drive that includes decelerating and stopping.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle had been stalling on the highway, and restarting alone , and at time when entering the on ramp to a highways, almost caused me to have an accident. And it has always been on the highway when the car is in higher r.p.m's as it never done it while on city roads... Now car won't start at all and reads no bus... I entered it at google and many other's have gone through the same problems I have and with many models but the same engines either 2.4 v6 or the 2.5 v6 , dodge or Chrysler Cirrus ,stratus,breeze,intrepid,and earlier 300's... …”

   NHTSA complaint #10163485, filed 2006-07, 17,000 miles

   “Car will cut off while car is either decelerating or stationary. Oil light will come on. Periodically the check engine light will appear too but mechanic checked diagnostic computer codes nothing is wrong. Very scary experiences while driving in rush hour traffic on highway and several city streets. No prewarning lights.”

   NHTSA complaint #10789447, filed 2015-11, 184,900 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brakes wearing out early and brake components failing

   • 15 complaints (15%)
   • median 17,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Complaints describe brake pads and rotors needing replacement far sooner than expected, sometimes several times on the same car, with pads disintegrating at the edges while the center still has material. Owners also report seized calipers that would not release, collapsed rear brake lines that kept the rear brakes engaged, and rear cylinders leaking. Several say the dealer attributed early noise to dust before a later inspection found worn or damaged parts. Several reports come in between 15,000 and 17,000 miles, with others around 85,000 to 143,000 miles; low-annual-mileage cars appear in the low-mileage reports.

   Recall 00V196000

   What to check: Have a mechanic measure pad and rotor thickness and check the calipers for sticking; ask for service records showing how often brakes were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Chrysler Cirrus lxi 2000 with 65,000 miles on this car I am now going for my third set of brakes not counting the brakes the car came with. The second time I replaced them I had to get rotors also. I will never buy another Chrysler.”

   NHTSA complaint #10016539, filed 2003-04, 15,000 miles

   “Complaint received via e-mail. We own a 2000 Chrysler Cirrus lx and a 2003 Chrysler van, so the cirris is only driven about 4000 miles a year. I have been having an ongoing problem with the brakes, which I have complaint about each time it's serviced. The dealership tells me it's just dust in them. The vehicle was in for inspection, and they said the brakes had disintegrated, the rotors needed replacement and the back cylinders were leaking. The brake pads are hardly worn in the center, but are disintegrating in the ends. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10103581, filed 2005-01, 17,000 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front ball joint and tie rod failure

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 15.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2021

   Owners describe front-end noise over bumps followed by a ball joint separating from the control arm, which in one case also damaged the axle. Others report the steering wheel shaking and the car being hard to keep in its lane, and one complaint describes a fractured tie rod while driving at speed. Owners say independent mechanics diagnosed worn ball joints and replaced the affected parts. Reported from roughly 10,000 to 111,000 miles, often after several days of front-end noise.

   What to check: Have the front ball joints and tie rods inspected on a lift, and listen for clunks over bumps during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving my son home from school, my 2000 Chrysler Cirrus became disabled due to the right side ball joint snapping off the control arm. I had to get my veichle towed and had to replace the right ball joint , the right control arm and also the right side axle. I only own this car 6 months ( 1825 miles) and this was the 2nd major repair I had with this veichles steering conponents ( rack & pinion assy and power steering pump). I found on another website that there is a recall for the control arm:lower ball joint recall id #79830 . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10446713, filed 2012-02, 111,080 miles

   “The lower ball joint is very loose and making alot of noise. There was a recall for lower ball joint failure for this car. Don't understand why my car is not part of the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10704624, filed 2015-04, 10,400 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a collision

   • 9 complaints (9%)
   • median 139,551 mi at 7.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2010

   Complaints describe frontal and side impacts where one or both airbags did not deploy. In one report the passenger airbag deployed while the driver side did not, and in another both bags stayed put in a 25 mph frontal impact. Owners generally say the vehicle was not inspected afterward to determine why the bags did not fire. Reported across a wide mileage range, from lower-mileage vehicles to ones near 200,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning lamp works and check for any stored airbag diagnostic codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle turned left in front of my vehicle. I was traveling approximately 25 MPH and hit the vehicle dead center on the front bumper of my vehicle. Neither of my airbags deployed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10052829, filed 2004-01, 79,103 miles

   “Vehicle slid on ice, ran off the road and hit a tree on driver's side. Speed was estimated at 50-55 MPH. Passenge's side airbag deployed, driver side did not deploy. Driver is in a coma. The driver side airbag failed to deploy, as a result the driver has brain injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #8007003, filed 2002-04

Buying note. Check that recall 06V001000 was completed and inspect the power steering hose and front suspension before purchase. Budget for a brake inspection and ask about any history of stalling or hard starting, since those repairs can recur.

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.