1994 Chrysler Lebaron Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe door hinges pulling loose from the body, so that doors sag, bind or fail to latch, and a smaller but steady stream of complaints about the automatic transmission shuddering, jerking or dropping out of gear. Engine stalling and belt-related losses of power steering and charging are also reported. Many complaints involve cars well past 100,000 miles, but a number of the door and transmission reports came in at much lower mileage.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Door hinges tear loose from body (sagging doors)

   • 22 complaints (22%)
   • median 114,500 mi at 10.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2005

   Owners describe door hinges separating from the door or body shell, usually starting with a lower hinge weld or the metal it attaches to. The door then sags, must be lifted to close, binds or fails to latch, and in some cases damages the front fender or comes off. Complaints mention welding or replacing the door at owner expense, and that the dealer attributed it to wear or declined to help. Reported from low mileage up to roughly 60,000 miles and beyond, and appears on both two-door and sedan bodies.

   What to check: Open and close each door slowly and watch the hinge area for cracks, rust-through or a gap where the door meets the fender; ask whether any hinge has been welded or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Already reported 10/98- driver's door hinge broke off door. Now 1/99 - passenger's door hinge broke off door. Chrysler did not support the first occurrence. Stated normal wear and tear. I do not agree that both door hinges should need to be repaired after 60,000 miles at the cost of the owner. Chrylser is not admitting they have a problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #703346, filed 1999-02

   “Driver's side door has to be lifted up in order to be closed. The hinges have loosened up from the body of the vehicle which caused the door not to shut properly. Dealer is aware of the problem. The problem has not been corrected. The door was welded at the hinges a year ago at owner's expense. Report given by husband karl karra.”

   NHTSA complaint #855286, filed 2000-01
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerks, shudders or drops out of gear

   • 12 complaints (12%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 12.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2006

   Complaints describe hard jerking when pulling away or stopping, violent shaking for the first few blocks in cold weather, unexpected downshifts at speed, and gears that stop engaging entirely. Some owners had the transmission replaced or overhauled and report the symptoms returning or worsening, while others describe leaks from seals. Dealers are said to have replaced filters or the unit, or to have told owners to wait until the problem got worse. Reports cluster from about 35,000 to 80,000 miles; cold-weather shuddering is a recurring theme.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the car from cold and feel for shudder or a clunk on light acceleration and when slowing to a stop, check the fluid level and condition, and ask for transmission service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased the car with 75,000 miles on it. Thought it might last a little while. I have had to replace the battery, alternator, front wheel bearings, transmission leak, and now the transmission doesn't work! Grinds when I put it into reverse, and all the other gears nothing happens. I also just put a new filter and fluid in three months ago.”

   NHTSA complaint #10165173, filed 2006-08, 80,000 miles

   “Both driver's side and passenger's side doors have separated from body of vehicle on two different occasions, and have been welded back on. Dealer has been contacted, 1 door repaired by dealer, other door at owner's expense. Vehicle also experiencing transmission problems--internal part broke loose and flew through the housing. Repaired at owner's cost.”

   NHTSA complaint #841594, filed 1999-07
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Engine cuts out and will not restart

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 4.0 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2003

   Owners report the engine dying without warning while driving on a straight road, in a turn or on a hill, sometimes not restarting for half an hour or requiring a tow. Several complaints point to repeated sensor replacements, and one describes a power loss followed by fire in the engine compartment. Others describe the engine stalling and the vehicle then rolling to a stop. Mileage is not stated in most of these reports; symptoms are described as intermittent and while driving at speed.

   What to check: Ask whether the stall has been diagnosed with stored fault codes, and check for a fuel smell or weeping at the injector seals.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle lost power while driving/ engine compartment caught on fire. Vehicle was a total loss. While driving the vehicle lost all power. The driver pulled to the south shoulder and exited the vehicle. The driver noticed flamed coming from the engine compartment.”

   NHTSA complaint #10053305, filed 2003-12

   “This car has had 5 map sensors instaled in the past 2 years. Other sensors have also failed when the map sensor failed. This problem has created a great hazard while driving. The car cuts off and goes dead on straight roads, turns or going up or downhill.”

   NHTSA complaint #735060, filed 2000-10
4. 4
   Steering

   Serpentine belt comes off, losing steering and charging

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • typically at 2.9 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–1999

   Complaints describe the serpentine or fan belt slipping off, sometimes after snow or slush builds up, which leaves the driver without power steering, and in one case shuts down the electrical system and power assist for brakes. Others report belts that squeal loudly or had to be replaced repeatedly. Owners describe losing control or having to wrestle the car to a stop. Reported in winter weather and highway driving; one owner had the belt replaced three times.

   What to check: Inspect the belt for glazing or fraying, check the tensioner and pulley alignment, and ask about belt replacement history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the motor is running the serpentine belt sqeals very loud. Brought back over (6) times to dealer. Problem still exists. Consumer states problem has been going on since purchase of vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #805175, filed 1996-11

   “While driving steering belt tensioner went bad, causing loss of power steering. The dealer has repaired the vehicle . The manufacturer has been notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #846819, filed 1999-09

Buying note. Look closely at the door hinges and the transmission behavior from a cold start before buying, since those two account for most of what owners describe, and expect to budget for belt and brake maintenance on a car of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 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.