1995 Chrysler LHS Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around the automatic transmission, the steering rack and its mounting hardware, and fuel-system leaks, with most reports coming in on high-mileage cars. Cooling-system failures (water pump, timing belt, air conditioning) and seat hardware also appear repeatedly. Many reports describe gradual wear or intermittent symptoms rather than a single sudden event.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering rack and tie-rod bolt failures

   Mentioned in 12 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe grinding or clunking noises when turning, heavy or intermittent loss of power assist, and excessive play in the steering wheel. In several reports bolts holding the rack and pinion or the inner tie-rod ends had sheared or come loose, and owners say the rack, pump or tie rods were replaced, sometimes repeatedly. Some dealers attributed the noise to worn struts, mounts or rod ends. Reported from roughly 70,000 to 145,000 miles, with several owners noting the noise is worse in cold weather or over uneven pavement.

   What to check: With the front wheels off the ground, have a shop check the rack mounting bolts and inner tie-rod ends for looseness or shear, and check for play and noise when turning lock to lock.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I experienced a loud clunking sound when I turned the steering wheel. Also when I drove over uneven pavement or an uneven entry to a driveway I could hear the same sound and could feel it through the steering wheel. I had a dealership check it out and they found that there was a bolt that had worked itself loose on the lower control arm. I have found information on the internet related to steering failures leading to death on several vehicles with the same steering components that my car has. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10125430, filed 2005-06, 70,087 miles

   “I was having some uneven and premature front tire wear problems. I thought that the inner tie rod bushings were simply worn out. I found out instead that one of the bolts that hold the inner tie rod ends to the steering rack had actually sheared/ broken, and this was allowing the excessive slop in the steering. Obviously, if the bolt would have sheared all the way off, sudden and catastrophic (possibly deadly) loss of steering would have occurred, without warning. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10143981, filed 2005-11
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks from the fuel rail or O-rings

   • 15 complaints (10%)
   • median 166,850 mi at 14.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2016

   Owners report a strong raw-gasoline smell inside the cabin or in the engine bay, and in some cases visible fuel leaking onto the engine. Complaints describe cracked fuel rails or failed sealing O-rings, and some owners state the same leak returned after the recall work was performed on their vehicle. Dealers in several reports declined further repair under the recall. Mostly reported above 100,000 miles, with several owners describing a recurrence years after earlier recall service.

   Recall 98V184000

   What to check: Ask for documentation that recall 98V184000 was completed and which parts were replaced, and inspect the fuel rail and injector O-ring area for staining or a fuel smell with the engine running.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car keeps on dying when I'm driving and when the car dies I lose my brakes and my power steering my mechanic told me it is a problem with my fuel rails and I have noticed it leaking gasoline once in awhile.”

   NHTSA complaint #10916019, filed 2016-10

   “Constant fuel vapor fumes of raw gas coming into the vehicle, recall campaign 98v184000 was done to the vehicle as the reinforcements are present, fumes occur daily with presence of fuel coming out of reinforcement area outlet fuel rail was not replaced. Believe Chrysler needs to replace the outlet fuel rail as per recall as reinforcements do not hold up.”

   NHTSA complaint #10296568, filed 2009-12, 169,700 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, hard shifts and limp mode

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the automatic transmission hesitating, slamming into gear on deceleration, or dropping into a limp mode that leaves only one gear and no reverse. Several reports say the problem appears after an hour or so of driving, especially in hot stop-and-go traffic, and that a dealer could not reproduce it on a cold test drive. Some owners report the transmission was rebuilt or replaced, in a few cases more than once. Reported across a wide mileage range, often above 100,000 miles and frequently after extended driving in hot weather or stop-and-go traffic.

   What to check: Test drive long enough to get the transmission fully warm, including stop-and-go traffic, and watch for delayed or harsh shifts and any warning light. Ask whether the fluid and filter have been serviced and whether the unit has ever been rebuilt.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I`ve had my transmission fixed 3 times and its going out again. The brakes have been replaced 3 times also the stabilizer bar, tie rods, and wheel bearings have been replaced on both sides. The car leaks oil and anti-freeze. The sun roof doesn`t close half the time, and the tail lights don`t work on the right side. Also on the highway one time all the water ran out of my car while I was driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #717453, filed 2000-01

   “This vehicle was purchased used. 2 weeks after purchase the rear brake bads failed causing them to grind on the rotors. Brakes and rotors were replaced. Drivers side seat support is broken. Power steering pump has a leak. Transmission clutches burned out requiring replacement. Water pump failed along with failing timing belt & timing belt tensioner causing needed replacement. Engine has several oil leaks. Rack & pinion system is shifting, causing a thumping sound and vehicle shifting while cornering at times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10072869, filed 2004-05, 101,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalling and cooling-system or water pump failure

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine stalling at speed, sometimes with the air conditioning on, and the check-engine light coming on. Others report water pump failure, coolant loss, a failing timing belt and tensioner, and air conditioning that blows warm or squeals shortly after repair. In a few reports a dealer replaced a crank sensor or could not identify the cause. Spread from roughly 60,000 to 175,000 miles, with several owners linking stalling to hot weather and air-conditioner use.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check for coolant residue or a squealing belt, ask when the water pump, timing belt and tensioner were last replaced, and confirm the air conditioning blows cold during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My husband and I purchased a 1995 Chrysler LHS back in the winter of 2000. When warmer weather hit we turned on our air conditioner and the car began to scream, we took it back and supposedly they fixed it, it happened again and we took it back to the place we bought it from again same thing for a third time and because we didn't have the money for an extended warranty they informed us they there was really nothing they could do for us but install a used condenser unit each time. Well it worked for a little while and then it quit again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070443, filed 2004-01, 96,000 miles

   “Dt: 3 months ago the consumer was driving toward the city and the vehicle made a loud noise, and then car started smoking. Consumer pulled off the highway, there was smoke everywhere. Consumer had car towed. It was running fine before this incident. Mechanic said that the car threw a rod, and needed a new motor and transmission. Consumer was not driving the car because the she could not afford to have it fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10123751, filed 2005-06, 105,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shifter moves out of Park with the key removed

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • median 145,000 mi at 10.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2016

   Owners report that the gear selector can be moved out of Park without the key in the ignition and without the brake applied, and in some cases the car rolled while parked. Complaints describe vehicles rolling into a house or being chased down by the owner, and one owner tied the problem to a stripped gear inside the shifter. Others report the vehicle would not shift into gear at all. Reported on vehicles of varying mileage, with several complaints describing the condition on a parked car with the engine off.

   Recall 04V021000

   What to check: With the key out, try moving the shifter out of Park; if it moves, ask whether the interlock recall 04V021000 was performed and have the shifter linkage inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Even when I have my car off without my key in the ignition I can shift the vehicle between every different gear. If I'm on a hill or in a parking lot without even having my car running or having the key in the ignition of my vehicle I can go from park neutral drive reverse.”

   NHTSA complaint #10916020, filed 2016-10

   “My vehicle was parked, not running and no key in the ignition. My son went into the vehicle and accidentally hit the gear selector knocking the transmission in reverse. He got out of the car and it was rolling backwards. He attempted to stand behind the vehicle to stop it and was knocked clear of said vehicle. The vehicle rolled down a hill and into a house. The gear selector can be taken out of park with no key in the ignition and no foot on the brake pedal. Can't something be done to make Chrysler correct this problem???”

   NHTSA complaint #746684, filed 2001-06

Buying note. On a car of this age, condition and service history matter more than the model itself. Have a shop inspect the steering rack mounting hardware, the fuel rail area and the transmission behavior when warm before purchase, and confirm which open recalls have actually been completed.

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.