1996 Chrysler LHS Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the steering system, typically describing loose or wandering steering, clunking or popping noises, and in some cases a sudden loss of steering control when tie-rod or rack hardware breaks. Fuel odor and leaks around the fuel rail and injector O-rings are the second most common theme, and several complaints note that a prior recall repair on the fuel system was performed yet the leak returned. Most reports come in around 90,000 to 130,000 miles, with front-end and brake complaints appearing at a wide range of mileages.

1. 1
   Steering

   Loose or failed steering (tie rods, rack bushings)

   • 38 complaints (28%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 9.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2017

   Complaints describe steering with excessive play, a car that wanders and needs constant correction, and clunking or popping noises over bumps or while turning. Several owners report bolts at the inner tie rods or steering rack shearing, leaving the wheel unresponsive, and others say shops found the rack bushings or inner tie-rod ends worn out or disintegrated. Repairs described include replacing inner tie rods, tie-rod ends and the entire rack assembly, sometimes more than once. Reported from roughly 60,000 to 165,000 miles, usually while turning at low speed or exiting a lot, with some failures on the highway.

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the inner and outer tie rods and the rack bushings for play, and check for clunking with the wheels off the ground. Ask whether the rack or tie rods have been replaced and keep the steering checked if the wheel feels loose.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I'd parked my 1996 Chrysler LHS in a parking lot for a couple of hours on 7/10/2005. The vehicle has 95k miles on it. As I returned, and backed the vehicle up to exit the space, I heard a loud pop . Suddenly the car no longer responded to steering. Upon examination, I found the inner tie rod bolts had sheared off where they connected to the steering gear. Both bolts had sheared off at the same length, and the retaining plate was still in place, preventing the bolts from loosening/rotating. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10128510, filed 2005-07, 94,537 miles

   “Inner tie rod ends only last realistically about 10,000 miles,become completely unserviceable in 20,000. I am sure Chrysler is aware of this poor design/material problem. Additionally, the steering box also has problems with the mounting bushings. Be advised that I have replaced the inner tie rods twice, then the bushings when they became available in after market form. Chrysler, after my many complaints, replaced the tie rod ends(once again) and the steering box due to movement of the box due to bushing wear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10055207, filed 2004-01, 20,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at the fuel rail / O-rings

   • 19 complaints (14%)
   • median 92,150 mi at 9.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2018

   Owners report a strong gasoline smell while driving or waiting at an intersection, and in some cases fuel visibly pooling on top of the engine near the injector rail. Repairs described include replacing injector O-rings, injector base gaskets and the fuel rail assembly. Some complaints state that recall 98V184000 had already been performed on the vehicle, yet the rail cracked or the O-rings leaked again, and a few say parts for the recall repair were no longer available. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 145,000 miles, often noticed when the engine is warm or the heater is on.

   Recall 98V184000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 98V184000 was performed and keep the paperwork; check for a fuel smell under the hood with the engine warm and look for wet or stained areas around the injectors and rail.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle had a recall on the fuel rail which was repaired in 1999 by previous owner. Its blowing fuel onto the motor again. The same issue . It has 130k miles on it. When our mechanic looked at it we saw it was the same issue as the previous recall. The parts places we called said they do not sell the the recall kits to take to dealership. Called dealership spoke with manager. They said the recall kits are in detroit and since the recall. L hs been repaired once it cant be repaired again. We called manufacturer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11133552, filed 2018-10, 130,000 miles

   “While driving 10 MPH consumer was informed that vehicle was on fire. The consumer smelled fuel, and noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. The consumer pulled over, and noticed that fluid was leaking from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the fuel rail o-rings needed to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10106800, filed 2005-01, 45,215 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Front-end wear: struts, subframe and control arm bushings

   • 12 complaints (9%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 9.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2016

   Complaints describe vibration through the steering wheel at speed, a rough ride, and a car that sways or darts side to side. Owners say shops found worn subframe bushings, struts, ball joints, control-arm bushings and hub bearings, and in a few cases a control-arm bracket or cradle area gave way. Several note that the problem returned after struts were replaced. Reported from about 50,000 to over 200,000 miles, with several entries between 84,000 and 120,000 miles.

   What to check: Have the front end inspected on a lift for play in the struts, ball joints, control-arm and subframe bushings, and test drive at highway speed to feel for vibration or wandering.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought a 96 LHS in sept 2006 and knew I needed to do some front end work. What I didn't know was everything associated with the front end would need to be replaced. Tie rods, ball joint, hub bearings, control arm bushings, boots (axles) transmission mounts. I can't begin to remember all the parts I have replaced. Now today after another trip to the repair shop I am informed the rack and pinion is shot. After all the work that has been done still rides like a tractor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10265904, filed 2009-04

   “Vehicle has been difficult to handle because of simultaneous failures of both the front struts and subframe bushings. Vehicle sways from side to side when accelerating, and has a rough ride. Dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis--------769745.”

   NHTSA complaint #10008558, filed 2002-11, 163,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal going low or rotors warping

   • 12 complaints (9%)
   • median 250 mi at 0.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2004

   Owners describe a brake pedal that sinks to the floor with little stopping power, and others report pedal pulsation and steering-wheel shake from rotors that warp and pit at low mileage. Complaints mention repeated rotor replacement within a few thousand miles, and one describes a brake line breaking and fluid igniting. Some entries note the ABS did not prevent loss of control in a stop. Rotor complaints cluster at very low mileage, from about 9,000 to 36,000 miles; other brake complaints appear across a wide range.

   What to check: Check pedal feel for firmness and sponginess, look at rotor surfaces for scoring or pitting, and ask about the age of the brake fluid, lines and rotors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Replaced rotors 3 times,at 11,000 mi. 20,894 mi. And now at 36,000 mi. Thats an average of 9,000 miles per set of rotors all due to warping and pitting. Company accepeted cost of one set of rotors but I had to pay labor costs of over $200.00 plus pads that were torn up due to pieces of the rotor breaking off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #722521, filed 2000-05

   “Rotors warped and pitted after 9000 miles , need to be replaced.first time it was at 15708 miles . This is second occurence , brakes pulsate and steering wheel shakes . Was told brake pads at 50% wear , current milage is 24323 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #700113, filed 1998-10
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting and stalling complaints

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • median 122,580 mi at 9.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2005

   Owners report hesitation on acceleration, humming noises when selecting drive or reverse, and a transmission that drops to a lower gear at speed and stalls the engine. Complaints mention dealers replacing the transmission in one case and citing a speed sensor or solenoid in another. A separate group describes the car rolling after being parked, and one owner links this to a floor-shifter recall repair. Reported from about 110,000 to 145,000 miles, with the parking-roll complaints filed at unspecified mileage.

   Recall 04V021000

   What to check: Test drive through several gear changes and check for slipping, harsh downshifts or humming, and confirm the floor-shifter interlock recall 04V021000 was completed and that the car holds in park.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission is popping from drive to lowest gear at 45 MPH and is causing the vehicle to stall. Consumer will take vehicle to dealer for inspection. This has happened on several occasions. This times Chrysler said it was the speed sensor and this last time the consumer it was told the solenoid. The car stalled on several occasions while on the highway doing speed in excess of 60 MPH.”

   NHTSA complaint #10106722, filed 2005-02, 131,161 miles

   “After removing the ignition key, from parked vehicle it rolled forward down a hill and smashed another vehicle. Vehicle was parked on level ground. The vehicle traveled a city block. The consumer believed the problem started after the recall on floor shifter was performed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10089419, filed 2004-10, 114,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the steering rack, tie rods and front-end bushings is worth the cost on this model year, and checking for fuel odors and whether the fuel-injection recall repair was done helps gauge near-term work. Records of prior steering, brake and transmission repairs are useful to ask 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.