1999 Chrysler LHS Problems
- Complaints
- 165filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles, 63 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 4campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 19 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Chrysler LHS (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often write about steering problems — tie rods, rack and pinion, and sudden loss of assist — followed by hood molding trim that comes loose at highway speed. Other recurring reports involve the speed control/transmission interaction, dashboard and gauge electrical faults, and cracked dashes around the passenger air bag. Many complaints come in between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 miles, with a number of steering reports at much lower mileage.
- Steering
Steering loss, tie rod and rack problems
- 22 complaints (13%)
- median 73,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2001–2009
Complaints describe steering that pulls, clunks, feels slack, or suddenly stops responding — often when turning left, sometimes with the wheel still turning normally. Several owners say tie rods or rack and pinion parts were replaced, and some report bolts sheared below the steering gear. According to the complaints, dealers sometimes could not reproduce the problem or charged a diagnostic fee without finding a cause. Reported from about 22,000 to 135,000 miles, with several cases under 50,000 miles.
What to check: Have the tie rods, ball joints and steering rack inspected before buying, and test slow full-lock turns both ways for clunks, popping or uneven effort.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Rack and pinion and outer tie rod failure on my 1999 Chrysler LHS. I purchased the car approx 30 months ago and it only had 3000 miles or 5400 kilometers. The steering failed on august 10 2008. I was pulling out of the driveway and the steering froze and I could not with all of my strength turn the wheels to the left.....when it failed, the car only had 34,544 kilometers and now has 35000. I have had it repaired at a local garage at the approx. Cost of 1400.00 dollars. …”
NHTSA complaint #10243283, filed 2008-09, 22,000 miles“There were no events that LED to the failure. I was leaving work one day and I heard a loud pop from the front end of my car and then I lost power steering only when turning to the right. I took it to a dealership to have them look at it and they said I needed a steering rack, gear and a new tie rod. I had all replaced at 55,000 miles. The car now has 65,000 miles on it and it is still not right it pops when turning in either direction forward or reverse and today 7/27/08 the steering pump went out.”
NHTSA complaint #10235952, filed 2008-07, 55,000 miles - Body and structure
Hood molding trim breaks loose while driving
- 16 complaints (10%)
- median 60,000 mi at 5.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
- filed 1998–2010
Owners describe the plastic molding along the front of the hood detaching at highway speed and striking the windshield or wipers; in some accounts the driver swerved or left the road after being startled. Complaints say dealers did not repair it or that the manufacturer declined assistance. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 80,000 miles, at highway speeds.
What to check: Look for loose or missing fasteners and cracked clips on the hood molding, and push gently on the trim to see whether it is still secured.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“A piece of trim located on the hood in front of the windshield came off while driving 65 MPH and commenced to flap against the windshield. Consumer had to pull over to remove the loose trim. Dealer was not notified.”
NHTSA complaint #10092857, filed 2004-12, 79,000 miles“Hood molding broke free from it's mounting clasps at highway speed and flew off. It hit the windshield and if there would have been a car behind us there could of been an accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10066197, filed 2004-04, 50,000 miles - Electrical system
Dashboard gauges and seat moving on their own
- 19 complaints (12%)
- median 69,450 mi at 5.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2000–2016
Owners report all dashboard gauges quitting at once, warning lights flickering, and power seats adjusting themselves while driving. Some complaints link this to wiring or computer module faults; repairs described include replacing a computer module, while others say the problem was never resolved. Typically reported between about 43,000 and 130,000 miles.
What to check: During a test drive watch for flickering dash lights or a self-moving seat, and ask whether any control modules or wiring have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I am concerned there may be a problem with my wiring in my 1999 Chrysler LHS, I have replaced fuses, two radiator fans, and my heat on my seat does not work, my climate control panel will not work and a friend of mine that owns a 300m had similar problems, I think there should be a recall to check the wire harness.”
NHTSA complaint #10010901, filed 2003-03, 107,000 miles“Occasionally while driviig with headlights on, (day or night) all dash related lights just start flickering. It will continue sporadically for some brief or extended period of time (less than a minute or as long as 10 to 15 minutes). My concern is a possible short exists which could either shut down the electrical system or create an electrical fire in the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10007599, filed 2003-02, 43,000 miles - Vehicle speed control
Speed control module and unexpected acceleration
- 21 complaints (13%)
- median 27,956 mi at 5.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
- 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1998–2006
Complaints describe vehicles surging forward when shifting from park, sudden acceleration with the brake applied, and speed control module failures that leave the transmission stuck in a low gear. One owner reports a throttle body pin found missing after an incident; others say the dealer could not explain the behavior. Reported from very low mileage up to about 70,000 miles, often during low-speed maneuvering or shifting.
What to check: Ask whether the speed control and throttle linkage have been serviced, and check that the throttle cable and linkage move freely and return fully.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Speed control/transaxle. 2nd occurrence. 1st with 98 chrylser concorde. 2nd with this past saturday, 3-22-03. When the speed control module goes out, you are left with only 1st and reverse. According to the service tech at hemet Chrysler, it happens more than it should. If it goes out while at highway speeds, it immediately shifts the car into 1st and you almost come to an abrupt halt. No accident, but it could result in one in heavy traffic and would probably hit in the rear with the sudden deceleration in speed.”
NHTSA complaint #10010970, filed 2003-03, 64,000 miles“While driving at 70 pmph vehicle's speed suddenly dropped to 35 MPH, and that was as fast as the vehicle would go. The speed sensor had to be replaced at consumer's expense.”
NHTSA complaint #10089729, filed 2004-09, 27,956 miles
Buying note. Prioritize a steering and suspension inspection on this model year and check the hood trim and dashboard closely, since those are the areas owners write about most. Records showing recent steering, tie rod, or electrical work are worth asking about.
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.
NHTSA recorded 165 consumer complaints for the 1999 Chrysler LHS. 63 of the complaints include a mileage, and 29% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles. Of all complaints, 29 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 39 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 26 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Vehicle speed control25 15%
- Steering22 13%
- Electrical system19 12%
- Body and structure16 9.7%
- Air bags14 8.5%
- Engine cooling14 8.5%
- Transmission and drivetrain11 6.7%
- Exterior lighting10 6.1%
- Equipment9 5.5%
Also reported: Seats (9), Wheels (9), Suspension (7), Tires (7), Brakes (6), Latches, locks and linkages (4), Other or unknown (4), Seat belts (4), Fuel system (3), Interior lighting (3), Electronic stability control (1).
Example complaints
Vehicle speed control: “I tried for over a mile to disengage the cruise control with the switch and brake. I started on level land, went uphill and down and had the brake to the floorboard. There were toll booths with a number of occupied vehicles in line. To avoid injurying or killing someone, I left the roadway hitting barriers and unoccupied vehicles. My wife suffered numerous bruising and bent glasses. I suffered a broken strernum and have developed fluid in my lungs and possibly around my heart. My prognosis is uncertain at this time.”
NHTSA complaint #750890, filed 2001-08Steering: “Me and my wife have a 1999 Chrysler LHS with some serious steering issues!!! I was told to notify you do to the extensive reports of prior lh series steering issues. We have owned the car for one year, it has 91,000 miles on it. When you turn to the left past center the steering almost completely stops working. This is very dangerous when driving. We have taken it to the dealer and explained the situation. They said they had to drive it for $45, which is a joke considering you could barely turn it left just sitting there. …”
NHTSA complaint #10270157, filed 2009-05, 91,464 milesElectrical system: “Takata recall I have just spent $435 to replace the starter assembly in my Chrysler. Had just purchased a new battery. The car only has 60k miles on it. Has there been any recalls for this issue? That seems fairly low miles for a starter replacement.”
NHTSA complaint #10839537, filed 2016-03, 59,999 milesBody and structure: “The piston that holds the truck lid open or up failed. The trunk on this model is very heavy, so it dropped very fast. My wife was unloading some luggage and only just was able to pull her arm out as the lid fell. Had it hit her, it would have broken her arm or possible severed a hand or fingers.”
NHTSA complaint #10100314, filed 2004-11, 55,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
29% of the 63 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,798 and 80,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1999 Chrysler LHS version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHS FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 16 | 24 | 19 | $3,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 04V021000Jan 13, 2004Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shiftCovers: Chrysler LHS 1993–1999, Dodge Intrepid 1993–1999, Chrysler Concorde 1993–1999 +6 more
On certain passenger vehicles, the floor shifter ignition-park interlock may fail and allow the shifter to be moved out of the park position with the key removed. An inoperative interlock may also allow the key to be removed when the shifter has not been…
- 03V035000Feb 5, 2003Seats › Front assembly › ReclinerCovers: Chrysler LHS 1998–2001, Dodge Intrepid 1998–2002, Chrysler 300M 1998–2002 +1 more
On certain passenger vehicles, seat back recliner bolt breakage can occur resulting in the seat back reclining unexpectedly.
- 01V119000Apr 11, 2001Seat belts › Front › RetractorCovers: Chrysler LHS 1999, Dodge Caravan 1999, Dakota 1999 +6 more
Vehicle description: certain van, wagon, pickup trucks, passenger and sport utility vehicles, fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the front seat belt retractor may not comply with the requirements of the standard.
- 00V034000Feb 4, 2000Seat beltsCovers: Chrysler LHS 1999–2000, 300M 1999–2000, Dodge Intrepid 1999–2000 +2 more
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The seat belt shoulder height adjustable turning loop (atl) top mounting bolt was inadequately manufactured.
Recall details for the 1999 Chrysler LHS → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 26 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10229256Jul 22, 2020Electrical system. KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the…
- 10221686Jul 22, 2020Electrical system. KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC level part number. The "AB" NIC level will not program to these platforms. For all other platforms, if the…
- 10175735Apr 22, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty…
- 10220101Nov 20, 2019Body and structure. Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
- 10220099Nov 20, 2019Body and structure. Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.
- 10220097Nov 20, 2019Equipment, Body and structure. Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
- 10169249Nov 20, 2019Equipment, Body and structure. Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.
- 10169247Nov 20, 2019Equipment. Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.
- 10169245Nov 20, 2019Body and structure. Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.
- 10121832Nov 16, 2016Equipment. Wiper If Mopar OE wipers are unavailable, the below alternatives can be offered instead. 05066964A$ = WBRW0011A$ 05066973A$ = WB000019A$ or WBF00019A$ 05096134A$ = WB000027A$ or WBF00028A$…
Other model years of the Chrysler LHS
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 22 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
| 2000 | 83 | 58,337 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 165 | 60,000 | 4 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 79 | 121,454 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 135 | 99,560 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 148 | 106,985 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 324 | 125,000 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Chrysler LHS model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Chrysler LHS?
Owners of this model year most often write about steering problems — tie rods, rack and pinion, and sudden loss of assist — followed by hood molding trim that comes loose at highway speed. The issues reported most often: Steering loss, tie rod and rack problems; Hood molding trim breaks loose while driving; Dashboard gauges and seat moving on their own.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 Chrysler LHS have?
NHTSA recorded 165 consumer complaints for the 1999 Chrysler LHS as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1999 Chrysler LHS is reported most often?
Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 25 complaints (15% of the total), followed by steering with 22.
Has the 1999 Chrysler LHS been recalled?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1999 Chrysler LHS get?
The EPA rates the 1999 Chrysler LHS (LHS, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Chrysler LHS reported?
Among the 63 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,000 miles and the middle half falls between 40,798 and 80,000 miles; 29% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.