2000 Chrysler LHS Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe steering problems — wandering, play in the wheel, clunking, and in some cases loss of power assist — often traced to the rack and pinion, inner tie rods, or pump. A second cluster involves the clip-on trim on the hood and around the windshield working loose and detaching at highway speed, plus power door lock actuators that fail or become noisy. Most reports in the sample came in at moderate mileage, with the steering and trim items often appearing well under 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering wander, play, and rack-and-pinion failure

   • 16 complaints (19%)
   • median 55,075 mi at 6.4 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2012

   Owners describe the car wandering at highway speed and needing constant small corrections, excessive play in the wheel, clunking or squealing when turning, and in some cases a sudden loss of power assist or a steering wheel that would not turn. Complaints frequently say a dealer diagnosed internal looseness in the rack and pinion or worn inner tie rods and replaced the rack, pump, or tie rods. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 100,000 miles, with several at highway speeds.

   What to check: On a test drive, note whether the wheel centers without wander and listen for clunks or squeaks while turning at low speed. Ask for service records showing whether the rack, tie rods, or power steering pump have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2000 LHS power steering problems. Car has 83,000 miles. Good maintenance and upkeep. Steering is sluggish, wandering on highway, clunking noise in steering wheel, intermittent pulling surges in steering wheel, constant corrections, loose feel, afraid of sudden and complete failure - plan to take car to dealer where I know I will be given song and dance. I have owned several cars driven over 100,000 miles never had such an issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10207623, filed 2007-11, 80,000 miles

   “For some time now when I would start my car ,I would hear a banging sound and feel the steering wheel move. I took the car for service and tie rod ends and I think center link were replaced . It was fine for a while and than I started to get a grinding noise when the wheel was turned. Took it in for service and nothing could be found. On feb. 16th 2012 I was leaving work and noticed the grinding and banging had increased. My route home consists mostly of right turns. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10448287, filed 2012-02, 96,500 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Hood and windshield trim molding detaching

   • 7 complaints (8%)
   • median 76,500 mi at 5.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2008

   Complaints describe a plastic trim piece at the rear of the hood, held on by clips, vibrating at highway speed and then lifting off and flying away; some owners also report the windshield or cowl molding coming loose. Several say the dealer called it a common occurrence, quoted a replacement cost, and that a replacement part differed in material or finish from the original. Reported from as low as about 25,000 miles up through 120,000 miles, typically at highway speeds.

   What to check: Push down on the trim strip at the base of the windshield and along the hood edge to check for loose or broken clips, and ask whether any of these pieces have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving my Chrysler 2000 LHS at 65 MPH in florida, the hood molding became detached from my car and landed on the highway behind me. The Chrysler dealer told me that this is a common occurrence and that there is an obvious defect in the design of the hood molding. I called Chrysler to report the incident, but they told me they do not intend to do anything about this safety hazard.”

   NHTSA complaint #10188709, filed 2007-04, 73,000 miles

   “While driving at 70 MPH front molding on hood began to vibrate, the rattle and then the middle lifted off and separated from vehicle. All but two end clips were broken. Replacement part was not identical. It had a different finish. One for the concorde.”

   NHTSA complaint #10150480, filed 2006-02, 25,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a crash or dash cracking

   • 7 complaints (8%)
   • median 125,530 mi at 10.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2018

   Several complaints describe frontal airbags that did not deploy in a collision with substantial front-end damage, and others report cracks in the passenger-side dashboard around the airbag cover. Owners say dealers had little to offer, and one notes the dashboard part is no longer produced. Spread widely, from near-new to over 150,000 miles.

   What to check: Inspect the passenger dashboard for cracks near the airbag cover, and ask whether the airbag system has been scanned for stored fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Headlights are clouding over causing dimness in night and decreased visibility while driving. I have noticed this on other Chrysler products but not other manufacturers. Dealer said there was no recall. I also had a front passenger door actuator replaced. The handle does not operate properly now. Auto shop performed repaired at my expense. The passenger airbag storage is cracked.”

   NHTSA complaint #10135438, filed 2005-09, 75,000 miles

   “I was involved in a three car accident. The car I was driving was a 2000 Chrysler LHS. I t-boned a car resulting in both cars being totaled. The damage to the front of my car was extensive: hood, fenders, front end, and radiator all destroyed. Neither of the two front air bags deployed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10327852, filed 2010-04, 171,000 miles
4. 4
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power door lock actuators failing or noisy

   • 7 complaints (8%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2005

   Owners report door lock actuators that quit working or make a loud squealing or grinding sound when locking, leaving doors that are hard to open manually or with the key. Several complaints mention repeat replacements on more than one door and say the dealer had no lasting fix. Mostly reported under about 50,000 miles, across multiple doors.

   What to check: Lock and unlock every door with the switch and the key, listening for squeals or grinding, and confirm each door still opens manually from inside and outside.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a Chrysler 2000 LHS and have had to have 2 door actuators replaced in my car in the last year. I don't feel this should be a normal occurrance and am concerned about the other 2 doors at this time.”

   NHTSA complaint #10093296, filed 2004-09, 44,600 miles

   “Dt: power door locks went out on both sides. This first began on passenger's side, but now on driver's side. It is difficult to get in and out, and sometimes it is hard to gain entry with the key itself. Only repairs were to power windows on the driver's side, but no repairs to the locks. The passenger rear door lock also failed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10125915, filed 2005-08, 25,000 miles
5. 5
   Tires

   Tire pressure loss from corrosion at wheels and valve stems

   • 11 complaints (13%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2012

   Owners describe repeated slow air loss requiring frequent refills, with tire shops attributing it to corrosion around the valve stems or peeling chrome on the inside of the factory wheels that lets the bead separate. Complaints say the dealer described it as typical for this model and had no remedy; a separate report describes tread separation on original-equipment tires. Reported mostly in the 25,000 to 80,000 mile range, sometimes on original tires.

   What to check: Check tire pressures cold and look at the inside of the rims and the valve stems for corrosion or peeling chrome; ask how often air has needed topping up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Valve stem corrosion leads to air loss in tire and a subsequent flat tire and potential loss of control. I have had this condition occur on every wheel of my vehicle and three times on one wheel. Dealer indicates that this is a typical problem with this vehicle but manufacturer has no remedy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10045868, filed 2003-11, 57,000 miles

   “I have had continuous problems with air pressure loss in my tires. Every tire on my vehicle has been serviced at least once and one tire has been serviced three times for the same problem. The dealer indicates that it is a problem of corrosion around the valve stem causing leak down. The dealer also indicated that they have seen this problem repeatedly on the LHS and 300m. I asked if Chrysler has a fix for this problem and the dealer indicated that there is not a fix. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10062609, filed 2004-03, 59,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the steering rack, tie rods, and front suspension is worthwhile on this model year, along with a check of the hood and windshield trim clips and every power door lock. Service records showing recent steering work are more useful than the odometer alone.

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.