1995 Eagle Talon Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe front suspension ball joint failures, with the front of the car dropping or a wheel separating, and many of those reports reference the ball joint recall campaigns. A second large group covers transfer case and transmission failures, including lockup while the car is moving. Fuel odour and leaks, engines that cut out while driving, and ABS faults also come up repeatedly in the sampled complaints.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint separation

   • 33 complaints (16%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 9.1 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2011

   Complaints describe the front lower ball joint or control arm letting go, sometimes at low speed over railroad tracks or in a turn, leaving the front corner of the car on the ground and in some cases the wheel or axle separated from the vehicle. Several owners say the joint had been inspected or replaced under a recall earlier and that only one side was done, then the other side failed later. Others report the dealer would not replace the second joint free of charge or did not have the part available, and a few mention uneven or rapid front tyre wear before the failure. The complaints that list mileage range from about 57,000 to 150,000 miles, and several failures happened after a recall inspection or after only one side had been replaced.

   Recall 00V421002Recall 99V066003

   What to check: Ask whether both front lower ball joints and control arms were replaced under the recall campaigns, not just one side, and look for a cracked or missing rubber boot. Have a shop check for play in the joints and for uneven front tyre wear before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My complaint is in regards to a serious defect/crash hazard in suspension: front:control arm: lower ball joint defect that has been recalled (id 00v421002, dec 15, 2000) last week my daughter had just got off the interstate and her right front ball joint broke completely off with no warning or sign of wear. This also caused the axle to pull away completely. I got the car fixed, and believe it or not the left side let go today, again just as she got off the interstate on her way home from school. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10016190, filed 2003-04, 130,000 miles

   “I own a 95 Eagle Talon and brought it to pro jeep Eagle in early summer. The staff replaced the drivers side but stated the passenger side was not in need for replacement. I disagreed. This morning as I pulled out of my driveway and into the street, before getting 100 feet my front end fell to the ground. The ball joint broke. I called the dealership and they said they were not responsible, again I disagreed. This could have been a wrongful death. Auto recall date: apr 05, 1999 vehicle component: suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10137919, filed 2005-09, 150,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transfer case lockup and transmission failure

   • 33 complaints (16%)
   • median 78,770 mi at 11.1 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2015

   Owners describe the transfer case locking or seizing while driving, sometimes with a loud bang, followed by the wheels locking or the car dragging and needing a tow. Several say the transfer case was replaced under a recall and then failed again, and that the dealer or manufacturer declined a second free repair. Other complaints describe the automatic transmission refusing to engage a gear, slipping, or the car stalling when a gear is selected. Reports in the sample run from about 25,000 miles to over 250,000 miles, at both low and high mileage, and several describe the failure happening without warning while driving.

   Recall 98V0690021 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for paperwork showing whether the transfer case recall work was performed and when, and whether the unit has been replaced since. Check for leaks or whine from the transfer case and make sure the car engages every gear cleanly on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 95 Eagle Talon tsi and I have a transfer case noise and leaky transfer case it is part of the transfer case recall 780. Chrysler says the recall is one time only everything I have read says safety recalls are for the life of the vehicle. I contacted a dealership and they said there was no such recall. I am afraid it is going to lock up after reading about it online”

   NHTSA complaint #10788043, filed 2015-11, 20 miles

   “My wheels locked up while I was doing about 60 MPH. It caused me to swerve into the other lane. Thank god there was not any traffic coming or someone could of been hurt. The mechanic said its the transfer case, which is already got a recall but there is a thing that all talons, eclipses, and lasers get from their years of 90-98, have a thing called crankwalk which can cause accidents also but chrysler or mitsubishi wont take responsibility for.”

   NHTSA complaint #10129998, filed 2005-07, 55,144 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks from tank or lines

   • 19 complaints (9%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2015

   Complaints describe a strong fuel smell inside or around the car, fuel pooling under a parked vehicle, and in some cases fuel draining from the tank while driving. Owners say the cause was traced to a cracked rubber fuel line, the sending unit or pump gaskets, or work done under the fuel system recall that they believe was not completed correctly. One owner reports a fire when starting the car after fuel pump failure, and another reports an inaccurate fuel gauge after recall repairs. Only a few of these complaints list mileage, ranging from about 11,000 to about 113,000 miles, and the smell was often noticed while driving or after the car was parked.

   Recall 96V158002

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank gasket and pump recall work was done and by whom, and check for a fuel smell around the filler neck, under the rear of the car, and inside the cabin. Confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly at a known fill level.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have reason to beleve that my fuel system recall was not done/ or not done right. I have read the hole report about it, and in the report it says that the alignment marks must remain lined up before, durning and after installing the pump and gauge unit. Do not allow the pump or gauge unit to rotate during or after installation into the tank, resulting in inaccurate fuel gauge reading, which would require this repair to be repeated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10052513, filed 2004-01, 113,000 miles

   “Vehicle was parked inside of the parking lot, and consumer noticed a quart of gas on the pavement. Also, felt a smell of gas coming from inside of car gas tank was recalled two years ago, and dealer installed a brand new fueltank .”

   NHTSA complaint #848306, filed 1999-11
4. 4
   Brakes

   ABS warning light and loss of ABS assist

   • 14 complaints (7%)
   • median 30,958 mi at 6.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2015

   Owners describe the ABS light staying on and, in some cases, the brakes not engaging as expected during a sudden stop, with the wheels locking. One complaint reports the ABS hydraulic unit needing replacement at a significant cost shortly after purchase, and another says the dealer was unable to resolve the fault. Complaints also describe pulsing brake pedals and steering wheel vibration traced to worn front pads and rotors. Mileage in these complaints ranges from about 40,000 to about 50,000 miles where recorded, and several describe the light coming on well before any other brake symptom.

   Recall 94V149001

   What to check: Check that the ABS light comes on at start-up and goes out after a few seconds, and ask whether the ABS hydraulic unit or modulator has ever been replaced. Have the brakes inspected for rotor condition and pedal pulsing on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this car used last year in july with 36,000 miles on it. I have had numberous problems with my ABS brakes. The latest is the brake light was coming on and when I took it into the garage for repair, they said they had to replace the modulator anti lock brake system at a cost of over $1600. I had the work done, but how could a car I have had less than 1 year require such intensive and expensive repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #710470, filed 1999-08

   “I would just like to say that I have had more problems than anyone could imagine with this car. It has been in the shop over 20 times. I have had the starter replaced, water pump, altenator, brake pads replaced twice and the rotors for warping as well as one of the calipers. I have also had more than 4 batteries gone out a host of electrical problems from the door locks burning out and being replaced at least twice the intrument cluster lights going out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #715932, filed 1999-12
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Engine cuts out or stalls while driving

   • 9 complaints (4%)
   • typically at 6.0 yrs old
   • filed 1997–2003

   Owners describe the engine shutting off at speed or dropping power without warning, sometimes with all the dash lights coming on and the car restarting afterwards, sometimes leaving them stopped on the road. Others report intermittent stalling and rough idle when stopped, with the check engine light coming on and no stored trouble code. One complaint says a dealer recommended a throttle body replacement under a service bulletin for erratic idle, and another describes the dealer declining to investigate further. Most of these complaints do not record mileage; the one that does lists about 97,000 miles, and the stalling is described as intermittent rather than tied to a single age or mileage point.

   What to check: Ask whether any diagnosis was done for intermittent stalling and whether the throttle body or idle-related service bulletin work was applied. On a test drive, watch for a fluctuating or high idle and for a check engine light that comes and goes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Intermittent - while stopped, vehicle vibrates/starts to stall and stops - check engine light comes on. Car will restart instantly and run o.k. (light goes out). Intermittently while driving down road check engine light comes on and engines hesitates - will clear up or stall. Diagnostic trouble code has never listed a code in the system. On 05/21/2002 dodge dealer recommended throttle body replacement pursuant to service bulletin no. …”

   NHTSA complaint #762508, filed 2002-05

   “Consumer states while traveling at 65 MPH, vehicle suddenly started to slow down. Consumer stateed had to pull car over. Consumer feels lucky that vehicle was not on a highway. Please provide any further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #8010421, filed 2002-05

Buying note. On this model year the front ball joints and the transfer case are the areas owners write about most, so paperwork showing whether the recall work was done on both sides and on the transfer case matters more than the odometer. A pre-purchase inspection covering suspension play, transfer case leaks, brake and ABS function, and any fuel smell is worth the cost.

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.