1996 Chrysler CIRRUS: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, DEALER NOTIFIED SAID WIRING NEAR CONTROLS WAS THE CAUSE. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001521 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK COLLAPSED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023509 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THERE WAS A EXPLOSION DUE TO THE TRANS AXLE LOOSENING AND BUSTING THE TRANSMISSION CASE. *AK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED. *PH *JB *JB *PH *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 89,455 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032324 at NHTSA ↗

PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL "KNUCKLE" BROKE OFF WHERE SUPPORT ARM TO VEHICLE ATTACHES. THIS CAUSES REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO LOOSE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT. REAR WHEEL IS THEN FREE TO TWIST IN ALL DIRECTIONS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS CAN CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. THE "KNUCKLE" IS CAST ALUMINUM AND HAS NO MOVING PARTS WHICH CAN WEAR OUT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037217 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGT A CAR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO USED AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR ALREADY. FROM THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON TO THE BATTERY LIGHT. THE 3RD DAY I HAD THE CAR IT DHAD TO GO IN THE SHOP. I FEEL THE PROBLEM IT HAD IT WAS THEIR WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I DID NOT HAVE THEW CAR LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE CAR IS A 96 CHRSYLER CIRRUS . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051572 at NHTSA ↗

LOSS OF ABS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL LEVELS OF BRAKING, I.E. HEAVY, MEDIUM AND MINIMAL BRAKING. WHEN LOSS OF ABS HAPPENS, THE PEDAL DECENDS TO THE FLOOR AND A BUZZ/RACHETING NOISE IS HEARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS LEAD TO POTENTIALLY 4 MAJOR ACCIDENTS. TO SOLVE THE LOSS OF BRAKING, DRIVER HAS TO "RE-PUMP" THE PEDAL AFTER LOSS HAS OCCURED. (NO MIL/SCAN TOOL CODE RECORDED) . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059998 at NHTSA ↗

LEAKING EVAPORATOR. STRONG REFRIDGERANT ODOR COMING FROM HVAC HOUSING. (INSIDE VEHICLE) . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059999 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STALLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. AFTER A FEW TRIES THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. AFTER DRIVING A FEW FEET THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE AGAIN. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT RAINED. WHEN THE WIPERS WERE ON INTERMITTENT THEY WOULD MOVE VERY FAST FOR THAT SPEED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073837 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-01-13 (January 13, 2004)

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 PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 1996-01-11 (January 11, 1996)

IN CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY AND ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED.

Consequence: INADEQUATE SEALING AND RETENTION OF THE PLUG CAN RESULT IN OIL LEAKAGE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN EXPANSION PLUG AND RETAINING BRACKET OVER THE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG.

Reported: 1996-05-02 (May 2, 1996)

CORROSION OF THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT CAN CAUSE THE SOLENOID VALVES TO STICK IN THE OPEN POSITION.

Consequence: IF EITHER FRONT WHEEL VALVE STICKS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWERVE FROM A STRAIGHT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLATE AND SILICONE GREASE INJECTED INTO THE SOLENOID CAVITY TO ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS CONDITION.

Reported: 1996-05-03 (May 3, 1996)

THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAN LEAK BRAKE FLUID DUE TO A DAMAGED DOUBLE LIP REAR PISTON SEAL.

Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN DIMINISHED EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE HALF OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHT(S) WILL SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPAIRMENT PRIOR TO PARTIAL BRAKE SYSTEM LOSS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDR PISTON ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 1997-06-06 (June 6, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING CAN DISENGAGE FROM ITS RETENTION HOLE IF THE HOOD IS SLAMMED SHUT.

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PRIMARY LATCH, THE HOOD WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING WITH A LONGER END HOOK SPRING.

Reported: 1997-11-13 (November 13, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.

Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT END HOUSING COVER SEAL FOR LEAKAGE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE AIR TESTER AND THE RUBBER BOOT WILL BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF THE COVER SEAL LEAKS OR THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL BE REPLACED.

Reported: 1998-08-06 (August 6, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.