1997 Chrysler CIRRUS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
93,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 49 complaints (12.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 20.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 10.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 8.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Tires:Sidewall: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 33 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 7; 2002: 5; 2003: 7; 2004: 5; 2005: 7; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008088 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE CAR WOULD RUN ROUGH WHEN SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THEN I BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING, AND ALSO OUTSIDE THE CAR AFTER GETTING OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC. HE STATED THAT THE FUEL RAIL SEAL IS LEAKING AT THE FUEL INJECTOR AND THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS FREQUENTLY BEFORE. THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON 1996 - 1999 AND SOME 2000 DODGE CARAVANS, BUT WHEN I …
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019036 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT MY 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS STOPPED RUNNING AND THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021783 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. A NOISE CAME FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARTED FROM THE WHEEL. THE TIRE WAS A COOPER DISCOVERY#HT P23575R15. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022822 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
BRAKE HOSE BLEWOUT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE HOSE BLEWOUT AND CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE FAILURE WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR, NO BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE OR ERRATIC BRAKING. FLUID COVERED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND CALIPER. THE DEALER NOTICED EVIDENCE THAT THE BRAKE HOSE RUBBED ON THE CALIPER. *SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 115,030 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032418 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
THE TIE RODS WERE WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037788 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)
CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVEWAY WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT. *AK SINCE PURCHASE, THERE HAD BEEN THREE BLOW OUTS IN THE SIDEWALLS OF EACH TIRE, FOLLOWED BY A NOTICEABLE BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY (KUMHO TIRE) *SCC *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037907 · 2003-08-28 (August 28, 2003)
DEALER HAD TO REPLACE DRIVER'S DOOR KNOB LATCH MECHANISM. CURRENTLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR KNOB LATCH MECHANISM BROKE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064497 · 2004-04-04 (April 4, 2004)
THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS RACK AND PINION, TIRE RODS, FUEL SYSTEM, BUT THE MOST RECENT IS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IT STALLS OUT ANY TIME YOU DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064497 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V021000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V095000 · Structure:Body:Hood:Hinge And Attachments
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V201000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V183000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗