1998 Chrysler CIRRUS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 49 complaints (16.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 18.4% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 8.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 6.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Electrical System: 8; Engine: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Power Train: 3; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 3; Suspension: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 28 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 | 8 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 8; 2001: 6; 2002: 5; 2004: 6; 2005: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2019: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10059552 · 2004-02-23 (February 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WOBBLED VIOLENTLY. DEALER DETERMINED LUGS NUTS BROKE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088761 · 2004-08-29 (August 29, 2004)
I HAVE A 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. IT HAS DEVELOPED RUST ALONG THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE HOOD, FOR A CAR THAT IS SIX YEARS OLD THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091425 · 2004-09-07 (September 7, 2004)
WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UPON PARKING. THE VEHICLE JUMPED OVER A PARKING BUMP AND SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092833 · 2004-09-20 (September 20, 2004)
REAR AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099608 · 2004-11-08 (November 8, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A POPPING NOISE CAME FROM BOTH FRONT WHEELS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103794 · 2004-12-14 (December 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105694 · 2005-01-04 (January 4, 2005)
WE HAVE TWO OF YOUR1998 CIRUS. THEY BOTH HAD WARRANTIES. MY CAR HAD THE PAINT SHIELD, AND NOW, AND NOW FOR 3 YEARS, THEY BOTH HAVE RUST ON THE HOODS. I JUST FOUND THIS SITE, BUT, HAD TAKEN THE CARS TO THE DEALERS AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX EITHER CAR.*AK THANKS FOR ANY HELP, GREGG. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129963 · 2005-08-18 (August 18, 2005)
DT: ON JULY 3 THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HIRED AN INVESTIGATOR AND THEY FOUND IT STARTED ON THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE BOTH CALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN USE FOR FOUR HOURS. THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE UPPER FRONT OF THE LEFT DOOR TRIM PANEL ADJACENT TO THE DASH. THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT THE LOCATION OF THE POWER MIRROR AND LOCK SWITCHES ON THE UPPER FRONT OF THE DOOR TRIM PANEL. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED HIGH RESISTAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,771 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129963 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 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 ↗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 ↗99V244000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1999-09-15 (September 15, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TUBE CAN CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP AND WEAR A HOLE IN IT.
Consequence: DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. 843. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE TUBE COULD LEAK, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ONE-HALF OF THE DIAGONALLY SPLIT BRAKING SYSTEM, AND RESULTING IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBES FOR VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CLAMP. IF THE TUBE SHOWS EVIDENCE OF CONTACT, IT WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO EVIDENCE OF CONTACT EXISTS, THE TUBE WILL BE FASTENED WITH A CLIP.
NHTSA campaign record ↗