1996 Chrysler CONCORDE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
120 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 120 complaints (22.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 41 | 34.2% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 10.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 27 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 14 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 27; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 14; Steering: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 73 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 22 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1996: 5; 2000: 22; 2001: 17; 2002: 11; 2003: 23; 2004: 11; 2005: 7; 2006: 10; 2007: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 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 10004590 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
UNDER VEHICLE WAS WATER WITH TRANSMISSION FLUIDS, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY DEALER TECHNICIAN ENGINE PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005041 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)
ON 10/11/96 I PURCHASED A NEW CHRYSLER CONCORDE FROM A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER HERE IN MONTGOMERY, AL. (VIN [XXX]) ON JAN 2001, I REPORTED TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER ABOUT THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WAS POPPING AND CRACKING WHEN YOU TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS TIE ROD BUSHINGS AND LOWER ARM. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT STRAIGHT ANYMORE WHEN DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE REPAIRS. (SOMEWHAT BETTER @$577.00 / MILEAGE WAS 36430) ON 31 JAN 03, I TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SER…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,758 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007880 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT IN 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE IS VERY COSTLY AND PROBLEMATIC. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT SUCH AN INHERENT BAD DESIGN I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, LET ALONE ANY CHRYSLER PRODUCT. MY PARTICULAR UNIT HAS FAILED AT THE LOW MILEAGE OF 110,000 AND BECAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO FAILURE! FURTHERMORE, DURING THE REPAIR PROCESS MANY OTHER COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE REQUIRED TEAR DOWN TO ACCESS THE FAILED STEERING RACK COMPONENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE STEERING RACK FAILURE, THE FUEL RAIL GASKETS ALSO FAILED IN LEAKAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008682 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS INFORMED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE SEALS FOR THE FUEL RAIL, THE MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED, THE MECHANIC STATED THE ORIGINAL SEALS WERE STILL ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010879 · 2003-03-22 (March 22, 2003)
I USE TO OWN A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LXI I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS MY WHEELS FALLING OFF, LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP STATED THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD AT ALL! MY ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 45 M.P.H., ALL POWER TO THE CAR DIED. I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO SEVERAL CONCORDE OWNERS AND THIS IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH THESE. I STOP MAKING PAYMENT FOR THIS CAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I BROUGHT IT FROM WOULD NOT FIX IT WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I FEAR FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS THIS CAR NOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,555 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012096 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012096 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015444 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO DOWN SHIFT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020588 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
VERY DANGEROUS! WHEN DRIVING MY 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE THAT MY DAUGHTER USES TO GET TO SCHOOL, I NOTICED THE FRONT END SHAKING, AND A VERY LOUD THUMPING NOISE WHEN STARTING AND SLOWING DOWN. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I DID A VISUAL INSPECTION UNDER THE CAR AND SAW THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD GOOD TREAD EXCEPT ON THE INNER EDGE, WHERE THE METAL BELT WAS SHOWING THROUGH. THIS WAS THE SAME SIDE WHERE MY MECHANIC JUST CHANGED THE STEERING END AFTER FINDING THE ENTIRE RUBBER END OF THE JOINT GONE. ONLY THE METAL BUSHING REMAINED. I TOOK THE CAR TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020588 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 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 ↗98V184000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Reported: 1998-08-06 (August 6, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.5L ENGINES. THE FUEL INJECTION DELIVERY SYSTEM CAN LEAK FUEL FROM SOME OF THE SEALING O-RINGS OR FROM HAIR LINE CRACKS IN THE THERMOSET FUEL INJECTION RAIL.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL O-RINGS AND REINFORCE THE OUTLET (PASSENGER) SIDE FUEL RAIL. VEHICLES SHOWING FUEL LEAKAGE ON THE OUTLET FUEL RAIL MUST HAVE THE OUTLET RAIL REPLACED WHICH INCLUDES CHANGING THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS OR FROM A CRACKED FUEL LINE, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗