FaultScore

1996 Chrysler Cirrus transmission problems

24 of the 203 complaints about the 1996 Chrysler Cirrus are about the transmission — 12% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 109,732 miles.

C

24

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 11 45.8%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 6 25.0%
Driveline 3 12.5%
Power Train 1 4.2%
Manual Transmission 1 4.2%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl) 1 4.2%
Axle Assembly 1 4.2%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Chrysler Cirrus year

1995 71 54.6%
1996 24 18.5%
1997 11 8.5%
1998 11 8.5%
1999 13 10.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 87,500 miles Casper, WY Crash

POWER TRAIN

MY 1996 CIRRUS WITH ONLY 87+++ MILES SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTS WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. THIS IS A RECENT PURCHASE. I LIVE IN WYOMING AND IT IS WINTER TIME WITH ICY ROAD CONDITIONS NEARLY EVERYWHERE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO US ON THE HIGHWAY, IT CAUSED US TO SPIN OFF OF THE ROAD. LUCKILY WE WERE UNHURT. THIS AUTOMOBILE IS UNSAFE!!! THE LIMP MODE APPEARS TO BE ACTIVATED DUE TO FAULTY/LOW QUALITY PARTS BY CHRYSLER. WHY ISN"T THIS RECALLED??? I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THIS CAR. I WILL SUE CHRYSLER IF WE HAVE ANOTHER INCIDENT!!! THIS INCIDENT OCCURED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT ABOUT 50 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10821703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 127,505 miles Indianapolis, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HTTP://NHTHQNWWS111.ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/DOCSERVLET/ARTEMIS/PUBLIC/RECALLS/1998/V/RC-98V183-NN.PDF RECALL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY MADE IT WORSE!

NHTSA complaint #10239936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 127,505 miles Indianapolis, IN

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

HTTP://NHTHQNWWS111.ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/ACMS/DOCSERVLET/ARTEMIS/PUBLIC/RECALLS/1998/V/RC-98V183-NN.PDF RECALL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY MADE IT WORSE!

NHTSA complaint #10239936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,000 miles Williamston, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE THREE RECALLS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH WERE NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY. THE FUEL PUMP RECALL #06E091000, HOOD ATTACHMENTS #97V095000, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH #98V183000 WERE THE 3 RECALLS. ALL 3 RECALLS WERE COMPLETED BUT THE PROBLEMS WERE NOT CORRECTED, AND THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT WILLING TO CORRECT THESE ISSUES FURTHER UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10174803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,960 miles Whittier, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SHIFTER COULD BE TAKEN OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A NHTSA RECALL, #98V183000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10174575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,455 miles Front Royal, VA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

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

NHTSA complaint #10032324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Champlin, MN

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN BROKE OFF AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING.

NHTSA complaint #563114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grand Rapids, MI

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

A LINK WITHIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM MALFUNTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO ENGAGE IN PARK OR DRIVE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8004690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gulfport, MS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE 'CHANGED GEARS' WHILE DRIVING ALONG A MAJOR HIGHWAY, AS IF IT SLIPPED INTO PARK OR REVERSE. THE TIRES BEGAN TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE RPM AND ENGINE WAS RAISED. MANAGED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE MAIN ROAD TO AVOID BEING HIT FROM THE REAR BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TURNED ENGINE OFF, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, AND RESTARTED CAR. PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT BEYOUND 2ND GEAR. MECHANIC DOES NOT RECOGNIZE 'CODE' AND STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REBUILT. THANK GOD, I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR (I WAS HEADED TO SCHOOL TO PICK UP MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER), AND COULD MANAGE TO GET IT OFF OF THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND OUT OF HEAVY TRAFFIC TO AVOID A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND POSIBLE FATALITIES.

NHTSA complaint #758197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Champlin, MN

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

THE DIFFERENTIAL PIN BROKE OFF AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING.

NHTSA complaint #563114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Durham, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

POSSIBLE INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE IN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAD FILED CLAIM WITH THE OTHER VEHICLE'S INSURANCE.THE SUBROGATION SPECIALIST JACQUELINE MARTIN ATTACHED THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #562344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saco, MA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS ,CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK THE VEHICLE'S RPM RACES UP AND DOWN WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE. WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED, THE VEHICLE GOES FORWARD ON ITS OWN. THE A/C FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION REVS AND APPEARS IT'S GOING TO BLOW UP. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX ALL OF THE ABOVE. SOME OF IT TWICE OR MORE.

NHTSA complaint #875291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roanoke Rapids, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

A WEEK AGO WHILE DRIVING AT 40 CONSUMER FELT LIKE CAR WAS DOWN SHIFTING, RPM'S WOULD REV UP, BUT CONSUMER COULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 40 MPH. ON 14TH OF SEPTEMBER, WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE CAR DOWN SHIFTED. CONSUMER SAID GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT.

NHTSA complaint #870602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bosque Farms, NM

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REBUILT AT 42,534 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN 800 MILES LATER. EVENTHOUGH I HAD REPORTED AN EARLIER PROBLEM ON TRANS (WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY), THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS FAILURE DUE TO THE FACT I WAS 6,000 MILES OVER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #714608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Itasca, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DEALER REPLACED FAILED COMPONETS. THE STARTER TOOK THREE TRIES TO FIX IN 1997. IT WAS INTERMENTENT.

NHTSA complaint #712076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

N. Chelmsford, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) AND THE SOLENOID PACK. HOWEVER, IT IS APPARENT THAT THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF IS FAULTY, AS IT MAKES A "MOANING" SOUND AT WHAT I PRESUME ARE THE SHIFT POINTS. DEALER DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE AS A PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH IT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. ORIGINAL DIAGNOSED PROBLEM, FAILURE OF THE TCM, WOULD CAUSE THE AUTO TO GO INTO "LIMP-IN" MODE. (AUTO DEFAULTS TO SECOND GEAR, WHICH WOULD HAPPEN AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN STOPPED.)

NHTSA complaint #710128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Durham, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RECALL FAILURE ON THE IGNITION PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM RESULTING IN VEHICLE ROLLING DOWN A HILL AND HITTING A TREE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #546083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Tonawanda, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #705364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newark, DE

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CAR WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND AT STOP. THE CAR ALSO JERKS INTO GEAR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, EACH TIME THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LAST INSTANCE OF THIS OCCURRING WAS FEBRUARY 5TH 1999. WHILE PULLING INTO MY DEVELOPMENT AT A SPEED OF 35MPH THE CAR JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE TO MY DRIVEWAY. MY CONCERN IS THAT MY FAMILY WAS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND WE HAD JUST COME OFF THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #702995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Victorville, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

THE GEAR SHIFT CAN MOVE WITHOUT THE RELEASE BUTTON APPLIED. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL.

NHTSA complaint #832261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Royalton, VT Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

PARKED VEHICLE. GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE WHEN IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. DRIVER KNOCKED DOWN BY DOOR. VEHICLE HIT TREE IN WOODS AFTER OWNER GOT LOOSE. EMERGENCY BRAKES NOT ON AT TIME. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #831897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chino, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH, IT WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR; 2ND TIME AT 55MPH POPPED OUT OF GEAR; WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT TO NEUTRAL;3RD TIME ABOUT 30MPH, POPPED INTO LOW GEAR. 1ST TIME COOLED OFF; 2ND/3RD HAD TOWED TO DEALER & WHO WILL ORDER PARTS AFTER CHECKING VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #813953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Savannah, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #801955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Montville, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTO WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT EVEN THOUGH THE MANUAL STATES THAT IT SHOULD DOWN SHIFT.

NHTSA complaint #984203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Chrysler Cirrus problems

← Full 1996 Chrysler Cirrus report