CHRYSLER CIRRUS · model year

1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS

93 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997CHRYSLERCIRRUS carries 93 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 14 crashes, 10 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 CIRRUS is power train:automatic transmission with 6 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (6) and vehicle speed control (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 88 investigation files overlapping the 1997 CIRRUS, and 7 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

93
Complaints
14
Crashes
10
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

93 filings

Crashes Reported

14 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
TIRES:SIDEWALL4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SUSPENSION3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER2
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY2

Recent Complaints

20170918SUSPENSION

AT FIRST I HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE THAT GRADUALLY TURNED INTO A GRINDING NOISE. AFTER HAVING MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE CALIPER REPLACED, THE GRINDING NOISE TURNED INTO A METAL ON METAL GRIND WITH A PECULIAR METAL SMELL WHICH RESULTED IN SOMETHING CEASING UP (ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE HOW TIGHT THE TIRES WERE ROLLING AND HOW TIGHT THE STEERING WAS). IT WAS THE LOWER ARM AND BALL JOINT SEPARATING FROM EACH OTHER, ALL OF THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET AT A SPEED OF 20 MPH, WE WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PROBLEM BETTER WHEN WE JACKED UP THE FRONT END AND REMOVED THE TIRE AND BRAKES ON THE DRIVER FRONT SIDE.

20111011STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR SWUNG OPEN ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO SCREW IN THE BOLT THAT HELD THE LATCH INTO PLACE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE FALLING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20091021FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE LIGHT ON THE ODOMETER GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL STOPPED WORKING. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE ENTIRE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FAILED. THE HORN ALSO BEGAN BLOWING WITHOUT APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN ALONG WITH THE HORN SWITCH. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR THE FUSE FAILED WHEN USING THE HORN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT UPON FURTHER INSPECTION SHE NOTICED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL SINCE NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 45,000 . THE CURRENT WAS 99,877.

Mileage: 99,877

20091021FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE LIGHT ON THE ODOMETER GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL STOPPED WORKING. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE ENTIRE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL FAILED. THE HORN ALSO BEGAN BLOWING WITHOUT APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN ALONG WITH THE HORN SWITCH. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR THE FUSE FAILED WHEN USING THE HORN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT UPON FURTHER INSPECTION SHE NOTICED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL SINCE NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNDER 45,000 . THE CURRENT WAS 99,877.

Mileage: 99,877

20080613UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY CAR IS A RECALL AN LIKE TO KNOW WERE CAN I TAKE IT TO GET FIXED. *TR

20080518CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

OWNED A 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN CAR ACCELERATED TO AN INCREDIBLE SPEED WITHIN SECONDS. CAR SHOT OUT OF DRIVEWAY, ACROSS STREET INTO NEIGHBORS HOME AND GARAGE. CAR HAS INDICATION OF CONTINUED ACCELERATION AFTER IMPACT WITH RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHOWING THE TREADS NO LONGER EXIST. CAR WAS TOTALED AND HOME/GARAGE DAMAGE WAS OVER $12,000. THANK GOD! NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED! MY FAMILY AND I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER CHRYSLER AGAIN! *TR

Mileage: 92,000

20070228CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*- THE CONTACT PARKED HER 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS IN THE DRIVEWAY, REMOVED THE KEYES AND APPROXIMATELY 30-45 SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBORS CARPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO A RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTER PLUNGER. THE CONTACT IS STILL WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,4000 MILES. *AK

Mileage: 104,000

20060906ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 3 TO 4 MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT CLEANED THE CRANKSHAFT IN A REPAIR ATTEMPT, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. UPDATED 10/25/06. *JB

Mileage: 70,560

20060711POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE LEAK. POTENTIAL OF FIRE OR LOSS OF DRIVE ABILITY OF CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE (3) FAILURES OF THE SAME PART. 10/21/98 AND 4/29/04 AND AGAIN TODAY 7/11/06. *NM

20060321VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED, NO APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR INSPECTION.

Mileage: 105,000

20051026SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. DIAGNOSIS SHOWED SYSTEM RELAY OUTPUT CIRCUIT CODE. TESTING SHOWED FAULTY POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER DUE TO CORROSION. PROPER REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER AND HARNESS. SERVICE CENTER FOUND PART IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. SERVICE CENTER CONDUCTED NATIONWIDE PARTS SEARCH TO NO AVAIL. AS A CONSEQUENCE ABS SYSTEM IS NOW NON-FUNCTIONAL. *NM

Mileage: 94,800

20050725CrashSUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

BOTH TIE RODS ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO LOCK UP. WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR SENDING THE CAR INTO A DITCH. FRONT END OF CAR STOPPED IN DITCH AND REAR THEN CAME OVER LANDING UPSIDE DOWN. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS EMPOLYED.

Mileage: 107,675

20050725CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

BOTH TIE RODS ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO LOCK UP. WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR SENDING THE CAR INTO A DITCH. FRONT END OF CAR STOPPED IN DITCH AND REAR THEN CAME OVER LANDING UPSIDE DOWN. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS EMPOLYED.

Mileage: 107,675

20050621SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

C AR NOT BRAKING IN A TIMELY MANNER

20050504SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

CONTACT STATED: CONTACT HAS HAD TO PUT TWO BALL JOINTS ON THIS VEHICLE ,A LEFT BALL JOINT AND A RIGHT BALL JOINT. WHEN HE PARKED THE CAR HE HEARD A BANG. THE WHEELS WOULD BE ON AN ANGLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.

20050504SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

CONTACT STATED: CONTACT HAS HAD TO PUT TWO BALL JOINTS ON THIS VEHICLE ,A LEFT BALL JOINT AND A RIGHT BALL JOINT. WHEN HE PARKED THE CAR HE HEARD A BANG. THE WHEELS WOULD BE ON AN ANGLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.

20050321POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS FOR THE TRANS AXLE, THE CONSUMER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE OTHER PROBLEMS, SUCH AS DROPPING GEARS, AND CUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RECTIFIED AS OF YET. *AK *BF *NM AS OF APRIL 5, 2005, THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM. RECALL CAMPAIGN# 98V183000 & 04V021000. *AK *TT THE IDLE WAS RE-ADJUSTED. *SC

Mileage: 58,500

20050321ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS FOR THE TRANS AXLE, THE CONSUMER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE OTHER PROBLEMS, SUCH AS DROPPING GEARS, AND CUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RECTIFIED AS OF YET. *AK *BF *NM AS OF APRIL 5, 2005, THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM. RECALL CAMPAIGN# 98V183000 & 04V021000. *AK *TT THE IDLE WAS RE-ADJUSTED. *SC

Mileage: 58,500

20050128FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE AND WITHOUT CAUSE THE VEHICLE BUSTED INTO FLAMES. THE PARKING ATTENDANT NOTIFIED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAUSE WAS ELECTRICAL. *AK *TT

Mileage: 127,000

20050118POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE TENDS TO HESITATE AND MOVE WHEN IT IS PUT INTO DRIVE PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM TRAVELING WHILE ON THE ROAD. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY OWNER.

Compare 1997CHRYSLERCIRRUS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 7 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS have?
The 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS has 93 NHTSA complaints, 14 crashes, 10 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS?
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.