CHRYSLER CONCORDE · model year

1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE

189 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997CHRYSLERCONCORDE carries 189 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 6 fires, 13 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 CONCORDE is power train:automatic transmission with 9 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (8) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (8). 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 CONCORDE, 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.

189
Complaints
12
Crashes
6
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

189 filings

Crashes Reported

12 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 TRANSMISSION9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM5
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER5
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS4
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY4
STEERING:RACK AND PINION4
STRUCTURE4

Recent Complaints

20130821SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. .... UPDATED 10-17-13 *BF UPDATED 10/24/14*CN

Mileage: 100,000

20110630FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V184000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED SHE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT STATED FUEL WOULD ALSO LEAK WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM WAS LEAKING AND THE O-RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20100415ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORD. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEEDS OF 45 MPH, ENGINE COOLANT, WATER AND STEAM POURED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED FIRST DEGREE BURNS TO BOTH FEET. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED THE RESULTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000. UPDATED 05/19/10. *LJ

Mileage: 48,000

20091115CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY VEHICLE, DRIVEN BY MY STEP SON, CROSSED THE MEDIAN, SPUN AROUND AND SLAMMED BACKWARDS INTO A POWER POLE. HE HIT WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO PUSH THE REAR BUMPER AND THE TRUNK IN ALMOST 3 FEET AND YET THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE SUDDEN STOP BROKE THE FRONT SEAT LOOSE FROM THE FLOOR AND RIPPED HIS GLASSES OFF HIS HEAD AND FLUNG THEM INTO THE BACK WINDOW. FORTUNATELY HE HAD HIS SEAT BELT ON, OR THE RECOIL WOULD HAVE SENT HIM THE FORWARD MOMENTUM FROM THE RECOIL WOULD HAVE SENT HIM THROUGH THE FRONT WINDOW. STILL THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION AND IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME FROM THE ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 85,000

20090728ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CAN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS REPAIRED IN 2004, BUT HAS RECENTLY RECURRED. THE CONTACT WILL CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

20090317STEERING

BAD CRADLE BUSHINGS GRINDING NOISE WHEN DRIVING,TURNING,AND BREAKING LOUD BANG WHEN OVERDRIVE IS INITIATED AND VERY BAD ALIGNMENT FRONT DRIVER TIRE STARTED SMOKING AND THE BRAKE ROTOR WAS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN FLAT SPOTS ON MY FINGER TIPS. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20090317EQUIPMENT

BAD CRADLE BUSHINGS GRINDING NOISE WHEN DRIVING,TURNING,AND BREAKING LOUD BANG WHEN OVERDRIVE IS INITIATED AND VERY BAD ALIGNMENT FRONT DRIVER TIRE STARTED SMOKING AND THE BRAKE ROTOR WAS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN FLAT SPOTS ON MY FINGER TIPS. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20090218STEERING

I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING OF MY CHRYSLER CONCORDE 1997. AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT CRADLE BUSHINGS WHERE WORN AWAY. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS. I LOOKED AT A WEB SITE CONCERNING THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND OTHER CHRSLER MODELS. AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUES RELATED TO SEVERE AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURES WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 143,500

20090218STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING OF MY CHRYSLER CONCORDE 1997. AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRONT CRADLE BUSHINGS WHERE WORN AWAY. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS. I LOOKED AT A WEB SITE CONCERNING THIS AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND OTHER CHRSLER MODELS. AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUES RELATED TO SEVERE AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURES WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 143,500

20081205STEERING

I HAVE A 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORD. I HAD A SEVERE CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT END. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE GARAGE AND ALMOST $1000 LATER I HAD REPLACED BOTH INNER TIE ROD ENDS, ALL 4 CRADLE BUSHINGS AS WELL AS BOTH SWAYBARS IN FRONT END. NOT TO MENTION FRONT END ALIGNMENTS AFTER EACH REPAIR. THEN MY LEFT TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WITHIN A BOUT A MONTH. THE PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY FIXED AND NOISE STOPPED UNTIL NOW. SIX MONTHS LATER I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME NOISES AND A LOSE TIE ROD AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT CHRYSLER AND NOTE THAT THEY DON'T INCLUDE THE 1997 MODEL AS HAVING THESE PROBLEMS BUT I DO WITH MY 97 CONCORD. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN MY VEHICLE AND THIS IS REALLY UNSAFE. IF THE TIERODS BREAK OR COME LOSE YOU CAN'T STEER THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY CHRYSLER AND FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20081119STEERING

COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE ON 199 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20080711ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

OWN 1997 CHRYSLER CONDORDE. AC/EVAPORATOR ODOR. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES GOING ON SINCE 1992 WITH CHRYSLER CARS. CAUSING AIRBORNE POLLUTANTS MIXED WITH BACTERIA AND FUNGI GROWTH. I HAVE ASTHMA, THIS IS A HEALTH ISSUE. CHRYSLER REGRETS THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS SINCE WART. UP . ISSUE IS THIS IS GOING ON SINCE 1992 WHY WAS THIS NOT ADDRESSED FOR SAFETY OF RESPIRATORY CONSUMERS. HEALTH HAZARD TO ALL WHO HAVE IMMUNE PROBLEMS. THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN IN WART TIME PERIOD. THIS TAKES TIME TO FORM..END RESULTS MICROBIAL GROWTH ON EVAPORATOR CORE DURING NORMAL OPERATION, CONDENSATION FORMS IN AND AROUND AC EVAPORATOR. WHEN AIRBORNE POLLUTANTS MIX WITH CONDENSATION, BACTERIA AND FUNGI GROWTH BEGINS AND ODOR RESULTS. THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRYSLER TO FIX AND MAKE CONSUMER SAFE AND NOT ENDANGERING THEIR HEALTH. WHY WAS THIS ISSUE NOT ADDRESSED IN 1992 ON WITH ALL THE REPORTS SHOWING THIS PROBLEM. CHRYSLER..CIRRUS,CONCORDE, NEW YORKER, IMPERIAL, LABARON COUPE,TOWN AND C

Mileage: 83,000

20080228SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARDS. THE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. SHE DID NOT GET PULLED BACK ALONG WITH THE SEAT BECAUSE SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT. SHE FOUND A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE, BUT IT WAS FOR THE 1998 MODELS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 174,000.

Mileage: 174,000

20080102STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

MY CAR STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE, AND I CHECKED OUT THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THE ENGINE CRADLE BUSHING WERE JUNK. THE CAR ONLY HAD 62000 MILES ON IT. THIS COULD OF CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT IF THE CRADLE HAD BROKEN. THE CAR WAS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND THERE WAS ABOUT A 2 IINCH GAP BETWEEN THE FRAME AND CRADLE WHERE THE BUSHING ARE WORN OUT. I CURRENT DON'T DRIVE THIS CAR DO TO THIS ISSUE.*CN

Mileage: 62,000

20061027CrashSEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 48 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. THE SEATBELT DID NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, THE LENGTH OF THE BELT WAS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR. THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR DID NOT FUNCTION AS IT SHOULD BE AND THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR RIGHT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP.

Mileage: 36,000

20060805ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SAME SAD STORY AS THE OTHERS ON YOUR WEBSITE. I HAD A 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. ON NEW YEAR'S DAY 2005 I WAS DRIVING TO MY DAUGHTER'S WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE. SUDDENLY, IT DIED. I HAD TOWED INTO MY DEALER, CLIFFORD CHRYSLER OF BUFFALO GROVE. THEY SAID THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED UP DUE TO SLUDGE. SINCE THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY INSISTED THEY TALK TO CHRYSLER. CHRYSLER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY INADEQUATE OIL CHANGES EVEN WHEN I SENT THEM A RECORD OF MY OIL CHANGES, THEY REFUSED TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPLACING THE ENGINE. *NM

Mileage: 30,000

20060609EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AUTO-THEFT MECHANISM KICKED IN WHEN NOT NEEDED, RADIATOR AND AIR/CONDITIONER WENT OUT BEFORE 70,000 MILES AND NOW THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING...AT 67,000 MILES. *JB

20060609ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

AUTO-THEFT MECHANISM KICKED IN WHEN NOT NEEDED, RADIATOR AND AIR/CONDITIONER WENT OUT BEFORE 70,000 MILES AND NOW THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING...AT 67,000 MILES. *JB

20060609ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AUTO-THEFT MECHANISM KICKED IN WHEN NOT NEEDED, RADIATOR AND AIR/CONDITIONER WENT OUT BEFORE 70,000 MILES AND NOW THE HEAD GASKET NEEDS REPLACING...AT 67,000 MILES. *JB

20060605STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER 1997 CONCORDE DRIVER SIDE TIRE TURNED RIGHT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AND STOPPED. *TS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE INNER TIE ROD HAD FAILED AND THE OUTER TIE ROD WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED IT LOOKED AS IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN WORK ON PREVIOUSLY, AND WHOM EVER DID THE WORK DID NOT PLACE THE TABS BACK IN PLACE AND BECAUSE OF THAT THE TIE RODS EVENTUALLY STRIPPED AND FELL OUT OF PLACE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AND THE PREVIOUS DEALER DID STATED THEY DID HAVE TO REMOVE THE TIE RODS IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION, HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN OVER 5 YEARS SINCE THE REPAIR. *JB

Compare 1997CHRYSLERCONCORDE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 7 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE have?
The 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE has 189 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 6 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE?
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR.
Is the 1997 CHRYSLER CONCORDE 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.