Problems · by component

1996 Chrysler Cirrus engine and engine cooling problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Chrysler Cirrus cite engine and engine cooling, 23% of all 174 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
40
23% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS SMOKE SEEN FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V006000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,063.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2012Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10452239
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN BETWEEN 10-20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND WAS REPAIRED EACH TIME FOR A TOTAL COST OF $2,283.04. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS LISTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH DAIMLER CHRYSLER ON THREE OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THEY STATED THAT THEY DO NOT OWN THEIR DEALERSHIPS AND IT WOULD BE THE DEALER'S DECISION TO MAKE THE REPAIR OR ISSUE A RECALL. DAIMLER CHRYSLER FURTHER STATED THAT THEY WOULD TRY AND SEND A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, NO ONE HAS YET TO ARRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED, OR MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,784 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,261.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2008Engine and engine coolingODI 10214499
“CONSUMER'S 1969 CHRYSLER CIRRUS DID NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO A SO CALLED RECALL ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE EMISSION SYSTEM. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE OIL WAS THICK AND DIRTY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GROOVE ON THE DIP STICK. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED AND OR REIMBURSED FOR THE TIME LOST FROM WORK. *SC *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2005Engine and engine cooling, Unknown or otherODI 10125838
“WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STALLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. AFTER A FEW TRIES THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. AFTER DRIVING A FEW FEET THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE AGAIN. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT RAINED. WHEN THE WIPERS WERE ON INTERMITTENT THEY WOULD MOVE VERY FAST FOR THAT SPEED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2004Engine and engine cooling, VisibilityODI 10073837
“I BOUGT A CAR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO USED AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR ALREADY. FROM THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON TO THE BATTERY LIGHT. THE 3RD DAY I HAD THE CAR IT DHAD TO GO IN THE SHOP. I FEEL THE PROBLEM IT HAD IT WAS THEIR WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I DID NOT HAVE THEW CAR LONG ENOUGH FOR IT TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE CAR IS A 96 CHRSYLER CIRRUS . *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10051572
“I DID NOT RECEIVE AND OWNERS MANUAL, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I AM ENTITLED TO RECEIVEVE ONE. ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I AM ENTITLED TO RECEIVEVE A COPY OF ANY AND ALL FACTORY WARRANTIES. I WAS TOLD, BY A THIRD PARTY THAT CATALYC CONVERTER IS COVERED BY FACTORY WARRANTY UP TO 8YRS OR 80,000 MILES AND THAT APPLIES EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL BUYER OF THE CAR. IF THIS APPLIES TO ME, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I CAN GO ABOUT GETTING A COPY OF THE OWNERS MANUAL AS WELL AS THE FACTORY WARRANTIES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN HAVE ANY RECALL REPAIRS DONE OR IF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS RUN OUT ON THAT. I REALLY LIKE THIS CAR.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 30, 2000Engine and engine cooling, EquipmentODI 738514

Showing 6 of 40 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling: gasoline

Free remedy

IN CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL GALLEY PLUG DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY AND ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD OIL IS NOT ADEQUATELY RETAINED.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jan 11, 1996NHTSA 96V006000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.