Research · Midsize Cars

1997 Chrysler CirrusRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 76 owner complaints for the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (12) and service brakes, hydraulic (12). The EPA rates it 21 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
21mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
8campaigns
Latest Dec 2010
Owner complaints
76
Top: engine and engine cooling
Fuel cost / yr
$3,050est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

8 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: lower arm

Free remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE BALL STUD TO WEAR THROUGH THE CONTROL ARM HOUSING RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING.

SuspensionReported Dec 27, 2010NHTSA 10E059000

Suspension: lower ball joint

Free remedy

QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.

SuspensionReported Oct 9, 2009NHTSA 09E056000

Fuel system

Free remedy

CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULES, P/NOS. E7089M, E7094M, E7113M, AND E7129M, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006. THESE FUEL PUMP MODULES WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE IN CERTAIN DAIMLERCHRYSLER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SILICONE MATERIAL USED IN MANUFACTURE OF THE FLAPPER VALVE WAS OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, LEADING TO EXCESS SWELL OF THE FLAPPER VALVE RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Nov 2, 2006NHTSA 06E091000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

76 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 1996 – Sep 2017
  1. Engine and engine cooling12
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic12
  3. Power train11
  4. Suspension8
  5. Electrical system8
  6. Vehicle speed control7
  7. Steering7
  8. Visibility7
  9. Air bags5

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

By model year

Complaints for each Cirrus model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996174
199776
199876
199972
2000107
Crashes reported
9
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
5
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine and engine cooling

12 reports4 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10289254

Service brakes, hydraulic

12 reports1 crash1 fire
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2005Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10140860

Power train

11 reports1 crash
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2007Power trainCrash reportedODI 10183799
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 2.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Cirrus
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, (FFS), CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
182821$3,050423
Cirrus
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.5 L, (FFS), VMODE CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,050423
Cirrus
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.5 L, (FFS), CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,050423
  • Cirrus
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, (FFS), CLKUP
    18 city · 28 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Cirrus
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.5 L, (FFS), VMODE CLKUP
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Cirrus
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.5 L, (FFS), CLKUP
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 3707
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1997 Cirrus questions

How many recalls does the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus have?

8 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1997 Chrysler Cirrus problems?

Owners filed 76 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (12), service brakes, hydraulic (12), power train (11). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus at 21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026