Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Chrysler Cirrus problems

Owners filed 76 complaints about the 1998 Chrysler Cirrus with NHTSA between Jan 1998 and Feb 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (13).

Complaints
76
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system13
  2. Power train11
  3. Engine and engine cooling10
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic9
  5. Vehicle speed control8
  6. Engine5
  7. Suspension5
  8. Structure4
  9. Air bags4
  10. Tires3
  11. Steering3
  12. Wheels3
  13. Seat belts3
  14. Fuel system, gasoline2

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19986
199916
20008
20017
20025
20032
20047
20055
20060
20071
20082
20093
20104
20113
20121
20130
20141
20152
20161
20170
20180
20191
20200
20210
20220
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

13 reports2 fires
“Vehicle dies going down the highway sitting or idling runs for 30 minutes then dies, lots of complaints about Chrysler vehicles doing this, very unsafe, vehicle should never shut down by themselves, electrical problems.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 4, 2024Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11569760

Power train

11 reports1 fire2 related recalls
“THE MISFIRES AND STALLS WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S WARMED UP AND IF IT'S COLD. STALLS AND MISFIRES WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND JUST STOPS WHEN IT WANTS TOO”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2019Power train, Electronic stability control (esc), EngineODI 11170742

Engine and engine cooling

10 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND STEAM EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE COOLANT HOSE FRACTURED. THE PART WAS ORDERED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED ONCE THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 6, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10410684

Service brakes, hydraulic

9 reports1 related recall
“VERY DISPLEASED WITH THE HANDLING OF THE CAR DEALER SHIP IN SELLING ME THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE ORIGINAL COST OF THE VEHICLE.AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS, SAYING MY CONTRACT WAS NO GOOD.(HAD TO CALL OWNER [XXX]). TWO MONTHS AFTER HAVING THE CAR, THE CAR HAS A HUMMING NOISE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. THAT WAS TAKING BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS NOT REPAIRED,AND STILL NOT REPAIRED.RECALL ON BRAKE LINE (NOT REPAIRED).I [XXX], HIGHLY RECOMMENED OTHER CUSTOMERS TO RAMEYS CHYRSTLER DEALER SHIP IN TAZEWELL VIRGINIA. TO BUY GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES. PERSONAL COMMENT, I'M VERY DISPLEASED AND UNSATISFIED WITH THE 1998 "RED PLYMOUTH BREEZE". AND THE INCONVIENCE I HAVE HAD WITH THIS ONE PARTICLAR VEHICLE. I BOUGHT SEVERAL GENERAL M OTORS VEHICLES AND WAS VERY, VERY PLEASED.!!! SINCERELY MR. [XXX]. P.S. HOPE TO HAVE RESPONSE WITH THIS MAJOR SITUATION THAT IS AFFECTING MY JOB IN GETTING TO WORK AND HOME.NOT SAFE FOR HIGHWAY. THANK YOU. PSS.MEAT DEPARTMENT MANAGER.[XXX] NORTHFORK, WV [XXX] (# [XXX]) FAX#- [XXX])*AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2001Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingODI 741869

Vehicle speed control

8 reports2 crashes
“CONSUMER BELIEVES RECALL 99V-244 CONCERNING THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE TUBE MAY HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT IN WHICH CONSUMER EXPERIENCED LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY AND LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN HITTING THE STAIRS IN FRONT OF HOUSE AND HITTING NEIGHBORS HOME, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR CUTS TO HAND AND A LUMP ON FOREHEAD. NLM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2000Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlODI 551770

Engine

5 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MISFIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE AND THE BALL JOINTS WERE PREMATURELY WORN. IN ADDITION, THE SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2015Electrical system, EngineODI 10692152
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

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