AI Damage1997 Chrysler Cirrus: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus filed 69 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 69
- involving a crash
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 16% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 16% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 9% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 11 complaints (16% of all).
- Service brakes: 11 complaints (16% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 10 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (12% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 7 complaints (10% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 2.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 69 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
Dealership states they could not determine reason for sudden acceleration. Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration on a second occasion when consumer was in a line at a car wash, consumer started vehicle to go into car wash and it shot out of control, consumer turned off key while exiting car wash, however vehicle…
On my way from work from downtown baltimore, while going north on the ramp of I-395 the steering became unresponsive. First, the cirrus ran into the left barrier, and it pick up speed across the ramp and hit the right barrier. There was no controling or stopping the cirrus.
Vehicle wouldn't start due to fuel pump failure. Once part was replaced, old fuel pump showed burned areas. Fuel pump is availabe for investigations. Consumer hit a deer and had four thousand dollars of damage due to a 35-40 mph impact. Deer hit in front of vehicle and smashed into the windshield.
The vehicle accelerated when putting in drive position unexpectedly and at a higher speed while the braking system was activated, causing a minor accident. Dealer cannot determine problem.
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…
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 4,461 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Cirrus has 93 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 69, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, service brakes, powertrain. Total complaints: 69. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (13%), stalls while driving (7%), knocking, grinding or other noise (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Chrysler Cirrus from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.