AI Damage1996 Chrysler Eagle: common problems
Owners of the 1996 Chrysler Eagle filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about wheels and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Wheels 50% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 25% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- Wheels: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 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.
While driving down a back road towards my home on december 18, 2010, the transmission suddenly slipped into a lower gear, although the shift was still in drive/overdrive. I could hear the engine straining. My car has "autostick," so I tried changing gears with that.
On june 28, 2010, the right front ball joint broke, causing control arm, strut damage, etc. Wheel was hanging off, and the car could not be move off road. After repair, I asked if it was safe to drive, wondering if other wheel would fall off too. I was assured car was safe.
Smoke began coming from underneath the hood, then caught on fire, and burned to the ground. As a result vehicle was considered a total loss. Dealer notified.
Set of alloy wheels that came with vehicle, and spokes within wheels are cracking on all four wheels. One one front/driver's side is cracking the worst. Contacted dealer. .
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 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Eagle has 3 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chrysler Eagle?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: wheels, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1996 Chrysler Eagle?
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 1996 Chrysler Eagle 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 1996 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.