1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

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.

Mileage: 99,877

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 3 TO 4 MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT CLEANED THE CRANKSHAFT IN A REPAIR ATTEMPT, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. UPDATED 10/25/06. *JB

Mileage: 70,560

UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL REPAIRS FOR THE TRANS AXLE, THE CONSUMER STARTED TO EXPERIENCE OTHER PROBLEMS, SUCH AS DROPPING GEARS, AND CUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RECTIFIED AS OF YET. *AK *BF *NM AS OF APRIL 5, 2005, THE VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM. RECALL CAMPAIGN# 98V183000 & 04V021000. *AK *TT THE IDLE WAS RE-ADJUSTED. *SC

Mileage: 58,500

WHILE DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT MY 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS STOPPED RUNNING AND THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. *JB

Mileage: 86,000

THE HEAD GASKET BEGAN TO FAILED. INITIALLY THIS ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL. EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE HEAD GASKET FAILED. OIL WAS SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING AND STALLED. THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN ABOUT 200 YARDS TO THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THE ENGINE WILL NO LONGER START.

IN APRIL, 1998, THE HEAD GASKET AND CAM SEAL FAILED AFTER ONLY 21,000 MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. AT THE TIME OF REPAIR, THE SERVICE MANAGER, STEVE GREY, AND THE MAN WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIRS, RAY, BOTH TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR WAS TEMPORARY...THAT CHRYSLER ENGINEERS HADN'T DEVELOPED A SOLUTION TO THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. IN SEPT., 1999, TSB 09-08-99 WAS ISSUED CONCERNING MULTI-LAYER STEEL HEAD GASKET FOR THE 2.4L ENGINE. IN JAN., 2001 TSB 09-008-00 WAS ISSUED CONCERNING CAM SEAL RETENTION ON THE 2.4L. THE HEAD GASKET AGAIN FAILED IN JANUARY, 2002 WITH THE ODOMETER AT 83,000 MILES. CHRYLSER ONLY AGREED TO PAY 50% OF THE COST OF REPAIRS DESPITE NOT HAVING A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME OF THE INITIONAL REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO INVESTIGATE A TOTAL RECALL OF THE CHRYSLER VEHICLES WITH THE 2.4L ENGINE.

I HAVE TRIED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED WITH THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL.THE ENGINE FAILURE STATED HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THEIR WORK. *AK

THERE WAS A VERY SEVERE OIL LEAK. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED HEAD GASKETS. *AK DEALER REPLACED THGE CYLINDER HEADS AND HEAD GASKETS. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 65 VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING UP TO 80 MPH. BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 80 MPH. EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND IT CAME TO A SLOW STOP. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE PART # 4573693. *AK AT FIRST THE ENGINE HEATED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE A BLOWN UP HEAD GASKET. *YH

WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CAUS EOF FIRE UNDETERMINED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS AWAKENED BY CAR ALARM AT APPROX 3:00 AM. NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE; FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD ,THROUGH WINDSHIELD, THAT COMPLETLY MELTED DOWN, ENGINE COMPLETELY BURNT, AND ONE TIRE BLEW. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO UNATTACH HOOD TO STOP FIRE. *AK POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC