1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

I'VE HAD A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LX FOR ABOUT 1 YR. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION 99% OF THE TIME I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING THE KEY UNTIL IT TURNS ON, IF IT EVEN DOES, AND A FEW MONTHS AGO EVERYTIME MY CAR DOES TURN ON, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE DOOR LOCKS KEEP GOING UP AND DOWN. IT HASN'T BEEN DRIVABLE FOR AT LEAST 2 MONTHS NOW. REPLACED RELAYS, FUSES, STARTER, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY! I EVEN TOOK IT TO A SHOP WHICH THE MANAGER IS A FAMILY FRIEND, HE HAD IT FOR 2 WKS. RAN A FULL DIAGNOSTIC AND ALSO THE BATTERY WHICH IS NEW AND HAVE EXCHANGED SEVERAL TIMES WILL NOT HOLD A CHARGE. IT HAS NEW BATTERY GROUND CABLE NEW CABLE FROM ALTERNATOR TO STARTER CONNECTION, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES AND STILL HAS ALL THESE PROBLEMS. AND NOW IF THE CAR WILL TURN ON THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. CAR WAS OVERHEATING AND IT NOW HAS A NEW THERMOSTAT. THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED! AND NOW THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEGUN LEAKING. AND A FEW TIMES I HAVE NOTICED THE GEARS SHIFT. THE MOST FRIGHTENING THING IS WHEN IT DOES START, IT WILL DRIVE GOOD FOR ABOUT 2 BLOCKS AND THEN, IT JUST TOTALLY SHUTS DOWN WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNS PRIOR TO SHUTTING DOWN. I AM A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL AND AM SO STRESSED OUT BECAUSE IT IS LITERALLY UNDRIVABLE. AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR THE 1ST THING I NOTICED AFTER ABOUT A WEEK WAS THE PROBLEM WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN IGNITION OVER AND OVER AGAIN TILL IT WOULD FINALLY START. SOMETIMES I WOULD SIT IN THE CAR 15 MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START. I'M SURPRISED I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE ELSE MENTION THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE A LEMON AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I'VE MISSED DR. APPTS. AND ALSO MY SON IS DISABLED AND WE'RE JUST HAVING THE MOST TERRIBLE TIME WITH NO RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. CAN U PLEASE POST IF ANY OF THESE ISSUES ARE SOME OF CHRYSLERS UNREPORTED DEFECTS OR RECALLS. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Mileage: 115,000

MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A NOISE ON JULY 4, 2003. WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND IT WAS ON US, WE HAD ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY DENIED OUR CLAIM AND THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE DID TO, WE HAVE ALL OIL RECEIPTS AND I'VE DONE ALOT OF RESEARCH ON THE 2.7L ENGINES AND THERE ARE ALOT OF THE THESE ENGINES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM (SLUDGE BUILD UP) THE QUOTE TO REPAIR MY CAR IS $9500.00 AND I CANNOT AFFORD THIS, IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 7 MONTHS AND MY CAR IS JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY, I'M MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND IT IS NO GOOD. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CHRYSLER. IT'S US LITTLE PEOPLE AGAINST THE BIG CORPORATIONS AND WE HAVE NO CHANCE AT ALL.

Mileage: 61,600

I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR SHUDDERED. I TOOK AN OFF RAMP BY THE TIME I REACHED THE END OF THE OFF RAMP THE CAR HAD DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED IS NO GOOD, DUE TO BANKRUPTY. THE DEALER INSISTED I TOW IT TO THEM AND THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEY THEN BLAMED ME COMPLETELY AND REFUSED TO HELP ME AT ALL. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR REPAIR TO THIS CAR. FIRST BUSHINGS AND THEN BOLTS COMING OUT THE POWERSTEERING HOUSING. IF I HAD NOT BEEN NEAR AN OFF RAMP I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 81,000

1996 CONCORDE 2.7 LITER ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED AT ABOUT 87,000 MILES. SERVICE HAS BEEN REGULAR AND MOSTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. AT 81,000 MILES THE OIL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHECKED IT AND SAID NOT TO WORRY. *LA

Mileage: 87,000

DEFECTIVE ENGINE LEADING TO COMPLETE FAILURE. THE CAR HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT.HE ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Mileage: 81,000

THE DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR EIGHT TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. *AK THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED ASSISTANCE. *SCC *JB

STEERING IS VERY BAD. PULLS TO THE LEFT. RACK AND PINION BUSHINGS BAD, AS WELL AS A TIE ROD. USUALLY MAKES A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING. ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED. CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT. REPLACED WATER PUMP TWICE AS WELL AS THERMOSTAT. ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. BRAKES ARE VERY BAD. I'VE REPLACED THEM NUMEROUS TIMES. *AK

Mileage: 144,000

GOING 70 MPH ON A FREEWAY CAR AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. HEARD CLANKING NOISE EXIT THE FREEWAY. VALVE HEAD WAS ALMOST BROKEN THROUGH DUE TO ROCKER ARM SHAFT MOUNTING BOSS BREAKING. HAD TO RECEIVE ROADSIDE ASSISTANT. CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO MACHINE SHOPS ABOUT WHAT TO DO. THE BOLTS HAD TO REPLACED. *AK *CB

Mileage: 52,000

PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER CONCORDE 1996 OXYGEN SENSOR. *MR THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR NINE TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER CONTROL MODULE AND PROGRAM TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM. (THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THE UPSTREAM OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED CHRYSLER TO PAY FOR THE CORRECTION OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE REMOTE TO THE DOOR LOCK MADE A DIFFERENT SOUND, THE DRIVER'S WINDOW WAS NOISY AND WAS TIGHTENED AND LUBED. *SCC *JB

I USE TO OWN A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LXI I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS MY WHEELS FALLING OFF, LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP STATED THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD AT ALL! MY ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 45 M.P.H., ALL POWER TO THE CAR DIED. I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO SEVERAL CONCORDE OWNERS AND THIS IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH THESE. I STOP MAKING PAYMENT FOR THIS CAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I BROUGHT IT FROM WOULD NOT FIX IT WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I FEAR FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS THIS CAR NOW, THEY COULD LOSE THEIR LIFE.*JB

Mileage: 49,555

A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JB

UNDER VEHICLE WAS WATER WITH TRANSMISSION FLUIDS, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY DEALER TECHNICIAN ENGINE PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE METAL SCREW THAT HOLDS THE AIR FILTER COVER IN PLACE WILL CAUSE THE HOLES TO BECOME STRIPPED, LEAVING THE CUSTOMER UNABLE TO REPLACE THE FILTER, CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS ONLY LEAVES HIM TO HAVE THE WHOLE UNIT REPLACED. *SLC

FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS CRACKED AND WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. *AK REAR SWAY BAR BUSHING CRACKED CAUSING A RATTLE IN REAR SWAY BAR. WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. THE STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLS FOLLOWING INITIAL SHIFT FROM PARK OR DRIVE. VEHICLE LOCKS IN 2ND GEAR (LIMP MODE). POOR SHIFTING, DELAY IN GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE. DELAY ENGAGEMENT AT VEHICLE START UP.*AK

WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE THE FOURTH WATER PUMP INSTALLED IN THIS VEHICLE OVER THE COURSE OF SOME 70,000 MILES. *AK

MY CAR HAS BEEN EATING WATER PUMPS JUST ABOUT EVERY 10,000 MILES WITH DIDTRESSING REGULARITY, STARTING WITH THE ORIGINAL PUMP AND NOW SEVERAL OTHER REPLACEMENT UNITS. THERE IS EITHER A DESIGN DEFECT IN HTE PUMP, OR THERE IS SOMETHING PECULAR TO MY ENGINE THAT HAS NOT BEEN DISCOVERED AND CORRECTED THAT KEEPS KILLING THESE PUMPS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 25 MILES. ENGINE STOPPED AND STEAM CAME OUT FROM RESERVE NO STEAM FROM THE WATER PUMP AREA. DEALER AND CHRYSLER SAY CAR WAS DRIVEN WITH NO COOLANT AND THAT WATER PUMP HAD FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BLOW. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HELP. COST OF ENGINE IS $4500+ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM APPEAR ON YOUR SITE. SOMEHOW, COOLANT IS BEING LOST THROUGH THE ENGINE AND NOT BY ANY VISIBLE SIGNS SUCH AS DRIPPING ON THE DRIVEWAY. . COOLANT WAS CHECKED THREE DAYS BEFORE. NO LEAKAGE OR DRIPS ON DRIVEWAY. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HELP. FOUND SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE NHTSA SITE. COST OF REPAIR IS $4500+

EVER SINCE THE CAR HAS HAD 7,000 MILES ON IT THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN I AM AT ARED LIGHT IT WILL REV. UP SHUDER THEN STALL IT STARTS RIGHTUP AGAIN I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING OR THEY CLEANED THROTLE BODY ASSEMBELY,FIXED A VACUUM HOSE , ADJUSTED THE CODES I CALL THE CAR COMPANY EVEN HADE A CO-PIOLT IN THERE JUST GUESTING ALSO THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED THE CAR WAS ONLY 1YEAR OLD AND SOME TIMES WHEN THE STALLING PROBLEM HAPPENS THE BRAKE PEDAL GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *AK

CAR DIED ON FREEWAY AT 55 MPH. CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS LEAKING FIRST TIME. NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY; UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD WARPED AND LEAKING; LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET SUCKED/BLOWN OUT AND LEAKING. STILL NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY. *AK

ON JAN 25, 1999 TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. DID NOT GET OUT OF LOW GEAR WHEN IT HAPPENED. DID NOT HAVE ANY REVERSE. THE RPMS WENT UP TO 5,000 JUST TO GO 30MPH. PUT A STRAIN ON ENGINE. VEHICLE WOULD RACE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED ON 13 OCT 99. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC INDICATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED SEALS/PACKAGED TRANSAXLE, TORQUE CONVERTOR/ TRANSMISSION/OIL PUMP & INPUT CLUTCH REPLACED. *AK

A POPPING NOISE HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE ABOUT 12000 MILES. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIND HAVE NOT RESULTED IN A CURE. AT 35500 MILES I INSISTED THAT THE FRONT END BE COMPLETELY CHECKED. THE FOUR FRONT CRADLE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. ADDITIONAL CHECKING REVEALED A LEFT FRONT AXLE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS STILL DID NOT STOP THE NOISE. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED WITH ONLY MODERATE CHANGES IN THE NOISE. NOW A LEFT FRONT STRUT AND MOUNT ARE BEING REPLACED. I HAVE NO ASSURRANCE THAT THIS WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I KNOW OF ONE OTHER CHRYSLER CONCORDE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED RACK AND PINION FAILURE IN THE PAST 30 DAYS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAVE ENCOURAGED HIM TO REPORT THIS TO THE NTSB. *AK

THIS CAR HAS HAD THREE WATERPUMP FAILURES IN IT'S FIRST TWO YEARS LEAVING THE CAR AND DRIVER STRANDED.

WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL; BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM DASH DUCTS. PULLED OVER, SHUT ENGINE OFF, AND LOOKED UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

WATER PUMP FAILURE.

WHILE DRIVING ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS EXPERIENCED WATER PUMP FAILURE, AT APPROX. 65MPH, NOTICED HEAT GUAGE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, THEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN, DEALER KEPT VEHICLE FOR 12 DAYS BECAUSE PART WAS ON NAT'L BACK ORDER. *AK TIRE BLOW OUT AT 10,000 MILES AND REPLACED. POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING DUE TO O'RING FAILURE. SPARK PLUG FAILED.