The 1997 Chrysler Cirrus, built on Chrysler's JA platform, suffers from catastrophic 2.4L engine failures and notorious transmission issues that often exceed the vehicle's resale value. The automatic transmission is a well-documented weak point across all engine options.
Symptoms: Rod knock or heavy bottom-end noise on cold starts, Metal shavings in oil, Sudden loss of oil pressure, Complete seizure in extreme cases
Fix: The 2.4L DOHC engine has a fatal design flaw where the connecting rod bearings starve for oil due to inadequate oiling passages. Once knocking starts, complete engine rebuild or replacement is the only fix. Expect 18-24 labor hours for short block replacement, 25-30 hours for full rebuild with machine work.
Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500
41TE Automatic Transmission Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Delayed engagement into drive or reverse, Harsh 2-3 shift or slipping between gears, No movement in any gear, Transmission overheating warnings, Whining or grinding noises
Fix: The 41TE (A604) four-speed automatic is infamous for solenoid pack failures, worn clutch packs, and valve body issues. Band adjustments and fluid changes rarely solve problems once symptoms appear. Rebuild requires 12-16 hours; remanufactured unit swap is 8-10 hours.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Lower Ball Joint Separation (Recall 98V153000)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps, Excessive play when checking wheel at 6 and 12 o'clock, Wandering or loose steering feel, Complete separation causes loss of control
Fix: Factory ball joints were inadequately designed and can separate from the control arm without warning. Even if recall was performed, replacement joints wear prematurely. Must replace entire lower control arm assembly on each side. 2.5-3.5 hours per side.
Estimated cost: $350-600 per side
Head Gasket Failure (2.5L V6)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on startup, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Rough idle and misfires, Overheating, Milky oil or oil in coolant
Fix: The 2.5L Mitsubishi V6 has thin-wall head gasket design that fails between cylinders or into coolant passages. Requires both heads off, machining if warped (common), new timing belt/water pump while apart. 14-18 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $1,400-2,200
Fuel Pump Failure (In-Tank)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start with crank but no fire, Stalling when fuel tank below 1/4 full, Hesitation or stumbling under acceleration, Fuel pump whine audible in cabin
Fix: In-tank pump fails due to contamination or electrical issues. Requires dropping fuel tank. Recall 00V087000 addressed some units but failures still occur. 3-4 hours labor with tank drop.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Transmission Shift Cable Linkage Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Shifter feels loose or disconnected, Cannot shift out of park, Gear indicator doesn't match actual gear, Car rolls in park
Fix: Plastic bushings in the shift cable linkage crack and separate, especially in cold climates. Can leave vehicle stuck in park or worse, appear in park but actually in gear. Cable replacement takes 2-3 hours due to access issues.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Intermittent stalling when engine is hot, No-start after driving then sitting 10-20 minutes, Random crank-no-start, Engine dies while driving, restarts when cool
Fix: Heat-sensitive crank sensor fails and causes no-spark condition until it cools down. Classic Chrysler issue across this era. Sensor is located on bellhousing. 1-1.5 hours labor, easy DIY.
Estimated cost: $120-250
Owner tips
If buying a 2.4L engine car, have oil analysis done and listen carefully for ANY bottom-end noise—walk away if present
Change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles with Mopar ATF+4 only; other fluids accelerate failure
Inspect lower ball joints every oil change after 50,000 miles—this is a safety-critical item
Keep fuel tank above 1/4 to extend fuel pump life; low fuel levels overheat the pump
Carry a spare crankshaft position sensor in the glovebox on road trips—it's cheap insurance
Avoid unless free—repair costs routinely exceed the car's value, and the 2.4L engine is a ticking time bomb that makes these essentially disposable after 100k miles.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM · 10E059000
2010-12-27
FEDERAL-MOGUL IS RECALLING CERTAIN REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBERS K7425, 10945, FA4510X, K7427, 10946, AND FA4611X, SOLD FOR USE ON VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BALL JOINT ON THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE BALL STUD TO WEAR THROUGH THE CONTROL ARM HOUSING RESULTING IN NOISE AND/OR SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING.
Consequence: IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 1-877-489-6659.
QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOCKET MAY HAVE BEEN EXCESSIVELY HARDENED WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO CRACK NEAR THE RETAINING RING GROOVE ALLOWING THE BALL STUD TO SEPARATE UNDER IMPACT LOAD. THE SUBJECT BALL JOINTS WERE SOLD AS FOUR PART NUMBERS, D10945, D10946, G10945, AND G10946. THE AFFECTED CONTROL ARMS, D10945 AND D10946, ARE STAMPED WITH THE FOLLOWING DATES ON THE BALL JOINTS: 134308, 135708, 100109, 102709, 104109, 105509, 107609, 108909, 110309, 113209, AND 116609. THE G10945 AND G10946 ARE THE SAME PART AS THE D10945 AND D10946 RESPECTIVELY. THEY ARE LABELED DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE AFTERMARKET CUSTOMER.
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE SOCKET OF THE BALL JOINT HOUSING WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO COLLAPSE AND THE WHEEL TO FOLD IN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE WILL REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE AT 1-800-493-4128.
CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULES, P/NOS. E7089M, E7094M, E7113M, AND E7129M, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006. THESE FUEL PUMP MODULES WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE IN CERTAIN DAIMLERCHRYSLER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SILICONE MATERIAL USED IN MANUFACTURE OF THE FLAPPER VALVE WAS OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, LEADING TO EXCESS SWELL OF THE FLAPPER VALVE RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.
Consequence: FUEL RESTRICTION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR ENGINE STALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AIRTEX TOLL-FREE AT 1-866-867-3759.
CERTAIN TIGAS FUEL PUMP MODULES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2006, SOLD UNDER VARIOUS BRAND NAMES AND P/NOS. THESE FUEL PUMP MODULES ARE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET FOR USE IN CERTAIN DAIMLERCHRYSLER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SILICONE MATERIAL USED IN MANUFACTURE OF THE FLAPPER VALVE WAS OUT-OF-SPECIFICATION, LEADING TO EXCESS SWELL OF THE FLAPPER VALVE RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE.
Consequence: FUEL RESTRICTION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR ENGINE STALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: TI AUTOMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TI AUTOMOTIVE TOLL-FREE AT 1-877-461-1834.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT · 04V021000
2004-01-13 · EA03011
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH · 98V183000
1998-08-06 · EA98014
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTING THE CONSOLE SHIFTER MECHANISM TO THE IGNITION KEY CAN CAUSE A TRAPPED KEY CONDITION WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOW FORCE REQUIRED TO DEPRESS THE SHIFT BUTTON. A COMBINATION OF APPLYING A MIS-ADJUSTED RELEASE BUTTON WITH A LOW FORCE ATTEMPT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCKED POSITION, CAN BREAK THE CONNECTING PIN IN THE SHIFTER.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE "IGNITION-PARK" INTERLOCK SYSTEM WILL BE NONFUNCTIONAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM. ANY VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL AFTER THE INSPECTION WILL HAVE THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND CABLE REPLACED WITH A "SELF-ADJUSTING" DESIGN.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN SEPARATE DUE TO LOSS OF LUBRICATION.
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT END HOUSING COVER SEAL FOR LEAKAGE WITH A HIGH PRESSURE AIR TESTER AND THE RUBBER BOOT WILL BE VISUALLY INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF THE COVER SEAL LEAKS OR THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WILL BE REPLACED.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS · 97V095000
1997-06-06
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING CAN DISENGAGE FROM ITS RETENTION HOLE IF THE HOOD IS SLAMMED SHUT.
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PRIMARY LATCH, THE HOOD WOULD NOT BE RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING WITH A LONGER END HOOK SPRING.
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