The 1994 Concorde was Chrysler's first LH-platform sedan with transverse V6 and the troublesome 42LE/A606 four-speed automatic. While the 3.3L and 3.5L engines can be solid, this generation suffers from catastrophic transmission failures and engine internal damage due to cooling system neglect.
42LE/A606 Transmission Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Harsh or delayed 2-3 upshift, slipping under load, No movement in any gear after transmission overheats, Brown or burnt transmission fluid with metal particles, Check engine light with solenoid pack codes
Fix: The A606 overdrive clutch pack burns out, solenoid body fails, or valve body wears. Rebuild requires 8-12 hours; most shops recommend replacement with remanufactured unit due to widespread internal damage once symptoms appear. External oil cooler lines rust through and starve trans of fluid.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800
Head Gasket Failure from Overheating
Common · high severityTypical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust, sweet smell, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, milky oil on dipstick, Overheating in traffic or on highway, Bubbles in coolant reservoir when running
Fix: Both 3.3L and 3.5L are prone to head gasket failure after radiator or water pump neglect leads to overheat. Once warped, heads need machining. Job is 14-18 hours due to transverse layout and intake plenum removal. Often find cracked heads on 3.5L requiring replacement.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Lower Control Arm Bushing and Ball Joint Failure
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front end, Steering wander and poor return to center, Inner tire edge wear, alignment won't hold, Visible separation of rubber bushing from metal sleeve
Fix: Front lower control arm bushings rot out and ball joints wear, especially in rust belt. Arms are replaced as assemblies (ball joint not serviceable separately). 3-4 hours for both sides including alignment. NHTSA recall covered some VINs but not all.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Crankshaft and Rod Bearing Damage
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Heavy knocking from bottom end, worse when cold, Low oil pressure warning at idle when warm, Metallic debris in oil filter during changes, Sudden catastrophic failure with rod through block
Fix: Extended oil change intervals or using 5W-30 in high-mileage engines causes bearing wear. Once knocking starts, crank needs machining or replacement. Most cost-effective fix is used engine swap (6-8 hours) or short block replacement (12-16 hours). Rebuilds often not economical given vehicle value.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,500
Fuel Pump and Filter Clogging
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 100,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: Stalling when fuel tank below quarter tank, Hesitation or surging at highway speeds, Hard starting when hot, long crank time, Loss of power under acceleration
Fix: In-tank pump strainer clogs with sediment, fuel filter in pump module rarely serviced. Tank drop required, 2-3 hours. Many mechanics replace entire pump module rather than servicing filter due to plastic clip failures on reassembly.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Alternator and Wiring Harness Issues
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Battery light on, dim headlights at idle, Voltage gauge reading low or fluctuating, No-start after short trips, dead battery, Burning smell from engine bay, melted connectors
Fix: Alternator failures are normal wear, but the engine harness connections behind the alternator corrode and overheat, especially the B+ charging wire. Harness repair adds 1-2 hours to alternator replacement (2 hours base). NHTSA recall addressed some wiring, verify completion.
Estimated cost: $450-800
Skip it unless under $1,500 with records proving recent transmission service and no overheating history — these are 10,000-mile grenades otherwise.
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.