Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Chrysler Cirrus, and it carries 7 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 9% |
| Power train | 7 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 6% |
| Suspension | 4 | 5% |
| Structure | 4 | 5% |
| Steering | 3 | 4% |
| Wheels | 3 | 4% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Vehicle dies going down the highway sitting or idling runs for 30 minutes then dies, lots of complaints about Chrysler vehicles doing this, very unsafe, vehicle should never shut down by themselves, electrical problems.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE MISFIRES AND STALLS WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S WARMED UP AND IF IT'S COLD. STALLS AND MISFIRES WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND JUST STOPS WHEN IT WANTS TOO
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
ON DEC 29TH 2015 I WENT TO BELL TIRES ROSEVILLE MICHIGAN TO HAVE A PUNCTURED TIRE REPAIRED THEY WERE REALLY BUSY SO I LEFT MY TIRE THERE WITH MY SPARE ON NEXT DAY AT 8AM ON DEC 30TH 2015 THEY SAID THEY PATCHED MY TIRE B
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MISFIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE AND THE BALL JOINTS WERE PREMATURELY WORN.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN FEB 2014 USED WITH A LITTLE UNDER 70,000 MILES. OVERALL THE VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH A FEW MINOR PAINT ISSUES. WITHIN THE 1ST WEEK OF BUYING IT I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD C
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY CAR WILL STALL OUT IN LOW OR IDOL. IT WOULD JUST SHUT OFF. WHILE DRIVING AND SWITCHING GEARS IT WILL SOUND LIKE ITS MISSING. I TOOK IT TO GET IT SMOG. THEY SAID THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR WAS RESETTING EVERY TIME I
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION OR PARKING, THERE WAS A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1998 Chrysler Cirrus. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 S
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
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 HO
Risk: IF THERE IS A SEPARATION OF THE BALL STUD FROM THE HOUSING, THE DRIVER CAN LOOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
IMPORT PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 30,351 FUEL FILTERS SOLD TO AND BRANDED BY THE AFFINIA GROUP AS CARQUEST P/N 86523, NAPA P/N 3523, AND WIX P/N 33523 FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THESE FILTERS MAY DEVELOP A LEAK IN THE HOSE ASSEMBLY AND/OR CONNECTORS DUE TO IMPROPERLY
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: THE AFFINIA GROUP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE FILTERS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT WIX FILTER RETURN CENTER AT 1-704-869-7411 OR IMPO
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
Risk: FUEL RESTRICTION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR ENGINE STALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 8 of them (10%). There are 7 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.