Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Chrysler Concorde, and it carries 3 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 | 58 | 32% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 8% |
| Visibility | 13 | 7% |
| Power train | 12 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 4% |
| Structure | 7 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 4% |
| Seats | 6 | 3% |
| Steering | 5 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
AUTOMATIC SHIFT ON THE FLOOR. DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED. IT STAYS ON ACCESSORY AND DRAINS MY BATTERY. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF THE YEAR O
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND POWER STEERING LINES WERE COVERED WITH EXCESSIVE RUST. THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO FLUID LEAKING. THE CONTAC
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAIL
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAU
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I BOUGHT A USED 1998 CHRYSLER CONCORDE IN THE SPRING OF 2008. THREE WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON, I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT, THOUGH I GAVE THE CAR AN OIL CHANGE. ROUGHLY 5 DAYS AFTER GIVING THE CAR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
CHRYSLER/DODGE 2.7 LITER DOHC ENGINE HAS OIL ENGINE SLUDGE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ENGINE ON OUR 1998 CONCORDE WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES ON IT BLEW OUT WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING IT. HE HAD THE OIL CHANGED 3 MONTHS AGO. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1998 Chrysler Concorde. 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.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
Risk: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE
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.
Risk: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: 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
| Reliability raw | 73 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 72 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 51 | 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 179 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 58 of them (32%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 73/100 (good) 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 72/100, 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: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. 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.