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1996 Chrysler Concorde Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 1996 Chrysler Concorde has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Steering rack and pinion mount bushing and bolt failure.” Chrysler's Oil Change Indicator tracks engine load and duty cycle, then messages when oil life is used up — capped at 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 (300, Pacifica, Town & Country, Voyager) is long-interval by design: spark plugs at 100,000 miles and no timing belt. Minivans in family duty count as 'severe service' more often than owners think — frequent short trips shorten the oil indicator's countdown, and that's the system working correctly.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1996 Chrysler Concorde.

Reported to NHTSA

Steering rack and pinion mount bushing and bolt failure

STEERING

35 NHTSA complaints · 1996-04 → 2009-07

“AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS UNDER THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT THE BOLTS FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING MECHANISM HAD BEEN COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10203721
“VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, IT WILL CONTINUOUSLY PULL TO THE LEFT/RIGHT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS COMING APART AT THE MOUNT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10030187
“AFTER TURNING INTO A SIDE STREET, I STOPPED WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. I TRIED TO BACK UP, ONLY TO DISCOVER I HAD NO STEERING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #738988

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Tie rod end and inner tie rod bushing wear

STEERING

12 NHTSA complaints · 2000-08 → 2008-12

“AFTER HITTING BUMP IN ROAD 96 CHRYSLER CONCORDE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION THE INNER TIE ROD BUSHING WAS MISSING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10163453
“THE INNER TIE ROD BUSHING ON THE RIGHT SIDE FELL OUT ALLOWING MUCH EXCESSSIVE LOOSENESS BETWEEN THE TWO FRONT WHEELS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #727355
“AT THE DEALERSHIP, BOTH TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED. ONE OF TIE ROD BUSHING WAS GONE, AND THE OTHER BUSHING WAS WORN OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #870482

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel rail and fuel injector O-ring leaks

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

12 NHTSA complaints · 1998-12 → 2013-04

“ON 03/21/2007 I WAS COMING FROM WORK AND SMELLED GASOLINE, ON HAVING MY VEHICLE CHECKED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL RAIL AND THE FUEL LINE HAD BECOME DISENGAGED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10186149
“HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES BETWEEN THE TWO CYLINDER HEADS HAVE LEAKS IN THEM,CAUSING THE GAS TO LEAK ON THE ENGINE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #832162
“VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE FUEL INJECTION O-RINGS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #545197

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Water pump failure and repeated replacement

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

6 NHTSA complaints · 1997-03 → 2000-04

“WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HAVE THE FOURTH WATER PUMP INSTALLED IN THIS VEHICLE OVER THE COURSE OF SOME 70,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #720895
“THIS CAR HAS HAD THREE WATERPUMP FAILURES IN IT'S FIRST TWO YEARS LEAVING THE CAR AND DRIVER STRANDED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #703806
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #717848

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

ABS malfunction, brake pedal travel and rotor pulsation

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

13 NHTSA complaints · 1996-04 → 2006-08

“THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS UP, THE ABS SYSTEM RESPONDS ONLY AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ON THE FLOOR, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED BUT THIS CONDITION STILL EXIST”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #551848
“ABS BRAKES WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. ALSO, ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #780972
“FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED AND CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE AND THE VEHICLE TO PULSATE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #531834

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission slipping and shift interlock failure

POWER TRAIN

12 NHTSA complaints · 1997-06 → 2008-04

“MY HUSBAND, 2 CHILDREN, AGES 4 AND 6, AND MYSELF WERE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN OUR 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND STARTED ROLLING BACKWARD DOWN A HILL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10223332
“WHILE SHIFTING GEAR INTO REVERSE FROM PARK, TRANSMISSION ACTS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE RACES WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED, AND INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATES GEAR IS IN REVERSE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #518406
“ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WHEN THE IGNITION IS OFF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10065800

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front subframe mounting bushing deterioration

STRUCTURE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2003-05 → 2009-11

“THE MOUNTING BUSHINGS THAT HOLD THE FORWARD CRADLE OR SUBFRAME ON ARE COMPLETELY ROTTED AWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10020588
“WITH 75,000 THOUSAND MILES AND NO OIL LEAKS, THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ARE ALL DRIED OUT AND FLAKING APART”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10291588
“VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ENGINE MADE LOUD NOISE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BUSHINGS AND BOLTS WERE FALLING APART, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10102067

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bags not deploying in frontal impact

AIR BAGS

6 NHTSA complaints · 1996-08 → 2015-07

“THE CONSUMER HIT A TREE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10096603
“CONSUMER HIT A TREE HEAD ON TRAVELING ABOUT 30-40 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #821792
“I WAS INVOLVED IN A 40MPH FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10039349

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Change Indicator)

Every 10,000 mi

Change oil when the indicator message appears — never beyond 10,000 miles or 12 months. Pentastar 3.6L uses 0W-20; PT Cruiser's 2.4L uses 5W-30. Short-trip city driving will trigger the indicator well before 10,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 8,000 mi

Rotate every 8,000 miles or at every oil change. Front-heavy minivans (Pacifica, Voyager) chew front tires quickly without rotation.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil change. Loaded minivans and the heavy 300 wear rear pads faster than expected — check both axles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Timing Belt (2.4L PT Cruiser)

Every 100,000 mi

PT Cruiser's 2.4L is a timing-belt engine: replace around 100,000 miles (check your manual's exact interval for the year). Do the water pump and tensioner in the same job — the labor overlaps almost entirely.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$935–$1175

Shop

~$655–$825

DIY

Pro only

On interference engines, a snapped belt destroys valves. Worth doing on schedule. Bundle water pump + tensioner — labor is already there.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Minivans (62TE six-speed): ATF+4 service every 60,000 miles under family duty. 300 with the ZF/TorqueFlite 8-speed: Chrysler lists no normal-service interval, but specialists recommend fluid service around 60,000-100,000 miles. ATF+4 or the specified 8-speed fluid only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Pentastar 3.6L: iridium plugs at 100,000 miles. PT Cruiser 2.4L: roughly every 30,000 miles with conventional plugs — check the manual for your year.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles. On the Pentastar it's a quick top-of-engine job; inspect sooner in dusty climates.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Serpentine Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on evidence of cracking or glazing. A failed belt on the Pentastar takes the water pump drive with it — don't run it to destruction.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replace every 20,000 miles — behind the glovebox on Pacifica, Voyager, and 300. Family-hauler duty (pets, gravel school lots) argues for yearly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement (OAT)

Every 100,000 mi

Stellantis OAT coolant: first replacement at 10 years or 150,000 miles per the schedule; many shops suggest refreshing by 100,000 miles. Use OAT-compatible coolant only — mixing types gels the system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually once the battery passes 3 years old. Pacifica's stop-start system uses a pricier AGM or dual-battery setup — weak batteries throw confusing electrical faults first.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

85 crashes 1990–2024

How the 85 occupant deaths break down

57

driver deaths

28

passenger deaths

85

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1996 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

8

complaints mentioning a crash

5

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 1996 Chrysler Concorde reflects Chrysler's published service intervals and the Oil Change Indicator System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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