The 1997 Chrysler Cirrus has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Tie rod and ball joint separation or breakage.” 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.
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.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1997 Chrysler Cirrus.
STEERING
7 NHTSA complaints · 2001-04 → 2017-09
“WHEN TURNING A CORNER FROM A STOP SIGN TIE ROD END ON PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE”
“BOTH TIE RODS ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO LOCK UP”
“THE TIE RODS WERE WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING”
POWER TRAIN
7 NHTSA complaints · 1999-02 → 2006-07
“THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WHILE GOING 35 MPH AND IF I DIDN'T HAVE ON MY SEAT BELT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD”
“WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CAME OUT OF GEAR”
“TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. DEALER FOUND A CRACKED TRANSFER CASE & REPLACED THE WHOLE THING”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3 NHTSA complaints · 2001-06 → 2002-07
“THE HEAD GASKET BEGAN TO FAILED. INITIALLY THIS ALLOWED COOLANT TO MIX WITH THE OIL”
“THERE WAS A VERY SEVERE OIL LEAK. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED HEAD GASKETS”
“IN APRIL, 1998, THE HEAD GASKET AND CAM SEAL FAILED AFTER ONLY 21,000 MILES. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY”
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5 NHTSA complaints · 1998-07 → 2005-06
“WHEN DRIVING AT STOP AND GO BRAKES WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR”
“WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKE HOSE BLEWOUT AND CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR”
“WHEN CONSUMER PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS NO BRAKING, AND CONSUMER REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT”
POWER TRAIN
4 NHTSA complaints · 1999-11 → 2007-02
“AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE FLOOR SHIFTER MOVES FROM PARK BACK AND FORTH WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE DETENT BUTTON”
“PICKED VEHICLE UP & IT COULD NOT SHIFT. HAD TO PUSH HARD TO SHIFT. THE REPAIR REMEDY FAILED”
“THE CONTACT PARKED HER 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS IN THE DRIVEWAY, REMOVED THE KEYES AND APPROXIMATELY 30-45 SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBORS CARPORT”
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6 NHTSA complaints · 1998-05 → 2008-05
“PUT CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY WHEN CAR ACCELERATED TO AN INCREDIBLE SPEED WITHIN SECONDS”
“THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN PUTTING IN DRIVE POSITION UNEXPECTEDLY AND AT A HIGHER SPEED WHILE THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, CAUSING A MINOR ACCIDENT”
“WHEN SHE STARTED VEHICLE AND TOOK IT OUT OF PARK, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF DRIVEWAY TOWARDS A TRAFFIC FILLED ROAD”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4 NHTSA complaints · 1998-11 → 2009-10
“THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 3 TO 4 MINUTES”
“THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS RACK AND PINION, TIRE RODS, FUEL SYSTEM, BUT THE MOST RECENT IS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IT STALLS OUT ANY TIME YOU DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
6 NHTSA complaints · 1997-07 → 2005-03
“WHILE DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT MY 1997 CHRYSLER CIRRUS STOPPED RUNNING AND THEN BURST INTO FLAMES”
“VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING GARAGE AND WITHOUT CAUSE THE VEHICLE BUSTED INTO FLAMES. THE PARKING ATTENDANT NOTIFIED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT”
“WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED”
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.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
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.
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.
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.
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.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
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.
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.
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.
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.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
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.
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.
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.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
58 crashes 1990–2024
How the 58 occupant deaths break down
36
driver deaths
22
passenger deaths
58
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1997 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.
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.
9
complaints mentioning a crash
7
complaints mentioning a fire
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 1997 Chrysler Cirrus 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.