1997 Chrysler LEBARON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Tires: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002300 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS VEHICLE PUMPS OUT SMOKE AND WATER OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. HE ALSO STATES THAT HIS PANEL LIGHTS HAS BEEN COMING ON AND STAYING ON, THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. HE STATES THAT WHEN THE LIGHT COMES ON IT IS AN INDICATION THAT THEIR IS PROBLEM. HE SAYS HE HAS REPLACED MOST OF THE PARTS TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT WHEN HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP HE WAS TOLD THAT HE HAS A BAD VALVE SEAL. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 727657 · 2000-08-12 (August 12, 2000)
TIRE TREAD SEPARATIONS ON MOTORHOME. CLAIM FILED WITH FIRESTONE AND REIMBURSED BUT SHORTLY AFTER HEARD NEWS OF RECALL RE ATX TIRES. OUR PROBLEM WAS THE SAME TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON ESSENTIALLY NEW TIRES WITH THE FOLLOWING TIRE NUMBER: LT225 75R/16/M/S. SHOULD RECALL EXTEND TO THESE TIRES AS WELL? WE EXPERIENCED A SEPARATION OF THE LEFT INSIDE REAR FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT INSIDE REAR ABOUT 150 MILES LATER.( DOT NUMBER: VDIL TIRE SIZE: LT 225 75R )
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 727657 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12.0% | 1927.9% | 1523.8%ODI 10228050 · 33,564 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHRYSLER LEBARON. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL THEN INTO SECOND GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE GEAR SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR UNLESS SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT SENSORS CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE WERE MULTIPLE SENSORS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. AS OF MAY 16, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 33,564. | 1215.4% | 1015.2%ODI 10089215 · 10,000 miWHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A BANG. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AGAIN. THE SECOND GEAR IS GONE. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THE VEHICLE JERKED EXTREMELY HARD. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND CURRENTLY IT WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR. *SC | 1716.7%ODI 10165173 · 80,000 miPURCHASED THE CAR WITH 75,000 MILES ON IT. THOUGHT IT MIGHT LAST A LITTLE WHILE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, TRANSMISSION LEAK, AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T WORK! GRINDS WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE, AND ALL THE OTHER GEARS NOTHING HAPPENS. I ALSO JUST PUT A NEW FILTER AND FLUID IN THREE MONTHS AGO. *NM | 810.7%ODI 559542VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, IT EXPERIENCED HARSH DOWNSHIFTS AND UPSHIFTS, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, AND THERE WAS A HARD SHIFT FROM SECOND TO FIRST, DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A FULL REFUND SINCE THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM AND BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE BEFORE UNDER WARRANTY. *SLC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 816.3%ODI 505257DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT, CAUSING SEVERE BURNS TO NECK AND CHEST. *SD | 68.8% | 812.7%ODI 484731DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG WAS VIOLENT, CAUSING BURNS TO THE FACE. *SD | 79.0% | 34.5%ODI 8005502WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING OCCURRED A COLLISION, RESULTING IN AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING, CAUSING DRIVER MINOR FACIAL INJURIES.*AK | 32.9% | 56.7%ODI 802629DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT ACCIDENT AT 40 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK | 266.7%ODI 812705VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 30MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 24.1%ODI 480766DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED DURING ROAD TEST DUE TO LOOSE UPPER/LOWER DOOR HINGES. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 23.2%ODI 547160COMPUTER MODULE IN TRANSMISSION FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OUT OF 2ND GEAR. MJS | 22.6%ODI 816145WHEN DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENED IT MAKES THE FENDER BEND BACK BY TIRE AREA. DOOR SHIFTED & NOT ENOUGH CLEARANCE. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED HINGE HAD BROKEN OFF FRAME. *AK | 11.5%ODI 816103DOOR HINGE HAS CRACKED AWAY FROM THE DOOR STRUCTURE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK | 2120.6%ODI 10029385 · 94,000 miCONSUMER STATES WHEN TRYING TO OPEN DOOR DRIVER SIDE DOOR FELL OF THE HINGE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK | 1722.7%ODI 10007943 · 101,000 miDRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE HAS FAILED. DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. SINCE DOOR HAS "FALLED" AND IS NOT ALIGNED, THE OPENING ACTION HAS CRUMPLED THE FRONT QUARTERPANEL, PAINT IS NOW FLAWED. NOW A REPAINT AND BODY WORK IS NEEDED. HAVE NOTICED OTHER LEBARONS WITH THIS SAME TELL-TALE DAMAGE; THIS IS EVIDENTLY A DESIGN DEFECT. I UNDERSTAND THAT JEEP PRODUCTS SUFFER FROM THIS FLAW ALSO. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 918.4%ODI 10019662THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RELATED RECALL AND CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER REGARDING REMEDY 89V237000 WHO ADVISED THE RECALL WAS TOO OLD AND THEY WERE NO LONGER HONORING IT. *JB | 57.4% | 34.8%ODI 534512ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS BOLTS FELL OUT, ALLOWING ENGINE TO SHIFT WITHIN COMPARTMENT, AND CAUSING DEFLECTION IN MOTOR MOUNT ASSEMBLY. | 11.3%ODI 824184WHENEVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON & WITHOUT WARNING. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. SPEED WOULD VARY. WAS PUMPING ACCELERATOR TO NO AVAIL. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP BEFORE & MECHANIC HAD CHANGED FUEL PUMP, COMPUTER CHIP ANYTHING ELSE NEEDED CHANGING. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VEHICLE BACK AT DEALERSHIP. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 32.9%ODI 10053305VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING/ ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*MR VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*PH WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE DRIVER PULLED TO THE SOUTH SHOULDER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER NOTICED FLAMED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 24.1% | 11.5%ODI 727431THE VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR THE GAS COVER GASKET AND WAS REPLACED WITH SILICONE! SILICONE CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS! THE LIFTER HAS A BAD TICKING TO IT! AND AN OCCASSIONAL SPARK KNOCK! THE STRUTS DO NOT WEAR WELL AND TEND TO GIVE OUT AFTER 5,000 MILES! | 11.6%ODI 836415BRAKES MAKE A CLICKING NOISE, 2. OIL LEAKAGE APPEARS UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE, 3. ELECTRICAL WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP AFTER BEING PUT DOWN, 4. ENGINE STALLS OUT WHEN DRIVING AND VEHICLE DIES OUT. DEALER CONTACTED AND AWARE OF PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK | 22.6%ODI 538149VEHICLE STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT LOW SPEED CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. | 23.0%ODI 805247DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMR STATES DOOR LOCK ARE INOPERABLE WHEN HEADLIGHS ARE ON ENGINE SURGES AND MAKES NOISE.*JB | 98.8%ODI 511415FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID BECAME INVOLVED IMMEDIATELY AFTER A ACCIDENTAL FIRE. | 22.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 24.1%ODI 770724KEY CAME OUT OF IGNITION WHILE CAR STILL RUNNING AND ABLE TO BE PUT INTO GEAR. CAR ROLLED BACKWARD KNOCKING DOWN DRIVER CAUSING FATAL INJURIES. DT | 68.8% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 33.8%ODI 541478WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. | 57.6%ODI 805247DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMR STATES DOOR LOCK ARE INOPERABLE WHEN HEADLIGHS ARE ON ENGINE SURGES AND MAKES NOISE.*JB | 11.0%ODI 800213VEHICLE WILL STALL WITH NO WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK | 11.3%ODI 982984VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, LOSS OF POWER. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension:Rear | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 57.4% | 11.6% | 67.7%ODI 507028REAR STABILIZER BAR CRACKED ON PASSENGER SIDE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAN IN RIGHT TURNS, CAUSING DOOR AJAR LIGHT TO COME ON, POWER DOOR LOCKS TO LOCK, EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR TIRES AND LOUD CREAKING NOISE. *DH | 46.1% | 22.0% | 22.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 12.0%ODI 482071DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT BACKS FAILED DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING SEATS TO RECLINE BACKWARDS. *SKD | 22.9%ODI 812576SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS BECAUSE THE BOLT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | 23.2%ODI 960828SEAT BACK REST FRAME BROKE; SEAT FELL BACK INTO RECLINING POSITION WHILE OCCUPIED; VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. TT | 22.6%ODI 842624WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS GO FORWARD. *AK *ML | 11.5%ODI 984669DURING SUDDEN STOPS THE REAR SEAT SLIDES FORWARD, THE LOCKS DO NOT LOCK. *AK | 22.0%ODI 856787WHILE TRAVELING DRIVER'S SEAT FELL BACKWORDS, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LAY DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK | 68.0%ODI 10024374 · 60,000 miDRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S FRONT SEATS ARE STUCK IN THE RECLINING MODE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1997: 0 complaints · 2003: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | Tires |
|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | — | 0 |
| Tires | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.