Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chrysler Concorde owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Own 1997 Chrysler condorde. Ac/evaporator odor. Technical service bulletin states going on since 1992 with Chrysler cars. Causing airborne pollutants mixed with bacteria and fungi growth. I have asthma, this is a health issue. Chrysler regrets that they have nothing to do with this since wart. Up . Issue is this is going on since 1992 why was this not addressed for safety of respiratory consumers. Health hazard to all who have immune problems. This would not happen in wart time period. This takes time to form..end results microbial growth on evaporator core during normal operation, condensation forms in and around ac evaporator. When airborne pollutants mix with condensation, bacteria and fungi growth begins and odor results. This is the responsibility of Chrysler to fix and make consumer safe and not endangering their health. …
In 2002 our car overheated we took it into a repair shop. Since the it it was bought in on four different occasions to repair the cooling system, over a span of less than a year. The entire colling system, except for the heating coil has been replaced. Then the check engine light came on. It has had a misfire in cylinder #5 and we have sunk in over a $1,000 and the problem is still not fixed. The mechanics have told us they can't find what is causing it. The light has been on for over eight months. It has been hooked up to computers and still it is a guessing game. We have had the EGR valve replaced because this was another guess as to the problem. We have also replaced the fuel injectors, spark plugs, wires, coil, overhead cam sensor, idle air control valve and timing belt. We are sinking more money into this car than we can afford. …
First, it started out with the cracked fuel rail problem which cost us over 900.00 to remedy and ever since we have had nothing but problems with it not wanting to idle so we replaced the idle contol at the cost of over 60.00 which still hasn't fixed the issue. The scans being done show a misfire in cylinder #5 but also can't be remedied. You can be driving along at highway speeds and all of a sudden it bucks wildly, the tachometer swings wildly then it just stalls and won't restart. The EGR valve at a cost of over 114.00. Problem still exists. Noone can seem to find a resolve to this issue. This has turned my vehicle into a very unreliable means of transportation and I won't permit my wife to drive it any longer, yet we are forced to continue making our payments or have it repossesed. …
On christmas day driving with my son to my mothers home about one hour away, I exited the freeway and stopped at the signal. When the signal turned green, I pushed the gas, the car did not respond. I checked to verify that the car was in drive. Put the car in park, and attempted to restart the engine. The engine did not respond. The vehicle was pushed to a park and ride, then towed to the dealership. The dealership reports that the engine seized, and is destroyed beyond repair of the value of the vehicle. There was zero warning. The vehicle did not lose any fluid. There were not any warning lights registering inside the vehicle. The make is a Chrysler Concorde. It is a 1997, with 97,000 miles. Up until that moment the vehicle was ideal. Then within ten feet it is destroyed beyond repair, without any type of warning.
Same sad story as the others on your website. I had a 1997 Chrysler Concorde. On new year's day 2005 I was driving to my daughter's when, without warning, the engine began to make a knocking noise. Suddenly, it died. I had towed into my dealer, clifford Chrysler of buffalo grove. They said the engine had seized up due to sludge. Since the car was just out of warranty insisted they talk to Chrysler. Chrysler said the problem was caused by inadequate oil changes even when I sent them a record of my oil changes, they refused to help with the cost of replacing the engine.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Chrysler concord. The contact stated while driving at a speeds of 45 MPH, engine coolant, water and steam poured from under the dashboard and into the interior cabin of the vehicle without warning. Both the driver and passenger suffered first degree burns to both feet. This was the first occurrence of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for a diagnosis of the failure. The contact had not yet received the results. The current and failure mileages were 48,000. Updated 05/19/10.
Dt: the consumer indicated that the timing chain broke without warning. This has happened three times and each time the consumer had to have the vehicle towed to the dealer to be repaired. The manufacturer said there is no recall on this. The consumer said that the engine always gets real hot and stalls. She forced to pull off the road in a dangerous places.
While driving, vehicle caught on fire, consumer saw smoke coming from underhood when stopping at red light. Vehicle caught on fire and burned up. Dealer contacted. Possible engine failure.
I was traveling to work at 4:30a.m. On 10/14/99. Upon the entrance to I-696 ( about 2miles from my residence) the temperature gage ran high and the high temmp light came on upon the entrance ramp. I drove approx 4 miles to my mothers residence which was on the way to work.. At that hour I must depend and rely on the safety of my vehicle. Thank goodness my mother lives on the way to my job 55 miles from my residence. When I drove it to the dealership at approx. 7 am (when they open) the gentleman behind the counter said it probably wasn't a hose, ( which I thought because of the coolant loss and over heating) but instead a water pump because it is so common in that make of vehicle. This disturbs me because if he knew immediately what it was because of so many repairs why not a recall on the part? $:30 am is a scarry time to break down on a major highway. …
Engine: cooling system: head gasket went 1 week after taking delivery of vehicle. Complained about transmission stuck in 3rd gear-dealer could not duplicate. 6/01/00 electrical short/fuse: speakers and horn not working/when sunroof is opened the trunk opens too.9/19/00 electrical short/fuse: smoke from dash when cd was turned on and horn stopped working. 10/17/00 transmission: failure of overdrive and loss of 3rd gear vehicle, could still be driven in "limp mode" 1st and 2nd gear. 9/12/01 transmission: failure duplicated as previously mention. 11/20/01. Transmission: failure at highway speed engine boggs down as if putting on brakes.loss of only overdrive vehicle still able to operate in drive gear.4/27/02 engine: head gasket blows on one side of engine 4/27/02
Engine complaints in other Concorde years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1997 Chrysler Concorde?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1997 Chrysler Concorde, 19% of the model year's 134 complaints. The component named most often is engine (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chrysler Concorde engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1997 Chrysler Concorde, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Chrysler Concorde engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.