Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Chrysler LHS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This vehicle was purchased used. 2 weeks after purchase the rear brake bads failed causing them to grind on the rotors. Brakes and rotors were replaced. Drivers side seat support is broken. Power steering pump has a leak. Transmission clutches burned out requiring replacement. Water pump failed along with failing timing belt & timing belt tensioner causing needed replacement. Engine has several oil leaks. Rack & pinion system is shifting, causing a thumping sound and vehicle shifting while cornering at times. Selt belt on drivers side doesn't retract properly. Brakes perform poorly, requiring excessive pedal to stop vehicle. Fuel rail is leaking fuel, awaiting mechanic determination if it's covered under the recall.
While the consumer was standing by the vehicle it suddenly began to roll forward. Consumer ran behind the vehicle, grabbed the door and was dragged a few feet, injuring his knees, before he was able to open the door and slam the gear into park. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, where he was told he had stripped a gear. However, there was a recall for the shift interlock. Consumer felt that since the recall caused him to strip the gear when the vehicle rolled, should be part of the repair made to the vehicle, along with the shift interlock NHTSA recall 04V021000.
My vehicle was parked, not running and no key in the ignition. My son went into the vehicle and accidentally hit the gear selector knocking the transmission in reverse. He got out of the car and it was rolling backwards. He attempted to stand behind the vehicle to stop it and was knocked clear of said vehicle. The vehicle rolled down a hill and into a house. The gear selector can be taken out of park with no key in the ignition and no foot on the brake pedal. Can't something be done to make Chrysler correct this problem???
Dt: 3 months ago the consumer was driving toward the city and the vehicle made a loud noise, and then car started smoking. Consumer pulled off the highway, there was smoke everywhere. Consumer had car towed. It was running fine before this incident. Mechanic said that the car threw a rod, and needed a new motor and transmission. Consumer was not driving the car because the she could not afford to have it fixed.
The transmission disengages by itself when slowing down to exit off of a ramp after achieving highway speeds. The driver is "standing" at a light and the car will disengage, "jerk" back into gear, lunging the car into the intersection if the driver is not steady on the brake. Also, the LHS will, after coming off highway speeds for a period of time, or, if driving a slow speed for a period of time, say through a residential neighborhood, disengage, then lunge when it re-engages not allowing the transmission to switch to a higher gear, remaining in first gear until the car is turned off and re-started. I originally thought that the transmission was working in conjunction with the ABS braking system. …
I purchased this car in '95 with an extended warranty for 7 years and 75,000 miles. The trasnmission has been replaced 5 times and the last two times have occurred since the 1st of August 2000. The last 16 months the car has had a problem of "slipping" the transmission into what is called "limp mode" which immediately shifts the car into low gear with no warning and it will fluctuate back into gear and into low gear until the car is stopped and restarted. I believe this car has a defect which cannot be fixed by the manufacturer and I believe it to be a safety hazard. When this limp mode porblem occurs the effects at low speeds are dramatic and it recently occurred while doing 60 miles an hour on the highway, which was extremely dangerous to myself and others. …
The air conditioning on the car leaks and smells. We bought the car used in 1996 and had it 6 months when it needed the complete transmission replaced. The air was recharged but continues to leak. We just put close to $2,000 into this used lemon and still have the air to fix and the alternator is going so we are told before we get stuck again. There is a loud wind coming from it now that was not there when we got the car. We just replaced the water pump and timing belt and the tension pulley. I wish Chrysler would at least fix the air conditioning because that is another $700+ we just don't have now. I am on social security disability and can not afford to fix it. I have a heart problem that the air concitioning would help with in the hot summer months around cincinnati, but it has taken all our tax refund money which we had better uses for this year. …
While accelerating from a toll booth on I-90, west of boston, the transmission malfunctioned, resulting in no upshift from second gear. The engine was revving at about 6,000 RPM, with the car's speed limited to about 50 MPH. The failure was sudden, in a middle lane on a very busy interstate highway with a 65 MPH speed limit--a very dangerous and scary situation! From the transmission repair facility, local Chrysler dealers, and other owners of Chrysler vehicules with the same transmission, I learned that the internal mechanical transmission failure is a common problem/defect, of which Chrysler is well aware.the safety implications are obvious, especially when the sudden breakdown occurs on a busy, high-speed highway, as in my case. Chrysler has not issued a recall notice, nor will they pay for repair of their defective transmission. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Power steering rack being replaced again - 4th time; power steering pump being replaced again - 5th time; right strut assembly replaced twice; transmission leakag; tranmission replaced; right tie rod replaced; right stabilizer link replaced; replace ending serpentine drive belt; repair gas tank leak; repair ac connector & wires; replaced ac compressor; replaced water pump; replaced timing belt - both the dealer and Chrysler have been contacted on many occasions - currently vehicle is at dealer again to replace power steering pump and rack; however claim that parts are on national back order - vehicle has been at dealer for almost 2 weeks - this vehicle is very defective and appears to be unrepairable - one more than one occasion I was driving this auto when power steering went and rack split - should I be expected to ever behind the wheel of this vehicle again??
Automatic transmission, after approximately an hour's use, will go to emergency scenario and only have 3rd gear available. This means on the highway you are able to drive but @high RPM to get to 45mph & no reverse. This has happened repeatedly. When I took it to a dealer, they were not able to replicate and told me so; however, they tested it cold and that functions well. It is when the transmission has had a hour or so use & then stop & go traffic, it then starts acting up & reverts to the emergency scenario. Took it to a transmission place & they call Chrysler; who gave them instructions for performing a modification(s). Didn't help, it's not so dangerous,like lurching; but it will leave you standed. Wondering if others are experiencing this activity?
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
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.
Remedy: 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 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA investigations
Auto trans ignition-park interlock
The manufacturer reports above are based on daimlerchrysler?s (dc) analysis of model year (my) 1998 (population = 356,384) and 1999 (population = 486,948) ja, jx and lh family subject vehicle data (earlier mys excluded).the population number includes all mys.the precise number of duplicates between odi and dc reports cannot be determined due to missing or incomplete information.the fatality incident involved an…
Transmission complaints in other LHS years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1995 Chrysler LHS?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1995 Chrysler LHS, 28% of the model year's 148 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Chrysler LHS transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-021 (floor shift, Jan 13, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Chrysler LHS transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.