Transmission complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Vehicle floor shifter interlock system failed (see NHTSA campaign id # 04V021000), car rolled and caused some minor property and vehicle damage, could have been much worse. The 2000 LHS is not covered under above mentioned recall. The problem is exactly the same. Recall should be expanded to include later models effected.
Today when I started to drive my 2000 LHS, it would not shift to the highest gear. The RPM's remained very high. The speedometer stays at zero. The overhead instrument panel does not work. The malfunction indicator light comes on and stays on. I proceeded to drive a short distance. When coming to a stop or when slowing around a corner, the oil light comes on and I lose power steering and the engine stalls. I cannot drive the car. I will contact the dealer (bermont motors, gilbertsville, pa) immediately. My 1994 LHS had total transmission failure and needed a whole new transmission. My car was bought in December 1999 and I only have 37,000 miles on it. Besides this, the molding around one door and around one headlamp is coming off. The black trim is discolored. I am quickly loosing my confidence & dependibility in Chrysler products. I doubt if I will ever buy another Chrysler car.
Dt: when the consumer's wife started the vehicle it went forward while the vehicle was in park. This caused vehicle to run over a short wall. This resulted in injuries to the driver and the passengers. Upon impact, airbags failed to deploy. The consumer believed that the problem was the transmission. Recall work done on this issue. The consumer felt that the recall work was the reason for the accident. When the consumer contacted the manufacturer, they stated that it was not their fault. The accident occurred on 7-17-05. Just the week before this accident a new battery and transmission were installed at the service dealer. The consumer believes the computer malfunctioned.
The consumer stated while driving, the transmission began to slip. The transmission stayed in 2 or 3rd gear. The driver's seat belt was inoperative. The oxygen sensor failed prematurely. The fuel lines leaked. The power door locks failed. The radio/cassette player failed. The power mirrors failed. The remote keyless entry system failed. The power windows and seats failed. The alarm was inoperative. Trunk release was inoperative.
Not long after buying this used vehicle with about 95,000 miles, I noticed a shudder when I got up to about 40 MPH. Now after driving only 20,000 miles it won't upshift after being driven for about 30 minutes and shudders at take off. The dealership won't bill Chrysler for the $2100 tranny repair. I can't afford to be without a vehicle, and a repair bill in that amount or another car payment May put me under. This is very stressing. This is the newest used car I've owned and I thought it'd be reliable. I'll never buy a Chrysler again.
While driving on the interstate and coming out of cruise control driver only had low power and reverse. Consumer felt that this was a transmission problem, check engine light came on. Took vehicle to dealer, and they put in a Chrysler transmission. Currently, after 500 miles, there's a winding noise. Consumer feels this is unsafe because vehicle May lose total power on the highway.
After removing the ignition key, from parked vehicle it rolled forward down a hill and smashed another vehicle. Vehicle was parked on level ground. The vehicle traveled a city block. The consumer believed the problem started after the recall on floor shifter was performed.
Transmission is popping from drive to lowest gear at 45 MPH and is causing the vehicle to stall. Consumer will take vehicle to dealer for inspection. This has happened on several occasions. This times Chrysler said it was the speed sensor and this last time the consumer it was told the solenoid. The car stalled on several occasions while on the highway doing speed in excess of 60 MPH.
Related recalls (1)
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Chrysler LHS years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (41), 1996 (12), 1999 (11), 1997 (8) and 2000 (6) model years. Transmission complaints make up 28% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Chrysler LHS transmission problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 04V-021 (floor shift, Jan 13, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chrysler LHS transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles; 29% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (58 mentions), followed by the automatic transmission › park/neutral start interlock switch (4).
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.