Most common 1996 Eagle Talon problems
Share of the 44 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Eagle Talon complaints by model year
Best Talon years: 1998, 1997. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
1996 Eagle Talon recalls (4)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude. Also, mmc has added the potential of leaking moisture, which can cause the ball stud to corrode.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the lower lateral arm ball joint for wear. Ball joints that exhibit wear beyond the established tolerance will be replaced with newly designed lateral arm ball joints.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rubber boots, and if the boot is damaged, they will replace the lower lateral arm and ball joint on the affected vehicles.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Lockup of the transfer case can occur due to insufficient lubrication.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for adequacy of the transfer case oil volume, transfer case oil leakage, and operational degradation of the transfer case mechanism.
Fuel system, gasoline
The fuel tank gaskets for the fuel pump and/or gauge unit gasket could have been incorrectly installed allowing fuel or fumes to escape.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and if the gaskets are found to be leaking, replace the fuel tank, caps and gaskets.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Eagle Talon:
Transfer case lockup
Alleged drivetrain failure that can lead to lock-up of the rear or all wheels.
Transfer case lockup
What 1996 Eagle Talon owners say
Suspension
Consumer received a recall (00V421002/ manufacturer's recall 967 for 2nd time. A year ago when the 1st letter was received, dealer inspected it and said it was okay. When consumer responded to 2nd response dealer (messey yeardley Chrysler Jeep & Eagle) stated that vehicle was too low to put on a lift. This was not a issue when it was taken in the 1st time. Dealer stated they didn't look at it.
When hitting a puddle of water the steering wheel locks up for about 5 seconds then it will go back to normal. Also, consumer received a recall on the ball joints and lower control arm. Took vehicle into dealership and they claimed to have inspected vehicle and found no problem. Consumer experienced exactly what recall letter indicated.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl contact owns a 1996 Eagle Talon. While driving 60 MPH the contact heard a noise and the tires locked u without warning. The vehicle was towed ,and a local mechanic diagnosed the failure as a leak in the transfer case. The dealer/manufacturer diagnosed the vehicle as needing a new transfer case. The dealer stated that the vehicle was part of recall # 098v069002. Records indicated that no repairs have been performed. The current and failure mileage were 112,000.
The transfer case went out of my Talon tsi AWD turbo in 06/05. I was driving down the road 75 MPH & bang!-jerk!bang!jerk!bang!jerk! The steering wheel also felt funny, like it got loose and wasn't hooked to the tires anymore. I pulled over the and heard a loud clunk (metal on metal sort of sound) and put it into gear to baby it into work, it made more noises and jerks but seemed to run. I could smell a burning smell so I parked. The shop picked it up and could not find anything wrong with it. They asked if I was sure I knew what I was talking about! I had driven the car for 90000 miles! I knew what wasn't normal! I picked it up and guess what, it ran great! I speeded up and slowed down again and again and it just wouldn't act up! I could faintly smell the burning smell but figured I picked up some piece of something off of the road and it had been stuck but fell out when I stopped. …
Engine & cooling
We took a car that we recently purchased from a private party to our mechanic for an oil change and found that the head gasket is leaking and it will cost $1000.00 for repair. Also found out this is a problem that the Eagle Talon had and that there was never a recall on it. We feel that Chrysler should do the repair at no cost to us. We would appreciate any help that you could give us. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Ann pirrello.
Fan belt comes off of pulleys, especially on long trips and at high speeds(70mph), results in lose of alternator/water pump/ air conditioner compersor, and power steering. Vechile is extremely difficult to turn after belt comes off. This has happened a total of 7 times and can not seem to determine/fix problem.
1996 Eagle Talon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 29 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Eagle Talon a good car?
Based on 44 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Talon rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Talon at the same age. It is one of the Talon years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Eagle Talon?
The suspension — 12 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › lower ball joint. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (9) and engine & cooling (5).
How many recalls does the 1996 Eagle Talon have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1996 Eagle Talon, the most recent from December 18, 2000 (lower ball joint). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Eagle Talon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1998 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1996. See the full Eagle Talon years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Eagle Talon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 112,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.