Chrysler LHS Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 1999 draws 5.45 complaints per run and the 1995 2.92, a 1.9-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 78.9% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Steering, with 123 complaints, typically at 5.9 years.

Chrysler LHS years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Chrysler LHS — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2001	1.58	19	12	yes
2000	4.69	75	16	yes
1999	5.45	120	22	yes
1997	3	63	21	yes
1996	4	104	26	yes
1995	2.92	114	39	yes
1994	5.29	254	48	yes

ROWS 7·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Among the 4 Chrysler LHS years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1999, 1994, 1996; the three worth hunting are 1995, 1996, 1994.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Chrysler LHS — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	35	5.8%	covered
1 year	31	11%	covered
2 years	61	21.1%	covered
3 years	75	33.6%	you pay
4 years	92	48.9%	you pay
5 years	85	63.1%	you pay
6 years	65	73.9%	you pay
7 years	42	80.9%	you pay
8 years	26	85.2%	you pay
9 years	19	88.4%	you pay
10 years	22	92%	you pay
11 years	18	95%	you pay
12 years	14	97.3%	you pay
13 years	9	98.8%	you pay
14 years	5	99.7%	you pay
15 years	2	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 21.1% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 78.9% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 26% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Chrysler LHS, the early trouble is Service Brakes — reported at around 3.7 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Steering at 5.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Chrysler LHS — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Steering	123	5.9 yrs	3	—
Fuel System	117	5.6 yrs	1	9
Gasoline	112	5.6 yrs	1	9
Power Train	107	5.1 yrs	9	1
Engine And Engine Cooling	87	4.8 yrs	2	3
Electrical System	70	5.9 yrs	1	5
Structure	67	5 yrs	2	—
Service Brakes	60	3.7 yrs	9	1

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the LHS's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Chrysler 300 4.11 and the Kia K5 3.08, against 4.28 for the LHS.

FIG.05·Chrysler LHS — rivals in the same class
Same class as the LHS	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Dodge Charger	5,784	133	1983–2026
Chrysler 300	6,171	86	1999–2026
Kia K5	486	21	2021–2026
Hyundai Sonata	16,220	152	1989–2026
Chevrolet Impala	10,373	98	1981–2026
Lincoln Continental	2,687	80	1981–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Chrysler LHS

Recalls23 campaigns Fuel economy19 mpg best Common problems1,155 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space19 cu ft Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car1994–2001

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chrysler LHS reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 4.28 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which LHS years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 1999, 1994, 1996. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1995, 1996, 1994. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do LHS problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Steering, typically at 5.9 years, followed by Fuel System.

Will the warranty cover LHS problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 21.1% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 26% of the complaints here.

Is the LHS more reliable than the Dodge Charger?

Yes: 4.28 complaints per production run for the LHS against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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