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Chrysler Cirrus VIN Check

NHTSA holds 632 owner complaints on the Chrysler Cirrus from 170 production runs; the worst run has 27, the typical one 3.7.

NHTSA complaint records · 632 complaints · 170 runs · 1995–2000 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Cirrus run is 1C3EJ56H5SN (1995 builds) with 27 complaints, 7.3× the typical run. Service brakes problems make up 18% of reports; 1995 is the worst model year at 5.4 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 19 recall campaigns for Cirrus model years 1995–2000.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Chrysler Cirrus has 170 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 20% of every Cirrus complaint on file.

FIG.01·Chrysler Cirrus — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
1C3EJ56H5SN••••••1995271—
1C3EJ56HXSN••••••1995262—
1C3EJ56H8SN••••••1995264—
1C3EJ56H6SN••••••19952441
1C3EJ56H2SN••••••19952411
1C3EJ56H0SN••••••19952331
1C3EJ56H9SN••••••1995184—
1C3EJ56H7SN••••••199517——
1C3EJ56H3SN••••••1995172—
1C3EJ56H1SN••••••1995172—
1C3EJ56H4TN••••••1996161—
1C3EJ56H4SN••••••199516——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 158 Cirrus runs has 16 complaints or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Chrysler Cirrus the gap between build years is 2.3×: a 1995 car draws 5.4 complaints per run, a 1997 one 2.3.

FIG.02·Chrysler Cirrus — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20002.8742613
19992.853194
19982.847173
19972.350227
19963121409
19955.42875332
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 1995 at 5.4 complaints per run; lightest is 1997 at 2.3.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 18% of everything Chrysler Cirrus owners report: Service Brakes, 129 of 632 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Chrysler Cirrus — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Service Brakes129183
Hydraulic122182
Engine And Engine Cooling95—13
Power Train954—
Electrical System71—13
Steering68412
Suspension6541
Vehicle Speed Control5718—
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 19 recall campaigns on the Chrysler Cirrus; the 6 below cover build years 1995 to 2000. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Chrysler Cirrus — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
10E059000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm1995–2000
09E056000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint1995–2000
06E088000Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump1995–2000
04V021000Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift1995–1999
98V183000Power Train:automatic Transmission:park/neutral Start Interlock Switch1995–1998
09E043000Equipment1998–2000
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The Cirrus against its rivals

The Cirrus draws 3.7 complaints per production run; the Dodge Stratus 3.3, the BMW 528i 3 and the Volvo S70 2.2. That is the highest rate of the 4.

FIG.05·Chrysler Cirrus VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Chrysler Cirrus6321703.710.8%
Dodge Stratus2,1116333.38.9%
BMW 528i51917333.1%
Volvo S704702122.25.5%
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 632 reports on the Chrysler Cirrus, 10.8% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Chrysler Cirrus — complaint severity
OutcomeChrysler CirrusAll vehicles
Complaints filed6321,115,966
Involved a crash68 (10.8%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire39 (6.2%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported5758,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 86% above the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Chrysler Cirrus share of that is 632 complaints over 170 runs, 0.06% of everything on record.

Everything on the Chrysler Cirrus
Recalls53 campaignsFuel economy22 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems1,017 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space16 cu ftWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1995–2006

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Chrysler Cirrus VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 632 NHTSA complaints from 170 Cirrus runs and 19 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Cirrus production run has the most complaints?

1C3EJ56H5SN, a 1995 build, with 27 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical Cirrus run has 3.7.

Which Cirrus years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 1995 is heaviest at 5.4 complaints per run and 1997 lightest at 2.3.

Does the Cirrus get more complaints than the Dodge Stratus?

Yes: 3.7 complaints per production run for the Cirrus against 3.3 for the Dodge Stratus.

How many Cirrus complaints involve a crash?

10.8% of 632 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 39 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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