1996 Chrysler Concorde LX-i review from North America

Suspension bushings went out three times in a span of 4 years until the neoprene replacement.

Hose blew out twice.

Steering rack bushings completely deteriorated after 5 years.

Water pump failed twice.

Paint job cracked, peeled and faded after 5 years of maintained care.

Seats and interior feel cheap and do not have good longevity.

Radiator needed to be replaced after 4 years.

I'm the original owner of a '96 Concorde LX-i and it's been nothing but a money pit since. Replaced the bushings 3 times in a span of 4 years... the third time, my mechanic recommended neoprene bushings and I thought my problems were over for awhile... until the steering rack went to crap in the same month. 900 dollars later, the water pump decides to break 6 months after. Overheating has been a main issue with this thing, whether it be the hose, pump or radiator. My eyes are glued to the temp gauge more so than the fuel.

I also STRONGLY agree with the factory paint being a big joke, considering the car has been garaged and properly cared for and it still manages to peel and fade... (I live in Washington BTW, not Arizona or Cali) I can still go on and on... grocery list style, but you get the idea. On the bright side, I haven't experienced the notorious tranny issues associated with these vehicles but then again, the car has only racked up 80k worth of miles in the 12-13 years owning it.

As for the positives, the 3.5 V6 engine has been very reliable all around. When the car wants to work, it's actually a pleasure to drive. The ride is smooth and buttery as it should be, and the 3.5 packs enough power to provide great acceleration for the city as well as being quiet enough to accommodate comfortable highway driving. It has great leg room, decent sized trunk space, and for its yacht like size, I've managed to get a decent 20/28 mpg. So, had the car not been such a royal pain the ass, I'd definitely keep her. However, I can no longer justify pouring in absurd amounts of money to maintain a severely depreciated entry level "luxury" sedan. Just when you think you've fixed everything, something else has to break and test your patience.