15th Aug 2008, 04:01
It's not too late for some driving to start using full synthetic oil on ALL vehicles they drive as well. Insist on a better quality WIX or PUROLATOR filter rather than the common 'value store variety' Fram, which are comprised of cheaper cardboard materials and glued together, they have spotty quality claims. The extra expense of a good oil and filter will give you peace of mind miles further down the road.
12th Oct 2008, 12:44
I own a 2000 LHS that I bought new in September 2000.
I have done the scheduled maintenance and have had only one 'serious' issue in the 63,000 miles I've put on it - the water pump started leaking at about 45K and had to be replaced - the dealer botched the job and managed to clog the cooling system - it cost $3000 to fix, but I got it back through small claims court and can't blame Chrysler corporate for the problem.
At 63K I am about to change brakes for the first time (I'll bleed the lines at the same time) and I need inner tie rod bushings - beside that, the car seems solid.
I'm in Quebec, land of truly bad roads, HOWEVER;
1. I've owned the car since new and done regular oil changes and such
2. I've had the body rustproofed and redone annually
3. I am not an abusive driver
4. The car is always parked indoors - that alone is a lifesaver for cars because UV damage is what breaks down the plastic parts and such.
Those people who buy used cars without knowing what the history is are open to buying a lemon - not the car's fault. The problem is that if the maintenance isn't done and/or the car is abused you inherit the resultant problems.
Sure, cars can be 'bad', but you find that out in the firs year of ownership.
The sludge issue in the 2.7 is/was a known issue - regular oil changes, more frequent than the 'maximum' interval is the solution. Why? Because people do not drive long highway miles much - short runs are what kills the engine and the oil breaks down quickly - if the oil was left to sit too long in a car that is used like that you get sludge due to oil foaming.
Too many of us believe that 'we don't operate in severe service environments' when we do, and then we do the 'regular service' maintenance.
If they survive, my next car could well be a Chrysler, though I'm partial to the Cadillac STS... we'll see what comes out of the current economic crisis.
15th Oct 2008, 20:59
2000 Concorde LXI 3.2 bought new. 164,000 miles. Just replaced second water pump. Replaced inner tie rods and struts last month as expected. Always used synthetic oil since it is a high temp engine. This is my tenth 100k plus auto including Chevy, Ford, Oldsmobile, Toyota, Nissan and Volvo. All, with the exception of the B-18 Volvo, required constant preventive maintenance and repairs to get them to 200K. The Concorde is equal if not better than the rest. But you have to take exceptional care if you expect them to last.
2nd Dec 2008, 20:54
I have a 2004 Chrysler Concorde with 40,000 miles on it, and have had nothing but problems with it. I won't buy another Chrysler car ever again!!! I'm so angry I want to burn it! If you're smart, don't buy a Chrysler! Unless you have a lot of money to fix it every day!
11th Nov 2009, 23:16
Now, I am nervous.. just bought a 2000 Concorde LX with 105k on it and so far it's running great. Guess I will find out.
27th Jan 2010, 15:31
This is a message to everyone on here that is blatantly claiming Chrysler is a bad automobile company, along with the rest of the domestic manufacturers... I would like to inform you that almost all of those "reliable" imports have domestically built motors.
Take Mazda for example... They are built with Ford motors. Mitsubishi's are built with Chrysler motors. I have owned both. They were the most reliable cars I've owned.
I now own a 2000 Chrysler Concorde, and while I am having a problem repairing it from a timing belt incident, it is just as good of a car!
1st Feb 2010, 08:39
To the last commenter. No, what you are saying is not generally true. It's true that there's a lot of cooperation and technology sharing in the auto business, but to say generally that a lot of imports are made with domestic engines is not correct. What is true is;
1. There are common models of engines and transmissions produced by domestic and foreign manufacturers. The Mazda/Ford sharing with common engines and transmission is probably the most well known. Another example is the Ford/Nissan cooperation like the Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager. Now Ford does not even have a controlling stake in Mazda after selling 20% of the Mazda shares in late 2008.
2. Plant sharing. Different branding of autos made in the same plant with common parts.
3. Pure re-branding. Like selling compact Mazdas built in Japan as Fords.
4. Shared technology and development. "Everybody" does that, even Toyota.
5. Simply buying components, like Chrysler did from Mitsubishi when they found out that they needed an engine fast, and did not have the time or the money to develop one themselves, like they did with the 2.6L in the eighties. So "Mitsubishi's are built with Chrysler motors." never happened. It was the other way around: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Astron_engine#4G54
"Take Mazda for example... They are built with Ford motors. Mitsubishi's are built with Chrysler motors. I have owned both. They were the most reliable cars I've owned."
Well, your Mazdas and Mitsubishis were reliable? That's because they both had Japanese built engines. The Mitsubishi would have had no input from Chrysler whatsoever, remember; it was the other way around, while the Mazda may have had a engine design made in cooperation with Ford, depending on the year and model, but its engine was still Japanese built.
3rd Mar 2010, 21:56
I owned a 1998 Chrysler Concorde. It's the worst car I've ever had in my 55 years of life, nothing but problems..
20th May 2010, 14:56
I owned a 2000 Concorde for a few years. The car leaked steering fluid for years, which numerous mechanics were unable to completely fix. The window modeling feel apart. Finally the timing belt went and destroyed the engine. This will be the last Chrysler product I will EVER own!
28th Jul 2008, 14:30
I own a 1998 Chrysler Concorde LXi with the 3.2. It has run well from 48000 miles up to its current 125000.
All four windows will not roll up or down though, and the molding in between the doors and the frame have all fallen out. The piece of plastic on the end of the hood near the windshield fell off and the driver seat died.
The only engine trouble I have had though is I had to replace a 20 dollar part on the tranny.
Overall I regret buying it.