2000 Chrysler Concorde LXI review from North America

I have had really good luck with this car, experiencing only minor mechanical problems.

The headlight gasket pulls away from the light making for a poor appearance, but no functional problems.

The side door weather seals don't fit tightly, making for an excessive amount of noise at highway speeds.

The check engine warning light came on when the gas cap was not tightly screwed on, leaving me with a bit of a panic until a mechanic friend put the computer analyzer on and found the problem. There is no warning in the owner's manual about this type of thing.

The car has had one recall to replace one of the seat bolts on the driver's side. I did not have any problems before or after the work was done, so I can't comment on the supposed problem.

The front brakes went at 40,000 miles. After talking to several mechanics, I have learned that this car puts a higher than average stopping stress on the front disk brakes, so that they wear out before the rear brakes do. My mechanic tells me that this is at about a two to one ratio. The dealer gave me two different verdicts on the brakes during two different visits. I finally got the real story from an independent mechanic when I took the car in for an inspection.

Finally, the power door lock actuator on the rear passenger side quit right after the warranty ran out. I had to make two trips to the dealer's to get it fixed properly. The first time they left the child lock in place so that anyone sitting in that seat could not unlock the door, and the child lock could not be deactivated once the door had been unlocked from the driver's position. The second visit took about 1/2 hour to get it fixed.

Overall, this car has been extremely comfortable. It drives nicely and has enough power to pass most cars under normal conditions. It also holds the road well, even in wet conditions. The front wheel drive makes it very easy to correct for road conditions (read snow, ice, and wind), and to steer the car generally. The leather seats are very comfortable and not too hot in summer or cold in winter.

One very nice feature is the door panel behind the back seat fold down armrest that allows items to pass through from the trunk. This has permitted me to carry boards from the lumber yard, and to access small items in the trunk while on the road.