1986 Chrysler LeBaron GTS from North America - Comments

CV joints on both front axles.

Broken sub-frame.

Had to rebuild engine.

Transmission failed.

Seats ripped along seams.

Water leaked in through rust holes.

Had to replace the steering column because it started to move from side to side.

Could not park on a hill or else the car would get stuck in Park (which seems to be a problem with Chrysler products in general)

This car was the worst POS imaginable. My parents bought the car with 44000 miles on it. Within 6 months of buying it, they had to rebuild the motor. At 65000, they had to rebuild the motor AGAIN. They also had other problems with it. They gave it to me as a first car at 102000 miles because dealers would not accept it as a trade-in.

The trend continued. Within a month of getting the car, I had to rebuild the engine for the THIRD time. At 110000, the transmission failed. Shortly after that, the CV joint failed on the right front axle, and when it failed, the sub-frame to the car broke. Later, the other CV joint failed. The only reason I even kept repairing it was because I knew a junkyard owner that had one for parts that did the repairs for me cheap.

In addition to the mechanical problems, this car also had rust holes in the front wheel-wells that let water in. The seats ripped along the many poorly constructed seams. And, finding a parking spot was a challenge, since if I parked on any sort of an incline, the car would get stuck in park (and both transmissions did it).

I finally was able to dump the pile for $500. A year or two later, I saw it sitting for sale in front of a salvage dealer. When I inquired about it, they told me that they had to replace the transmission again as well as the master computer in order to make it sellable at $300.

I have the same car only I guess I take better care of mine cause I am the second owner of mine and it hasn't had a problem besides a window motor.

What I don't get is, why did you accept the LeBaron as a gift from your parents in the first place? If it needed so much work, you should have told them to give it to someone else. Investing money into it was another poor decision. If you knew for a fact that the car had problems all along, you should have sold it as soon as you received it. Your parents most likely never maintained this vehicle for it to become such a financial burden. Maintenance is crucial in order to keep a car running and driving without major issues. They probably never even bothered to get the oil changed every 3,000 miles or get the fluids flushed and changed every 15,000 miles. I'll bet that the LeBaron never even saw a Tune Up at 50,000 miles. Do not blame Chrysler for your parents' mistakes. I will however vouch for your Transmission troubles. I own a 1987 Chrysler LeBaron GTS with 114,444 miles on the Odometer and my Tranny is starting to slip. Other than that issue, I love my car! If you bought another Chrysler car that wasn't owned by Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, your outlook may change. Your family will be the first ones to cheat you on vehicles, whether they are free or paid for. I made this mistake twice.

As the original writer of this review, I am taking some time to respond to the comments above.

With no knowledge of the situation, I might be inclined to agree with some of the above comments. However, as this was my first car (my parents gave it to me when I was 16), I know that the car was maintained quite well by both my parents and myself. By way of comparison, my father's Chevy truck that he had at the time is still on the road today, and the Pontiac Bonneville that I had after the POS LeBaron had 200,000 miles on it when I sold it, and it had been totalled twice. Indeed, it is totally unbelievable that even if we had never changed the oil that THE SUB-FRAME to the car would break when a CV joint failed, also something that should not have happened. Sub-frames should never ever under any stress or circumstance break, and master computers should also not fail, and I know that the one in this car did. After this car, I managed to get not one, but two GM cars past 200,000 miles, yet with the LeBaron, my parents actually shot video of the odometer turning 100,000 miles because we never thought the car would make it that far. If you've managed to keep yours running, great and good for you. The guys on the line must have been sleeping when they built my car.

Well, I have the same car & have never had any trouble with it. The engine still runs great & can park on hills fine!! I've had the car for 10 yrs!!!

I had a 1996 Town and Country wagon, which was basically a Lebaron, and had a couple of the problems that were mentioned.

I found out the hard way to not park it on a hill. Wow, that was blast getting that out of park.

No transmission problems here, though.

Master computer went, at the same time the water pump did. $400 later, it was fixed.

Eventually, I sold it to some kid who drove it for quite awhile I'm told.

Even with those problems, I'd buy another one.

I've owned an 86 GTS for 20 years now. Honestly! This car has been to hell and back, yet it starts right up every day for my commute. It has grown to be a trusted friend, and after the winter is over, I'm having new floorboards welded in. (New England winters have been harsh on her). I drove her today in a snowstorm, and passed another fwd car who couldn't make it up a small hill! Only routine maintenance... and the GTS lives on! 148,490 Thanks Chrysler! =)