Used Chrysler Concorde Buying Guide: Best Years, 2.7 vs 3.2 and 3.5 V6, Recalls

If you want a used Chrysler Concorde, look for a 1998-2004 car with the 3.2 or 3.5 V6, which means an LXi or a 2002-2004 Limited, and treat a base LX with the 2.7 V6 as a gamble unless the oil-change records are complete. The Concorde is the comfort-first member of Chrysler's LH family, softer than the Dodge Intrepid and roomier in back than most rivals of its day. Nearly every one is 22 to 33 years old now, so you're shopping for a well-kept car, not a model year.

I went through Consumer Guide's used-car files on both generations, Motor Trend's 1998 comparison test, the Los Angeles Times review of the redesigned car, and NHTSA's recall data for every Concorde year on Oct 19, 2026. If you're cross-shopping the Dodge version, our Dodge Intrepid buying guide goes deeper on the 2.7's sludge history.

Which Concorde fits a comfort buyer

The first car (1993-1997) was the luxury version of the LH trio, built in Canada on a 113-inch wheelbase, per Consumer Guide. You got a 3.3 V6 (153 hp, then 161 from 1994) or the 214-hp 3.5, always with a four-speed automatic. Consumer Guide says three adults fit across the back seat without crowding, which is why these still show up as grandparent cars.

The 1998 redesign is the better buy for most people. Base LX cars got a 200-hp 2.7 V6 and LXi cars a 225-hp 3.2. For 2002, a 3.5 replaced the 3.2, and the new top Limited trim, which took over the body of the discontinued LHS, got a 250-hp 3.5. That's the overlap people miss: a 2002-2004 Concorde Limited is close to what the LHS had been, and the LHS itself rode the Concorde's wheelbase from 1994, according to Consumer Guide. If you'd rather have the sport-tuned sibling with the same body family, read our Chrysler 300M guide before you decide.

What did reviewers think at the time? Motor Trend picked a 1998 Concorde LXi over a Pontiac Bonneville SE for its handling, rear legroom, big trunk and styling, but said it sent more harshness through the wheel and seat on ordinary roads. The LA Times liked the quieter chassis, said wind noise was still a nuisance over 60 mph, and called the cabin plastics cheap. Consumer Guide says Chrysler softened the suspension for 1999 and again for 2000 to make it ride quieter. If ride comfort is the point, a 2000-2004 car is the one to test.

The 2.7 question

Consumer Guide's verdict on the second-generation car is blunt: stick with the 3.2 or 3.5, because the 2.7 is known to be troublesome. That doesn't mean every 2.7 has failed, but it does mean an LX with no service history is a bad bet. Look for receipts showing regular oil changes, ask whether the water pump has been replaced, and listen for timing chain rattle at a cold start. A cheap price on a 2.7 car often already reflects this, and it should.

Known trouble spots

• 1993-96: transmission shudder from a leaking front pump, sometimes needing the pump and torque converter; 1993-95 cars could also shudder from a stop because of bad seals (Consumer Guide).
• 1993-96 3.5: valve-train clatter from damaged rockers and camshaft.
• 1998-99 3.2/3.5: the oil filter adapter could come out of the block when the filter was removed, and then had to be replaced.
• 2000-04: loose or corroded connector at the headlight switch could make dash lights flicker and headlights come on by themselves.
• 1998: water behind the kick panels could make the windows, locks and mirrors act on their own.

Recalls NHTSA lists for the Concorde

• 99V215 (1993-95): lower control arm brackets could crack and separate from the engine cradle. Dealers reinforced the cradle.
• 98V130 (1993, 3.3) and 98V184 (1993-97, 3.5): fuel injector rail O-rings or cracked rails could leak fuel.
• 94V024 (1994): the right tie rod could rub through the transmission wiring and cause stalling.
• 04V021 (1993-99): on cars with a floor shifter, the park interlock could fail and let the shifter leave Park with the key out.
• 03V035 (1998-2002): seat back recliner bolts could break and let the seat back drop.
• 99V343 (2000): the passenger air bag inflator had the wrong charge.
• 00V180 (2000, non-ABS): a bent snap ring in the master cylinder could cause brake drag.
• 03V332 (2004): a cracked hood latch part could let the latch spring disengage.

The 2003 search returned nothing when I tried it. That doesn't prove a 2003 is clean, so check that car by VIN. Our Chrysler recall check walks through it, though these cars are past NHTSA's 15-year online VIN window and a Chrysler dealer's lookup is the better test.

Before you hand over cash

A 25-year-old full-size sedan is often worth less than one repair bill, so a salvage brand or a rolled odometer can turn a $2,500 car into a loss. Check the title on NMVTIS, then a CARFAX report or AutoCheck for owners and mileage. A report won't tell you about oil changes, so ask for the paper.

About pricing: CarVins sells CARFAX and AutoCheck reports as a licensed reseller and isn't affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Stellantis. In mid October 2026 a single report ran about $5.50 as a guest or $4.50 as a member, and the pair was about $6.75, while retail sits near $39.99 to $44.99. What you see at checkout is what counts.

Sources

• Consumer Guide: 1993-97 Chrysler Concorde
• Consumer Guide: 1998-04 Chrysler Concorde
• Motor Trend: Chrysler Concorde LXi vs. Pontiac Bonneville SE (1998)
• Los Angeles Times: Chrysler's ambitious Concorde hits turbulence on takeoff (April 1998)
• NHTSA recallsByVehicle, make CHRYSLER, model CONCORDE, checked Oct. 19, 2026, e.g. 2000 Concorde