Used Chrysler LHS Buying Guide: 1994-97 vs 1999-2001, the 3.5 V6 and Recalls

The used Chrysler LHS to buy is a 1999-2001 car: it has the 253-hp aluminum 3.5 V6, standard traction control and four-wheel disc ABS, and 2001 added optional front side airbags. A 1994-1997 LHS is cheaper and roomier in back, with a 214-hp 3.5, but it's older and the fuel rail recall matters more on it. Chrysler built no 1998 LHS, so a seller listing one has the year wrong, and that alone is worth a VIN check.

I read Consumer Guide's used-car files for both LHS generations, its 1994 cab-forward retrospective, a Tomorrow's Technician service article on the 3.5, and NHTSA's recall data for 1993-2001, all on Oct 19, 2026. The LHS was Chrysler's top LH sedan, so this page is for the buyer who wants the loaded one. The cheaper siblings are covered in our Chrysler Concorde guide.

What you got for the money in 1994

The LHS and a revived New Yorker joined the lineup as early 1994 models. They used the Concorde's 113-inch wheelbase but ran about five inches longer overall, and both got only the 214-hp 3.5 V6 with a four-speed automatic, per Consumer Guide. The LHS had front buckets where the cheaper New Yorker used a split bench. Consumer Guide's 1994 snapshot lists base prices of $25,971 for the New Yorker and $30,868 for the LHS, a big step for a front-drive Chrysler then. The New Yorker ended after 1996, and the LHS ran through 1997 almost unchanged.

The car's biggest strength is the back seat. Consumer Guide says the New Yorker and LHS have even more rear room than the already roomy Concorde, while rear visibility and fussy climate controls are on its list of cons. A 1996 or 1997 has extra sound insulation and structural changes meant to make it quieter, so if road noise bugs you, aim there.

The 1999-2001 car is the one most people should shop

Chrysler skipped 1998 and brought the LHS back as an early 1999 model next to the new 300M. Both shared the Concorde/Intrepid front-drive chassis, but with their own styling and shorter bodies, and both used a 253-hp 3.5 V6 with a four-speed automatic. The 300M got AutoStick and sportier settings; the LHS stayed soft. Leather, heated front seats, all-disc ABS and traction control were standard. Side airbags weren't offered until 2001, when they became optional. That year also brought a Luxury Group with real walnut trim, steering-wheel audio controls and a three-point belt for the middle rear seat. 2001 was the last LHS. If you want the sharper car on the same bones, see our Chrysler 300M guide.

Consumer Guide's trouble list for 1999-2001 is mostly steering and noise. Pinhole leaks in the steering gear's rubber boots could cause a front-end rattle (1999-2000), and loose, sloppy steering was often worn inner tie-rod bushings (1999-2001). It also flags a squeak over speed bumps. None of that is scary, but on a test drive, a wandering LHS needs front-end parts, and that should come off the price.

The 3.5 V6: what to check

The 3.5 is a decent engine that punishes neglect. Tomorrow's Technician points to a small metal heater tube under the intake manifold whose O-ring at the front of the engine fails with age, and the tube can rust through from inside. The fix means pulling the upper intake and fuel rail, so it's a labor bill, not a parts bill. The same article warns that the water pump's plastic impeller can erode in dirty coolant, which leads to overheating without an obvious leak. It also says Chrysler carried undersized oil passages and a weak PCV system into the 1998 aluminum version, which is why oil change records are the first thing I'd ask for on any LHS.

So pop the hood. Look for coolant crust around the intake, check that the coolant isn't rusty, and watch the temperature gauge on a long idle. A seller who says "it just needs a thermostat" might be right. Or it might be the pump.

Recalls NHTSA lists for the LHS

• 98V184 (1994-1997, 3.5): fuel could leak from injector rail O-rings or hairline cracks in the rail.
• 99V215 (1994-1995): lower control arm brackets could crack and separate from the engine cradle.
• 94V024 (1994): the right tie rod could rub through transmission wiring and cause stalling.
• 04V021 (1994-1999 years listed, floor shifter): the park interlock could let the shifter leave Park with the key out.
• 03V035 (1999-2001): seat back recliner bolts could break.
• 00V034 (1999-2000) and 01V119 (1999), 00V033 (2000): seat belt height adjuster bolt and retractor defects.
• 01V273 (2000-2001, no sunroof): failed the interior impact standard; the fix was a B-pillar accessory.

NHTSA's tool also returns LH-family campaigns for a 1993 and a 1998 LHS, years that weren't built, so don't read too much into the year filter. Run the actual VIN. Our Chrysler recall check walks through that, and a Chrysler dealer can confirm whether the work was done.

History before you pay

A loaded 25-year-old sedan with leather and walnut can look perfect and still carry a salvage brand from a hailstorm or flood. Check the title on NMVTIS, then a CARFAX or AutoCheck report for owners and odometer readings. CarVins is a licensed reseller of both and isn't affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Stellantis. In mid October 2026 we charged about $5.50 per report as a guest and $4.50 as a member, or about $6.75 for both, compared with about $39.99 to $44.99 retail. Prices move, so trust the checkout total.

Sources

• Consumer Guide: 1993-97 Chrysler Concorde/New Yorker/LHS
• Consumer Guide: 1999-04 Chrysler 300M/LHS
• Consumer Guide: Cab Forward, the Chrysler LH cars of 1994
• Tomorrow's Technician: service notes on Chrysler's 3.5L V6
• NHTSA recallsByVehicle, make CHRYSLER, model LHS, checked Oct. 19, 2026, e.g. 2000 LHS