1985-1995 model years · 515+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
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According to Au7o's analysis of 515+ owner reports, the 1985-1995 Chrysler LeBaron has 17 documented known issues, with 9 rated critical. The most serious are A604 (41TE) Automatic Transaxle Electronic Shift Solenoid Failure ($200-$1,500 repair), 2.5L and 3.0L Head Gasket Failure ($600-$1,500 repair), Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay Failure — Cranks but Won't Start (No Spark/No Fuel) ($30-$150 repair), A604 (41TE) Ultradrive Limp Mode, Torque-Converter & Clutch Failure ($150-$2,500 repair), Chronic Overheating — Wrong-Rotation Water Pump (1989+) & Cooling System Neglect ($120-$700 repair), Distributor Hall-Effect Pickup Heat-Soak Failure — Intermittent No-Spark Stall ($80-$350 repair), Engine Controller Failure (Logic/Power Module, SMEC, SBEC) — No-Start / Stalling ($150-$600 repair), Timing Belt Wear and Breakage (2.2L/2.5L/3.0L) — Stranding No-Start ($250-$750 repair) and Turbocharger Bearing/Seal Failure (Oil Starvation, Blue Smoke) ($400-$1,500 repair). The most commonly reported issue is A604 (41TE) Automatic Transaxle Electronic Shift Solenoid Failure with 200 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $30 to $2,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE OWNER'S MANUAL INCORRECTLY STATES THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED UNTIL THE LOCK CONTROL HANDLE HAS BEEN PULLED UP. ON THESE VEHICLES, THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CAN BE OPENED BY THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE EVEN IF THE DOOR IS LOCKED.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
FRONT OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT MAY BECOME DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND OR UNLATCH DUE TO A WEBBING STIFFENER ENTERING THE BUCKLE HOUSING AND DISLODGING THE BUCKLE LATCH GUIDE.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED AND THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MAY BE PREVENTED FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE HOOD IS CLOSED.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE ZINC PLATING OPERATION PERFORMED ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COUPLING BOLT CAUSED HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT AND BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
MISMATCHED PARKING BRAKE CABLE LENGTHS TO THE REAR WHEELS REDUCES BRAKING ABILITY OF ONE OF THE REAR WHEELS, IN VIOLATION OF FMVSS 105.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 515+ owner reports, the 1985-1995 Chrysler LeBaron has 17 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: A604 (41TE) Automatic Transaxle Electronic Shift Solenoid Failure, 2.5L and 3.0L Head Gasket Failure, Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay Failure — Cranks but Won't Start (No Spark/No Fuel). Of these, 9 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 1985-1995 Chrysler LeBaron has 17 known issues documented across 515+ owner reports. 9 issues are rated critical: A604 (41TE) Automatic Transaxle Electronic Shift Solenoid Failure and 2.5L and 3.0L Head Gasket Failure and Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay Failure — Cranks but Won't Start (No Spark/No Fuel) and A604 (41TE) Ultradrive Limp Mode, Torque-Converter & Clutch Failure and Chronic Overheating — Wrong-Rotation Water Pump (1989+) & Cooling System Neglect and Distributor Hall-Effect Pickup Heat-Soak Failure — Intermittent No-Spark Stall and Engine Controller Failure (Logic/Power Module, SMEC, SBEC) — No-Start / Stalling and Timing Belt Wear and Breakage (2.2L/2.5L/3.0L) — Stranding No-Start and Turbocharger Bearing/Seal Failure (Oil Starvation, Blue Smoke). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Chrysler LeBaron issues range from $30 to $2,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, A604 (41TE) Automatic Transaxle Electronic Shift Solenoid Failure, typically costs $200-$1,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Chrysler LeBaron. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 1985-1995 Chrysler LeBaron with 17 documented issues documented across 515+ owner reports.
The LeBaron uses the Chrysler A604 (41TE) 4-speed electronically-controlled automatic transaxle. This was one of the first fully electronic automatics and its solenoid pack is the primary failure point. The solenoids develop internal leaks and electrical failures, causing erratic… Repairs typically run $200-$1,500. Severity: high.
The LeBaron's 2.5L 4-cylinder and 3.0L Mitsubishi V6 engines both suffer from head gasket failure. The 2.5L uses a composite head gasket that deteriorates, allowing coolant into the combustion chambers and oil passages. The 3.0L Mitsubishi V6 develops gasket failure between cylin… Repairs typically run $600-$1,500. Severity: high.
The Auto Shutdown (ASD) relay powers the ignition coil, fuel injectors, and (via the fuel-pump relay) the fuel pump. When the ASD relay fails, contacts wear, or its connector corrodes, the engine cranks but gets no spark and no fuel and will not start; failure can also be intermi… Repairs typically run $30-$150. Severity: high.
Beyond the solenoid pack, the A604 (41TE) Ultradrive on V6/turbo LeBarons is infamous for dropping into limp mode — the transmission loses the higher gears and is stuck in second and reverse only, often after a speed/input sensor fault, voltage glitch, or internal clutch problem. Repairs typically run $150-$2,500. Severity: high.
LeBaron overheating is common and one trap is unique to these cars: in 1989 the 2.2/2.5 switched to a counter-rotating (reverse-rotation) water pump driven off the back side of the timing/accessory belt, whereas 1980–1988 used a clockwise pump. Installing the wrong-rotation pump… Repairs typically run $120-$700. Severity: high.
The distributor pickup is a three-wire Hall-effect sensor that tells the engine computer the engine is turning so it can fire spark and injectors. These pickups are prone to heat-related, intermittent failure: the car runs fine cold but suddenly stalls once the engine bay heats u… Repairs typically run $80-$350. Severity: high.
Early LeBarons use a two-box system (separate logic module in the kick panel and power module near the battery); 1988+ cars use the combined SMEC, and later cars the SBEC. The power-module/driver section is a known weak point: heat and vibration crack solder joints and fail the i… Repairs typically run $150-$600. Severity: high.
All LeBaron engines are belt-driven overhead-cam designs with a rubber timing belt that has a finite service life (roughly 60,000 miles). The Chrysler 2.2L/2.5L four-cylinder engines are non-interference designs, so a snapped or skipped belt leaves the car stranded but does not b… Repairs typically run $250-$750. Severity: high.
The turbocharged LeBarons (Garrett T3-based Turbo I and the higher-boost Turbo II) suffer turbo center-bearing and oil-seal wear from oil starvation at cold start and shutdown, and from coking when the engine is shut off hot without a cool-down. Worn seals let engine oil pass int… Repairs typically run $400-$1,500. Severity: high.
The LeBaron convertible's hydraulic top system suffers from cylinder leaks, pump failures, and the fabric top material degradating from UV exposure. The hydraulic cylinders develop internal seal leaks, causing the top to operate slowly or stop mid-cycle. The fabric top material s… Repairs typically run $200-$1,500. Severity: medium.
The two-prong engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor at the thermostat housing feeds temperature data to the engine computer for fuel mixture and to the cooling-fan and gauge circuits. When it fails or its connector corrodes, the computer mis-fuels the engine: the car runs rough… Repairs typically run $40-$180. Severity: medium.
Chrysler's throttle-body and MPI fuel-injection LeBarons use an Automatic Idle Speed (AIS) motor (idle air control) that meters air around the closed throttle to keep the engine idling and to catch the idle when the A/C compressor cycles or when the throttle snaps shut. The AIS p… Repairs typically run $60-$250. Severity: medium.
Fuel injectors develop clogs and O-ring leaks from age and fuel deposit buildup. Clogged injectors cause misfires and poor fuel economy. Leaking injector O-rings create a fire hazard from fuel dripping onto the hot engine. Repairs typically run $100-$400. Severity: medium.
The Mitsubishi-sourced 3.0L V6 is well known for oil consumption caused by hardening valve stem seals and, at higher mileage, worn valve guides. As the seals shrink/harden, oil seeps past the valve stems while the car sits, then burns off on startup as a puff of blue-gray smoke t… Repairs typically run $400-$1,500. Severity: medium.
Power window motors fail from worn brushes and aged wiring. The driver side window sees the most use and fails first. Corroded connectors in the door jamb harness can also cause intermittent window operation. Repairs typically run $80-$250. Severity: low.
The heater/AC blower resistor block that controls the lower fan speeds is a common failure on these cars. When it burns out, the low and medium fan settings stop working and the blower runs only on High (which bypasses the resistor). The resistor typically overheats and fails bec… Repairs typically run $40-$250. Severity: low.
LeBaron instrument clusters (both standard and the digital dash) are a common failure point. The speedometer reads zero or erratically and the odometer stops counting, usually from a failed vehicle speed sensor (VSS) on the transaxle, a stripped odometer drive gear / worn speedom… Repairs typically run $60-$350. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
