Chrysler›LHS›1999›3.5L/chrysler/lhs/1999/3-5l/

LH platform

1999 Chrysler LHS — 3.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 LHS 3.5L.

Engine 3.5LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

Built on the LH platform, the 1999 Chrysler LHS couples a 3.5L engine with a 4-speed automatic transmission to achieve EPA fuel economy ratings of 16/24/19 mpg. Within the broader 1993-2004 model complaint history, this specific year registers 165 total owner complaints and 4 recalls, situating it between the generation's highest count in 1994 and lowest in 2003. With Vehicle Speed Control identified as the top complaint area, these figures define the 1999 model's specific standing in the vehicle's long-term reliability trajectory.

Model year1999 1997 1996 1995 1994

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.5 qt w/ filterOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque85-115 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy16/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 34 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05281090AB. Note the factory engine air filter, fuel filter, spark plug, serpentine belt and thermostat are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 34 · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP225-55R17OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	05281090AB
Engine air filter	04591099AB discontinued
Fuel filter	04546610 discontinued · alt 05003960AA
Spark plug	68304017AA discontinued
Battery	BB34F101AA
Front wiper blades	05011206AC alt 05011207AB
Serpentine belt	04892479AB discontinued · alt 04663950AF
Thermostat	68027789AA discontinued · alt 04792239AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	207.9 in
Overall width	74.4 in
Overall height	55.9 in
Wheelbase	113 in
Curb weight	3589 lb
Track (front / rear)	61.8 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	16 / 24 / 19 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	107 cu ft
Cargo volume	19 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 1999 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

8.8–9.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.80 sec — 1994 Sedan

214 hpHorsepower (as tested)

221 lb-ftTorque (as tested)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1994	Sedan 3.5L V6	8.80 sec	16.60 sec	214 hp	FWD
1994	Sedan 3.5L V6	9.10 sec	16.90 sec	214 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 85-115 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.5 qt w/ filter

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	85 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	75 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	M6, 8.8 ft-lbs, M8, 21 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	16.7 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts	9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	25.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	20.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	21 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	85-115 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	110-130 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	124 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	525 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	175 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.4-.6 ohms
Spark Plug Gap	0.058-0.057 in
Spark Plug Torque	20.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.56 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	ND 8 oil
Oil Capacity	5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	34
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15; Do not allow pressure to exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	180 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	53.0-63.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	12 approx. @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Torque to Knuckle	16 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	16 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.312; Rear: 0.281 Specifications
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.458 in / 1.019 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

40 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

40 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	45 ft. lbs.	45 ft. lbs
2	65 ft. lbs.	65 ft. lbs
3	65 ft. lbs.	65 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees bolt torque after 90 degree turn should be over 90 ft.lbs., if not replace bolt.	90 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Tighten the cap bolts to finger tight. Step 2

15 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 100,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 100,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Power Steering Line (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 22,500 mi	Brake Linings (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Ignition Timing (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 105,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified

Tool required	DRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
Why	Transmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module

Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified

When needed	After Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool required	DRBIII scan tool
Also required	The vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1999 LHS marks a sharp regression in the federal record: after complaints fell steadily from 412 in 1994 to just 3 in 1998, they surged back to 165 in 1999 — the highest level since 1996 — while TSBs peaked at 147, the most of any model year in the generation. Recalls held at four, matching the 1994 high, and investigations remained low at two, but the complaint profile is safety-weighted, led by Vehicle Speed Control (20), Steering (19), Structure (15), and Air Bags (11), with 29 crash-related and two fire-related complaints recorded. The data doesn't specify root causes for these categories. The subsequent years show a rapid improvement: complaints dropped to 92 in 2000 and 30 in 2001 before falling to single digits. The 1999 model year sits at the bottom of a U-shaped quality curve, worse than both the preceding 1998 and following 2000–2001 models. This is not a good year to buy; the 1998 or 2000–2001 model years present significantly cleaner federal records.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

147

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

165

Owner complaints

29 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98’99’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 165 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control20

Steering19

Structure15

Air Bags11

Electrical System11

Visibility8

Seats8

Engine & Engine Cooling7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

01V119000Seat Belts:Front:RetractorReported 11/04/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN VAN, WAGON, PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY NOT COMPLY WITH… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 20, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND…

00V034000Seat BeltsReported 04/02/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE TURNING LOOP (ATL) TOP MOUNTING BOLT WAS INADEQUATELY MANUFACTURED. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHOULDER BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER MOUNTING BOLTS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 147 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
9004275	2020-07-22	Electrical System	KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
9004275	2020-07-22	Electrical System	KEY, Master If replacing the key/FOBIK on a WJ, KJ, TJ, or PT Cruiser, use the "AC" NIC…
08-049-20	2020-04-22	Electrical System	Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin…
3100519	2019-11-20	Structure	Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with…
3100619	2019-11-20	Structure	Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific LHS. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 34 battery Vehicles taking 5.5 qt w/ filter LH-platform vehicles Engine oil filter 05281090AB Engine air filter 04591099AB Fuel filter 04546610 Spark plug 68304017AA

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1999 LHS 3.5L take?

5.5 qt w/ filter of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1999 LHS have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.5L get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.