This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Oct 2013 five months after I just had my car fixed. As I was driving through the green light I heard a noise like grinding my car stopped I could not go forward or backward, I was stopped in the far right lane of a three lane street I had to put on my flashers. I could not be move only by a tow truck. I had just had tire rods changed in May 2013 and rack N pinion fixed in may which that broke as I was backing out of a parking spot had to be towed. As I was taking the car to the dealership that had fixed it. Tow truck driver noticed tire rod bracket had broke as he was putting car down into parking area. So what I paid to get fix was broke again part could have been defected tire rod bracket. With my family I could have been hurt if I had been on the freeway.
Backing out of a parking stall I heard something pop then I couldn't turn left or right I could only go up or back so I was stuck in the middle of the parking lot had T O get towed steering wheel just kept turning.
While driving, I experienced violent shaking which didn't correct until I reduced my speed to about 50mph. The issue persisted whenever I drove the highway, no matter the condition of the road over a week's time.
The contact owns a 2001 Chrysler 300M. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle began to pull to the left without intent. The failure recurred whenever the vehicle was in motion and would also pull to the right sporadically. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who informed the contact that the power steering rack would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
2001 300M loss of power steering at idle. Extemely noisy pump. Have replaced pump 3 times. Dealer claims no reports of common problems. Have been told by several machanics may be rack and pinion.
- Albert Lea, MN, USA
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Wife backed out of driveway, heard a popping sound, then attempted to pull back into the driveway. The car lost all steering. Discovered one bolt had sheared off the steering system, considered the rack and pinion, and the other bolt had backed out. The night before we had just traveled on interstate 20 in Alabama, running interstate speeds with a child onboard.. if this had happened during the travel, no doubt fatalities would have resulted.
2001 Chrysler 300M steering noise over bumps / play on steering wheel/ seems very unsafe to drive, dealership has replaced the tie rods as well as I did also I also replaced all suspension and the noise is still there it is definitely in the rack and pinion, it feels lose and like other complaints the rack and pinion may share off and cause a fatal car accident I need this fixed before it harms me or someone related to you. Please advise.
Chrysler 300M 2001, on 7/9/09 -car was seen and inspected for any trouble at a certified Chrysler dealership. Original estimate was $200, total work cost $1,871. Car released to us and we were told it was in perfect running condition. On 7/31/09 total loss of steering causing the car to turn and run up on sidewalk even though driver was attempting to turn opposite direction. Had vehicle towed and inspected by independent repair shop. Steering rod bolt had snapped causing loss of steering in both wheels. Estimated repair cost at $1,675. Chrysler dealer claims to have no knowledge of any problem concerning the steering on any 300M Chrysler.
December 20th 2008 accident occurred. Vehicle started on fire and was totaled on the right passenger side. Inner tie rods and bushings were replaced not even two weeks before along with two tires and brakes. Vehicle pulled to the left while in an intersection. A truck coming from the opposite direction hit the vehicle on the front left passenger side and the hood. Vehicle was in a 180 degree position with little damage to the left side.
Some background: I noticed the steering wheel was a little sloppy on my 300M and took it to a local dealer to be diagnosed. They told me the rack and pinion should probably be replaced. I had it replaced for around $1200. A year and a half later while traveling for christmas, I pulled off the interstate (from doing 70 mph) to stop at a gas station. I stopped at the top of the off ramp for the stop sign. Traffic cleared, as I accelerated to turn left, when I turned the wheel I heard a noise, and the car went straight. I had no steering. Luckily I had enough room past the intersection to get out of traffic, but still had my wife and two small children in a precarious position. If this had happened while doing 70 mph down the interstate, I'm sure we all would have been seriously injured or killed. The car was towed to a dealer whose opinion was that the bolts that hold the inner tie rods to the rack and pinion were loose and caused the failure. The dealer had to replace the rack and pinion again. Police were on scene but did not take a report.
I was stopped at a city intersection waiting to make a left turn. When traffic cleared, I attempted to make the left turn. I heard a 'clunk' and the wheels did not turn. The steering wheel turned, but the tire wheels did not! I had no function except forward or reverse, so I was forced to drive into the curb in an attempt to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. I was not able to get safely off the roadway and my car blocked an entire lane of rush hour traffic which put me in a very dangerous situation. The police were called and a tow truck had to lift the car to move it out of the roadway. I was petrified. The car was towed as instructed by the police officer and is currently with the repair shop pending availability of a steering rack kit. The bolt to the rack was severed! there was no warning prior to this incident. Although I was not injured thanks to the slow speed I was traveling I am very concerned about others that may have this same experience when traveling at a higher speed and making a turn or exiting a highway off ramp. This is clearly a mechanical safety hazard and appears to be faulty workmanship in the automobile. My car is maintained regularly and I have never been advised by Chrysler to replace the steering rack. I have contacted the Chrysler customer assistance center (reference # 18030539), but they are of no assistance concerning this incident. I'm shocked that there has not been a recall as research shows this is a recorded known deficiency in the workmanship.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Salinas, CA, USA