NHTSA Complaint #10078517 — 1999 CHRYSLER CONCORDE

VEHICLE: 1999 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LXI,PPROXIMATE MILAGE: 50,000 PROBLEM: STEERING WHEEL; RACK AND PINION: ( 1.) THE STEERING WHEEL JAMS AND I HAVE TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE IT. ( 2.) THERE IS ALSO 1/2" TO 1" OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER WAY WHEN IT IS "WORKING PROPERLY". THE PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITENTLY THEN RAPIDLY WORSENED. I SPOKE TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. MY COWORKER IS APPROCHING 50,000 MILES WITH A 2000 CHRYSLER 300M, (AN UPGRADE, BUT BASICLLY THE SAME CAR), HE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED DIAMLER CHRYSLER, BUT HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE. I AM TAKING IT TO THE SHOP 6/21/04 TO BE FIXED. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM AND SEEMS TO OCCURE AT AROUND 40000 TO 50000 MILES, (CHRYSLER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE SPLIT THE COST WITH ME IF THE MILAGE WASN'T SO HIGH). I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED UP ON. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM.*AK