NHTSA Complaint #10134162 — 1999 CHRYSLER 300M

I HAVE A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. ON JULY 23, 2005 I WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP THAT THE RACK & PINION WAS BADLY RUSTED, AND THAT ONE OF THE RODS WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN! THIS CAR ONLY HAD 62,000 AT THE TIME AND WAS NOT USED A A COMMUTING CAR, AND WAS TREATED VERY WELL. SIMPLY PUT, THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, GIVEN THE AGE OF THE CAR AND IT'S USE. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I DEALT WITH SAID THAT THEY HAD SEEN SEVERAL 300M'S COME IN WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I DO NOT LIVE IN A CLIMATE WHERE WE GET SNOW, THUS NO SALT ON THE ROADS, AND I AM NOT NEAR THE OCEAN. BASED ON THIS, AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALERSHIP, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT, ONE THAT COST ME $2300, CONVENIENTLY 1 MONTH AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. ALSO, ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE RUSTING OCCURRED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND WOULD HAVE AFFECTED TIRE WARE. THIS EXPLAINS WHY I WENT THROUGH 4 TIRES IN THE PAST YEAR. LUCKILY, THIS PROBLEM DIDN'T CAUSE ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT THIS POTENTIALLY COULD END UP BEING LIFE THREATENING FOR SOMEONE ELSE!