NHTSA Complaint #10160292 — 2000 CHRYSLER LHS

I TOWED MY 2000 CHRYSLER LHS ON A TWO-WHEEL TOW DOLLY BEHIND MY RV FROM PAPILLION, NE TO FORT BENNING, GA. SINCE THERE WERE NO PULL-THROUGH SITES AVAILABLE WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE CAMPGROUND AT FT. BENNING, I HAD TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE DOLLY SO I COULD BACK THE RV IN. ONCE OFF THE DOLLY, I FOUND THAT I COULDN'T DRIVE FORWARD. BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE FACING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. NEXT MORNING CAR WAS TRANSPORTED TO A CHRYSLER DEALER IN COLUMBUS, GA WHO REPAIRED THE STEERING. TURNS OUT THAT THE INNER TIE RODS SEPARATED FROM THE RACK-N-PINION ASSEMBLY. THE POWER STEERING RACK HAD BEEN REPLACED BY BAXTER CHRYSLER OF OMAHA, NE ON AUG 24, 2004. DEALER REP IN GA INDICATED THAT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING WHEN THE PARTS SEPARATED, THE CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED AND I AND MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. FOR APPROXIMATELY 9 - 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT IN GA, I HAD COMPLAINED TO BAXTER OF NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEN MAKING SLOW SPEED TURNS AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BAXTER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IMPROPER REPAIRS BACK IN AUG 04 MAY HAVE CAUSED SEPARATION OF PARTS. *NM