NHTSA Complaint #10343769 — 2000 CHRYSLER 300M

I NOTICED WHEN DRIVING MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M OVER BUMPS THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE. MY STEERING HAS NOTICEABLE PLAY AND WHEN I MAKE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BIND SLIGHTLY AND I HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE FORCE TO CORRECT THE WHEEL BACK STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF THE WHEEL SPINNING FREELY BACK INTO PLACE LIKE NORMAL. ALSO WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT THERE IS THIS POPPING NOISE THAT I CAN HEAR AND FEEL IN THE WHEEL. I RECENTLY HAD THE INNER TIE-ROD ENDS, OUTER TIE-ROD ENDS, AND ADJUSTER SLEEVES REPLACED. A WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS ALSO DONE. I TEST DROVE MY CAR AFTER THE REPAIRS AND THERE IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS BEFORE. I DID SEE MY OLD INNER TIE-ROD ENDS AND THE BUSHINGS WERE WORN, BUT I GUESS THAT WAS NOT THE MAIN PROBLEM. WE PUT THE CAR BACK ON THE LIFT RACK AND ALL THE OTHER VISIBLE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WERE TIGHT. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM AND I WAS SHOCKED OF THE OUTCOME. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS OF THE LH CAR (300M, INTREPID, LHS, CONCORDE). I READ THAT THERE ARE MANY CASES OF THE RACK & PINION GEARS GOING OUT. I ALSO READ THAT THE BOLT THAT TIGHTENS THE STEERING SHAFT TO THE RACK & PINION SHEARS OF AND THEN YOU LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE READ THAT THERE WERE A FEW DEATHS AND POSSIBLY MORE CAUSED BY THIS RACK & PINION FAILURE OR THE BOLT SHEARING OFF. I NOW HAVE TO BRING MY CAR BACK IN AND TRY TO EXPLAIN THIS TO THE MECHANIC. I HAVE READ THESE COMPLAINTS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS IN EACH WEBSITE. I HOPE AND PRAY THIS PROBLEM OF LOOSING CONTROL OF THE STEERING DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ME. I WILL TAKE MY CAR IN IMMEDIATELY FOR AN INSPECTION. IN CONCLUSION, CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE COME OUT WITH A RECALL FOR THIS OR AT LEAST GIVE OUT A NOTICE FOR THIS KNOWN COMPLAINT AND HAVE AND UPDATED BOLT KIT FOR THE STEERING SHAFT SO THEY DO NOT SHEAR OFF. EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING. I KNOW THAT I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE. *TR