NHTSA Complaint #11057827 — 2009 DODGE JOURNEY

UPON START UP IN EXTREME COLD, VEHICLE MADE LOUD NOISES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL (SPECIFICALLY WHEN EXITING THE HIGHWAY). WHEN I ARRIVED HOME, I OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NOTICED FLUID ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. IT WAS RED IN COLOR AND DETERMINED TO BE POWER STEERING FLUID. UPON RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR HAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #16V273000) BUT MY VIN IN PARTICULAR DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A PART OF IT.