NHTSA Complaint #722325 — 1994 CHRYSLER LHS

TWO AND ONLY BOLTS OF RACK AND PINION COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF EXITING FROM GAS STATION RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AT 47K MILES WITH A NEW ONE. DEALER BEING VERY COOPERATIVE IN TRYING TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR US ($800+). OUR CONCERN IS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE BOLTS AND NEED TO ISSUE RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF BOLTS. WE KEPT ORIGINAL SHEARED BOLTS AND RACK. DEALER NOW HAS BOLTS AND HAS SENT THEM TO DETROIT FOR TESTING. DEALER ALSO HAS NOW TAKEN POSSESION OF RACK AND PINION SHOWING REMNANTS OF SHEARED BOLTS INSIDE. WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END/STEERING OF THIS VEHICLE. EACH TIME REPAIR IS MADE, PROBLEM GETS WORSE, NOW CULMINATING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING WHICH COULD HAVE ALSO RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, SHE HAD PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HOURS ON I-74 AT 65 MPH. SHOULD A 1994 CHRYSLER LHS NOW BE ON ITS THIRD RACK AND PINION. I THINK NOT. I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC DEALER WILL COME BACK WITH A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ALTHOUGH THE BOLTS WERE SENT TO CHRYSLER ENGINEERING FOR METALURGY TESTING. IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED ALL REPAIRS/PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD SUPPLY YOU WITH SAME. *AK