NHTSA Complaint #754976 — 1996 EAGLE VISION

MY MAJOR COMPLAINT WITH THIS CAR IS THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK HAS FAILED 2 TIMES WITHIN 64262 MILES. THE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE LINKAGES AND POWER STEERING PUMP(S) ARE LESS TROUBLING BUT MAY BE RELATED. IT IS MY OPINION THE TIRE WEAR HAS BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 2 SETS OF GOODYEAR EAGLE GAS GUARANTEED AT 48,000 EACH (96,000 TOTAL) IN ONLY 68905 MILES. THE FIRST RACK WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 32556 MILES. THE SECOND RACK WAS REPLACED AT 64262 MILES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER (65832 MILES) AND WHILE ON A TRIP TO ST. LOUIS THE CAR BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND I HAD ROYAL OAKS CHRYSLER-JEEP IN ST. PETERS, MO (636) 928-8000 REPLACE THE INNER TIE-ROD BUSHINGS. UPON MY RETURN TO DAYTON, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE PROBLEM HAD IMPROVED BUT WAS NOT CORRECTED. AT 66396 MILES TOM HARRIGAN CHRYSLER REPLACED 2 MORE BUSHINGS (PART # 4755001), FRONT STRUTS, AND THE LINK-SWAY ELIMINATOR. THE CAR IS NOW SAFE BUT THERE ARE SQUEAKS AND HYDROLIC GROWLING COMING FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM THAT THE MECHANICS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE. THE MECHANIC AT TOM HARRIGAN CHRYSLER INDICATED THAT STEERING PROBLEMS LIKE MINE ARE COMMON ON THE EAGLE, AND OTHER LHS CARS OF THIS VINTAGE. COMMON OR NOT, I SEE MULTIPLE FAILURES OF A MAJOR STEERING COMPONENT AS A SERIOUS SAFETY THREAT TO ME AND MY FAMILY. A MEAN-TIME-BETWEEN-FAILURES OF 34,000 MILES IS EVIDENCE TO ME THAT THE STEERING RACK DOES NOT POSESS THE REASONABLE DURABILITY EXPECTED/DEMANDED OF SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT. IT IS ALSO INDICITIVE OF A MATERIAL/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FACT THAT SO MANY STEERING COMPONENTS FAILED IN MY EAGLE VISION AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURES ARE RELATED, AT LEAST IN PART, AND I AM THANKFUL THAT MY WIFE WAS NOT AT THE WHEEL WHEN THE MOST SERVE SHAKING (AND NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL) OCCURRED.