2004 CHRYSLER 300M Steering Problems

NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN. STIFF WHEN DRIVING. CRACKS IN DASH AROUND PASSENGER AIR BAG. ENGINE LIGHT ON AND REMAINS ON FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON. ADVISED THAT SRS ROLL COIL NEEDS REPLACING. PART ORDERED THROUGH CHRYSLER PARTS DEALER AND IS ON BACK ORDER. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT THE TIE RODS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR STRUTS, INNER TIE RODS, CAM SHAFT AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,682 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,546.

COMING HOME FROM WORK I PULLED INTO MY GIRLFRIENDS CIRCLE DRIVEWAY. WHILE MAKING THE LEFT HAND TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY I FELT THE CAR NOT REACTING TO THE STEERING WHEEL. I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT BOTH FRONT TIRES EXPECTING TO SEE A BROKEN TIE ROD END BUT BOTH TIRES POINTED IN THE SAME DIRECTION. I ASKED HER TO STEP IN THE VEHICLE AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE I COULD SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I COULD SEE THE WHOLE STEERING RACK MOVE BACK AND FOURTH WITHOUT IT BEING CONNECTED TO THE FRAME. I AM THANKFUL THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I WAS HEADING HOME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CAR TO OWN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BETWEEN 5-50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VEER TOWARDS THE LEFT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE INNER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE INNER TIE RODS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,231. UPDATED 01/24/12*LJ UPDATED 01/27/12

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED HOWEVER; THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND CRASHED INTO A TRUCK CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND NO PROBLEM. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FURTHER, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, IF HANDS WERE REMOVED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.