1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE Steeringrack And Pinion Problems

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL PARTY. 2 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, MY BOYFRIEND HAD PARKED ALONG THE STREET IN FRONT OF A FRIENDS HOUSE FOR A MOMENT, AND HAD JUST BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM THE CURB, WHEN HE HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. AT THE SAME TIME, HE WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, AWAY FROM THE CURB, BUT THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. LUCKILY, HE WAS GOING AT A VERY LOW SPEED, SO NO ONE WAS INJURED. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS UNDER THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT THE BOLTS FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING MECHANISM HAD BEEN COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. THEY HAD SNAPPED IN HALF, LEAVING PART OF THE BOLTS INSIDE OF THE UNIT. I THANK GOD THAT NO ONE WAS HURT, AND THAT MY 12 YEAR OLD SON WASN'T...

1996 CONCORDE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. *TS ***NAR*** THE TRANSAXLE LEAKED, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB

DT: CONSUMER STATED THE RACK AND PINION CONTINUED TO WEAR OUT WHICH CAUSED THE CAR THE CONSUMER TO VEER OFF TO THE CENTER LINE. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED, THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 46,000 MILES ON IT. IT JUST TAKES OFF IN ANY DIRECTION LEFT OR RIGHT ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CHRYSLER SAID SINCE HE HAD IT REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WHEN THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, IT LASTED FOR 2 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT HAD THE INNER TIE ROD REPLACED FOUR TIMES. SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS TOLD HER THIS WAS NOT A GOOD CAR. TALSO, HE RACK AND PINION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WILL NOT TURN.*AK

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS WORN. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT TWICE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

I OWN A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE WHICH HAS BEEN GIVING ME STEERING PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I FIRST NOTICED IT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS ON VERY COLD DAYS WHEN I WOULD LEAVE FOR WORK IN THE MORNING. AS SOON AS I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND MADE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST TURN OF THE WHEEL THERE WOULD BE SOME LOUD POPPING NOISES AND THE STEERING WAS STIFF. ONCE THE CAR WARMED UP THE STEERING WAS MORE FLUID AND THE NOISE WOULD DIMINISH. THESE SYMPTOMS HAVE CONTINUED AND NOW I SEEM TO EXPERIENCE THEM EVEN IN WARMER TEMPERATURES. RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHENEVER I AM APPLYING THE BRAKES AND TURNING THE WHEEL I HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE AS IF SOMETHING IS BREAKING. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS NO LONGER STRAIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHICH INDICATES AN ALIGNMENT...

WELL AS I CAN TELL THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THE RACK AND PINION, BUSHINGS AND STEERING GEAR FAILURE AND TIE ROD ENDS. MY CONCORD HAS HAD A CLUNK GRINDING SOUND FOR SOMETIME IN THE STEERING AND NOW THE CAR IS BEGINNING TO NOT TURN WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. NOT EVERY ONE HAS A $1000.00 TO $2000.00 TO GET THIS FIXED WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET CHRYSLER TO FIX THE PROBLEM A SCHOOL BUS FULL OF CHILDREN GETTING HIT BUY ONE OF THE MANY CHRYSLER CARS WITH THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM ON THE ROAD. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF NOT ALREADY. *LA

I HAVE PUT NEARLY $2000 INTO THE FRONT END OF MY 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE, BEGINNING WITH THE INFAMOUS EARLY RACK & PINION DEFECT. RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS UP ON BLOCKS WAITING FOR ME TO REPLACE NEARLY EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END.*AK THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE OF REPLACEMNT COSTS.

STEERING IS VERY BAD. PULLS TO THE LEFT. RACK AND PINION BUSHINGS BAD, AS WELL AS A TIE ROD. USUALLY MAKES A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING. ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED. CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT. REPLACED WATER PUMP TWICE AS WELL AS THERMOSTAT. ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. BRAKES ARE VERY BAD. I'VE REPLACED THEM NUMEROUS TIMES. *AK

VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, IT WILL CONTINUOUSLY PULL TO THE LEFT/RIGHT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS COMING APART AT THE MOUNT.*AK

ON 10/11/96 I PURCHASED A NEW CHRYSLER CONCORDE FROM A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER HERE IN MONTGOMERY, AL. (VIN [XXX]) ON JAN 2001, I REPORTED TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER ABOUT THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WAS POPPING AND CRACKING WHEN YOU TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS TIE ROD BUSHINGS AND LOWER ARM. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT STRAIGHT ANYMORE WHEN DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE REPAIRS. (SOMEWHAT BETTER @$577.00 / MILEAGE WAS 36430) ON 31 JAN 03, I TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTER, HERE IN MONTGOMERY, AL. (MILEAGE IS 51758) FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TIRE BALANCE. (THE CAR'S STEERING LATELY SEEMED TO HAVE A LOT OF PLAY) ON THIS DATE, AT APPROX 9:30 AM, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MONTGOMERY SERVICE CENTER ([XXX] / SERVICE MANAGER/ PHONE NR. 334-281-2886) INFORMING ME THAT THE...

WHEN MAKING TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE IS LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALER DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

WHEN MAKING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION, VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *TT

STEERING RACK AND PINION BEGAN MAKING LOUD POP AND/OR CREAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD (<30 DEGREES F). LATER THE SAME WEEK, AFTER STARTING COLD CAR IN PARKING LOT, PULLED OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND LOST POWER ASSIST IN STEERING - WITH POWER STEERING DRIVE BELT SCREACHING. NARROWLY MISSED COLLISION WITH PARKED CAR. AFTER ENGINE IS WARMED UP 2 OR MORE MINUTES, STEERING SEEMS TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. DEALER EVALUATION SAYS REPLACE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR AT COST OF $1868. TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT. DEALER INDICATES THAT EARLIER MODEL YEARS (93-95) HAD BUSHING REPLACEMENT KIT FOR ABOUT $15, BUT '96 MODEL REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF STEERING GEAR AT $1500 PARTS COST. TWO MONTHS AGO HAD LOOSE TIE ROD REPLACED - WHICH MIGHT BE RELATED. I WILL NOT DRIVE CAR WITH THIS CONDITION - FEARING STEERING FAILURE. BUT CANNOT SPEND $1800 TO...

BOTH STEEL LINES ON THE RACK AND PINION STEERING RUPTURED, CAUSING POWER STEERING FLUID TO SPRAY ONTO THE ENGINE, ALSO THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE OTHER LINE RUPTURED ONE MONTH LATER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO CRUISE INTO NEXT LANE WOULD HEAR A LOT OF SCRAPPING NOISES. HAD COME UPON A STOP AND WOULD HEAR A SCRAPPING NOISE FROM FRONT END. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED RACK AND PINION WHICH INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH STEERING.*AK

LARGE BOLTS HOLDING RACK AND PINION SHEARED OFF

LARGE BOLTS HOLDING RACK AND PINION SHEARED OFF

BUSHINGS ON RACK AND PINION NOT PRESENT (TWO EACH). REPAIRED 3 TIMES. DEALER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. COST TO REPLACE $6 BUSHINGS THIS TIME - $1200+, BECAUSE CHRYSLER NO LONGER SELLS JUST THE BUSHINGS - MUST BUY THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION. LOTS OF PLAY IN THE WHEEL AND HAS RUINED THE TIE RODS AND INNER BUSHINGS THREE TIMES. NO RECALLS? EVERY DEALER HAS THE RACK AND PINION GEAR ASSEMBLY IN STOCK ( 3 TO 6 UNITS)!!! SOMETHING IS WRONG. *AK

RACK AND PINION BUSHINGS ARE WORN OUT AND TIE RODS ARE GONE . DEALER HAS INSPECTED, AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK *JB

THESE ONGOING PROBLEMS THAT NEVER SEEM TO BE CORRECTED. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW. IT HAS ALWAYS HAD ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS WHICH WERE REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE FINALLY DECIDED TO LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM BECAUSE WE GOT TIRED OF NO SERVICE. IN OCT OF 2000 WE HAD BOTH INNER TIE ROD ENDS AND THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END REPLACED. THE RACK ASSEMBLY WAS NEVER ADDRESSED IN THIS REPAIR. AS STATED EARLIER WE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STEERING. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEB SITE FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. WILL PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED BEFORE CHRYSLER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN.

AFTER TURNING INTO A SIDE STREET, I STOPPED WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. I TRIED TO BACK UP, ONLY TO DISCOVER I HAD NO STEERING. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP, I LEARNED THAT THE BOLTS HAD SHEARED OFF OF THE RACK. FORTUNATELY, I WASN'T MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *AK

I TURNED INTO A SIDE STREET TO TURN AROUND WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. WHEN I TRIED TO BACK UP, I DISCOVERD I HAD NO STEERING. AFTER I HAD THE CAR TOWED INTO A SHOP, I LEARNED THAT THE BOLTS HAD SHEARED OFF OF THE RACK. FORTUNATELY, I WASN'T MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED.*AK

POWER STEERING BECAME QUITE DIFFICULT AT TIMES ... HARD TURNING WITHOUT POWER ASSIST ...DEALER WILL REPLACE RACK AND PINION GEAR ASSEMBLY WITH NEW RACK AND PINION GEAR ASSEMBLY ON JANAURY 15, 2001 AT A COST TO ME OF $1,156 PLUS TAX ... THIS CAR IS NOT DRIVEN HARD BY ME OR MY WIFE (SENIOR CITIZENS) ... THIS APPEARS TO ME TO BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FOR THE GEAR ASSEMBLY TO FAIL AFTER ONLY 57,000 MILES. *AK

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT AND BECOME HARD TO MANAGE, THIS WAS DUE TO BAD RACK AND PINION STEERING. THE DEALR HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT THE VEHICLE MADE A METAL LIKE GRINDING SOUND AND A CLUNK. DEALER HAS REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING. SINCE REPAIRS, PROBLEM HAS NOT OCURRED. *AK *ML

STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

A POPPING NOISE HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE ABOUT 12000 MILES. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIND HAVE NOT RESULTED IN A CURE. AT 35500 MILES I INSISTED THAT THE FRONT END BE COMPLETELY CHECKED. THE FOUR FRONT CRADLE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. ADDITIONAL CHECKING REVEALED A LEFT FRONT AXLE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS STILL DID NOT STOP THE NOISE. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED WITH ONLY MODERATE CHANGES IN THE NOISE. NOW A LEFT FRONT STRUT AND MOUNT ARE BEING REPLACED. I HAVE NO ASSURRANCE THAT THIS WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I KNOW OF ONE OTHER CHRYSLER CONCORDE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED RACK AND PINION FAILURE IN THE PAST 30 DAYS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAVE ENCOURAGED HIM TO REPORT THIS TO THE NTSB. *AK