2000 CHRYSLER LHS Steeringrack And Pinion Problems

I OWN A 2000 CHRYSLER LHS AND WE BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN 2002 WITH 36*** MILES ON IT. AROUND 15,000 MILES AFTER BUYING THE CAR, MY WIFE WAS GOING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THE RACK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER PAYING A THOUSAND PLUS, WE WERE BACK UP AND GOING. WE NEVER HEARD ANY MORE THAN RACK FAILURE. NOW FAST FORWARD TO FRIDAY DECEMBER 14TH, 2007, I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE WORK AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER STEERING. I LIMPED IT HOME (ABOUT 20 MILES) AND STARTED CONTACTING A REPAIR SHOP. I WOUND UP MUSCLING THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS GONE BAD. THE CAR NOW HAS 150,000 MILES ON...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, A VERY LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, VIBRATED, AND SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE RIGHT INNER TIE ROD, RACK AND PINION, BUSHINGS AND SWAY BAR WERE BAD. THE REAR BUSHINGS, SWAY BAR, STRUT AND STRUT MOUNT WERE ALSO BAD.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 CHRYSLER LHS AND THE STEERING FAILED. I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR TO THE LEFT. MY MAJOR CONCERN WAS THAT MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS USING THIS CAR TO PRACTICE DRIVING FOR HER MOTOR VEHICLE TEST. IF IT WAS HER THAT WAS DRIVING THE CAR SHE WOULD OF BEEN HURT OR KILLED. I HAVE ONLY 55,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. IT HAD 3 OWNERS ALL IN MY FAMILY. I ASKED CHRYSLER AND THE DEALER TO COVER THE $800 REPAIR BILL. THEY OF COURSE REFUSED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED AND WERE VERY RUDE. I CONTACTED THE TUFANO DEALERSHIP THEY CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND STILL REFUSED. CLAIMING THE MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH. THERE ARE MAY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I AM JUST LOOK FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL I AM SATISFIED. CAN YOU HELP. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED THE STEERING NEEDS TO BE CONSTANTLY CORRECTED. THE DEALER ANALYSIS REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY DUE TO INTERNAL LOOSENESS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 54000 MILES. SURELY THE DURABILITY SHOULD BE BETTER ON A VEHICLE THAT IS DRIVEN ONLY OCCASIONALLY FOR LONG TRIPS.

I BEGAN HEARING A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END, UPON A WARM START. THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE IS NOW DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ON RIGHT TURN EXIT RAMPS AND THE CLUNKING NOISE IS PRESENT WHILE DRIVING.*AK

THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TOO MUCH PLAY IN IT, AND THERE IS A BAD SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT RACK AND PINION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DOWNHILL, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE RACK AND PINION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB CONSUMERS WIFE WAS IN SEVERE SHOCK. HE WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO BE NOTIFIED OF THIS INCIDENT. *PH

THE STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH REQUIRED ADDITIONAL FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. *JB POWER STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH FRONT END ALIGNMENT AS PER REPLACING POWER STEERING RACK. *TT