2004 DODGE STRATUS Steering Problems

I HAVE NOTICED WHEN I AM TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THERE APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT OF A LACK OF CONTROL AND LOOSENING OF THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE AS I AM DRIVING. ALSO, THE SUSPENSION ON MY VEHICLE HAS BECOME MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED NEGATIVELY.

AS I AM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING OR IDLE THE STEERING IS MAKING A SQUEAKING/CREAKING NOISE I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH RECALL: 10E059000 FRONT CONTROL ARM - LOWER ARM

THE BALL JOINT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY SEPARATED CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM BEING ABLE TO STEER THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL #10E059000 AND #09E056000. I THINK THE CONTROL ARM WAS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PART. I'LL ATTACH PICTURES WITH THE PART NUMBER.

CAR HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND ON CITY STREET. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND BE HARD TO TURN. SOMETIMES SPEEDOMETER WILL STOP WORKING CORRECTLY. CAR WILL SHUT DOWN.

LATELY WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THEN A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER IT COMES ON THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP. IT HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN BUT THEN THE SPEEDOMETER WOULDN'T WORK. AFTER THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED BUT NOW WHENEVER IT MALFUNCTIONS THE CAR SHUTS OFF ON ITS OWN AND WILL NOT START AGAIN UNTIL ITS BEEN SITTING UNTOUCHED FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TOWN (25 MPH) AND ON ROADS UP TO 55 MPHS.

LOWER LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION ARM BALL JOINT BROKEN. THE OUTER BEARING CARRIER, FELL AWAY FROM THE SUSPENSION ARM, PULLING THE HALF SHAFT OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLY JAMMED UP IN THE WHEEL WELL WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION JUST FOLLOWING A TURN, IN A PARKING AREA.

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND FELT A MISS IN THE ENGINE, PLACED IN NEUTRAL TO SEE IF IT WAS JUST A BUMP OR IMAGINATION. I WATCHED THE ENGINE RPMS DROP TO ZERO. SOMEHOW THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME ONLY TO HAVE TO THROW IT IN NEUTRAL AGAIN AND DRIVE TWO FOOTED ALL THE WAY HOME BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS TRYING TO DIE. SO, I DROVE MY TRUCK TO WORK FOR THE NEXT WEEK AND THEN SATURDAY CAME AROUND AND I FIRED THE CAR UP NOTHING APPEARED OR SOUNDED UNUSUAL. I LET IT IDLE FOR ABOUT 5 MIN. BACKED UP AND OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY AND AT THE SECOND STOP SIGN I HUNG A RIGHT AND HEARD A "POP" NOISE FOLLOWED BY A CARD IN BIKE SPOKE SOUND FROM THE ENGINE, I OPENED THE HOOD, AGAIN NO DAMAGE ....THE VALVE COVER CLOSEST...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE STRATUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AROUND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL THAT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BACKING HER 2004 DODGE STRATUS (115111 FAILURE MILEAGE) AT 1 MPH INTO A PARKING, SHE HEARD A CLICKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND AIRBAG LIGHT DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND NOW THE HORN IS INOPERABLE. SHE STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING BROKE.

2004 STRATUS MADE A WHISTLING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE WHEN DRIVING 70-80 MPH. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED IT SOUNDED AS IF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO FALL APART. THE CONSUMER THINKS SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR BROKE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. HE THINKS IT MAY BE THE STEERING, TRANSMISSION OR THE RACK AND PINION. *JB