2000 Chrysler 300M

I HAVE A 2000 300M. IT HAS EXPERIENCED SLOPPY STEERING, ?HITCHES? AND A LACK OF SMOOTHNESS, ESPECIALLY IN LEFT HAND TURNS, AND A TENDENCY TO NOT HAVE THE WHEEL COME BACK TO CENTER WITHOUT UNDUE FORCE BEING EXERTED. THE FRONT END ALSO MAKES SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF NOISES. THE CAR IS NOW IN A ASCE SHOP WITH COPIES OF INFORMATION AND TSB?S FOUND ON THIS SITE. I AM HOPING TO HAVE IT PROPERLY REPAIRED AND TO HAVE MY SON USE IT FOR COLLEGE (APPROXIMATELY 125 MILES AWAY). I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT, EVEN REPAIRED, THE CAR WILL BE UNSAFE. I BELIEVE I HAD AN ISSUE EARLY ON WITH IT AND THE DEALER REPLACED SOME TIE RODS OR SOMETHING. THE CAR NOW HAS 160,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE SPENT MONEY ON MANY ITEMS LIKE BRAKES, TIRES, COMPLETE SUSPENSION REPLACEMENT, SEVERAL FRONT END ALIGNMENT ISSUES, BATTERY, AIR CONDITIONING, ETC. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD SAFE CAR FOR MY SON. NOW I DON?T KNOW WHAT TO DO. TWO DAYS AGO A 19 YEAR OLD FAMILY FRIEND LOST CONTROL OF HIS 300M AND HIT A TREE. HE IS DEAD. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNK. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, BUT THE WHEELS FAILED TO TURN. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE RACK AND PINION. THE RACK AND PINION FAILED ONCE BEFORE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 44,444 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SECOND TIME THE INCIDENT HAPPEND, THE BOLTS SHEARED WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 08/15/07. *JB

THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300 M IN 2003 (LESS THAN 50,000 ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME) WAS A POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DODGE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOTHING. WITHIN 2 YEARS, I WENT THROUGH TWO SETS OF 50,000 MILE TIRES/ FINALLY, THE BOLT IN THE RACK ASSEMBLE BROKE (IN A PARKING LOT THANK GOD) A PIECE OF THE BOLT WAS LEFT IN THE ASSEMBLY. THIS LED TO 1200 IN REPAIR WORK. A YEAR LATER, THERE WAS SO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING IT WAS NON DRIVABLE. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AGAIN AND PAID ANOTHER 1100 TO REPLACE TIRE RODS AND OTHER FRONT END PARTS DUE AGAIN TO "TORQUE PROBLEMS" WITH THE STEERING. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE SAME, BRAND NEW BOLT TIGHTENED TWICE TO KEEP IT FROM SNAPPING AGAIN. ALSO, BEEN THROUGH AN ADDITIONAL SET OF TIRES. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT I KNOW, AND THERE ARE WEBSITES COMPLAINING ABOUT IT ALL OVER THE PLACE. *AK

1) CAR MADE LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND TRAVELING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. HAD CAR LOOKED AT BY 2 DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. 2) FINALLY TOOK CAR IN FOR A 3RD TIME AND MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM. 3)CAR NEEDED NEW TIE RODS, SWAY BARS, ETC. FOR STEERING/SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. REPAIRS COST OVER $1000. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL FELT NOTICEABLY LOOSE. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED SIGNS OF WHEEL CLICKING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT 30 MPH. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS PERMANENT GRADUAL WORSENING. THE CLUCKING NOISES WERE MORE PERCEPTIBLE WITH THE TURNING ROUND OF THE WHEEL ON EVERY ROAD CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.

DRIVING OUR 300 M YEAR 2000 TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL I HEARD A LOUD SNAP AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JUST SPIN AROUND AND THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. WHEN I WENT OUT I SAW AN AMOUNT OF RUSTY METAL LYING ON THE GROUND. WE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP ON 7/14/05 WITH 90% OF THE DRIVING A INTERSTATE ROAD AT SPEEDS OF 60-75 MILES PER HOUR. IF THIS HAD LET LOOSE DURING THAT MY WIFE AND I WOULD PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE THERE WAS NOT WAY TO CONTROL THE CAR.

MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M SUDDENLY LOST STEERING AS I WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET IT TO A GAS STATION. $850 LATER, ITS OK NOW BUT HOW CAN THE RACK AND PINION GO BAD ON A 45000 MILE CAR? MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS ALL APART BEYOND REPAIR. I SAW ON THE INTERNET OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING ON THEIR CHRYSLERS, SO I FIGURED ID ADD TO THE PILE.

VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING FLUID ON THE GROUND, I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THE RESULT WAS POWER STEERING HOSES LEAKING FLUID. MANUFACTURER IS HAVING ME REPLACE THE PART. OLD PART IS STILL ON VEHICLE, DUE TO I HEARD THEY HAD FAULTY HOSES ON THEIR MINI VANS AND I FEEL MINES SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME BY DEALER! ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS NOT LEATHER AND MELTS. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN AS IT HAS MELTED AGAIN DUE TO THEM SAYING ITS THE CREAM IN MY HANDS. THE SEATS HAVE NOT MELTED AND I ALSO OWN A 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WITH LEATHER STEERING WHEEL THAT HAS NOT MELTED AND IT HAS 180K MILES ON IT, SO ITS NOT ANY CREAM I AM USING!

RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY FAILED WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. STEERING WAS LOOSE, CLUNKING SOUND AND STICKING DURING TURNS. MANUFACTURER WON'T COVER BECAUSE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. COST TO ME WAS $1200 FOR NEW RACK AND PINION. I DON'T FEEL THIS SERIOUS A PROBLEM SHOULD OCCUR IN A CAR WITH UNDER 50,000 MILES. IF I HADN'T HAD THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUR CRASH. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T CARE ABOUT ITS REPUTATION OR ABOUT SAFETY FOR ITS CUSTOMERS. *AK