Steering. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports5 fire reports14 injury reports

Steering complaints

53 reports

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63,000 miles · Aug 1, 2003

Steering

THE CONSUMER STATED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK. STEERING BENDS WHILE TURNING*TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026930

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2003

Steering

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING ON 6/29/2003. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT PROBLEM WAS THE RACK AND PINION. DEALER PUT IN A NEW RACK AND PINION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026229

35,000 miles · Jun 27, 2003

Steering

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN. PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10022134

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2003

Steering

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED ALL OF THE FLUID TO BE DUMPED AND THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THIS WAS THE 3RD FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10020484

51,000 miles · Apr 2, 2003

Steering

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THIS PAST WEEKEND AFTER TAKING A DAY TRIP TO VA I DISCOVERED A LEAK UNDER THE FRONT HOOD. IT SMELLED AND LOOKED LIKE OIL. THE PREVIOUS MONDAY I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT THE LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND THOUGHT THAT MAYBE SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG WITH THE FILTER. ON MONDAY THE 31ST OF MAR I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MGR AND HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND UNDER THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT IT WAS A POWER STEERING LEAK NOT AN OIL LEAK. HE STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 300M. I STATED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE MFG'ING PROBLEM. HE STATED IT DIDN'T HAPPEN TO ALL OF THEM SO THAT IS WHY IT WAS NOT A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN. I DISAGREE WITH HIS STATEMENT. I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THEY FIXED IT AND IT COST ME $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I FEEL THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR. ACCORDING TO THIS DEALER THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE 300M AND IT SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED AS A RECALL OR AT LEAST A SERVICE BULLETIN. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10013816

39,042 miles · Jan 16, 2003

Steering

THE STEERING SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED

NHTSA ODI #10002804

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2002

Steering

CONSUMER STATES WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023114

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2002

Steering

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH INNER/OUTER TIE RODS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8007670

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2001

Steering

WHEN MAKING U-TURN STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER POSITION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #885975

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2001

Steering

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL. THEN, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SPIN STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY AROUND, NO CONTROL WHAT SO EVER. VEHICLE AT DEALER AT THIS TIME. *AK DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE, VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3500 MILE AT THE T…

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NHTSA ODI #883003

Official recalls

03V035000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Feb 5, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

01V273000 · Structure:frame And Members

Aug 2, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES (NON-SUNROOF ONLY) FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IF THE OCCUPANT'S HEAD WERE TO CONTACT THE B-PILLAR.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A STORAGE BIN ACCESSORY UNIT THAT CAN BE ATTACHED TO THE B-PILLAR ALONG WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, IF AN OWNER WISHES, THE DEALER CAN PERFORM THE INSTALLATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

00V366000 · Child Seat

Nov 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." SOME OF THE OWNER'S MANUALS FOR THESE VEHICLES ARE MISSING INSTRUCTIONS THAT PROVIDE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE, INCLUDING DIAGRAMS, FOR PROPERLY ATTACHING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM'S TETHER STRAP TO THE TETHER ANCHORAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ATTACHED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE CHILD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADDENDUM TO THE OWNER'S MANUALS.

00V033000 · Seat Belts:front:retractor

Feb 4, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE MOLDING FLASH ON THE PRIMARY LEVER MAY PREVENT THE OPERATION OF THE G-LOCK AND TILT LOCK FUNCTIONS ON SOME OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE RETRACTORS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS IN A FRONTAL CRASH SITUATION, DRIVER PROTECTION FROM THE SEAT BELT MAY BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES.

00V034000 · Seat Belts

Feb 4, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE TURNING LOOP (ATL) TOP MOUNTING BOLT WAS INADEQUATELY MANUFACTURED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE AFFECTED MOUNTING BOLTS MAY NOT WITHSTAND SUFFICIENT FORCE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY IN CERTAIN IMPACT SITUATIONS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A BELTED OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHOULDER BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTER MOUNTING BOLTS.

99V343000 · Air Bags:frontal

Dec 2, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN INCORRECT INFLATOR CHARGE AMOUNT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A PASSENGER OCCUPANT INJURY UNDER CERTAIN ACCIDENT CONDITIONS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG MODULE WITH A CORRECT MODULE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE03010 · Throttle Control Failure

Opened Feb 27, 2003 · Closed Sep 2, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal; Vehicle Speed Control:cables; Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Vehicle Speed Control

Vehicle Speed Control:linkages