2000 Chrysler 300M

The contact owns a 2000 Chrysler 300M. The contact stated that the lift support struts of the hood and the trunk had failed, causing the trunk and the hood to close on her head when raised. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

DRIVING APROX 10 MPH INTO TO SCHOOL PICK UP AND DROP OFF AREA, TO PICK UP CHILDREN AS SCHOOL WAS LETTING OUT. I LOST ALL STEERING FUNCTIONS, I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. MY HUSBAND FOUND THAT A BOLT HAD BROKE OFF THE TIE ROD ((RIGHT SIDE) GOING INTO THE RACK AND PINION AND THE (LEFT SIDE) BOLT TO THE TIE ROD HAD BACK OUT OF THE RACK AND PINION. THEIR WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I THANK THE GOOD LORD THAT IT HAPPENED WHERE AND WHEN IT DID, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT OUTCOME A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD WITH MYSELF AND 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR GOING 45-50 MPH ON THE 2 LANE ROAD GOING BACK TO OUR HOME. NOW AS I DRIVE OUR OTHER VEHICLE AROUND AND SEE A CHRYSLER 300M I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS IN THAT VEHICLE AND THE OTHERS AROUND THEM. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2000 CHRYSLER 300M IN 2009. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND THE DOORS WAS DIFFERENT UNTIL MY MECHANIC SAID IT SHRUNK. I SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS. I FOUND COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. THEY ALL SAID CHRYSLER KNEW IT WAS A DEFECT BUT WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT THEIR COST NOT MINE. *TR

CHRYSLER 200M FRONT DASH PASSENGER AREA. VERTICAL CRACK APPEARED AT 2" AND HAS INCREASED IN SIZE TO OVER 12" OVER TIME. PASSENGER AIR BAG IS LOCATED IN THIS AREA OF THE DASH; APPEARS AS IF INTERNAL PRESSURE IS CAUSING CRACK TO INCREASE IN SIZE. UNCLEAR IF PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS BEEN COMPROMISED OR WILL OPERATE PROPERLY IF DEPLOYED. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF CRACKED PASSENGER DASH AREA HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED WITH NO APPARENT CORRECTIVE ACTION TO RESOLVE SYSTEMIC ISSUE. LOCAL DEALERSHIPS ARE HESITANT TO REPAIR/REPLACE DUE TO AIRBAG LIABILITY AND WHILE I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF THE CAR SHOULD BE TAKEN IN TO CONSIDERATION (NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR) THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. THE CAR IS STILL BEING MANUFACTURED AND CHRYSLERS' QUALITY CONTROL TEAM SHOULD BE ENGAGED TO EVALUATE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, RISK ANALYSIS OF PASSENGER AIR BAG FUNCTIONALITY, AND RECOMMENDED CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN. BEYOND COSMETIC INCONVENIENCE, THE CRACK IN MY DASHBOARD CONTINUES TO GROW IN SIZE AND I AM UNCERTAIN IF MY PASSENGER AIR BAG IS, OR WILL BE COMPROMISED. DOING NOTHING DOES NOT RESOLVE THE QUESTION OF AIR BAG RELIABILITY, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATION OF A BULLETIN FOR A NINE YEAR OLD CAR, HOWEVER THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL TO OFFER SOME TYPE OF FIX FOR THE DASHBOARD FOR THOSE WHOSE VEHICLE IS STILL IS GOOD WORKING ORDER AND WHO WISH TO KEEP THE CAR. RECOMMEND ENGAGEMENT OF CHRYSLER QUALITY CONTROL TEAM AND RESULTING BULLETIN TO PROVIDE OWNERS WITH AN OPTION TO REPAIR THE DASH. *TR

(1) MY HEATER IN MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M COMES ON EVERY 8 SECONDS AUTOMATICALLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER TWO DAYS, HE ADVISED THAT HE CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WHAT HE THOUGHT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE PART -- WASN'T. (2) MY DASHBOARD ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M HAS TWO LONG CRACKS IN IT. THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY 10" (OR MORE) LONG. I AM AFRAID THAT THEY MAY AFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS, SHOULD THEY BE NEEDED. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *JB

DASHBOARD PADDING BEGAN TO SPLIT AS A SMALL 2 INCH AREA ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE COMPARTMENT/COVER AREA. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 2 YEARS DASHBOARD PADDING FINISHED SPLITTING ON RIGHT SIDE AND ALL OF LEFT SIDE SPONTANEOUSLY. IS NOW SPLIT ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES OF THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT LEAVING ONLY BOTTOM SIDE OF PADDING LEFT HOLDING AIRBAG IN DASH. CLEARLY VISABLE THAT DASHBOARD PADDING SPLICED TOO DEEP AROUND AIRBAG COMPARTMENT WHEN MANUFACTORED. ASKED DEALER-JACK WOLF TO LOOK AT, TOLD IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTORER FOR FREE, UNLESS RISK OF HARM. HOW COULD IT NOT BE A RISK OF AIR BAG DEPLOYING INADVERTENTLY? CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT IT WILL CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYING IMPROPERLY OR INADVERTENTLY.*AK