2001 Chrysler 300M

2001 CHRYSLER 300 M HAD A CRACK IN THE VINYL OF THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD DIRECTLY OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. *TS THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS A COSMETIC PROBLEM, WHICH HER WARRANTY DID NOT COVER. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT IT COULD BE REPAIRED, BUT MORE THAN LIKELY, IT WOULD CRACK AGAIN DUE TO THE VIBRATION GENERATED BY THE NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THIS INVOLVES THE FLASHING ON AND OFF OF THE DIGITAL DISPLAY ON THE RADIO WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON. THE DISPLAY GOES DIM AND THEN BECOMES BRIGHT. *JB

VIOLENT SHAKING BEGAN WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, APPROX. 70 MPH. THE SHAKING SEEMED TO BE ORIGINATING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE AND MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE "PLAY" OF APPROX. 3 TO 4 INCHES TO THE LEFT AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 3 TO 4 INCHES TO THE RIGHT OF CENTER. APPARENTLY THE SHAKING I FELT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SWINGING LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE I WAS TRAVELING STRAIGHT ALONG THE HIGHWAY. *NM

THE TRIM AROUND THE DOORS IS BADLY PEELING, CRACKING, TOTALLY FALLING OFF. I THINK THAT THE QUALITY OF PRODUCTS THEY USE MUST BE BAD. CARS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. THE TRIM IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND WITH A CAR THAT ISN'T THAT OLD YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ANYWAY. IF THERE IS SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THIS THEY NEED TO CORRECT IT. *JB

TODAY I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50 MPH. I WAS COMING UPON A INTERSECTION AND THE LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED RED. THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING ALONG THE ROAD IN THE SAME AND OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS I WAS. THERE WERE TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION. APPROXIMATELY 2 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME COMING UP TO THE LIGHT. AS I BEGAN TO STOP MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. I TRIED PUMPING THEM, BUT GOT VERY LITTLE HELP FROM MY BRAKES. THINKING QUICKLY I MOVED INTO THE SECOND LANE, THAT HAD NO OTHER VEHICLES. HOWEVER IT WAS VERY CLOSE FOR ME TO HAVE REAR ENDED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY TWO CHILDREN. I THOUGHT MAY BE MY BRAKES WERE WET. SO I CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT WAS CAUTIOUS. AS I CAME UP TO THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO STOP, I ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS TIME, SMOKE CAME BILLOWING FROM MY HOOD. I HAD ABOUT 3 MORE MILES TO MAKE IT HOME, SO I CONTINUED HOME AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. HOWEVER MY HUSBAND INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND SAID THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS BURNT BY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HE SAID IT LOOKED AS IF THEY BRAKE LINE WAS INSTALLED TO CLOSE TO THE CONVERTER. HE FELT THIS WAS A HAZARD. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY, HAD I HAD HIT ANOTHER DRIVER. LUCKILY WE WERE SAFE AND NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HOPE CHRYSLER RECOGNIZES THIS DEFECT AND NOTIFIES OTHER OWNERS, AS PEOPLE COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT WITHOUT BRAKES!! *JB

LOSE STEERING, BOBBING STEERING WITH RUMBLING NOISE- DIAGNOSIS NEED NEW RACK AND PINION, HAVING 3RD ONE PUT IN NOW. WILL LOCK UP IN A TURN, WILL BECOME VERY HARD TO TURN LEFT, SOUNDS LIKE OUT OF STEERING FLUID BUT NOT. I THINK POSSIBLE PART HAS CHANGED OR SOMETHING NOT RIGHT WITH CAR OR PART. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. CAR HAD 60,000 WHEN IT FIRST BEGAN AND VERY WELL MAINTAINED. *JB

THE VINYL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASH IN MY 2001 CHRYSLER 300M HAS CRACKED. THE CRACK IS ABOUT FOUR INCHES LONG, AND BASED ON INFORMATION FROM OTHER 300M OWNERS, IS IN THE VICINITY OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG. THERE IS CONCERN THAT REPAIR OF THIS CRACK IS UNSAFE DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE AIR BAG, AND THAT THE CRACK MAY AFFECT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. *NM

GRINDING NOISE - AND PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL - STEERING WHEEL STICKING ON TURNS I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER AND THE COST WAS $934.10 FOR THE PART AND $412.50 FOR LABOR PLUS THE COST OF ANOTHER FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT OF $60 - NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND AN EMAIL TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHRYSLER WAS NOT FRUITFUL, THEY REALLY DON'T CARE THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WENT OUT AT JUST OVER 40,000 MILES. *NM