2012 Chrysler 200 Suspension Problems

For weeks now ive been noticing a weird grinding or dry rubbing sound underneath the front end of my chrysler. Checked it out a few times, as though i am not a mechanic i can identify the basics of something not right. However, after my husband and his brother both looking it over on seperate occasions, they have noted a leak under the carriage of the car. Often here recently, the guage senses an over heating of some sort. Since this notice, we have replaced the oil cooler twice in a year; as well as flushed the hoses associated with the coolant reservoir. Fixed temporary but has now already started getting too hot. Which simply tells me that its something further internal thats wrong. I was informed of an engine recall: L33 of my chrysler model. However havent seen one on this website. When driving yesterday, i noticed a light on my cluster that indicated the traction has failed. When i brake, all u hear or feel is a vibration under your feet, up front. I replaced my brake pads all 4, within the past 4 months and theyre now rusted over and u notice a brake fluid leak on the front right side. After a light, the grinding noise, the vibration and the overheating; i am positive that this will eventually cause a car stall or worse a fatal accident. My brakes could eventually fail while driving in traffic, causing a crash. Or my car could just all out stalland the cluster can trip and i could be in harms way if at the time it does this i could be goin 70 on the interstate or in a turninglane in town and without proper fix; it could easily cause a fatal accident and i could be killed or worse my children!

NHTSA ID

11419960

Incident

Apr 15, 2021

REPLACED DISC BREAKS PADS 3 TIMES LAST YEAR AND 2 TIMES THIS YEAR, THE RUBBER BOOT INSIDE THE BREAK CALIBER MELTED AND THE REAR BREAKS SOMETIMES SMOKES, NOW FRONT BREAK PEDAL GOES TOWARDS THE FLOW AND WITH CLUCKING NOISE, ANDTBE ABS BREAK LIGHT IS ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING..

NHTSA ID

11114309

Incident

Apr 12, 2017

Mileage

112,000 mi

MY CAR HAS 42K MILES. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. SECOND ISSUE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND CAN BE FELT IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11001509

Incident

Mar 13, 2017

Mileage

38,000 mi

WAS DRIVING CAR GOING ONLY 25-30 MPH AND MADE AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN TO A STOP WHICH I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND SPACE BETWEEN CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND MY FRONT FENDER TO DO, AS I APPLIED BRAKES I NOTICE IT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP WHICH SOON AFTER HAVING PLENTY OF SPACE TO DO IT LED TO A REAR END COLLISION AS MY BRAKES FAILED TO WORK CORRECTLY WHEN APPLIED. I HAVE A POLICE REPORT TO VERIFY THE INCIDENT ON 09/27/2016 IN APPLETON, WI. BECAUSE I WAS GOING AT A REALLY SLOW SPEED AT THE TIME LUCKILY NO ONE WAS REALLY HURT WHEN THIS OCCURRED AROUND 10:00 AM IN AN AREA WITH LITTLE TO NO TRAFFIC AT THE TIME, BUT EVEN KNOW I WAS ONLY GOING AROUND 20 WHEN THERE WAS AN IMPACT MY CAR WHICH WAS NEW PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT IS NOW CONSIDERED UNDER STATE LAW IN WISCONSIN A SALVAGE VEHICLE AS REPAIRS EXCEEDED THE VALUE AT THE TIME OF 7000.00

NHTSA ID

10915183

Incident

Sep 27, 2016

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH IN THE RAIN OR SNOW, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT, IT MADE A LOUD "BANG" NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS IN EITHER EVENT. BOTH FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ID

10807488

Incident

Aug 30, 2015

Mileage

34,000 mi

VAN HORN CHRYSLER AND DODGE IN PLYMOUTH WI. SOLD ME A VEHICLE THAT WAS IN A MAJOR FRONT END ACCIDENT. WHEN THEY SOLD ME THE AIR THE AIRBAG WAS NOT ATTACHED. THE STEERING WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE SUSPENSION WAS SEVERELY DAMAGE, IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO CHRYSLER, I SPEND MONEY THERE TO GET THE PROBLEMS REPAIRED. BECAUSE VAN HORN WOULDN'T PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. AFTER CHRYSLER COULDN'T MAKE THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. CHRYSLER REFERRED ME TO THE BODY SHOP, WHERE I WAS OUT OF POCKET FOR ANOTHER ADDITIONAL REPAIR. I ALSO FORWARD THIS INFORMATION TO CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANT 1-888-992-1997. MY CASE NUMBER THERE IS [XXX].THEY (CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANT) SAID THE CAR SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN SOLD. THEY INFORMED [XXX] MANGER TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME TO MAKE A SETTLE. WHICH HE HASN'T AS TO 10/14/205. TOM BOWEO WAS THE PERSON THAT I SPOKE WITH AT MILOSCH'S PALACE COLLISION CENTER, LAKE ORION MI. (248)276-6653. THE CAR IS REGISTERED TO [XXX]. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX]. MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX]. MY CELL NUMBER IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10782251

Incident

Jul 10, 2015

Mileage

38,278 mi

FIRST TIME DRIVING THE CAR IN SNOWY CONDITIONS,THERE WAS ABOUT AN INCH OF SNOW ON THE GROUND.I HAD A VERY HARD TIME CONTROLLING IT,IT WILL SWIRVE ALL OVER THE PLACE,I'M A TRUCK DRIVER USED TO THE WORST CONDITIONS,I WOULD SAY I'LL RATHER DRIVE A P/U TRUCK(2WD)WITHOUT EXTRA WEIGHT IN THE BED ON ICE..

NHTSA ID

10670528

Incident

Dec 29, 2014

Mileage

26,500 mi

AWFUL POPPING NOISE TO FRONT END WHEN DRIVING. WORSENS OVER TIME . HAD TO SHOP 4 TIMES. THEY NOW ADMIT TO A PROBLEM WITH TIE RODS AT MANUFACTURE. DEALERSHIP IS OFFERING TO FIX WITH A $100 CO-PAY SINCE IT IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY MILEAGE. I AM WORKING WITH CHRYSLER TO GET THE REST COVERED SINCE IT IS AN UNRESOLVED WARRANTY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631437

Incident

Apr 11, 2013

Mileage

22,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MIN. YOU CAN START HEARING A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE, AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DON'T KNOW IF ITS STEERING OR SUSPENSION, BUT I GET EERIE FEELING THE CAR MAY LOCK UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10625890

Incident

Mar 6, 2014

Mileage

23,000 mi

FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MY CAR FISHTAILING BADLY IN WINTER WEATHER. IN THE SLIGHTEST SNOW FALL OR ICE IT FISHTAILS SO BADLY CAUSING ME TO SLOW DOWN TO SPEEDS AROUND 35 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT I THOUGHT IT WAS MY TIRES AND ALIGNMENT SO I HAD BOUGHT NEW WINTER TIRES AND HAD THE ALIGNMENT REDONE BUT AFTER DRIVING IT SOON AFTER I REALIZED THAT IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. SO I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE ADDING SOME WEIGHT WOULD HELP BUT IT DANGEROUSLY GOT WORSE. TONIGHT I WAS DRIVING AND HIT A SLIGHT PATCH OF ICE AND IT FISHTAILED SO VIOLENTLY I ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED A SEMI TRUCK TO CRASH JUST TO AVOID ME. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE BY ANY STANDARDS OF WINTER WEATHER DRIVING. EVEN A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS AN AUTO MECHANIC AGREES THAT THIS VEHICLE ISN'T SAFE. IT FEELS AS IF THE REAR SUSPENSION IS LOOSE BUT WHEN INSPECTED I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. I USE TO DRIVE A TOYOTA YARIS THAT DID WAY BETTER IN WINTER WEATHER THAN THIS AND MIND YOU IT ONLY HAD THE FACTORY TIRES. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574310

Incident

Mar 23, 2014

Mileage

48,000 mi

THE FIRST TIME I DROVE THIS CAR AND SNOW I COULD BARELY KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN MICHIGAN FOR 24 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HANDLED THIS POORLY IN THE SNOW. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT CHRYSLER DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR IT. SINCE THEN THE DEALER HAS SPLIT A SET OF SNOW TIRES WITH ME BUT IT ONLY PARTIALLY HELPS THE PROBLEM. THE CAR IS TERRIFYING TO DRIVE IN ANY SNOW CONDITIONS REGARDLESS OF THE SNOW TIRES. IT MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN THE SNOW AND CAN BARELY BE KEPT ON THE ROAD. I HAVE A 2 WHEEL DR. TRUCK WITH NO WAIT IN IT AND I'D PREFER TO DRIVE THAT OVER THE CHRYSLER IN THE WINTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560312

Incident

Dec 17, 2012

Mileage

23,000 mi

WHEN PURCHASED THIS CAR, NOTICED THAT IT PULLED SEVERLY TO THE LEFT, SPOKE TO DEALER SHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVES TO DO SO. SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THIS CAR BUT ALWAYS HAVING TO BE ON ALERT WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IF CAR WAS GOING TO JERK OFF ROAD. THIS CAR HANDLES HORRIBLE! I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND DO NOT FEEL IF ANY CONTROL WAS LOST, THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL DUE TO THIS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DENIED THAT I HAVE EVER BROUGHT THIS UP, BUT WHEN MY BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING AROUND 7000.00 MILE I THEN BROUGHT IT UP AGAIN AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND NEW BRAKES! OK I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR... I TOLD THEM NO, HOW COULD THAT BE. WELL SINCE THEN MY CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE THE CYLANDER REPLACED AND THEY HAVE ADDRESSED THE JERKING WITH A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WHICH BY THE WAY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. IT STILL IS HARD TO CONTROL AND COULD ONLY DO 30 MILE AN HR IN SNOW BEFORE IT WOULD LOOSE CONTROL. I HAVE MORE COMPLAINTS AND HAVE ADDRESSED CHRYSLER TO NO AVAIL. THEY JUST TELL ME ITS THE MAKE OF THE CAR AND THAT MY BRAKES SQUEALING ARE BECAUSE ASBESTOS IS NO LONGER IN BRAKES. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS NOT BORN YESTERDAY AND HAVE DRIVEN MORE CARS THAN THIS AND NEVER HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THEY OFFERED ME AN EXTENDED WARRENTY AND STATED THAT WAS ALL ANYONE COULD DO . I AM A VERY UNHAPPY CUSTOMER AND BECASUE I AM IN A LEASE I CAN NOT GET OUT OF THIS CAR. ONLY WHEN IT CRASHES WILL ANYONE MAYBE DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I AM SEEKING THE STATE ATTORNEY IN IDAHO TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE . *TR

NHTSA ID

10556637

Incident

Feb 7, 2012

Mileage

1,000 mi

EXCESSIVE "FISH TAILING" IN MINIMAL SNOWY CONDITIONS, VERY UNSTABLE, ABSOLUTE DEATH TRAP. I FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO END UP SMASHING INTO A PASSING CAR OR TRUCK . DROVE FOR 30 MILES PER HOUR FOR 260 MILES WHILE THERE WASN'T MORE THAN ONE INCH ON SNOW ON THE GROUND BECAUSE THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS SWING IN ALL DIRECTIONS, MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER TERRIFIED. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN AUGUST 2013 THUS A FEW MONTHS AGO AND HAD NO ISSUES DRIVING ON DRY GROUND BUT ONLY IN SNOW AND WET CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556597

Incident

Dec 3, 2013

I HAVE MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO CHRYSLER REGARDING THE VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATING WHEN IT SHOULD AND NOT GOING OVER 35MPH AT TIMES. WHEN THE VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATE THE 6 SPEED DOES NOT WORK EITHER. CHRYSLER RESET THE COMPUTER AND THIS WORKED AS A FIX FOR ROUGHLY 2 DAYS UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE ALSO JUMPS FORWARD WHEN BRAKING AND SEEMS TO BE JUMPING VERY HARD THROUGH THE GEARS, CHRYSLER HAS RESPONDED EVERY TIME THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. TODAY I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND AGAIN THE CAR WAS JUMPING WHEN I WAS BRAKING. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BRAKED HARD AND UNEXPECTEDLY THEREFORE I HAD TO AS WELL. MY CAR DID NOT STOP! ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PUSHED AS HARD AS I COULD THE CAR JUMPED AT LEAST 6 TIMES AND MADE A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE BEFORE I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO STOP BEFORE REAR ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DID MAKE IT IN TO WORK HOWEVER, THE CAR DID NOT MAKE ANY IMPROVEMENTS AFTER THIS, NOW EVERY TIME I TRY TO STOP THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD. THIS CAR IS GOING TO GET ME, MY KIDS OR SOMEONE ELSE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND CHRYSLER HAS NO SENSE OF URGENCY TO SEEM TO GET IT FIXED. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT IS NOT ONLY MY CAR THAT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ADD IT TO THE LISTS OF RECALLS PLEASE!!!!! ALSO WHEN I AM DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENS DAILY THE CAR JERKS VERY HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR, THIS LITERALLY CAUSES THE CAR TO AND FEELS LIKE IT MAY STALL OUT.

NHTSA ID

10544937

Incident

Sep 23, 2013

Mileage

29,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FRONT END EXHIBITED A LOUD METALLIC NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING. IN ADDITION, THE ABS SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE ABS SYSTEM. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO WANTED TO ADD THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO LOUD NOISES THAT WERE EMITTED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ID

10536966

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

17,000 mi

SALUTATIONS; I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO BASICALLY BLOW ME OFF. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE CHRYSLER 200. WHEN EVER THE REAR SUSPENSION HITS A RECESSED MAN HOLE COVER OR A POT HOLE. THE REAR SUSPENSION SEEMS TO KICK OUT FROM ITS TRAJECTORY. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS IN A STRAIGHT LINE, BUT WHEN IN A CORNER THIS IS VERY SPOOKY AND UNNERVING. AND COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM IN ICY/WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS ABOVE 30 MPH. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS WITH THE JOINT AND REBOUND OF THE SHOCKS , OR A PROBLEM WITH THE ANGLE OF ATTACK WITHIN THE TRAILING ARMS AND SET UP. IT SIMPLY SHOULD BE A FACTORY MISALIGNMENT. I ALSO HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE PAST 20 YARDS. THIS WAS ADJUSTED IMMEDIATELY AT THE DEALERS. THIS SUSPENSION CONDITION HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED IN A COUPLE AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINES I READ. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457830

Incident

Jan 18, 2012

Mileage

2,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDS 30-70 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND ENCOUNTERING SLIGHT DIPS OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD SURFACE, A DRAMATIC LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS EXPERIENCED AT THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONDITION IS BEST DESCRIBED AS A SUDDEN, VIOLENT SWERVING FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP WITHIN THE LANE. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR FROM A COMMERCIAL AGENCY. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE IN ANOTHER TOWN ON MY TRIP ROUTE, DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AND WAS GIVEN ANOTHER CAR. IN A SEARCH FOR SIMILAR EVENTS ON THIS SITE, I FOUND ONE FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE ON A 2011 MODEL YEAR. THE ID NUMBER OF THAT COMPLAINT IS 10444871. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456475

Incident

Apr 10, 2012

Mileage

19,400 mi