1999 Chrysler 300M Suspension Problems

ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. TOOK TO MY MECHANIC FRIEND AND HE SAID THAT ALL THE BOLTS ASSOCIATED WITH MY RACK AND PINION HAD BECOME LOOSE. HE TIGHTENED THE BOLTS UP, AND THE VERY NEXT DAY THEY WORKED LOOSE AGAIN. HE DID RESEARCH ON MY VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINS ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION AND IS SHOCKED THAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT MADE A RECALL YET. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS OR PROBLEMS, BUT AS I READ ON THE INTERNET SOMEONE HAS DIED FROM THE RACK AND PINION PROBLEMS, AND THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THE RACK AND PINION NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. MY MECHANIC FRIEND IS GOING TO TRY TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS AGAIN USING LOCK TIGHT(?) ON THE BOLTS AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP THE PROBLEM. MY FEAR IS THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AS LISTED ON WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2000/CHRYSLER/300M/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX AND CANNOT GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AND THEIR ONLY HELP LIES WITHIN A RECALL BY CHRYSLER ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE DIFFICULT ECONOMY. NOT EVERYONE IS LUCKY TO HAVE A MECHANIC THAT IS A FRIEND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441101

Incident

Dec 16, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A REPAIR SHOP THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED REPLACING ON HER VEHICLE. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT IF SHE DROVE OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP AT 50 MPH, THE STEERING WOULD FAIL. SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE IN HER PREVIOUS VEHICLE, A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. A MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT IF SHE DROVE AROUND A CURB, THERE WOULD BE A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE STEERING WOULD GREATLY MALFUNCTION. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10218637

Incident

Nov 3, 2007

Mileage

138,000 mi

MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY 1999 CHRYSLER 300M. THIS IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION. SHE IS A STAY AT HOME MOTHER. THE VEHICLE HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILES, 77K BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN LITTLE AND ONLY FOR ERRANDS AND SHORT TRIPS WITH OUR (2) SMALL CHILDREN. THE VEHICLE IS STORED IN A GARAGE. OUR EXPERIENCE WAS UPON RETURNING HOME 6/17, WE TURNED ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET APPROX. 1/4 MILE FROM OUR HOUSE. WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO FIND THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CHRYSLER SERVICE TECHNICIAN HAS SINCE TOLD US THE FAILURE WAS THE FRONT BALL JOINT BREAKING IN TURN SNAPPING OFF THE SPINDLE AND BENDING THE STRUT AND FRONT FENDER. HE TOLD US " WE DON'T EVEN STOCK THESE PARTS BECAUSE THEY NEVER GO BAD." AND " THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED." MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS HAPPENED AT A LOW SPEED. 15-20 MPH. AT HIGH SPEEDS, IT SEEMS CERTAIN TO ME SERIOUS DAMAGE AND BODILY INJURY COULD OCCUR. CHRYSLER HAS OFFERED NO COMPENSATION OR EXPLANATION FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WAS REBUFFED TO EVEN GET INFORMATION FOR A POSSIBLE RECURRENCE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE? CHRYSLER DID TELL ME PART OF THE REASON THEY REJECTED RESPONSIBILITY WAS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD MULTIPLE OWNERS AND THE PREVIOUS ONE MAY HAVE MIS-HANDLED THE VEHICLE. WE KNOW THE PREVIOUS OWNER. IT WAS MY FATHER-IN-LAW. HE ENJOYED THE CAR SO MUCH HE LEASED ANOTHER ONE. THIS CAR HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKUPS. NOTHING IN MY SERVICE MANUAL INDICATES THERE MAY BE A FAILURE OF THIS MAGNITUDE AT THIS POINT IN THE VEHICLES LIFE. I'M REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA SO THERE IS A FORMAL RECORD ON FILE IN THE EVENT THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AGAIN. I FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN ON A SURFACE STREET AS THE ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR. THE BILL FOR THIS REPAIR IS EXCESSIVE. THE CHRYSLER 300M, TO MY KNOWLEDGE WAS CHRYSLER'S MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE IN 1999. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160408

Incident

Jun 17, 2006

Mileage

77,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT END RATTLES, SHE GOT INTO AN UNRELATED ACCIDENT. BUT WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED THE MECHANIC TOLD HER SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END BALL JOINT. VIBRATION OCCURS MORE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10125278

Incident

Jun 10, 2004

BOUGHT 300M CHRYSLER IN JUNE 2000. FROM TIME OF PURCHASE NUMEROUS TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO BELTS SHIFTING. IN DEC '03' STARTED HEARING A METAL TO METAL NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT ESPECIALLY ON SLOW TURNS.*AK AFTER ARRIVING IN FLA ON VACATION DUE TO AN INCREASING NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT ON JAN 17TH BROUGHT CAR TO FLAGLER CHRYSLER DEALER, AFTER $582 WORTH OF WORK THEY INFORMED ME THEY COULD NOT DETECT THE SOURCE OF NOISE. ON FEB 4TH BROUGHT CAR TO A GOODYEAR FRONT END GARAGE, AFTER $260 THEY WERE SORRY BUT COULD NOT FIND SOURCE OF EVER WORSENING NOISE. ON FEB 20TH BROUGHT CAR TO POMPANO BEACH CHRYSLER DEALER, AGAIN AFTER $330 THEY ALSO WERE SORRY THEY COULD NOT FIND SORCE OF THIS NOISE. CONSIDERING THE LONG DRIVE BACK HOME WE DECIDED FOR SAFETY SAKE TO GET RID OF THIS PROBLEM CAR AND BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE HOME. OBVIOUSLY AS WE NO LONGER HAVE THIS CAR OUR COMPLAINT IF MORE FOR INFORMATIONAL PUPOSES. WE DONT WANT ANYONE INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10102509

Incident

Feb 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS TORN IN TWO. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10015898

HAD TO REPLACE MOTORS IN BOTH REAR WINDOWS AND THE WINDOW HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE DUE TO THE BROKEN TAB AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW. ACCORDING TO THE SALVAGE YARD OWNER THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. FRONT END ALSO SHIMMIES HAD ALIGNMENT DIDN'T FULLY CORRECT PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID

10010316

Incident

Oct 8, 2001

FRONT END NOISE/PULLING FROM DATE PURCHASED, NO CAUSE FOUND AT DEALER. COMPLAINED ABOUT NOISE AND PULLING TO ONE SIDE THROUGHOUT WARRANTY. BALANCED/ROTATED TIRES NO HELP. AFTER NEW TIRES @62K-STEERING BECAME SLOPPY W/3" OF PLAY. DIAGNOSED AS STEERING RACK FAILURE. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***770151

NHTSA ID

10009410

Incident

Nov 25, 2002

Mileage

64,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IT ALWAYS PULLS TO THE RIGHT, TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK *MJ

NHTSA ID

8000882

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

THERE IS A SEVERE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND IT PULLS TO THE LEFT, DEALER HAS HAD SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO, AT TIMES WHEN MAKING A TURN IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE WHEEL IS ACTUALLY SLIDING INSTEAD OF TURNING, CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH HE WAS TOLD OTHERWISE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING NEW TIRES IF THE VEHICLE CAN BE FIXED, THE PROBLEM IS CAUSING THEM TO WEAR, IF THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE FIXED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A NEW VEHICLE OR A REFUND. *SLC

NHTSA ID

563632

THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED ON EVERY WINDON IN THE VEHICLE. THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 8 TIMES. EACH TIME THEY ARE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WARRANTY RUNS OUT SOON. REGARDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE CAR SHIMMIES AND THE STEERING IS LOOSE (STEERING WHEEL SHACKS IN YOUR HANDS). HAD FRONT END ALIGNMENT DONE BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CONTEMPLATING NEW TIRES BUT SEE OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

752988

Incident

Sep 30, 2001

BRAKE PADS GLAZED CAUSING NOISE AND BRAKE ROTORS WORN THINNER THAN MINIMUM SPECS.

NHTSA ID

563125

Incident

Sep 5, 2001

TIRES ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY, ALL 4 TIRES AFFECTED. TIRES ACCORDING TO GOODYEAR SHOULD LAST BETWEEN 20000 AND 40000 MILES.*AK GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, DOT NK43BMDR199, 17 INCH TIRES, CONSUMER STATES SPARE TIRE IS ALSO WORN. GOODYEAR STATES THAT TIRES ARE NOT THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION AND PULLS TO THE LEFT, COULD BE SUSPENSION OR TIRE RELATED. ENGINE FAILED DUE TO PISTONS TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, CONSUMER STATES EVER SINCE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, IT DOES NOT RUN NORMAL NOW. ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BRAKES RESURFACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

886391

Incident

Mar 15, 2001

CONSUMER HAS A CHRYSLER VEHICLE. 2 ORIGINAL FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WOBBLED/VIBRATED & PULLED TO RIGHT. EVERY 3,000 MILES OUTSIDES WORE OUT, 7 HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALL SHOWED SIGNS DIFFERENTLY. CHRYSLER WAS AWARE OF TIRES. ORIGINALS HAD PREMATURE BALDING & HYDROPLAINED. SIZE P225/55R17, DOT#M600BMWR3400. *AK WEAR OF TIRES COULD BE RELATED TO A SUSPENSION PROBLEM, TIRES ARE GOODYEAR EAGLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

879602

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

CAR SHIMMIES AND STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY SHAKES BETWEEN 30-80 KM/H. REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WHICH SOLVED PROBLEMS WHICH CAME BACK 4 MONTHS LATER.*AK

NHTSA ID

735608

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

CONSUMER STARTED TO HEAR A NOISE ,LIKE A METAL TO METAL NOISE IN JUNE 28,2000. DEALER ORDERED 4 PARTS, ALL BUT ONE DID NOT COME IN ,AN ADAPTER PART #5017701AA. IN THE MEANTIME, DEFECT HAS GRAUALLY GOTTING WORSE. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING MORE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL AND NOISE WAS LOUDER. PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER SINCE JUN 28 2000, AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN PART WILL ARRIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

869736

THERE WERE VARIOUS SYMPTOMS WHICH SEEM TO HAVE CULMINATED IN THE CRASH ON 6/29. THE FIRST TIME TIRES WERE ROTATED, ONE TIRE COULD ONLY BE "ALMOST" BALANCED; I DROVE THE CAR FROM CHAS., SC TO ATLANTA HAD A FLAT TIRE THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A DEFECTIVE RIM NOT TIRE. RECENTLY HAD TIRES ROTATED AND ALIGNMENT DONE. CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT; TOOK IT BACK NOW CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. EVENING OF 6/29 ON I-26 EAST-BOUND EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. CAR SPUN OUT AND HIT CENTER RETAINING WALL. NO INJURIES OTHER THAN SEAT-BELT BRUISES. WAITING FOR ESTIMATE ON DAMAGE - ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE DAMAGED. *AK

NHTSA ID

724865

Incident

Jun 29, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING AN IRREGULAR ROCKING/VIBRATION FROM FRONT END WHILE TRAVELING FROM 18-72 MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER'S SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK DEALER SAYS TIRE ARE BAD. *YH

NHTSA ID

861215

Incident

Oct 22, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ON "NON CROWN" ROAD VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ALSO, DEFECTIVE DIFFERENTIAL AND VENT LEAKED FLUID 3 TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

857324

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

SHAKES & SHIMMIES; WOBBLES & BOBBLES. STEERING SOMEWHAT UNPREDICTABLE. GOODYEAR TIRES REBALANCED 5 TIMES, AND 2 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS BY DEALER. REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AT 12K. STILL SHIMMIES/BUMPS/VIBRATES. INSTALLED THIRD SET OF TIRES (MICHELIN) AT 25K. AT 26K AFTER 2 FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, 6 TIRE REBALANCES, AND 3RD SET OF TIRES, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE AND STEERING SEEMS A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

715696

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

MY VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE SHIMMY/VIBRATION BETWEEN 55 AND 65MPH WHICH IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. THE DEALER HAS PUT ON THREE SETS OF TIRES AND WHEELS AND HAS DONE MUTIPLE WHEEL BALANCING. THE PROBLEM IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE AND THE CHRYSLER FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE HAS ADMITTED THE DIAMLER/CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEIR ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE ITO THE THE DEALER 14 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEIR FINAL ANSWER LAST WEEK WAS THAT NEITHER THE DEALER OR DIAMLER/CHRYSLER WILL ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AGAIN AND THAT I SHOULD FILE UNDER THE GEORGIA LEMON LAW FOR COMPENSATION. I AM NOT SURE WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES SO CONSEQUENTLY THE MULTI-CHOICE COMPONENT LIST. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS WHEEL OR TIRE RELATED AFTER ALL OF THE CHANGES BUT CHRYSLER DOES BLAME THE GOODYEAR TIRES, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NEVER SWAPPED THEM FOR ANY OTHER BRAND. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH OTHER 300M OWNERS ON THE WEB. IT IS PARTICULARLY SEVERE IN HOT WEATHER AND IN RAINY CONDITIONS. IF THE MANUFACTURER ADMITS TO A DEFECT, THEN I BELIEVE IT IS REQUIRED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

711843

Incident

Oct 4, 1998