2001 Chrysler 300M Steering Problems

OCT 2013 FIVE MONTHS AFTER I JUST HAD MY CAR FIXED . AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT I HEARD A NOISE LIKE GRINDING MY CAR STOPPED I COULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD, I WAS STOPPED IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF A THREE LANE STREET I HAD TO PUT ON MY FLASHERS. I COULD NOT BE MOVE ONLY BY A TOW TRUCK. I HAD JUST HAD TIRE RODS CHANGED IN MAY 2013 AND RACK N PINION FIXED IN MAY WHICH THAT BROKE AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT HAD TO BE TOWED. AS I WAS TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAD FIXED IT. TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED TIRE ROD BRACKET HAD BROKE AS HE WAS PUTTING CAR DOWN INTO PARKING AREA. SO WHAT I PAID TO GET FIX WAS BROKE AGAIN PART COULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTED TIRE ROD BRACKET. WITH MY FAMILY I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551990

Incident

Oct 10, 2013

Mileage

155,005 mi

BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL I HEARD SOMETHING POP THEN I COULDN'T TURN LEFT OR RIGHT I COULD ONLY GO UP OR BACK SO I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT HAD T O GET TOWED STEERING WHEEL JUST KEPT TURNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498307

Incident

Oct 18, 2012

Mileage

137,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING WHICH DIDN'T CORRECT UNTIL I REDUCED MY SPEED TO ABOUT 50MPH. THE ISSUE PERSISTED WHENEVER I DROVE THE HIGHWAY, NO MATTER THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD OVER A WEEK'S TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10477339

Incident

May 4, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT WITHOUT INTENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WOULD ALSO PULL TO THE RIGHT SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID

10432864

Incident

Oct 12, 2011

Mileage

47,000 mi

2001 300M LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT IDLE. EXTEMELY NOISY PUMP. HAVE REPLACED PUMP 3 TIMES. DEALER CLAIMS NO REPORTS OF COMMON PROBLEMS. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MACHANICS MAY BE RACK AND PINION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397007

Incident

Dec 15, 2010

WIFE BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, HEARD A POPPING SOUND, THEN ATTEMPTED TO PULL BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR LOST ALL STEERING. DISCOVERED ONE BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF THE STEERING SYSTEM, CONSIDERED THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE OTHER BOLT HAD BACKED OUT. THE NIGHT BEFORE WE HAD JUST TRAVELED ON INTERSTATE 20 IN ALABAMA, RUNNING INTERSTATE SPEEDS WITH A CHILD ONBOARD. . IF THIS HAD HAPPENED DURING THE TRAVEL, NO DOUBT FATALITIES WOULD HAVE RESULTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369216

Incident

Dec 4, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIE ROD ON THE RACK AND PINION WAS LOOSE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS BURNED AND THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN SEVERAL VEHICLES IDENTICAL TO HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 144000.

NHTSA ID

10348407

Incident

Aug 9, 2010

Mileage

144,000 mi

2001 CHRYSLER 300M STEERING NOISE OVER BUMPS / PLAY ON STEERING WHEEL/ SEEMS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TIE RODS AS WELL AS I DID ALSO I ALSO REPLACED ALL SUSPENSION AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE IT IS DEFINITELY IN THE RACK AND PINION, IT FEELS LOSE AND LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS THE RACK AND PINION MAY SHARE OFF AND CAUSE A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT I NEED THIS FIXED BEFORE IT HARMS ME OR SOMEONE RELATED TO YOU. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314697

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

CHRYSLER 300M 2001, ON 7/9/09 -CAR WAS SEEN AND INSPECTED FOR ANY TROUBLE AT A CERTIFIED CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS $200, TOTAL WORK COST $1,871. CAR RELEASED TO US AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION. ON 7/31/09 TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CAUSING THE CAR TO TURN AND RUN UP ON SIDEWALK EVEN THOUGH DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. STEERING ROD BOLT HAD SNAPPED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING IN BOTH WHEELS. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST AT $1,675. CHRYSLER DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEM CONCERNING THE STEERING ON ANY 300M CHRYSLER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279392

Incident

Jul 31, 2009

Mileage

93,122 mi

I HAVE A 300 M 2001 AND THE RACK AN PINION HAS WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. I LOST STEERING IN TOWN. THERE WAS A KNOCK IN THE FRONT END THAT THE DEALER SHIP COULD NOT FIND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10266055

Incident

Nov 20, 2008

Mileage

85 mi

DECEMBER 20TH 2008 ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VEHICLE STARTED ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. INNER TIE RODS AND BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS BEFORE ALONG WITH TWO TIRES AND BRAKES. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE IN AN INTERSECTION. A TRUCK COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT LEFT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS IN A 180 DEGREE POSITION WITH LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254176

Incident

Dec 20, 2008

Mileage

104,000 mi

SOME BACKGROUND: I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A LITTLE SLOPPY ON MY 300M AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THEY TOLD ME THE RACK AND PINION SHOULD PROBABLY BE REPLACED. I HAD IT REPLACED FOR AROUND $1200. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER WHILE TRAVELING FOR CHRISTMAS, I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE (FROM DOING 70 MPH) TO STOP AT A GAS STATION. I STOPPED AT THE TOP OF THE OFF RAMP FOR THE STOP SIGN. TRAFFIC CLEARED, AS I ACCELERATED TO TURN LEFT, WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL I HEARD A NOISE, AND THE CAR WENT STRAIGHT. I HAD NO STEERING. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH ROOM PAST THE INTERSECTION TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, BUT STILL HAD MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DOING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE, I'M SURE WE ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHOSE OPINION WAS THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE INNER TIE RODS TO THE RACK AND PINION WERE LOOSE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION AGAIN. POLICE WERE ON SCENE BUT DID NOT TAKE A REPORT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252875

Incident

Dec 26, 2008

Mileage

99,800 mi

I WAS STOPPED AT A CITY INTERSECTION WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED, I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN. I HEARD A 'CLUNK' AND THE WHEELS DID NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, BUT THE TIRE WHEELS DID NOT! I HAD NO FUNCTION EXCEPT FORWARD OR REVERSE, SO I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE INTO THE CURB IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROADWAY AND MY CAR BLOCKED AN ENTIRE LANE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHICH PUT ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A TOW TRUCK HAD TO LIFT THE CAR TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE ROADWAY. I WAS PETRIFIED. THE CAR WAS TOWED AS INSTRUCTED BY THE POLICE OFFICER AND IS CURRENTLY WITH THE REPAIR SHOP PENDING AVAILABILITY OF A STEERING RACK KIT. THE BOLT TO THE RACK WAS SEVERED! THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT INJURED THANKS TO THE SLOW SPEED I WAS TRAVELING I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS THAT MAY HAVE THIS SAME EXPERIENCE WHEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND MAKING A TURN OR EXITING A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP. THIS IS CLEARLY A MECHANICAL SAFETY HAZARD AND APPEARS TO BE FAULTY WORKMANSHIP IN THE AUTOMOBILE. MY CAR IS MAINTAINED REGULARLY AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ADVISED BY CHRYSLER TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (REFERENCE # 18030539), BUT THEY ARE OF NO ASSISTANCE CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT. I'M SHOCKED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AS RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A RECORDED KNOWN DEFICIENCY IN THE WORKMANSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246816

Incident

Oct 24, 2008

Mileage

70,250 mi

2001 CHRYSLER 300M WITH 68, 300 MILES HAS STEERING VIBRATION AT 60 MPH. *CN

NHTSA ID

10216387

Incident

Jan 28, 2008

Mileage

68,290 mi

MY SISTER'S 2001 CHRYSLER 300 M EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEED, SO NO ONE WAS KILLED. SHE DESCRIBED THE FEELING AT FAILURE AS A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE SENSATION OF SLIDING ON ICE. IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE THREADED HOLES ON THE STEERING RACK THAT THE INNER TIE RODS CONNECT TO WERE BOTH STRIPPED OUT AND THAT THE BOLTS HAD FALLEN OUT, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE LARGE CHRYSLER VEHICLES, AND PUTS A LOT OF PEOPLE AT RISK OF DEATH. PLEASE FORCE CHRYSLER TO RECALL THESE CARS AND TO INSTALL A REDESIGNED STEERING RACK AND TIE RODS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO KILL PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212642

Incident

Dec 12, 2007

Mileage

67,000 mi

CLUNCKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END AND STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE TURNING FULL RIGHT OR LEFT. CAR WAS SERVICED AND RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 50,000 MILES. RETURNED TO DEALER AFTER 100,000 MILES FOR WHEEL VIBRATION PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WHILE BRAKING. INNER TIE ROD BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10187129

Incident

Jun 5, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10165483

Incident

Jul 24, 2006

Mileage

77,000 mi

NOISE IN FRONT END, WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL WOULD CATCH AND NOT RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION, STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RE-ALIGN PROPERLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10159998

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

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

NHTSA ID

10152178

Incident

Jun 4, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

2001 CHRYSLER 300M RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE RACK BROKE. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE VACUUM SYSTEM. *TS *NM

NHTSA ID

10150801

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

44,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 15MPH, THE RACK AND PINION FRACTURED WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE REPAIR SHOP OFFERED TO MAKE REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE.

NHTSA ID

10149206

Incident

Jan 27, 2006

Mileage

60,400 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10136764

Incident

Aug 22, 2005

Mileage

42,500 mi

POWER STEERING LOCKED UP GOING AROUND A CORNER DUE TO FAULTY POWER STEERING RACK AT 58,000 MILES

NHTSA ID

10128208

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

Mileage

58,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TIRES FAILED TO RESPOND TO STEERING MOVEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10093960

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

Mileage

75,000 mi

RACK AND PINION STEERING ON 2001 CHRYSLER 300M HAS SUDDENLY WORK LOOSE INTERNALLY. COMPANY WILL NOT EXPLAIN WHY STEERING HAS BECOME LOOSE. THERE IS 50,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. WE DO NOT KNOW IF VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM IS BREAKING DOWN AND ARE REPLACING RACK AND PINION BEFORE ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. THERE IS NOW A QUARTER TURN OF SLACK IN STEERING, CREATING A DRIVING HAZARD. CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE ISSUE. IT APPEARS AS IF THE WORM GEAR IN THE SYSTEM IS BREAKING LOOSE FROM THE SHAFT.

NHTSA ID

10073113

Incident

May 22, 2004