Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Chrysler Concorde submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 61 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 61, in the owner's own words
MOUNTING SUPPORT BUSHINGS TO "RACK & PINION" BECOME BRITTLE AND ALLOW MOVEMENT OF RACK WHICH REDUCES STEERING RESPONSE. DURING COLD WEATHER THE PROBLEM IS ALSO NOTICEABLE AS A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL 'BACK AND FORTH'. THE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE RACK AND THAT PIPE SHOULD BE INSULATED TO REDUCE THE HEAT TRANSFER TO THE BUSHINGS THAT ANCHOR THE RACK (ABOVE). *TR
A POPPING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY VIBRATES AND HAS SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. A JULY 2008 SAFETY INSPECTION REVEALED "EXCESSIVE PLAY" IN THE STEERING LINKAGE AND LEFT OUTER TIEROD WAS BAD. REPAIRS PERFORMED AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED YET AGAIN THREE MONTHS LATER. AFTER LEARNING OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS RELATED TO STEERING PROBLEMS IN CHRYSLER VEHICLES, I NOW FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY FAMILY. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DANGEROUS PRODUCTS THEY ARE PUTTING ON THE MARKET. *TR
I HAVE A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE AND WHILE DRIVING HAD THE TIE ROD BOLTS BREAK COMPLETELY OFF FROM THE RACK, SINCE I HAVE HAD THE BUSHINGS AND BOLTS REPLACED TWICE, AND AM STILL IN NEED OF RACK MOUNT BUSHINGS AS THEY HAVE FAILED AND I NOW ONCE AGAIN FEEL THE CAR FLOATING WHERE EVER IT WANTS TO GO ON THE ROAD. THE RACK MOUNT BUSHINGS ARE APPROX. $53 FOR TWO AND I AM IN NEED OF FOUR. I WORK BARELY PART TIME AND CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN EXIST. WHERE DOES A COMPANY LIKE DC STOP ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ISSUES THAT ARE VERY MUCH ON THEIR END OF THE STICK? HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN KILLED NO QUESTION. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN THAT REGULARLY RIDE IN THE CAR AND IS CHRYSLER GOING TO PAY FOR OUR FUNERAL WHEN THEIR PRODUCT KILLS ONE OF US OR ON OF THEIR MILLIONS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS? I HIGHLY DOUBT IT. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS IMMEDIATELY! *TR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL PARTY. 2 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, MY BOYFRIEND HAD PARKED ALONG THE STREET IN FRONT OF A FRIENDS HOUSE FOR A MOMENT, AND HAD JUST BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM THE CURB, WHEN HE HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. AT THE SAME TIME, HE WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, AWAY FROM THE CURB, BUT THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. LUCKILY, HE WAS GOING AT A VERY LOW SPEED, SO NO ONE WAS INJURED. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR, HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS UNDER THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT THE BOLTS FROM THE RACK AND PINION STEERING MECHANISM HAD BEEN COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF. THEY HAD SNAPPED IN HALF, LEAVING PART OF THE BOLTS INSIDE OF THE UNIT. I THANK GOD THAT NO ONE WAS HURT, AND THAT MY 12 YEAR OLD SON WASN'T IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR REPAIRS, SINCE I JUST SPENT ALL THE MONEY I HAD BUYING THIS VEHICLE, SO I HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED INTO WHAT THIS IS GOING TO COST ME. I TRULY HOPE THAT CHRYSLER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE EVEN MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END RATTLED AND SHOOK AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FRONT TIE ROD ENDS AND BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THREE YEARS. THE FIRST TIME IN AUGUST 2003, THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. THE SECOND TIME IN JUNE 2004, THE FRONT END RATTLED AND SHOOK. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FRONT TIE ROD ENDS AND BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND RIM DETACHED FROM VEHICLE. *KB ALL THE LUG NUTS WERE TORN OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIE ROD HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY. *JB
AFTER HITTING BUMP IN ROAD 96 CHRYSLER CONCORDE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION THE INNER TIE ROD BUSHING WAS MISSING. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. *JB
1996 CONCORDE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. *TS ***NAR*** THE TRANSAXLE LEAKED, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB
DT: CONSUMER STATED THE RACK AND PINION CONTINUED TO WEAR OUT WHICH CAUSED THE CAR THE CONSUMER TO VEER OFF TO THE CENTER LINE. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED, THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 46,000 MILES ON IT. IT JUST TAKES OFF IN ANY DIRECTION LEFT OR RIGHT ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. CHRYSLER SAID SINCE HE HAD IT REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WHEN THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, IT LASTED FOR 2 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT HAD THE INNER TIE ROD REPLACED FOUR TIMES. SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS TOLD HER THIS WAS NOT A GOOD CAR. TALSO, HE RACK AND PINION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WILL NOT TURN.*AK
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS WORN. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT TWICE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
FIRST IT WAS THE RACK & PINION GOING OUT ON MY 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE. CHRYSLER DID REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THE TIE-RODS HAVE FAILED - NOT COVERED UNDER CHRYSLER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB
STEERING MAKES A GRUNTING SOUND WHEN WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND FORTH, THE MOUNTS ON THE RACK ARE LOOSE. *AK
I OWN A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE WHICH HAS BEEN GIVING ME STEERING PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I FIRST NOTICED IT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS ON VERY COLD DAYS WHEN I WOULD LEAVE FOR WORK IN THE MORNING. AS SOON AS I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND MADE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST TURN OF THE WHEEL THERE WOULD BE SOME LOUD POPPING NOISES AND THE STEERING WAS STIFF. ONCE THE CAR WARMED UP THE STEERING WAS MORE FLUID AND THE NOISE WOULD DIMINISH. THESE SYMPTOMS HAVE CONTINUED AND NOW I SEEM TO EXPERIENCE THEM EVEN IN WARMER TEMPERATURES. RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHENEVER I AM APPLYING THE BRAKES AND TURNING THE WHEEL I HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE AS IF SOMETHING IS BREAKING. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS NO LONGER STRAIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHICH INDICATES AN ALIGNMENT IS IN ORDER. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC THIS MORNING AND AFTER INSPECTING IT HE INFORMED ME THAT THE RACK & PINION BUSHINGS ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE SPECIFICALLY SAID THE PROBLEM IS WHERE THE RACK & PINION CONNECT TO THE BODY. HE ALSO SAID HE DOES NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY TOOL(S) TO REPAIR THIS SO HE REFERRED ME TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP WHERE I CALLED AND WAS INFORMED THE REPAIR WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $1650 PERHAPS MORE DEPENDING ON IF STRUTS AND MOUNTS WERE ALSO NEEDED. I AM PLACING THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA BECAUSE I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE FROM OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE'S. IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND COMPENSATE IT'S CUSTOMERS FOR ANY/ALL COSTS RELATED TO THIS APPARENT DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. *JB
WELL AS I CAN TELL THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THE RACK AND PINION, BUSHINGS AND STEERING GEAR FAILURE AND TIE ROD ENDS. MY CONCORD HAS HAD A CLUNK GRINDING SOUND FOR SOMETIME IN THE STEERING AND NOW THE CAR IS BEGINNING TO NOT TURN WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. NOT EVERY ONE HAS A $1000.00 TO $2000.00 TO GET THIS FIXED WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET CHRYSLER TO FIX THE PROBLEM A SCHOOL BUS FULL OF CHILDREN GETTING HIT BUY ONE OF THE MANY CHRYSLER CARS WITH THE SAME STEERING PROBLEM ON THE ROAD. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF NOT ALREADY. *LA
I HAVE A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LXI. MY BROTHER IN LAW HAS ONE THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL ALSO. WE BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE STEERING GEAR BUSHINGS WEAR OUT AND ALLOWS THE STEERING TO WANDER. I HAVE COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS MY BROTHER IN LAW WHILE GOING AROUND A CORNER AND EXPECTING THE CAR TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF STEERING BUT INSTEAD THE CAR WANTED TO GO STRAIGHT UNTIL THE STEERING GEAR HAD TRAVELED AS FAR AS IT COULD GO THEN THE STEERING REACTED. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END LEADING A MECHANIC TO BELIEVE THE ROTORS ARE WARPED WHEN IN FACT IT IS THE STEERING GEAR BUSHINGS. THESE BUSHINGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH CHRYSLER. INSTEAD THEY WANT YOU TO PURCHASE A WHOLE NEW STEERING GEAR FOR OVER $1000. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON TO THE 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LXI AND CHRYSLER SHOULD EITHER MAKE THE PART AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM OR REPLACE THE PART AT THERE OWN EXPENSE. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS WHERE SOMEONE MAY DRIVE OFF THE ROAD AND GET HURT OR KILLED AND NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW WHY OTHER THAN TO EXPECT THAT IT WAS THE DRIVERS FAULT. *LA
I HAVE PUT NEARLY $2000 INTO THE FRONT END OF MY 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE, BEGINNING WITH THE INFAMOUS EARLY RACK & PINION DEFECT. RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS UP ON BLOCKS WAITING FOR ME TO REPLACE NEARLY EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END.*AK THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE OF REPLACEMNT COSTS.
STEERING IS VERY BAD. PULLS TO THE LEFT. RACK AND PINION BUSHINGS BAD, AS WELL AS A TIE ROD. USUALLY MAKES A POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING. ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED. CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT. REPLACED WATER PUMP TWICE AS WELL AS THERMOSTAT. ABS LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. BRAKES ARE VERY BAD. I'VE REPLACED THEM NUMEROUS TIMES. *AK
VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, IT WILL CONTINUOUSLY PULL TO THE LEFT/RIGHT. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS COMING APART AT THE MOUNT.*AK
TEXT OF MESSAGE SENT TO [email protected] WED., 7-23-2003. MY ELDERLY FATHER HAS A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE FOR WHICH HE CURRENTLY HAS A STEERING PROBLEM. THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP IN COATS, NC HAS ADVISED THAT IT HAS A GOOD IDEA THAT IT MAY BE DEFECTIVE OR MISSING BUSHINGS, LOOSE STEERING GEAR BOLTS, OR OTHER COMMONLY KNOWN PROBLEMS. THEY FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE UNTIL THEY CAN LOOK AT IT NEXT WEEK. I AM ASTOUNDED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS IN EFFECT FOR THIS SUBJECT. IT TOOK A SOLID HOUR FOR ME TO CUT / PASTE THE ATTACHED. THIS IS AN EXTRACT FROM YOUR RECORDS - VIVID DESCRIPTIONS WARNING OF SAFETY CONCERNS FROM CUSTOMERS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO REACH CHRYSLER CORPORATION'S SENSE OF CONCERN AND DUTY TOWARD THIS MATTER. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD THIS MATTER? YOUR WEBSITE CITES THE FOLLOWING: "IF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR ITEM OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, THE MANUFACTURER MUST FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. YOUR COMPLAINT IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS." THE "NEXT STEP" HAS ALREADY BEEN TAKEN, AND INVESTIGATIONS #EA99031 OCT 29, 1999 AND PE99044 SEP 13, 2001 CLOSED WITH NO ASSUMPTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY BY CHRYSLER, AND NO RECALL MANDATED FOR SAFETY ISSUES. CHRYSLER OWES THIS "WELL KNOWN" PROBLEM'S FIX TO MY FATHER AT NO CHARGE. I WILL NOT STAND BY AND SEE HIM TAKEN FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED OR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS ONE HAS SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS, WAS NOT PROPERLY INVESTIGATED BY YOUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, OR WAS SET ASIDE PREMATURELY.HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE?*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING THE STEERING BOLTS ARE LOOSE, AND IT IS CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO JUMP AROUND, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK *TS
I USE TO OWN A 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LXI I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS MY WHEELS FALLING OFF, LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING. A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP STATED THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD AT ALL! MY ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 45 M.P.H., ALL POWER TO THE CAR DIED. I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO SEVERAL CONCORDE OWNERS AND THIS IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH THESE. I STOP MAKING PAYMENT FOR THIS CAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP WHERE I BROUGHT IT FROM WOULD NOT FIX IT WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I FEAR FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS THIS CAR NOW, THEY COULD LOSE THEIR LIFE.*JB
STEERING RACK REPLACEMENT IN 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE IS VERY COSTLY AND PROBLEMATIC. HAD I KNOWN ABOUT SUCH AN INHERENT BAD DESIGN I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, LET ALONE ANY CHRYSLER PRODUCT. MY PARTICULAR UNIT HAS FAILED AT THE LOW MILEAGE OF 110,000 AND BECAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO FAILURE! FURTHERMORE, DURING THE REPAIR PROCESS MANY OTHER COMPONENTS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE REQUIRED TEAR DOWN TO ACCESS THE FAILED STEERING RACK COMPONENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE STEERING RACK FAILURE, THE FUEL RAIL GASKETS ALSO FAILED IN LEAKAGE AT THE SAME TIME.
ON 10/11/96 I PURCHASED A NEW CHRYSLER CONCORDE FROM A LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER HERE IN MONTGOMERY, AL. (VIN [XXX]) ON JAN 2001, I REPORTED TO THE CHRYSLER DEALER ABOUT THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WAS POPPING AND CRACKING WHEN YOU TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS TIE ROD BUSHINGS AND LOWER ARM. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT STRAIGHT ANYMORE WHEN DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE REPAIRS. (SOMEWHAT BETTER @$577.00 / MILEAGE WAS 36430) ON 31 JAN 03, I TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTER, HERE IN MONTGOMERY, AL. (MILEAGE IS 51758) FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TIRE BALANCE. (THE CAR'S STEERING LATELY SEEMED TO HAVE A LOT OF PLAY) ON THIS DATE, AT APPROX 9:30 AM, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MONTGOMERY SERVICE CENTER ([XXX] / SERVICE MANAGER/ PHONE NR. 334-281-2886) INFORMING ME THAT THE "RACK AND PINION " STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ASAP, AS THIS CONDITION GOOD BE A SAFETY FACTOR IN DRIVING THE CAR. HE SAID THE "WHOLE" RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY WAS MOVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BEING TURNED, AN UNSAFE CONDITION. [XXX] ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN AND REPAIRED SEVERAL CHRYSLER PRODUCT VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. (PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY) CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS [XXX] SHOWED ME A CHRYSLER "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN": NR. 19-001-01/GROUP: STEERING/DATED 23 MARCH 2001. THIS ALSO COVERED VEHICLES FROM 1993-2001 CHRYSLER, DODGE, AND EAGLE. IF THIS STEERING PROBLEM AND CONDITION IS UN SAFE, WHY HASN'T CHRYSLER RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR THE REPAIRS AT THEIR COST? (APPROX. $2400.00) DOES SOMEONE NEED TO GET KILLED BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE? YOUR INQUIRY INTO THIS MATTER WOULD BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. (NAMES AND REPAIR RECEIPTS TO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE MONTGOMERY AREA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, ARE AVAILABLE) THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHEN MAKING TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE IS LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALER DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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