1994 Chrysler Lhs Steering Problems

IN JULY 2004, I PURCHASED A USED '94 CHRYSLER LHS W/95,000 MILES IN VERY GOOD CONDITION (EXTERIOR/INTERIOR) BUT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS I EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (ELECTRIC CURRENT NOT GOING TO GAUGES, GAUGES GOING HAYWIRE), TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (PERIODIC 'LIMP MODE', CAR ERRATICALLY SURGING) AND STEERING PROBLEMS (RACK 7 PINION, INNER/OUTER TIE RODS). WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I REPLACED THE INNER/OUTER TIE RODS AND FRONT/REAR STABILIZER LINKS THAT ALL IMPROVED MY FRONT SUSPENSION. JUST RECENTLY ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I HAD MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER REPLACE ONE BROKEN TRANSMISSION MOUNT ($305) THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK AT 124,500 MILES WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON MY LOCAL HIGHWAY MY TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF DRIVE GEARS, I WAS ABLE TO EXIT SAFELY ONTO MY JOBS PARKING LOT BEFORE IT FINALLY GAVE OUT. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN EXCLUSIVE AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP, THEY HAD TO REBUILD/OVERHAUL THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER ($1,800). A WHOPPING $2,100 IN REPAIRS IN ABOUT A MONTH. THERE WENT MY CHRISTMAS MONEY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10146729

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

124,500 mi

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHRYSLER LHS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE SKIDDED, AND WHEN SHE TURNED THE WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT TURN. A MECHANIC PULLED UP BEHIND AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT IT COULD BE RACK AND PINION STEERING. IF ANY VEHICLES HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10140027

Incident

Oct 17, 2005

Mileage

120,000 mi

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING TROUBLE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT IN ONE DIRECTION. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A BOLT BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103479

Incident

Dec 6, 2004

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 1994 CHRYSLER LHS. *MR THE MIRROR IN THE WINDSHIELD WAS TOO LOW AND OBSTRUCTED THE VISION OF THE DRIVER WHEN LOOKING TO THE RIGHT SIDE, THE FRONT END WAS BOUNCING AND WOBBLING IN THE FRONT END, THE FUEL PROBLEM CAUSED AN ODOR IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10083725

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

ON FEBRUARY 2002, 2 BOLTS CONNECTING TO THE RACK AND PINION AND TIE RODS SNAPPED IN HALF AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH MY VEHICLE. THE SNAPPING OF THE BOLTS CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION OF THE RACK AND PINION AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION PLUS THE BOLTS (FROM CHRYSLER). ON JANUARY 23, 2004 , THE EXACT MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AGAIN ALMOST CAUSING ANOTHER ACCIDENT. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW A SOLID STEEL BOLT MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER CAN SNAP IN HALF AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS. I HAVE OWNED OTHER AUTOMOBILES OLDER THAN THE CHRYSLER LHS AND NEVER HAD A BOLT BREAK IN HALF AT ANY TIME. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ON BOTH OCCASIONS THAT I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ALSO, THESE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY AND CAUSE ONE TO BE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055122

Incident

Jan 22, 2004

Mileage

126,646 mi

SAFETY ALERT: WHILE DRIVING, A BOLT HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION ARM SHEARED OFF AND THE STEERING FAILED ! ! ! THE STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. IT WAS INOPERABLE. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY HUNG UP ON ME... WE JUST BOUGHT A TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID

10070175

Incident

Apr 15, 2001

Mileage

60,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

NHTSA ID

10047772

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS BROKE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10042816

WHILE BACKING AROUND A CORNER, THE RIGHTHAND CV SHAFT POPPED OUT OF THE HOUSING. THE CV SHAFT WAS REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE BACKING UP AND TURNING THE WHEEL. CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT HAD TORN AWAY AT THE WELD AREA. I CAN EMAIL A PICTURE OF THE AREA IF YOU WOULD LIKE. THANKS... DAN DT

NHTSA ID

768757

Incident

Oct 8, 2002

WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8008673

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

FRAME OF VEHICLE IS WEAK AND IS MOVING UNDER STEERING GEAR. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT HE REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AND IN DOING SO, FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES FROM THE SOLENOID CONTROL MODULE AND THE SOLENOID CONTROL VALVE HAD BEEN PUT IN BETWEEN THE CROSSMEMBER AND THE RACK AND PINION, A BOLT HAD CUT AND SHORTED OUT THE HARNESS, THIS IS THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE MOUNT OF THE RACK AND PINION, WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, THE MASTER CYLINDER AND RACK AND PINION MOVE, DEALER RECOMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK BUSHINGS AND RIGHT SWAY BAR LINK, HOWEVER STATED THE STEERING WAS NOT A PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8008591

Incident

Apr 3, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

752109

Incident

Sep 10, 2001

RIGHT STEERING TIE ROD HAS RUBBED THROUGH TRANSMISSION HARNESS, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH RESULTED IN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

890631

WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF ENGINE. BRAKES SELF APPLYED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WOBBLES ALL ACROSS LANES.*AK

NHTSA ID

738454

Incident

May 1, 1999

VEHICLE WENT IN THE OPPOSITE OF THE DIRECTION FROM WHERE IT WASSUPPOSE TO GO. DEALER REPLACED INNER TIE ROD & WHEEL ALIGNMENT. OTHER TIE ROD WILL NEED TO BE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

869560

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING A LACK OF STEERING & NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. RACK & PINION NEEDED REPLACING. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ID

865629

Incident

May 2, 1997

THIS CAR HAD A BUMPER TO BUMPER 60,000 MILE WARRANTY - TRANSMISSION AND AIR CONDITIONING SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED 100% I DID NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE FROM VANDYNHOVEN'S ONLY HAD IT SERVICED THROUGH THEM. THEY ARE REIMBURSING ME 50% ON THE AIRCONDITIONING BECAUSE CHRYSLER HAS AGREED TO PAY 50% BUT I FEEL THAT THE EVAPORATOR CORE WAS WARRANTEED UP TO 70,000 MILES AND NOW I'M AT 71,700 AND THEY AREN'T COVERING IT IN FULL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AT LEAST 2 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY WITH AIR PROBLEMS ? SAME WITH THE TRANSMISSION - IT WAS BROUGHT IN ON SEVERAL OCCATIONS WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FULLY COVERED AND I HAD TO PAY $750.00 THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ON 10/04/99 *AK

NHTSA ID

724327

Incident

Aug 16, 1999

RACK & PINION STEERING WENT OUT. ALSO, LEFT INNER TIE ROD BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

863440

Incident

May 17, 2000

TWO AND ONLY BOLTS OF RACK AND PINION COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF EXITING FROM GAS STATION RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AT 47K MILES WITH A NEW ONE. DEALER BEING VERY COOPERATIVE IN TRYING TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR US ($800+). OUR CONCERN IS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE BOLTS AND NEED TO ISSUE RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF BOLTS. WE KEPT ORIGINAL SHEARED BOLTS AND RACK. DEALER NOW HAS BOLTS AND HAS SENT THEM TO DETROIT FOR TESTING. DEALER ALSO HAS NOW TAKEN POSSESION OF RACK AND PINION SHOWING REMNANTS OF SHEARED BOLTS INSIDE. WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END/STEERING OF THIS VEHICLE. EACH TIME REPAIR IS MADE, PROBLEM GETS WORSE, NOW CULMINATING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING WHICH COULD HAVE ALSO RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, SHE HAD PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HOURS ON I-74 AT 65 MPH. SHOULD A 1994 CHRYSLER LHS NOW BE ON ITS THIRD RACK AND PINION. I THINK NOT. I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC DEALER WILL COME BACK WITH A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ALTHOUGH THE BOLTS WERE SENT TO CHRYSLER ENGINEERING FOR METALURGY TESTING. IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED ALL REPAIRS/PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD SUPPLY YOU WITH SAME. *AK

NHTSA ID

722325

Incident

Apr 3, 2000

RACK AND PINION STEERING WELDS ARE BREAKING AWAY FROM THE K-FRAME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

861101

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BRACKETS, VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND VIBRATION WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO RECALL COMPONENT. MJS

NHTSA ID

552018

Incident

Feb 15, 2000

REAR RACK BUSHING FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

551319

THE STERRING WHEEL VIBRATES/PULSATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

NHTSA ID

713821

DEAR NHTSA, IN JANUARY I BOUGHT A 94 CHRYSLER LHS IN GOOD CONDITION FROM A FRIEND. IT HAD AROUND 75000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD REPAIRED THE AC NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE WARRANTY HAD EVEN BEEN EXTENDED ON IT UNTIL 70,000 MILES. ALSO, I READ IN CONSUMER REPORTS THAT IN CANADA, THE CHRYSLER LHS AC WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 7 YEARS OR 150,000 KM TO ADDRESS AC EVAPORATOR PROBLEMS. WITH THAT IN MIND, WHEN I TRIED TO USE THE AC IN THE SPRING/SUMMER, IT SMELLED LIKE THE NASTIEST, WORST SMELL EVER AND I COULDN'T USE IT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR $1500. WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE HISTORY OF REPAIRS, THEY OFFERED NO PAYMENT HELP WHATSOEVER. I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO MY REGULAR REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ONLY THE EVAPORATOR, AND IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $500 TO FIX. I PAID FOR THAT. THE REASON THAT I AM TELLING YOU THIS IS BECAUSE THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THE DEALERSHIP NOT ONLY WOULDN'T HELP ME WITH THE REPAIRS (EVEN THOUGHT THEY KNEW THE AC HAD A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS) BUT THEY TRIED TO SELL ME MORE UNNECESSARY PARTS (THE REST OF THE AC SYSTEM). THE SECOND PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IS THE RACK AND PINION. IN MID JANUARY I TURNED ON THE CAR ONE DAY AND THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT. I TOOK IT TO MY GOOD MECHANIC (NOT THE LIAR/THIEF CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP) AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE FIXED/REPLACED, ANOTHER $400-500 JOB. INSTEAD OF FIXING IT, I DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND I NOTICED YOUR INVESTIGATION PE99044 WHICH STARTED ON JUNE 28,1999 AND I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT MY RACK AND PINION IS ALSO DEFECTIVE, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME AT [email protected] THANKS AGAIN!!!

NHTSA ID

712232

Incident

Jan 15, 1999

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. STARTED VEHICLE & ATTEMPTED TO BACK UP & NOTHING HAPPENED. HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED BY MECHANIC, BOLTS ON BOTH SIDE OF TIE RODS HAD BROKEN AND STEERING GEAR BOX HAD ALSO WENT. MJS

NHTSA ID

848711

Incident

Aug 12, 1999