1999 Chrysler Lhs Steering Problems

1999 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LHS, BUMPING, CLUNKING NOISES IN REAR. LEFT FRONT WHEEL WHEN TURNED TO LEFT MAKES A POPPING SOUND. PURCHASED CAR "USED" IN 2005.WITH 69,000 MI. HAD BUMPING SOUNDS IN REAR AT THAT TIME AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY MECHANIC, COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. IT IS NOW 09-27-2009 AND TONIGHT I NOTICED A LOUD POP WHEN I TURNED STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT ENTERING GARAGE, THIS PROMPTED ME TO LOOK UP PROBLEM ON LINE ONLY TO LEARN THAT THIS CHRYLSER MODEL IS DEFECTIVE! AND THAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT FIX THESES VEHICLES! I AM NOW AFRAID TO DIVE MY CAR AT ALL. VEHICLE NOW HAS 99,000 MILES. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

NHTSA ID

10285439

Incident

Sep 27, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

ME AND MY WIFE HAVE A 1999 CHRYSLER LHS WITH SOME SERIOUS STEERING ISSUES!!! I WAS TOLD TO NOTIFY YOU DO TO THE EXTENSIVE REPORTS OF PRIOR LH SERIES STEERING ISSUES. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ONE YEAR, IT HAS 91,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN YOU TURN TO THE LEFT PAST CENTER THE STEERING ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPS WORKING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO DRIVE IT FOR $45, WHICH IS A JOKE CONSIDERING YOU COULD BARELY TURN IT LEFT JUST SITTING THERE. WE WENT AHEAD AND LET THEM AND THEY INFORMED US THE STEERING RACK WAS FAILING, AND IT WOULD COST $1200 TO FIX. THE STEERING IS ALMOST COMPLETELY USELESS NOW, UNLESS I'M DRIVING IN THE INDY 500. I HAVE ORDERED A STEERING RACK AND WILL INSTALL IT MYSELF FOR $275. THE BAD STEERING RACK IS STILL IN THE CAR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10270157

Incident

Jan 10, 2009

Mileage

91,464 mi

RACK AND PINION AND OUTER TIE ROD FAILURE ON MY 1999 CHRYSLER LHS. I PURCHASED THE CAR APPROX 30 MONTHS AGO AND IT ONLY HAD 3000 MILES OR 5400 KILOMETERS. THE STEERING FAILED ON AUGUST 10 2008. I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE STEERING FROZE AND I COULD NOT WITH ALL OF MY STRENGTH TURN THE WHEELS TO THE LEFT.....WHEN IT FAILED, THE CAR ONLY HAD 34,544 KILOMETERS AND NOW HAS 35000. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED AT A LOCAL GARAGE AT THE APPROX. COST OF 1400.00 DOLLARS. SEEMS TO ME THAT THE CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND I HAVE BEEN DOING ALOT OF READING ABOUT THIS AND THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY QUALIFY AS A RECALL ITEM. WHAT I REALLY THINK IS THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO REPAIR AND REPAY ALL OF THE CONSUMERS THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THEIR VEHICLE REPAIRED. ALSO I WOULD LIKE THEM TO MAKE SOME SERIOUS CHANGES TO THE STEERING SYSTEM WHICH IN MY EYES IS A VERY DANGEROUS SYSTEM AND IS PRONE TO FAILURE THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED, I STILL FIND SOME CLUNKING NOISES AND THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF WHEN YOU FIRST BEGIN DRIVING...I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE OUTER TIE RODS BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY NOISY AND UNSAFE AND THAT WAS DONE APPROX 30 DAYS BEFORE THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED....IF I CAN ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY, PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO SO. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243283

Incident

Aug 10, 2008

Mileage

22,000 mi

THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LED TO THE FAILURE. I WAS LEAVING WORK ONE DAY AND I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND THEN I LOST POWER STEERING ONLY WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A STEERING RACK, GEAR AND A NEW TIE ROD. I HAD ALL REPLACED AT 55,000 MILES. THE CAR NOW HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT AND IT IS STILL NOT RIGHT IT POPS WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION FORWARD OR REVERSE AND TODAY 7/27/08 THE STEERING PUMP WENT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235952

Incident

Nov 25, 2007

Mileage

55,000 mi

WITH ONLY 60K MILES, THE STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT BUT NO APPARENT PROBLEMS TURNING RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233599

Incident

Aug 6, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

STEERING VEERED TO THE RIGHT. STEERING WAS VERY SHAKY. TOOK CAR INTO MECHANIC AND I NEED NEW TIE ROD ON PASSENGER SIDE AND BUSHING IS COMPLETELY GONE. I WAS TOLD I SHOULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE ROD MAY BE CRACKED AND I COULD LOSE ALL STEERING CONTROL ($850). HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON DRIVER SIDE TWO YEARS AGO AND MECHANIC FIXED ($1,000). ALSO A FEW YEARS AGO, MY FIANCE LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF CAR WHILE DRIVING. COMPUTER SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED COMPUTER CHIP (800K MILE WARRANTY) BUT NOW LIGHTS FLICKER IN CAR. PLEASE PLEASE INFORM CUSTOMERS OF THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222640

Incident

Mar 28, 2008

VEHICLE STEERING WOULD START PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND THEN THE LEFT. NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END AND VERY LOUD AT TIMES WHILE TURNING. AND SOMETIMES WOULD NOT TURN IT WOULD LOCK UP NO CONTROL THEN YOU WOULD GET CONTROL OF THE STEERING. WE HAD CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. VEHICLE THEN STARTED GETTING WERE IT WAS HARD TO TURN LEFT ,IT WAS LIKE THE POWER STEERING WOULD QUIT AND THEN START BACK .VEHICLE WOULD TURN RIGHT NO PROBLEM. WE HAD THIS CHECKED AGAIN,IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THE COULD NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG. I HIT A DEER ,WHEN I TRIED TO TURN TO MISS HIM STEERING LOCKED UP WOULD NOT TURN. THEN I HAD A ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT SOMEONE IN THE REAR. I TRIED TO MISS AS I REALIZED THEY WERE STOPPED AND THE STEERING WOULD NOT LET ME TURN .I WAS NOT CHARGED WITH FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE DUE TO VISION OBSCURED BY THE SUN. I WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THE WRECK IF THE STEERING HAD NOT OF LOCKED UP I HAD NO CONTROL. I WAS NOT GOING FAST .THE VEHICLE KEPT GETTING HARDER TO TURN AND THEY STILL COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM .NOW THE WARRANTY IS OUT AND VEHICLE WAS CHECK BY ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE TOLD US IT NEEDED RACK AND PINION .THIS WAS WHAT WE COMPLAINED OF, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE FOND THE PROBLEM. THE CAR NOISE GOT LOUDER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING, AND ALL ALONG THIS WAS GOING OUT. CURRENTLY, WARRANTY WAS GONE. THEY COVERED THIS JUST TO PASS THE WARRANTY OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193532

Incident

Apr 6, 2006

Mileage

73,000 mi

TIE RODS BROKE ON BOTH SIDES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10139387

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

CAR HAS 40K MILES, 1999 MODEL, NO CRASHES. DRIVING DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET, SLOW DOWN AND MAKE RIGHT TURN INTO PARKING LOT. AT COMPLETION OF TURN ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN WHEELS AND LOST FUNCTION FROM STEERING BUT STEERING WHEEL TURNED LIKE NORMAL. LUCKILY VERY LOW SPEED SO WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CRASH. ROOT CAUSE IS BOLTS (2) SHEARED BELOW STEERING GEAR WHERE TIE RODS CONNECT. REPAIRS IN PROGRESS, WILL ATTEMPT TO DRILL OUT SHEARED BOLTS AND REPLACE, BEFORE HAVING TO REPLACE GEARBOX AND BOLTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10132828

Incident

Aug 14, 2005

Mileage

40,022 mi

DT: WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50-55 MPH AND LOST POWER STEERING ON THE LEFT SIDE ONLY, COULD MAKE LEFT HAND TURNS, BUT THIS REQUIRED SUPER STRENGTH TO DO SO. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING, NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. HAS NOT BEEN TO DEALER, EXPIRED WARRANTY. DID TAKE TO A MECHANIC, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT HAS HAPPENED, HAS NOT PERFORMED ANY REPAIR SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. DID CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131241

Incident

Jul 20, 2005

Mileage

91,000 mi

DT: POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. CALLER WAS GOING 50 MPH AND TRIED TO TURN LEFT, AND COULD HARDLY GET IT TO TURN. CALLER SAID IT MADE RIGHT TURNS BUT TO TURN LEFT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10130802

Incident

Jul 25, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

I OWN A 1999 CHRYSLER LHS AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE / REPAIR BOTH TIE ROD BUSHING ON EACH SIDE OF MY CAR. (BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES) YOU HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE STEERING FEELS UNSAFE/SLACK. WHEN THE CAR IS LIFTED ON A JACK, YOU CAN PUSH ON THE TIRE AND IT GOES IN A BACK AND FORTH MOTION.

NHTSA ID

10125207

Incident

Jun 6, 2005

Mileage

98,000 mi

IN DEC 2002, THE RACK IN PINION SYSTEM IN MY CHRYSLER LHS STARTED TO LEAK AND CAUSED A FIRE WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOST. THE CAR BURNED UP N MINUTES. WE DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER HAS HAD SOME PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WITH RACK IN PINNIONS BUT HAS NEVER DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THE,

NHTSA ID

10124355

Incident

Dec 26, 2003

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL."STEERING IS EXTREMELY LOOSE, FLIMSY FEELING AND OVER-SENSITIVE. STEERING WILL ALSO USUALLY JERK WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS, ACCELERATING OR BRAKING. STEERING ASSEMBLY FEELS LIKE IT VIOLENTLY JERKS OVER HEAVILY BUMPY AREAS. VEHICLE IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO IT BEING REALLY LOOSE, FLIMSY FEELING STEERING THAT MOVES WAY TO FREELY. FRONT WHEELS SOMETIMES SEEM TO SLIDE OR SLIP AROUND SOME SLIGHT TURNS. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS BROKEN. IT HAS BEEN DANGEROUS AT TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10099139

Incident

Aug 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 5 TO 10 MPH AND TURNING TO THE LEFT, THE POWER STEERING COLUMN FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10089446

Incident

Aug 23, 2004

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE MAKING CLUNKING NOISES AND WHEELS LOCKING UP. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE WHEELS DID NOT TURN. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T FIND A RECALL ON THE STEERING RACK BUT FOUND NUMEROUS ARTICLES REGARDING THE DEFECT IN WHICH OTHERS HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME AND A FEW RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS. (TSB#1900101) *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10034022

WHILE MAKING A TURN VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RACK AND PINION FAILURE. THE FRONT WHEELS DIDN'T TURN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10029933

Mileage

80,000 mi

VEHICLE WITH 57000 MILES, HAS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GO OUT. AT 48000 THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WENT OUT. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023427

Incident

Jun 18, 2003

Mileage

57,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER A CURVE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A TREE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10020020

Mileage

52,000 mi

THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED AND A GROWLING NOISE WAS HEARD, AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER FIRST SERVICED THE POWER STEERING FLUID, AND THEN STATED THE RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10014928

Incident

Dec 23, 2002

WHEN TURNING HEARD CLICKING NOISE.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

8017713

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON ATTEMPTING TO MAKE EITHER A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO POWER STEERING ASSIST UNIT FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

890202

Incident

Jun 11, 2001