2000 CHRYSLER 300M Complaints

THE TIRE/RIM COMBINATION SUFFERS FROM CHRONIC SPORADIC LEAKAGE, PARTICULARLY WHEN POSITIONED ON THE FRONT . ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE FRONT TIRES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE UNDERINFLATED. ON 4 OR 5 OCCASIONS, THE TIRES HAVE GONE COMPLETELY FLAT, SO FAR WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD AFTER A 20 MILE RUN. GOODYEAR EXAMINED THE MOST RECENT FAILED TIRE AND RIM AND REPORTED THAT THE RIM WAS EXCESSIVELY CORRODED WHERE THE TIRE SEALS TO IT. FURTHERMORE, ONCE CLEANED WITH A GRINDER, GOODYEAR REPORTED RESIDUAL PITTING THAT COULD AFFECT THE SEAL. CHRYSLER DIPPED THE TIRE AFTER GOODYEAR CLEANED THE RIM AND REINFLATED THE TIRE AND FOUND NO LEAK. CHRYSLER REFUSED TO REMOVE THE TIRES AND INSPECT THE RIMS FOR EXCESSIVE OR ABNORMAL CORROSION THAT MIGHT SUGGEST A DEFECT CAUSING CHRONIC LEAKAGE. CONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE IS HAZARDOUS, YET I CAN'T FIND OUT WHETHER THE ISSUE IS WITH THE RIMS, THE TIRES, OR BOTH. CHRYSLER'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT I START OVER AT ANOTHER DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO INSTRUCT THE DEALER TO REMOVE THE TIRES AND EXAMINE THE RIMS. (THEIR RECOMMENDATION WHEN I INITIALLY CALLED OVER A YEAR AGO WAS TO COMPLAIN TO GOODYEAR.) AT THIS TIME, I HAVE PURCHASED A COMPRESSOR AND AM MONITORING THE INFLATION CAREFULLY. IF HYPER MAINTENANCE PREVENTS A REOCCURRENCE, I WILL STILL NEED TO INSPECT AND POSSIBLY REPLACE THE RIMS DUE TO PITTING WHEN THE TIRES ARE REPLACED FOR WEAR. GOODYEAR HAS PROVIDED EXCELLENT SERVICE; CHRYSLER SEEMS TO BE STONEWALLING.*AK

ON MONDAY, 5/20, I WAS EXITING MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M AND AS I PULLED THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE CHROME PLATING ON THE HANDLE SPLIT ALONG THE TOP SEAM, SLICING A DEEP GASH IN MY MIDDLE FINGER. AFTER ATTENDING TO THE WOUND, I FOUND THAT THE CENTER OF THE DOOR HANDLE NOW HAS A 2" SECTION OF THE CHROME FINISH THAT HAS TORN AWAY FROM THE HANDLE, LEAVING A HORIZONTAL, RAZOR-SHARP PROTRUSION THAT COULD CUT ME AGAIN AT ANYTIME. FEARING THIS HAZARD WOULD CAUSE FURTHER INJURY TO ME OR MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY, I CONTACTED MY DEALER, BRANDYWINE CHRYSLER JEEP IN WILMINGTON, DE ABOUT GETTING A REPLACEMENT HANDLE FOR THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER DOESN'T MAKE REPLACEMENT DOOR HANDLES; I WOULD NEED TO ORDER A WHOLE NEW INTERIOR DOOR PANEL AT A COST OF $309, NOT TO MENTION THE $70/HOUR LABOR TO INSTALL IT. I WENT TO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY, 5/21, AND THE SERVICE GUY REMEMBERED HAVING A DOOR PANEL IN THE SHOP AND WENT TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING HE COULD DO. HE RETURNED TO TELL ME THAT THERE'S NO WAY TO REMOVE THE HANDLE FROM THE PANEL WITHOUT DAMAGING IT, AND TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE DOOR PANEL BECAUSE THE PROTRUDING STRIP OF CHROME FINISH CANNOT BE REPAIRED. EVEN IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE TREACHEROUS 2" SECTION OF FINISH FROM THE HANDLE, THAT WOULD LEAVE TWO EQUALLY SHARP AND DANGEROUS VERTICAL EDGES RUNNING COMPLETELY AROUND THE HANDLE. TODAY I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE VIA EMAIL ABOUT THE DEFECT, AND THEY SENT ME A CURSORY RESPONSE THAT SAID THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THE HANDLE IS PART OF THE DOOR ASSEMBLY. THEY DIDNT EVEN MENTION THE INJURY OR DEFECTIVE HANDLE.*AK

CHROME WHEELS 3 INCH CENTER HUBS ARE SEPARATED FROM THE MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THEM TO RIM DUE TO CORROSION.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INSTALLED WITH AN AFTERMARKET BODYGUARD ELECTRONIC CORROSION CONTROL SYSTEM, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.(CLAIM#51-0490-684)*JB

WHILE DRIVING, WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND UPON IMPACT DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE. DRIVER WAS IN A FLAT POSITION. TRUNK WAS PUSHED INTO BACKSEAT. VEHICLE TOTALED, PASSENGER AND DRIVER WERE INJURED.*AK *JG

WHILE TRAVELING 55-65 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY DUE TO POOR GOODYEAR TIRES ON CHRYSLER, 300M, 2000. CONSUMER IS ON SECOND SET. *AK GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES P225/55R17. THE VEHICLE HAD ROTORS, BRAKES AND SWAY BAR REPLACED. *YH

THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT IS NOT STABLE, DURING SLIGHT ACCELERATION THE SEAT LURCHES BACKWARD SLIGHTLY, DEALER STATED ALL THE SEATS DO THIS. *SLC

CONSUMER LEFT VEHICLE IN PARK AND RAN TO OPEN GATE, PROCESS WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE. CONSUMER'S BACK WAS TURNED WHEN VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING FORWARD. VEHICLE BUMPED CONSUMER, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO BE INJURED. DEALER CHECKED FOR ANY PROBLEM, BUT FOUND NOTHING.*AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REPLACED (HAPPENED IN SCHOMBERG ONTARIO, CANADA ZIP L0G 170).

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK