2001 CHRYSLER 300M Complaints

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

THE TRIM AROUND THE DOORS IS BADLY PEELING, CRACKING, TOTALLY FALLING OFF. I THINK THAT THE QUALITY OF PRODUCTS THEY USE MUST BE BAD. CARS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. THE TRIM IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND WITH A CAR THAT ISN'T THAT OLD YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ANYWAY. IF THERE IS SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THIS THEY NEED TO CORRECT IT. *JB

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

TODAY I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50 MPH. I WAS COMING UPON A INTERSECTION AND THE LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED RED. THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING ALONG THE ROAD IN THE SAME AND OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS I WAS. THERE WERE TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION. APPROXIMATELY 2 VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME COMING UP TO THE LIGHT. AS I BEGAN TO STOP MY BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. I TRIED PUMPING THEM, BUT GOT VERY LITTLE HELP FROM MY BRAKES. THINKING QUICKLY I MOVED INTO THE SECOND LANE, THAT HAD NO OTHER VEHICLES. HOWEVER IT WAS VERY CLOSE FOR ME TO HAVE REAR ENDED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY TWO CHILDREN. I THOUGHT MAY BE MY BRAKES WERE WET. SO I CONTINUED DRIVING, BUT WAS CAUTIOUS. AS I CAME UP TO THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO STOP, I ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS TIME, SMOKE CAME BILLOWING FROM MY HOOD. I HAD ABOUT 3 MORE MILES TO MAKE IT HOME, SO I CONTINUED HOME AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. HOWEVER MY HUSBAND INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AND SAID THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS BURNT BY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HE SAID IT LOOKED AS IF THEY BRAKE LINE WAS INSTALLED TO CLOSE TO THE CONVERTER. HE FELT THIS WAS A HAZARD. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY, HAD I HAD HIT ANOTHER DRIVER. LUCKILY WE WERE SAFE AND NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HOPE CHRYSLER RECOGNIZES THIS DEFECT AND NOTIFIES OTHER OWNERS, AS PEOPLE COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT WITHOUT BRAKES!! *JB

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

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

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.

THE VINYL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASH IN MY 2001 CHRYSLER 300M HAS CRACKED. THE CRACK IS ABOUT FOUR INCHES LONG, AND BASED ON INFORMATION FROM OTHER 300M OWNERS, IS IN THE VICINITY OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG. THERE IS CONCERN THAT REPAIR OF THIS CRACK IS UNSAFE DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE AIR BAG, AND THAT THE CRACK MAY AFFECT DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. *NM

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

DT: ON AUGUST 25 2005 WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE THE OWNER PULLED OVER TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE. APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN, TURNED RIGHT, AND THE RIGHT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE FELL OFF. THE OWNER WAS GOING ABOUT 8 MPH WHEN THE TIRE CAME OFF. THE OWNER GOT OUT AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE ROLLED 300 YARDS DOWN THE STREET. THE OWNER RETRIEVED THE TIRE. THE STUDS THAT HELD THE LUGS:NUTS BROKE. THE LUGS:NUTS WERE STILL ATTACHED TO THE STUDS. THE POLICE CAME AND MADE A REPORT WHICH INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WERE THESE STUDS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE OWNER HAS NOT CALLED CHRYSLER YET, BUT WILL DO SO SOON. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ADVISED THE OWNER THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. THE OWNER DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE,BUT A PROBLEM IS WITH THE LUG:NUTS AND STUDS. THE OWNER HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE WHEELS.*AK