2000 CHRYSLER 300M Complaints

THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300 M IN 2003 (LESS THAN 50,000 ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME) WAS A POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DODGE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOTHING. WITHIN 2 YEARS, I WENT THROUGH TWO SETS OF 50,000 MILE TIRES/ FINALLY, THE BOLT IN THE RACK ASSEMBLE BROKE (IN A PARKING LOT THANK GOD) A PIECE OF THE BOLT WAS LEFT IN THE ASSEMBLY. THIS LED TO 1200 IN REPAIR WORK. A YEAR LATER, THERE WAS SO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING IT WAS NON DRIVABLE. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AGAIN AND PAID ANOTHER 1100 TO REPLACE TIRE RODS AND OTHER FRONT END PARTS DUE AGAIN TO "TORQUE PROBLEMS" WITH THE STEERING. I HAVE SINCE HAD THE SAME, BRAND NEW BOLT TIGHTENED TWICE TO KEEP IT FROM SNAPPING AGAIN. ALSO, BEEN THROUGH AN ADDITIONAL SET OF TIRES. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT I KNOW, AND THERE ARE WEBSITES COMPLAINING ABOUT IT ALL OVER THE PLACE. *AK

DASHBOARD PADDING BEGAN TO SPLIT AS A SMALL 2 INCH AREA ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE COMPARTMENT/COVER AREA. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 2 YEARS DASHBOARD PADDING FINISHED SPLITTING ON RIGHT SIDE AND ALL OF LEFT SIDE SPONTANEOUSLY. IS NOW SPLIT ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES OF THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT LEAVING ONLY BOTTOM SIDE OF PADDING LEFT HOLDING AIRBAG IN DASH. CLEARLY VISABLE THAT DASHBOARD PADDING SPLICED TOO DEEP AROUND AIRBAG COMPARTMENT WHEN MANUFACTORED. ASKED DEALER-JACK WOLF TO LOOK AT, TOLD IT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE REPLACED BY MANUFACTORER FOR FREE, UNLESS RISK OF HARM. HOW COULD IT NOT BE A RISK OF AIR BAG DEPLOYING INADVERTENTLY? CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT IT WILL CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYING IMPROPERLY OR INADVERTENTLY.*AK

THE INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR LATCH BROKE WHERE THE LATCH MECHANISM CONNECTING THE ROD ATTACHES. I CAN ONLY OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY IS MOLDED I CAN'T OPEN THE DOOR QUICKLY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED, THE DOOR PANEL IS ON BACKORDER. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT ADJUSTER FAILED AND THE SEAT BACK FELL BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SALES/SERVICE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

1) CAR MADE LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND TRAVELING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. HAD CAR LOOKED AT BY 2 DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. 2) FINALLY TOOK CAR IN FOR A 3RD TIME AND MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM. 3)CAR NEEDED NEW TIE RODS, SWAY BARS, ETC. FOR STEERING/SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. REPAIRS COST OVER $1000. *NM

2000 CHRYSLER 300M, FRONT IMPACT WITH 1,600 LBS STEER, AT 55 MPH. TOTALED CAR AND SEVERELY INJURED DRIVER. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS HAPPENED AT 1 A.M., COW WAS A BLACK ANGUS THAT RAN OUT OF DITCH DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF CAR. BACK OF COW CRASHED THROUGH ENTIRE WINDSHIELD, STOPPED CAR IMMEDIATELY ON IMPACT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOLDING AROUND ALL 4 DOORS COMES UNGLUED AND HANGS DOWN DURING HOT WEATHER. THE MOLDING HARDENS AND CHIPS WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD. SOMETIMES, THE CONTACT SUSTAINS MINOR INJURIES SUCH AS SCRATCHES ON THE HEAD FROM THE UNGLUED MOLDING WHEN ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE MOLDING REPLACED ONCE IN 2004. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED IN 2005. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO RESOLUTION. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE CONSUEMR HAS GOTTEN SMALL CUTS WHEN BRUSHING AGAINST THE HARD MOLDING. *NM

CHRYSLER 300M (2000) HAVE TO RE-CHARGED W/FREON EVERY 4 WEEKS. OVER SUMMER MONTHS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS 3 YEARS OLD, BUT WITH MORE FREQUENCY. IT USED TO HOLD FREON RE-CHARGE FOR ENTIRE SUMMER. HAVE HAD CHECKED FOR LEAKS, BUT NONE CAN BE FOUND. SYSTEM BLOWS "FOG" JUST BEFORE NEEDING TO BE RECHARGED. *JB

THE DASH COVER ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON MY CHRYSLER 300M HAS CRACKED. THIS CRACK HAS GROWN UNTIL IT MATCHES THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. ANOTHER CRACK HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIR BAG. BODY SHOPS REFUSE TO REPAIR THIS AREA BECAUSE OF THE LIABILITY INVOLVED WITH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL FELT NOTICEABLY LOOSE. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED SIGNS OF WHEEL CLICKING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT 30 MPH. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS PERMANENT GRADUAL WORSENING. THE CLUCKING NOISES WERE MORE PERCEPTIBLE WITH THE TURNING ROUND OF THE WHEEL ON EVERY ROAD CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.