2001 CHRYSLER 300M Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATING FAILED TO FULLY FUNCTION AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WOULD RANDOMLY REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS, BUT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

2001 CHRYSLER 300M SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CAR AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. CHANGED O RINGS AND NO VISABLE LEAKS. BAFFLING MECHANIC..... [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE AIR BAG RECALL RESOLVED ON MY CAR. I CHECKED IN SEPTEMBER AND AGAIN OCTOBER 16 AND TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS. WHEN I GO ON THE CHRYSLER WEB SITE FOR RECALL INFORMATION, IT SAYS THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER, OR THE DEALER, ARE NOT GIVING ME TOP PRIORITY. IN THE MEAN TIME, I AM AT RISK. I CHECKED THIS OUT AGAIN TODAY WITH THE SAME RESULT.

MY SON WAS DRIVING TO COLLEGE ON THE INTERSTATE AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, HIT AN ANIMAL OR HIT A POTHOLE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. MY SON WAS NOT INJURED, HE WAS STILL ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED ME TO INFORM ME WHAT HAPPENED AND ASK WHAT TO DO. AS HE WAS CLOSE TO HIS COLLEGE I TOLD HIM TO BE CAREFUL BUT CONTINUE ON TO SCHOOL, I WOULD CALL HIS UNCLE WHO IS A MECHANIC AND THEN LET HIM KNOW WHAT TO DO AFTER HIS CLASS WAS OVER. I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MY BROTHER. MY BROTHER SAID TO HAVE HIM DRIVE IT TO HIS SHOP SO HE COULD LOOK AT IT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STARTED A CLAIM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS INVESTIGATED AND DOES NOT BELIEVE IT WILL BE COVERED AS THERE WAS NOT A COLLISION OF ANY KIND AND THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING FOR NO REASON IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE. MY BROTHER RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THESE ARE THE CODES THAT CAME UP: ACTIVE - "DRIVER SQUIB" AND "PASSENGER SQUIB", STORED - "ORC ACCELEROMETER", "DRIVER SQUIB #1 CIRCUIT OPEN", "PASSENGER SQUIB #1 CIRCUIT OPEN" AND "DRIVER SQUIB #1 SHORT TO GROUND". THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A MALFUNCTION SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *TR

VERY VERY STRONG GAS SMELL WHILE DRIVING CANNOT FIND LEAK AFRAID OF FIRE FOUND SUGGESTIONS ON FORUM ON LINE SAYS NEAR DRIVER SIDE EXACTLY WHERE IT SMELLS. STILL SMELLS 35 MIN AFTER DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH, I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR DURING ACCELERATION. NOTE: THIS WAS ALSO EVIDENT BY AN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPM'S ON THE TACHOMETER. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF IN 2001. IT HAS ONLY 17,508 MILES ON IT!. CHECKING OF THE ENGINE FAULT LIGHT REVEALED A P0601 TROUBLE CODEI. THIS IS AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS NOTED BY OTHER 2001 CHRYSLER 300 M OWNERS, UPON CONDUCTING A SEARCH ON THE COMPUTER. SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS! *TR

OCT 2013 FIVE MONTHS AFTER I JUST HAD MY CAR FIXED . AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE GREEN LIGHT I HEARD A NOISE LIKE GRINDING MY CAR STOPPED I COULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD, I WAS STOPPED IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE OF A THREE LANE STREET I HAD TO PUT ON MY FLASHERS. I COULD NOT BE MOVE ONLY BY A TOW TRUCK. I HAD JUST HAD TIRE RODS CHANGED IN MAY 2013 AND RACK N PINION FIXED IN MAY WHICH THAT BROKE AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT HAD TO BE TOWED. AS I WAS TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAD FIXED IT. TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED TIRE ROD BRACKET HAD BROKE AS HE WAS PUTTING CAR DOWN INTO PARKING AREA. SO WHAT I PAID TO GET FIX WAS BROKE AGAIN PART COULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTED TIRE ROD BRACKET. WITH MY FAMILY I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, SHE NOTICED FLAMES AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT SUSTAINING ANY INJURY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. JS

Fire

I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP THAT WAS AWARE OF ITS ENGINE PROBLEM AND DID NOT NOTIFY ME OR MAKE ME AWARE BEFORE THEY HAD THE ENHANCING PAPERWORK READY FOR ME TO SIGN A BINDING AGREEMENT ON A CAR THEY HAD ME BELIEVING WAS MECHANICALLY SOUND/. *TR

BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL I HEARD SOMETHING POP THEN I COULDN'T TURN LEFT OR RIGHT I COULD ONLY GO UP OR BACK SO I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT HAD T O GET TOWED STEERING WHEEL JUST KEPT TURNING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING WHICH DIDN'T CORRECT UNTIL I REDUCED MY SPEED TO ABOUT 50MPH. THE ISSUE PERSISTED WHENEVER I DROVE THE HIGHWAY, NO MATTER THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD OVER A WEEK'S TIME. *TR

I HAVE HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. IT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED. IT REALLY NEVER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM OF A VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL WHEN BRAKE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED BUT VERY NOTICEABLE AT SPEED OVER 40 MPH. ALSO THE BRAKE SEEMED TO FADE. I NEVER GOT SATISFACTION IN CAUSE OR REPAIR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED WITH SLOTTED ROTORS AND BARE PADS ON ALL BRAKES. IT SEEMED TO BE BETTER BUT NEVER PERFECT. NOW THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT AND GOES TO THE FLOOR. I HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND AIR AND ALSO HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED IN HOPE AGAINST HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMPLE. STILL NO BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT WITHOUT INTENT. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WOULD ALSO PULL TO THE RIGHT SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

2001 300M LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT IDLE. EXTEMELY NOISY PUMP. HAVE REPLACED PUMP 3 TIMES. DEALER CLAIMS NO REPORTS OF COMMON PROBLEMS. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL MACHANICS MAY BE RACK AND PINION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT WAS DECELERATING FROM 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

CHRYSLER 2001 - 300 M WITH 65,774 MILES. ALL REQUIRED SERVICE AT DEALER ONLY. ON 24 NOV 10 CAR MADE "CLUNKING SOUND" PULLING INTO PARKING LOT AND THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. AAA TOW TRUCK CAME AND WHEN HE STATED TO PULL ON TRUCK ENTIRE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. HE LOOKED AT THE AREA AND NOTED THAT A BOLT IN THE CONTROL ARM WAS COMPLETELY GONE. SAID IF IT HAD HAPPENED 10 MINUTES EARLY ON FREEWAY, WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR. TOWED TO CHRYSLER DEALER WHO NOTED THAT "LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT APPARENTLY SNAPPED AND WENT AWAY, LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION COMPROMISED." CALLED CHRYSLER CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE ON 26 NOV 10 AND REPORTED. TOLD THEM THAT I FELT THIS WAS A PART FAILURE AND SAFETY ISSUE. THEY OPENED CASE FILE. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED BACK ON 29 NOV 10 & SAID THEY NEEDED ONE MORE BIT OF INFORMATION FROM DEALER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK THAT DAY. NO CALL BACK TO DATE (06 DEC 10) DESPITE NUMEROUS FOLLOW UPS WITH THEM. PICKED UP CAR FROM DEALER ON 04 DEC 10. DUE TO COLLATERAL DAMAGE COST $2,717.84. THEY NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT DAMAGE AS CAUSE OF FAILURE. *TR

WIFE BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, HEARD A POPPING SOUND, THEN ATTEMPTED TO PULL BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE CAR LOST ALL STEERING. DISCOVERED ONE BOLT HAD SHEARED OFF THE STEERING SYSTEM, CONSIDERED THE RACK AND PINION, AND THE OTHER BOLT HAD BACKED OUT. THE NIGHT BEFORE WE HAD JUST TRAVELED ON INTERSTATE 20 IN ALABAMA, RUNNING INTERSTATE SPEEDS WITH A CHILD ONBOARD. . IF THIS HAD HAPPENED DURING THE TRAVEL, NO DOUBT FATALITIES WOULD HAVE RESULTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIE ROD ON THE RACK AND PINION WAS LOOSE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS BURNED AND THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN SEVERAL VEHICLES IDENTICAL TO HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 144000.

COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY, THIS OCCURRED WHILE MOVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR WITH A "WHOOSH" SOUND AND FLUID SPILLED ALL OVER THE GROUND DUE TO A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE. THE LINE WAS CORRODED AND UPON SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION ALL LINES WERE FOUND TO BE CORRODED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT (THE ADJACENT FUEL LINES WERE TOTALLY FINE). REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $1200+. GIVEN THE SUDDEN AND POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS NATURE OF THE FAILURE ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO THE FUEL LINES WHICH WERE SUBJECT TO THE SAME CONDITIONS BUT WITHOUT SIMILAR CORROSION, PERHAPS THERE WERE IMPROPER MATERIALS USED. THIS VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 60K MILES ON IT, GOOD OVERALL CONDITION, MAINTAINED, ETC. *TR

2001 CHRYSLER 300M STEERING NOISE OVER BUMPS / PLAY ON STEERING WHEEL/ SEEMS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TIE RODS AS WELL AS I DID ALSO I ALSO REPLACED ALL SUSPENSION AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE IT IS DEFINITELY IN THE RACK AND PINION, IT FEELS LOSE AND LIKE OTHER COMPLAINTS THE RACK AND PINION MAY SHARE OFF AND CAUSE A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT I NEED THIS FIXED BEFORE IT HARMS ME OR SOMEONE RELATED TO YOU. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 CHRYSLER 300 WITH 143,000. THE CAR STALLS WHILE GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES AND HAD MANY THINGS REPLACED INCLUDING CAM AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS, REWIRED, AND FUEL PUMP AND THE CAR STILL STALLS. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD CHILD AND THIS CAR IS A HUGE ROAD HAZARD BUT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

CHRYSLER 300M 2001, ON 7/9/09 -CAR WAS SEEN AND INSPECTED FOR ANY TROUBLE AT A CERTIFIED CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS $200, TOTAL WORK COST $1,871. CAR RELEASED TO US AND WE WERE TOLD IT WAS IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION. ON 7/31/09 TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CAUSING THE CAR TO TURN AND RUN UP ON SIDEWALK EVEN THOUGH DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND INSPECTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. STEERING ROD BOLT HAD SNAPPED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING IN BOTH WHEELS. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST AT $1,675. CHRYSLER DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEM CONCERNING THE STEERING ON ANY 300M CHRYSLER. *TR

I HAVE A 300 M 2001 AND THE RACK AN PINION HAS WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. I LOST STEERING IN TOWN. THERE WAS A KNOCK IN THE FRONT END THAT THE DEALER SHIP COULD NOT FIND. *TR

2001 CHRYSLER 300M SUFFERED FROM SEAT RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE IN DECEMBER 2008 AFTER 03V035000 CAMPAIGN WAS SUPPOSEDLY COMPLETED BY DEALER IN 2003. PAID TO HAVE REPAIRED AGAIN AS DEALER SAID IT HAD BEEN FIXED. *TR

DECEMBER 20TH 2008 ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VEHICLE STARTED ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. INNER TIE RODS AND BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS BEFORE ALONG WITH TWO TIRES AND BRAKES. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE IN AN INTERSECTION. A TRUCK COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT LEFT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS IN A 180 DEGREE POSITION WITH LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE. *TR

Crash Fire 1 injured

DECEMBER 20TH 2008 ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VEHICLE STARTED ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. INNER TIE RODS AND BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS BEFORE ALONG WITH TWO TIRES AND BRAKES. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE IN AN INTERSECTION. A TRUCK COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT LEFT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS IN A 180 DEGREE POSITION WITH LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE. *TR

Crash Fire 1 injured

DECEMBER 20TH 2008 ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VEHICLE STARTED ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. INNER TIE RODS AND BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS BEFORE ALONG WITH TWO TIRES AND BRAKES. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE IN AN INTERSECTION. A TRUCK COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE FRONT LEFT PASSENGER SIDE AND THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS IN A 180 DEGREE POSITION WITH LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE. *TR

Crash Fire 1 injured

SOME BACKGROUND: I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A LITTLE SLOPPY ON MY 300M AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THEY TOLD ME THE RACK AND PINION SHOULD PROBABLY BE REPLACED. I HAD IT REPLACED FOR AROUND $1200. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER WHILE TRAVELING FOR CHRISTMAS, I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE (FROM DOING 70 MPH) TO STOP AT A GAS STATION. I STOPPED AT THE TOP OF THE OFF RAMP FOR THE STOP SIGN. TRAFFIC CLEARED, AS I ACCELERATED TO TURN LEFT, WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL I HEARD A NOISE, AND THE CAR WENT STRAIGHT. I HAD NO STEERING. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH ROOM PAST THE INTERSECTION TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, BUT STILL HAD MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DOING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE, I'M SURE WE ALL WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHOSE OPINION WAS THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE INNER TIE RODS TO THE RACK AND PINION WERE LOOSE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION AGAIN. POLICE WERE ON SCENE BUT DID NOT TAKE A REPORT. *TR

MY 2001 CHRYSLER 300M HAS ONLY 29,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASED. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A BAD RUBBING NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION BY MY FOOT. BEFORE THIS TRIP, THE CAR HAD BEEN TOTALLY SILENT. WHEN THIS NOISE BEGAN, THE CAR STARTED TO WANDER ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING. I CHECKED UNDER THE WHEEL WELL AND FOUND OILY RESIDUE SPLATTERED AROUND. I TOOK IT TO LARSON CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THE DRIVERS SIDE STRUT WAS TOTALLY BLOWN AND THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. HE SAID IT WAS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO BE DRIVING. THE SCARY THING IS THIS JUST FAILED OUT OF NOWHERE WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING OR GOING OVER ANY BUMPS. LUCKILY I WAS ON A 35 MPH ROAD AND NOT THE FREEWAY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THIS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE SOMEHOW THEY DECIDED IT WAS WORN BEFORE I BOUGHT THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT MAKING ANY NOISES OR SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE BEFORE THIS. I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO FAIL AND HE SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR A CHRYSLER VEHICLE DUE TO AGE. I POINTED OUT THAT IT ONLY HAD 29,000 MILES ON IT AND HE SAID IT FAILED NOT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE, BUT BECAUSE THE CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD. HE ALSO TALKED TO THE CHRYSLER HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. THIS PROVES THAT CHRYSLER IS AWARE THAT THEY HAVE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH STRUT FAILURE AND ARE DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER DUE TO THIS IF THERE IS A FAILURE ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH! PLEASE DO ANYTHING YOU CAN TO HELP MAKE CHRYSLER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME. *TR

I WAS STOPPED AT A CITY INTERSECTION WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN TRAFFIC CLEARED, I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN. I HEARD A 'CLUNK' AND THE WHEELS DID NOT TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, BUT THE TIRE WHEELS DID NOT! I HAD NO FUNCTION EXCEPT FORWARD OR REVERSE, SO I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE INTO THE CURB IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROADWAY AND MY CAR BLOCKED AN ENTIRE LANE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHICH PUT ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A TOW TRUCK HAD TO LIFT THE CAR TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE ROADWAY. I WAS PETRIFIED. THE CAR WAS TOWED AS INSTRUCTED BY THE POLICE OFFICER AND IS CURRENTLY WITH THE REPAIR SHOP PENDING AVAILABILITY OF A STEERING RACK KIT. THE BOLT TO THE RACK WAS SEVERED! THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT INJURED THANKS TO THE SLOW SPEED I WAS TRAVELING I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OTHERS THAT MAY HAVE THIS SAME EXPERIENCE WHEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND MAKING A TURN OR EXITING A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP. THIS IS CLEARLY A MECHANICAL SAFETY HAZARD AND APPEARS TO BE FAULTY WORKMANSHIP IN THE AUTOMOBILE. MY CAR IS MAINTAINED REGULARLY AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ADVISED BY CHRYSLER TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER (REFERENCE # 18030539), BUT THEY ARE OF NO ASSISTANCE CONCERNING THIS INCIDENT. I'M SHOCKED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AS RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A RECORDED KNOWN DEFICIENCY IN THE WORKMANSHIP. *TR

SAFETY ISSUE!! HEATED SEAT DRIVERS SIDE STOPPED WORKING, OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS STARTED MALFUNCTIONING BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, DEALER MADE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, WE WERE TOLD HEATED SEAT CIRCUIT SHORTED AND SHOWED BURN MARKS. NOT REPLACED TOO COSTLY CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS TOLD BY SENIOR SUPERVISOR THEY COULD NOT HELP US. OUR CONCERNS ARE SAFETY ISSUES NOT ONLY COST. ASKED SENIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE IF OTHER HEATED SEAT SHOULD BE USED AND WAS TOLD SHE COULD NOT ADVICE US WHAT TO DO THAT WOULD BE UP TO US AND THE SERVICE TECH TO DECIDE. *TR

2001 CHRYSLER 300M WITH 68, 300 MILES HAS STEERING VIBRATION AT 60 MPH. *CN

ON 12/17/07 I WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OF A 2001 CHYRSLER 300M THAT WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. WE SLIPPED ON ICE AND HIT A TREE AT APPX. 50 MILES AN HOUR, MY LAP BELT HELD MY BACK WHILE MY SHOULDER HARNESS DID NOT. I WAS SITTING BEHIND THE PASSENGER. THE CRASH CAUSED ME TO HAVE BROKEN RIBS, A BROKEN BACK AND INTERNAL INJURIES ALONG WITH BROKEN FACE BONES FROM HITTING THE SEAT IN FRONT OF ME. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. IS THERE ANY DEFECT THAT I SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT NOT TO LOCK UP OR THE CAR TO LOOSE SUCH CONTROL ON THE ICE? *TR

Crash 1 injured

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER TURNED RIGHT OUT OF PARKING GARAGE. PULLED ON I-71 S AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE. TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN LOW GEAR AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH (CURRENT SPEED LIMIT WAS 65). RPMS WERE PAST 4000 AND OTHER CAR HORNS WERE BLARING BECAUSE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT AND WAS GOING INCREDIBLY SLOW. TRIED TO GO TO THE MANUAL SHIFTER AND STILL WOULD NOT SHIFT. PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF CAR. TURNED CAR BACK ON AND CAR WAS FINE. CAR DID IT THREE TIMES ON THE WAY HOME. HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SPENT $600 REPLACING TRANSMISSION MODULE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM IN THIS CAR. DEALERSHIP APPEARS TO REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND UNHAPPY. *TR

MY SISTER'S 2001 CHRYSLER 300 M EXPERIENCED SUDDEN STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEED, SO NO ONE WAS KILLED. SHE DESCRIBED THE FEELING AT FAILURE AS A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE SENSATION OF SLIDING ON ICE. IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE THREADED HOLES ON THE STEERING RACK THAT THE INNER TIE RODS CONNECT TO WERE BOTH STRIPPED OUT AND THAT THE BOLTS HAD FALLEN OUT, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE LARGE CHRYSLER VEHICLES, AND PUTS A LOT OF PEOPLE AT RISK OF DEATH. PLEASE FORCE CHRYSLER TO RECALL THESE CARS AND TO INSTALL A REDESIGNED STEERING RACK AND TIE RODS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO KILL PEOPLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER 300M. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD NOISES AND THEN SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSIS WOULD COST $1,700. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA REQUIRES A SMOG TEST AND THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 76,000.