Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
DOT #BEXOTU51059 - VIBRATION IN STEERING CAUSED US TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED. THE NEXT DAY, ON THE TURNPIKE, THE VIBRATION & NOISE CAME BACK. SOON AFTER, THE TIRE BLEW OUT. TREAD SEPARATED, BUT DID NOT COME OFF THE TIRE. TREAD DAMAGED FENDERWELL, FENDER, BUMPER, SIDELIGHT & TRIM.*AK (DOT NUMBER: BEXOTU5105 TIRESIZE: P225/60R16)
POWER RACK AND PINION BUSHING FAILED TO WHERE RACK WAS MOVING WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL GIVING THE DRIVER SO MUCH PLAY IN THE STEERING IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL THE CAR I ASSUME THE FRONT STEERING LINKAGE WHICH WAS PREMATURALLY WORN ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING.THE LEFT REAR TRRAILING ARM COMPLETLY FAILED WHEN IT RUST ALL THE WAY THRU CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UYNSAFE TO DO DRIVE AS THE AXILE WAS SPLAYED OUT AND PUSHED BACK. I REALLY GIVE THE MILAGE OF JUST 75000 THAT THIS WAS A PREMATURE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION THAT COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS RAMIFICATION HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO BRING THIS CAR UNDER CONTROL. AS FOR THE A/C EVAPORATOR CHRYSLER FIXED TRHAT AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION AND THE RECALLED FUEL RAIL. *AK
WHEN SHIFTING GEAR INTO DRIVE VEHICLE MAKES A HUMMING NOISE, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND REVERSE THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK INTO DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING, THE FRONT WHEELS WERE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE FRONT WHEELS WERE INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER, VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND AND TIE ROD END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND HIT A UTILITY POLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGES. NLM
WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE. ALSO, THE STEERING BOX MOVES BACK AND FORTH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
I KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM IS UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL, BUT I HAVE TAKEN THIS IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IT HAS ONLY LASTED MAYBE 6 MONTHS. I 'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. I WOULD LIKE THIS BROUGHT TO THE MANUFACTURES ATTENTION. I HAD TRIED TO TRADE THIS CAR IN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH WAS NOT THE MANUFACTURE WAS UNEASY ABOUT THIS RECALL. I FEEL THAT THIS NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION . THANK YOU. *AK
VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SOMETIMES VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED AFTER STALLING OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM.*AK DEALER STATED TO CONSUMER STALLING COULD BE RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP, HOWEVER IF THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER WOULD BE CHARGED. VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START, IT WILL CRANK BUT IT WILL NOT START, AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR AN HOUR OR TWO IT WILL START. *SLC
STEERING HAS A LOT OF PLAY, AND IS VERY LOOSE. *AK DEALER FOUND PROBLEM TO BE WITH THE TIEROD ENDS, BOTH INNER. *SLC
THE RACK AND PINION MOUNTING BUSHINGS FAILED. NLM
RECALL (98V-184) WAS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE RECALL REPAIR IS INADEQUATE AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE FUEL RAIL WHICH CRACKED AND CAUSED FUEL LEAKAGE, CONSUMER HAD THE REPAIRS COMPLETED AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED IN THE RECALL REPAIR. *MJS
CONSUMER RAISED HOOD, AND WHILE CONSUMER WAS UNDER THE HOOD, REACHED DOWN TO PICK UP AN OIL CAN AND HOOD SLAMMED SHUT, INJURING CONSUMER.*AK
RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED ON THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM (98V-184), HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL RAILS, DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGES. *MJS
FAILED BUSHINGS CAUSE STEERING PROBLEMS. NO REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE!*AK
I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHER OWNERS THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THERE LHS. I HAVE BOUGHT SEVERAL SETS OF TIRES BECAUSE OF THIS. ALSO I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIE RODS WOULD WEAR OUT AGAIN.COST FOR REPAIRS WERE 831.47. THIS IS UNREASONABLE FOR A CAR SO NEW. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH COSTLY REPAIRS ONSUCH A NEW CAR. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THIS IS DEFINATLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. AFTER NEW REPAIRS MY CAR IS ALREADY MACKING SOME OF THE PREVIOUS SOUNDS.SOMTHING IS NOT RIGHT.THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. *AK
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED, STEERING WILL IS NOT STRAIGHT AND THE WHEEL POPS AND SCRAPES WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. NLM
WHEN BRAKING, PEDAL SHAKES. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD END RATTLING DUE TO TIE ROD WEARING OUT. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE ROD MAY FALL OFF, AND THERE WILL BE NO STEERING.*AK
OUR MECHANIC STATED HE HAS REPLACE 9 TO 10 TIMING BELTS, IDLER PULLY, WATER PUMPS ON THE SAME TYPE OF CARS. IT SEAMS LIKE THE IDLER PULLY FREEZES, CAUSING THE WATER PUMP TO FREEZE, WHICH THEN CAUSES THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR WAS 503.00 PLUS A LARGE TOWING BILL. I WOULD THINK A $85.00 PULLEY SHOULD BE MADE BETTER AS TO NOT CAUSE SO MUCH DAMAGE WHEN IT BREAKS.
WHEN CONSUMER TURNS THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THERE ARE GASOLINE FUMES COMING FROM OF THE VENTS. SHE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 35MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING EAST PULLED OUT IN FRONTOF CONSUMER. CHRYSLER, LHS "T"-BONED THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED SOME INJURIES. RECEIVED EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT.*AK
UPON TEST DRIVING THIS VEHICLE I NOTED TO THE SALESMAN THAT THE BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WOUDNT STOP THE CAR -THEY SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND RELPACE THE HOOD SHOCKS -UPON KEEPING THE APPOINTMENT THEY REPLACED THE HOOD SHOCKS AND LET MY WIFE LEAVE W/O CHECKING THE BRAKES -A DODGE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME CHRYSLER HAS THAT NO STOP TYPE OF EFFECT WHEN THEY INSTALL VALUE LINE BRAKE PADS-THIS CONCERNS ME -WE NOW HAVE A CAR WE HAVNT MADE A PAYMENT ON YET AND NOW ITS CLOSE TO TOTALED-OTHERS I KNOW W/ THIS BODY STYLE HAS EXPERIENCED SIMILAR STOPPING PROBLEM-ALSO IT HIT HARD ENOUGH TO BRAKE THE WHEEL ASSYMBLY AND AXLE ON RIGHT FRONT AND JAMBDED BOTH PASS. DOORS AND THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL HAS TO BE CUT COMPLETELY OUT AND REPLACED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT EMPLOY- I BOUGHT IT USED W/LOW (43,000)MILES AND DO NOT KNOW IF THIS CAR HAS BEEN WRECKED BEFORE OR NOT, SO I ASSUME THE AIR BAGS ARE STILL ORIGINAL, THE LEATHER AROUND THE PASS. SIDE IS PEELING UP ARUND THE POCKET THE BAG SITS IN THIS DOES MAKE ME WONDER IF IT HAS BEEN REPLACED OR NOT - I AM LETTING MY INSURANCE COMPANY DEAL WITH THE DEALER IN CASE LEGAL ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN-THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME , ACCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATHS IF IT WASNT FOR THE QUICK THINKING OF MY WIFE -TANKS AGAIN-RODNEY D. COLVIN--7/28/00--6:57PM. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACE A BODY MODULE ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHICH CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS TO BURN. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE ENGINE MELT DOWN FROM OVERHEATING, THE WATER PUMP FAILED WHICH DRAINED ALL FLUID FROM THE ENGINE. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. POPPED HOOD UP, AND SAW FLAMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT BRAKE LINE BROKE, FLUID WAS LEAKING, AND THAT STARTED THE FIRE. *AK
THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD SHUTTER AND SHAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. CAR DOES SEEM TO OPERATE THE SAME SINCE THIS PROBLEM. GAS MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN BY THREE MPG, EVEN AFTER A TUNE UP BY CHRYSLER AND FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING. SHORTLY AFTER SOME FUSES BLEW., NOW AT 75,000 THERE IS A LOUND GROWNING SOUND WHEN YOU STEER TO THE LEFT. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND NEED IT AGAIN. AIRCONDITIONER HAS FUNNY DAMP SMELL. HOW DOES ONE FIND OUT IF THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT?
INSIDE TIE ROD BUSHING FAILED SHORTLY AFTER BEING SATURATED WITH ANTI-FREEZE FROM WATER PUMP FAILURE. *AK
REPLACED ROTORS 3 TIMES,AT 11,000 MI. 20,894 MI. AND NOW AT 36,000 MI. THATS AN AVERAGE OF 9,000 MILES PER SET OF ROTORS ALL DUE TO WARPING AND PITTING. COMPANY ACCEPETED COST OF ONE SET OF ROTORS BUT I HAD TO PAY LABOR COSTS OF OVER $200.00 PLUS PADS THAT WERE TORN UP DUE TO PIECES OF THE ROTOR BREAKING OFF. I DID HAVE AN ACCIDENT ON JAN.3 1999 TRAVELING AT 35 MILES PER HOUR THE ROAD WAS WET AND A VAN BACKED UP ON FORT STREET A MAIN THROUGHFARE AND MY CAR DID A 360 DEGREE TURN ALTHOUGH I HAVE A B S BRAKE SYSTEM , I DON'T KNOW IF THE ROTORS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT OR NOT , HOWEVER I DO BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE BETTER COMPONETS THAN WHAT THEY ARE PUTTING ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
UNABLE TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM CONTACT NUMBER OR EMAIL CONTACT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
THE VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD AND RUN OUT O CONTROL UPON STARTING AND ENGAGING THE DRIVE GEAR, CRASHED INTO STORE FRONT. . YH
RECALLED FUEL RAIL O-RINGS FAILED POSSIBILE CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE (MICHAEL SPITZER ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF CV JOINT BOOT, VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. VIBRATION CAUSED THE TIE ROD END BUSHINGS TO GO BAD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPAIR AGAIN AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK
DURING NIGHT TIMES THE REAR WINDSHIELD PRODUCE DOUBLE IMAGE OF THE HEAD LIGHTS OF THE VEHICLES BEHIND CAUSING VISUAL DISTRACTION. YH
THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST YEAR WITH A COLD SQWAK NOISE WHEN STEERING THE CAR. I HAD THAT FIXED BUT THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN 9 MONTHS LATER AND DEVELOPED INTO A MAJOR PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE STEERING SEEMED LOOSE AND I WAS HAVING TROUBLE CONTROLING IT. THEY REPLACED THE INNER TI RODS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I RETURNED THE CAR A FEW DAYS LATER AFTER BEING TOLD BY ANOTHER GARAGE THAT THE STEERING WAS STILL LOOSE UNDER THE CAR. THEY THEN TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW RACK AND PINION STEERING REPLACEMENT. I HESITATED AND TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER CHRYSLER DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR NEEDED OUTER TI ROD REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH A WHEEL ALINGMENT AND ALSO THAT THE INNER TI RODS WERE NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF LEFT TO GO UNREPAIRED. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THERE HAS BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS. I FEEL THERE HAS BEEN SOME NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE 1ST DEALER AND ALSO CHRYSLER. I NOTIFIED THEM AFTER THIS STARTED AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS ON MY OWN. I HAD THE CAR FIXED BUT I THINK THAT THIS MIGHT BE A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO DIFFERENCE INCIDENTS: FIRST, WHILE TRAVELING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH TIE ROD END BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING (NO COLLISION OR INJURIES). SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, RACK AND PINION CAME LOCKED DUE TO VALVE FAILURE AND CAUSED STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK, ALMOST CAUSING A VEHICLE COLLISION (AGAIN NO DAMAGES TO OTHER VEHICLE OR INJURIES RECEIVED). ON BOTH OCCASIONS, REPAIRS WAS DONE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK *ML
THE CAR WAS ON AND SITTING ON A SMALL HILL AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE SAMETHING HAPPEND IN FRONT OF MY GARAGE AFTER BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE. *AK
CAR HAS LOOSE OR WANDERING STEERING
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS TIRES WOULD WOBBLE AND VIBRATE DUE TO THE BUSHING ON THE INNER TIE ROD GOING BAD. DEALER SAID THE RACK AND PINION ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
BY 35000 MILES, WATER PUMP LEAKED, P/S PUMP LEAKED AND OIL PAN LEAKED. ALSO, REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER FAILED. ALL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDSHIELD SUBJECT TO CHIPPING, HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE.
CONSUMER WAS APROACHING A RED LIGHT AND THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE AND REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS ON DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS TOTALLED. *AK
MY CAR WAS REPAIRED AT OLSON TIRE - STORE # 06-17 IN PORT ST LUCIE FLORIDA ON MAY 11, 1999. MY INVOICE SAYS THEY REPLACE A RACK AND PINION UNIT AND A TIE ROD END AT A COST OF $1521.86 INCLUDING LABOR AND APPLICABLE TAXES. ON FRIDAY, OCT 8, 1999, I WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE WHEN I HEARD A "CLUNK" I LOOKED AROUND SAW THAT I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND TRIED TO PULL FORAWRD. THE CAR JUST ROCKED IN PLACE. I GOT OUT AND SAW THAT MY D. SIDE TIRE WAS TURNED AND THE P.SIDE TIRE WAS STRAIGHT. BOTTOM LINE WAS THAT THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE RACK IN WAS SHEERED OFF (BROKE). ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD , THESE BOLTS JUST DON'T BREAK. MY WARRANTY COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR BEACUSE A BOLT IS HARDWARE??? AND OLSON WANTED TO CHRAGE ME $300++++ TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS"BOLT". HAD I BEEN DRIVING WHEN THIS OCCURRED , THERE COULD HAVE BENN SOME VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE??
STEERING GEAR FAILED BY LEAKING STEERING FLUID ON INSIDE BUSHINGS ON TIE RODS. BUSHINGS DEGENERATED AND SUDDENLY HAD SUBSTATIAL PLAY. CAUSED STEERING WHEEL TO HAVE ABOUT 4 INCHES OF PLAY AND MADE CAR DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN THE ROAD EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. CAR WOULD VEER LEFT THEN RIGHT - CAUSING OVERSTEERING JUST TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. COST OF REPAIR HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT $2,000. DEALER (JIM COGDILL DODGE) SAYS CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE IN CURRENT CONDITION.
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH SAW SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AND FROM THE VENTS AND BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO A/C FAN MOTOR MALFUNCTIONING. *AK
THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL INJECTION WHICH WAS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK
THE CONSUMER'S SON GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, SWITCHED GEARS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND RUN INTO CONSUMER HOUSE. *AK
NO SUMMARY
NO SUMMARY
VEHICLE RECALL REPAIR NOT COMPLETED DUE TO DEALERSHIP PROBLEMS (98V-184). MJS
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCKRD UP, AND CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL. THEN RACK PINION BROKE, CAUSING ONE WHEEL TO GO TO THE RIGHT AND ONE TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Chrysler LHS → · Every LHS year → · How the figures are calculated →