This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2001 Chrysler sebring. While driving 25 mph the front suspension collapsed causing the front driver side tire to come off. The vehicle was not drivable so the contact had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic. The local mechanic replaced both outer tie-rods, left drive axle, the lower control arm, and the left lower ball joint. A local mechanic informed the contact that the right lower ball joint also would need to be replaced soon. The contact called the manufacturer regarding a recall for the suspension front, control arm lower ball joint but the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact stated this vehicle should be added to the recall. The failure mileage was 139,039 updated 4/19/10 Chrysler informed the consumer the matter would not be investigated due to the high mileage on the vehicle, even though a recall had been issued. Updated 06/18/10.
On turning into a main street in our town from a driveway, the inner and outer tie rod ends on the right front wheel on my car pulled apart, resulting in a complete loss of steering control. Due to the low speed involved, I was able to force the car to the curb with no further damage. I had been driving on interstate highway I-89 earlier, and had this failure occurred then, complete loss of control, and the possible death or injury to my wife and I would have occurred. The car was towed to Vermont tire, here in South burlington, where the tie rod ends (401-1704 & 401-1737) were replaced and the front end was re-aligned. I have the old parts for inspection, if desired. Total mileage on the car was 62285. Note, the tie rod ends normally thread together. In this case corrosion allowed these parts to pull apart completely. Except for about a half inch at the very top of the threaded end of the rod, the rod could be inserted and withdrawn with little or no resistance, and this is how the failure occurred. There was no warning in the steering control of the car to indicate the failure was about to occur.
I own a 2001 Chrysler Sebring convertible that I bought new for my wife. She drives it daily and I have it serviced regularly. The car has 63,000 miles on it. This past week I took it to my mechanic to have new front brakes replaced. After he road tested it, he told me that I needed two new outside tie rods. He explained that because there is no way to lubricate them, they will wear out and could cause an accident. My concern is that I have owned many vehicles over my life (55 years old) and this is one area that I have never had to deal with. I find it disturbing that manufacturers can build a car with sol little regard to the potential that you could not be able to control a car due to faulty design. How difficult would it have been for tie rods to have grease fittings to keep them from premature wear out. Can anything be done from your Agency's perspective to force manufacturers to make a vehicle that is mechanically safe? the accident that didn't happen is why I am writing to you. I would hate to have to explain that my wife was involved in an accident because of a lack of a grease fitting. Your response and whether Chrysler should be responsible is requested. Thank you.
At about 51,000 miles my car began making loud squeaking noises from the front end every time you pass over a small bump in the road. It also developed major vibrations in the steering wheel and the brake pedal when the car was slowing up to stop. When I took the car to the chrylser dealer I was told that the inner tie rods were metal to metal and it also needed new rack and pinion steering. This amounts to nearly $1,000 expense on a car just a little more than one year from the time the warranty expired. The car is dangerous to drive since the steering can go out. I had very little advance warning of this problem and am not prepared to invest this kind of money in order to have a safe car for me and my family. We had planned to drive this car on vacation in three weeks. If I had not taken it to the dealer to investigate, it very well might have caused a fatal crash with my two sons in the car.
Svc engine coolant light comes on indicating engine and/or emission control system malfunction. Dealer can not say why. Light is reset (by disco. Battery). Diag code provides little trbl analy. Info. Car seems to run/operate normally, but tdicate a malfunction in emissions control subsystem. Gas cap is secure at time of indication. Light does not reset automatically even after several days of continued driving. Must disco. Battery to clear light. No idea if this is false indication, indication of minor problem, or indication of more serious problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Manahawkin, NJ, USA