2000 CHRYSLER 300M Structure Problems

The contact owns a 2000 Chrysler 300M. The contact stated that the lift support struts of the hood and the trunk had failed, causing the trunk and the hood to close on her head when raised. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

DRIVING APROX 10 MPH INTO TO SCHOOL PICK UP AND DROP OFF AREA, TO PICK UP CHILDREN AS SCHOOL WAS LETTING OUT. I LOST ALL STEERING FUNCTIONS, I HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. MY HUSBAND FOUND THAT A BOLT HAD BROKE OFF THE TIE ROD ((RIGHT SIDE) GOING INTO THE RACK AND PINION AND THE (LEFT SIDE) BOLT TO THE TIE ROD HAD BACK OUT OF THE RACK AND PINION. THEIR WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING. I THANK THE GOOD LORD THAT IT HAPPENED WHERE AND WHEN IT DID, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT OUTCOME A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD WITH MYSELF AND 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR GOING 45-50 MPH ON THE 2 LANE ROAD GOING BACK TO OUR HOME. NOW AS I DRIVE OUR OTHER VEHICLE AROUND AND SEE A CHRYSLER 300M I WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS IN THAT VEHICLE AND THE OTHERS AROUND THEM. *TR

Mileage: 180,000

I PURCHASED A 2000 CHRYSLER 300M IN 2009. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE WEATHER STRIPPING AROUND THE DOORS WAS DIFFERENT UNTIL MY MECHANIC SAID IT SHRUNK. I SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS. I FOUND COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. THEY ALL SAID CHRYSLER KNEW IT WAS A DEFECT BUT WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT THEIR COST NOT MINE. *TR

CHRYSLER 200M FRONT DASH PASSENGER AREA. VERTICAL CRACK APPEARED AT 2" AND HAS INCREASED IN SIZE TO OVER 12" OVER TIME. PASSENGER AIR BAG IS LOCATED IN THIS AREA OF THE DASH; APPEARS AS IF INTERNAL PRESSURE IS CAUSING CRACK TO INCREASE IN SIZE. UNCLEAR IF PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS BEEN COMPROMISED OR WILL OPERATE PROPERLY IF DEPLOYED. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF CRACKED PASSENGER DASH AREA HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED WITH NO APPARENT CORRECTIVE ACTION TO RESOLVE SYSTEMIC ISSUE. LOCAL DEALERSHIPS ARE HESITANT TO REPAIR/REPLACE DUE TO AIRBAG LIABILITY AND WHILE I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF THE CAR SHOULD BE TAKEN IN TO CONSIDERATION (NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR) THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. THE CAR IS STILL BEING MANUFACTURED AND CHRYSLERS' QUALITY CONTROL TEAM SHOULD BE ENGAGED TO EVALUATE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, RISK ANALYSIS OF PASSENGER AIR BAG FUNCTIONALITY, AND RECOMMENDED CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN. BEYOND COSMETIC INCONVENIENCE, THE CRACK IN MY DASHBOARD CONTINUES TO GROW IN SIZE AND I AM UNCERTAIN IF MY PASSENGER AIR BAG IS, OR WILL BE COMPROMISED. DOING NOTHING DOES NOT RESOLVE THE QUESTION OF AIR BAG RELIABILITY, AND I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATION OF A BULLETIN FOR A NINE YEAR OLD CAR, HOWEVER THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL TO OFFER SOME TYPE OF FIX FOR THE DASHBOARD FOR THOSE WHOSE VEHICLE IS STILL IS GOOD WORKING ORDER AND WHO WISH TO KEEP THE CAR. RECOMMEND ENGAGEMENT OF CHRYSLER QUALITY CONTROL TEAM AND RESULTING BULLETIN TO PROVIDE OWNERS WITH AN OPTION TO REPAIR THE DASH. *TR

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED ON EITHER SIDE OF PASSENGER AIRBAG - SIGNIFICANT CRACKS APPROX. 8 INCHES LONG ON EACH SIDE, WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

THE DASH PAD IS CRACKED APPROXIMATELY AT THE SEAM FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

(1) MY HEATER IN MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M COMES ON EVERY 8 SECONDS AUTOMATICALLY. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND AFTER TWO DAYS, HE ADVISED THAT HE CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WHAT HE THOUGHT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE PART -- WASN'T. (2) MY DASHBOARD ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M HAS TWO LONG CRACKS IN IT. THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY 10" (OR MORE) LONG. I AM AFRAID THAT THEY MAY AFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS, SHOULD THEY BE NEEDED. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. *JB

THE DASH COVER ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M HAS CRACKED. THIS CRACK HAS GROWN UNTIL IT MATCHES THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT.

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

CRACK ON DASHBOARD - 2000 CHRYSLER 300. *AK

CRACK IN DASHBOARD PANEL ABOVE PASSENGER AIRBAG.*AK

Mileage: 70,000

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

Mileage: 65,408

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

Mileage: 11,909

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

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER (ON DASHBOARD) IS GRADUALLY SPLITTING OPEN. *NM

Mileage: 80,000

2000 CHRYSLER 300M DEVELOPED A 10" CRACK OVER PASSENGER AIRBAG. *JB

Mileage: 79,000

DASH IS CRACKING ALONG THE LINES OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG; THIS APPEARS TO BE A STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE MATERIAL; POSSIBLEY DUE TO INTERNAL SCORING TO PROVIDE DIRECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

Mileage: 36,900

MY 2000 CHYSLER 300M HAS A CRACKED DASHBOARD ALONG THE SEAM OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON RESEARCH I HAVE CONDUCTED. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A MANUFACTURER FAULT THAT CANNOT BE REPAIRED SHORT OF REPLACING THE DASHBOARD.*AK

WE RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2000 CHRYSLER 300M. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS CAR A CRACK STARTED ON THE DASH OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. IT HAS SINCE GROWN TO ABOUT 10 INCHES. WE ARE CONCERNED THIS MAY BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD AFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG WHEN NEEDED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN OVERALL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AS WE HAVE SEEN IN ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS AND BELIEVE CHRYSLER SHOULD RESPOND AND FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS. *JB

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DASHBOARD WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL BE AFFECTED. *AK *NM

Mileage: 58,000

TWO LENGTHLY CRACKS IN THE VINYL COVERING OF THE DASH ABOVE THE AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE. *BF *JB

THE CONSUMER SAW CRACKS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. *JB

Mileage: 63,000

2000 CHRYSLER 300 M ---CRACKED DASHBOAD ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. DEALER NOT WILLING TO REPLACE KNOWN PROBLEM.*AK

DASHBOARD CRACK OVER PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY/DEALER COST. CHRYSLER SAYS DASH MUST BE REPLACED. CONCERNED ABOUT ADDITIONAL CRACKING AND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT PROBLEMS.*AK

Mileage: 34,000

CRACK ON DASHBOARD OVER PASSENGER'S AIRBAG PANEL. *AK

DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CHRYSLER 300M IS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AIRBAG. *JB

DASHBOARD PADDING CRACKED AROUND THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE COMPARTMENT/COVER AREA. CONSUMER HAD A CONCERN THAT IT MAY CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYING IMPROPERLY OR INADVERTENTLY. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

MY DASHBOARD OF MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M BECAME CRACKED AND COULDN'T BE REPAIRED BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY. CHRYSLER CAN'T HELP ME WITH IT AT ALL. IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE DASH HAS A VERTICAL CRACK THAT EXTENDS FOR ABOUT 4" WHERE THE PASSAGER SIDE AIRBAG IS. THE CAR WAS NOT IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT OR SITUATION THAT WOULD HAVE CASUED THIS PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE AIRBAG IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO THE CRACKED DASH. MY SON CUT HIS FINGER ON THE EDGES OF THE CRACK WHEN HE WAS INVESTIGATING IT AS SMALL CHILDREN TEND TO DO. I CALLED THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRENTY FROM CHRYSLER. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED AND A NEW DASH WAS APPROX. $1000.00 TO REPLACE. THIS INCIDENT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IS CONCERNING TO THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *AK

Mileage: 61,458

THE DASHBOARD IS STARTING TO CRACK IN THREE SEPARATE LOCATIONS ALL SURROUNDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CREASES. IT APPEARS THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT COMPROMISES THE AIRBAG COMPONENT WHERE MY WIFE SITS EVERYDAY TO AND FROM WORK. IF THE THREE CRACKS CONTINUE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE AIRBAG WILL THE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOY? IF I DECIDE TO SEAL THE THREE CRACKS WILL THIS EFFECT THE WAY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS (OR POSSIBLY MAKE IT NOT DEPLOY) TO THE VEHICLE PASSENGER?

Mileage: 49,000

THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD LOCATED OVER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER CONTACTED CHRYSLER ONLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH ADVISED CONSUMER TO HAVE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD REPLACED. ALSO, IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROCEDURE COULD MODIFY THE AIR BAG'S EFFECTIVENESS. *AK

Mileage: 45,000

ONE WEEK AGO A 3" SPLIT APPEARED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD VINYL NEAR THE AIR BAG. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS IN SOMEWAY RELATED TO, OR IS GOING TO AFFECT, THE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS BEGINNING TO OCCUR IN MANY 1999 AND 2000 300M'S. FOUR YEARS SEEMS MUCH TOO EARLY FOR A PROBLEM LIKE THIS TO OCCUR. THE VINYL IS STILL RESILIENT AND PLIABLE, NOT HARD OR BRITTLE. MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER (ALLEN JAY) TELLS ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT. THEY SUGGESTED I SEE ABOUT HAVING REPAIRED BY SOMEONE WHO DOES VINYL REPAIR. IN MY OPINION THIS WOULD FURTHER AFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

Mileage: 57,100

THE DASHBOARD ON PASSENGER'S SIDE IS COMING APART. THE DRIVER IS ABLE TO SEE THE LINING OF THE AIR BAG. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

Mileage: 72,000

NAR 9-8-03. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT OPEN THE RIGHT FRONT WINDOW OR THE RIGHT REAR DOOR. *CB

YEAR 2000 MODEL CHRYSLER 300M. DASHBOARD CRACKING ON PASSENGER SIDE. CRACK IS VERTICAL, AND IS NOT 2 " LONG. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT COULD ACCOUNT FOR THIS DEFECT.*AK

Mileage: 69,000

DASH IS CRACKING AROUND THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

3 INCH CENTERS OF WHEELS CORRODED OFF. CHROME DOOR HANDLES CHROME PEELING OFF DRIVER & PASSENGER DOOR. WEATHER STRIPPING HANGING OFF REAR DOORS. DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR MOTOR MALFUNCTION. *NLM

THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON THREE OF FOUR DOORS ON MY 2000 CHRYSLER 300M (43,300 MILES) HAS SHRUNK AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I RESEARCHED SEVERAL CONSUMER WEBSITES AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OR CAN BE INVESTIGATED.

CONSUMER HEARS VERY LOUD NOISE IN THE INSIDE OF THE CABIN AT SPEEDS OF 50-75 MPH, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT DOOR SEALS. *SLC