1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE Suspension Problems

QUICK-STRUTS AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENT PARTS MAY BE DEFECTIVE. THIS PRODUCT IS CALLED A MONROE QUICK- STRUT. THE FAILED PART WAS RETURNED FOR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT: PART #171939. THE TOP OF THE STRUT, NUT, AND STEAL WASHER "TORE FREE" OF THE PLATE WHICH COMPRESSES THE SPRING. THE 'TOP PLATE' PART OF THE ASSEMBLY REMAINED ANCHORED TO THE CAR BY THREE NUTS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK. THIS PLATE NO LONGER CONTAINED THE STRUT AND THE COMPRESSED SPRING AS SUPPLIED IN QUICK STRUT ASSEMBLY. THE ASSEMBLY AS PURCHASED, HAS A NUT AND WASHER MOUNTED IN TWO INCHES OF RUBBER MOLDED IN THE PLATE ON TOP OF THE STRUT SPRING ASSEMBLY. THAT RUBBER COMPONENT FAILED. THIS BECOMES OBVIOUS AFTER THE PARTS ARE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE OEM PART CONTAINS A LARGE WASHER LOCATED ON THE TOP WHICH WOULD PREVENT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THIS FAILURE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 113,000

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL BUSHINGS, IN FRONT END, INCLUDING MOTOR MOUNT. ALL HAVE WORN PREMATURELY AND WERE VERY EXPENSIVE. STILL HAVE STEERING BUSHING TO BE REPLACED THAT CAUSES DRIFT, BUT UNABLE AT THIS TIME TO AFFORD. REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT NO RECALL HAS SURFACED ON THESE ESSENTIAL PARTS. *JB

Mileage: 60,000

VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ENGINE MADE LOUD NOISE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BUSHINGS AND BOLTS WERE FALLING APART, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP.*AK

I HAVE PUT NEARLY $2000 INTO THE FRONT END OF MY 1996 CHRYSLER CONCORDE, BEGINNING WITH THE INFAMOUS EARLY RACK & PINION DEFECT. RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS UP ON BLOCKS WAITING FOR ME TO REPLACE NEARLY EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END.*AK THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE OF REPLACEMNT COSTS.

Mileage: 70,000

LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED (CRACKED IN HALF), CAUSING FRONT WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM LOWER CONTROL ARM RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.*AK

Mileage: 105,000

CONSUMER STATES THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT WAS REPLACED, THE RIGHT REAR STRUT WAS LEAKING, ALSO THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT SWAY BAR.*JB

FRONT SWAY BAR BUSHINGS CRACKED AND WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. *AK REAR SWAY BAR BUSHING CRACKED CAUSING A RATTLE IN REAR SWAY BAR. WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. THE STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. *YH

MAJOR PULL TO RIGHT. 2ND ALIGNMENT PROBLEM IN 10K MILES. DEALER REPORTS WORN TIE ROD END. OTHER COMPLAINTS TO SAME PROBLEM AND TSB'S. DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE AT N/C. 2ND TIRE NEEDS TO BE REPLACES. *AK

PE99031; BUSHING THAT HOLDS TRACK ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED ,ALMOST FEELS THAT POWER STEERING GOES TO MAUNAL STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE INNER TIE RODS, BUSHINGS AND THE STEERING GEAR FAILED CAUSING EXTREME VIBRATIONS WHILE DRIVING. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WILL DRIFT TO EITHER SIDE. CONSUMER IS AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING. *AK

PROBLEM: VEHICLE WANDERS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTIVE STEERING INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. NO MATTER WHAT THE ROAD CONDITION( WET/DRY/FLAT/CROWNED), THE CAR WILL " DRIFT" AND OR PULL TO THE SIDE WITH OUT ANY APPARENT PATTERN, CONSEQUENTLY, INTENSE CONCENTRATION IS REQUIRED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. ALSO, THE EFFORT TO STEER RIGHT/ LEFT IS VARIABLE, AGAIN WITH OUT A PATTERN. THE CAR IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SPEED-SENSITIVE STEERING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE RECORDS, THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE SAME DIFFICULTY. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS; THE FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND I HAVE PRECISELY ADJUSTED THE TIRE PSI ALL TO NO AVAIL. I HAD A 1996 EAGLE VISION THAT HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, THOUGH I DID NOT REPORT IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *AK

REPLACED BOTH OUTER SWAY BAR LINKS, REPLACED RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END AND SLEEVE. *AK

A POPPING NOISE HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE ABOUT 12000 MILES. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO FIND HAVE NOT RESULTED IN A CURE. AT 35500 MILES I INSISTED THAT THE FRONT END BE COMPLETELY CHECKED. THE FOUR FRONT CRADLE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. ADDITIONAL CHECKING REVEALED A LEFT FRONT AXLE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS STILL DID NOT STOP THE NOISE. THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED WITH ONLY MODERATE CHANGES IN THE NOISE. NOW A LEFT FRONT STRUT AND MOUNT ARE BEING REPLACED. I HAVE NO ASSURRANCE THAT THIS WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I KNOW OF ONE OTHER CHRYSLER CONCORDE THAT HAS EXPERIENCED RACK AND PINION FAILURE IN THE PAST 30 DAYS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAVE ENCOURAGED HIM TO REPORT THIS TO THE NTSB. *AK