1994 CHRYSLER LHS Steering Problems

IN JULY 2004, I PURCHASED A USED '94 CHRYSLER LHS W/95,000 MILES IN VERY GOOD CONDITION (EXTERIOR/INTERIOR) BUT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS I EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (ELECTRIC CURRENT NOT GOING TO GAUGES, GAUGES GOING HAYWIRE), TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (PERIODIC 'LIMP MODE', CAR ERRATICALLY SURGING) AND STEERING PROBLEMS (RACK 7 PINION, INNER/OUTER TIE RODS). WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I REPLACED THE INNER/OUTER TIE RODS AND FRONT/REAR STABILIZER LINKS THAT ALL IMPROVED MY FRONT SUSPENSION. JUST RECENTLY ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I HAD MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER REPLACE ONE BROKEN TRANSMISSION MOUNT ($305) THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK AT 124,500 MILES WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON MY LOCAL HIGHWAY MY TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF DRIVE GEARS, I WAS ABLE TO EXIT SAFELY ONTO MY JOBS PARKING LOT BEFORE IT FINALLY GAVE OUT. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN EXCLUSIVE AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP, THEY HAD TO REBUILD/OVERHAUL THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER ($1,800). A WHOPPING $2,100 IN REPAIRS IN ABOUT A MONTH. THERE WENT MY CHRISTMAS MONEY. *JB

Mileage: 124,500

IN JULY 2004, I PURCHASED A USED '94 CHRYSLER LHS W/95,000 MILES IN VERY GOOD CONDITION (EXTERIOR/INTERIOR) BUT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS I EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (ELECTRIC CURRENT NOT GOING TO GAUGES, GAUGES GOING HAYWIRE), TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (PERIODIC 'LIMP MODE', CAR ERRATICALLY SURGING) AND STEERING PROBLEMS (RACK 7 PINION, INNER/OUTER TIE RODS). WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I REPLACED THE INNER/OUTER TIE RODS AND FRONT/REAR STABILIZER LINKS THAT ALL IMPROVED MY FRONT SUSPENSION. JUST RECENTLY ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I HAD MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER REPLACE ONE BROKEN TRANSMISSION MOUNT ($305) THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK AT 124,500 MILES WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON MY LOCAL HIGHWAY MY TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF DRIVE GEARS, I WAS ABLE TO EXIT SAFELY ONTO MY JOBS PARKING LOT BEFORE IT FINALLY GAVE OUT. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN EXCLUSIVE AUTO TRANSMISSION SHOP, THEY HAD TO REBUILD/OVERHAUL THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER ($1,800). A WHOPPING $2,100 IN REPAIRS IN ABOUT A MONTH. THERE WENT MY CHRISTMAS MONEY. *JB

Mileage: 124,500

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHRYSLER LHS. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE SKIDDED, AND WHEN SHE TURNED THE WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT TURN. A MECHANIC PULLED UP BEHIND AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT IT COULD BE RACK AND PINION STEERING. IF ANY VEHICLES HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION.*AK

Mileage: 120,000

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING TROUBLE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT IN ONE DIRECTION. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A BOLT BROKE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN, AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 1994 CHRYSLER LHS. *MR THE MIRROR IN THE WINDSHIELD WAS TOO LOW AND OBSTRUCTED THE VISION OF THE DRIVER WHEN LOOKING TO THE RIGHT SIDE, THE FRONT END WAS BOUNCING AND WOBBLING IN THE FRONT END, THE FUEL PROBLEM CAUSED AN ODOR IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. *SC *JB

ON FEBRUARY 2002, 2 BOLTS CONNECTING TO THE RACK AND PINION AND TIE RODS SNAPPED IN HALF AND NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH MY VEHICLE. THE SNAPPING OF THE BOLTS CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION OF THE RACK AND PINION AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION PLUS THE BOLTS (FROM CHRYSLER). ON JANUARY 23, 2004 , THE EXACT MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AGAIN ALMOST CAUSING ANOTHER ACCIDENT. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW A SOLID STEEL BOLT MANUFACTURED BY CHRYSLER CAN SNAP IN HALF AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS. I HAVE OWNED OTHER AUTOMOBILES OLDER THAN THE CHRYSLER LHS AND NEVER HAD A BOLT BREAK IN HALF AT ANY TIME. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ON BOTH OCCASIONS THAT I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ALSO, THESE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY AND CAUSE ONE TO BE APPREHENSIVE ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AGAIN. *AK

Mileage: 126,646

SAFETY ALERT: WHILE DRIVING, A BOLT HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION ARM SHEARED OFF AND THE STEERING FAILED ! ! ! THE STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. IT WAS INOPERABLE. WHEN I CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY HUNG UP ON ME... WE JUST BOUGHT A TOYOTA.

Mileage: 60,500

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS BROKE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE BACKING AROUND A CORNER, THE RIGHTHAND CV SHAFT POPPED OUT OF THE HOUSING. THE CV SHAFT WAS REPLACED ONLY TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE BACKING UP AND TURNING THE WHEEL. CLOSER INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT HAD TORN AWAY AT THE WELD AREA. I CAN EMAIL A PICTURE OF THE AREA IF YOU WOULD LIKE. THANKS... DAN DT

WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

FRAME OF VEHICLE IS WEAK AND IS MOVING UNDER STEERING GEAR. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT HE REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION AND IN DOING SO, FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES FROM THE SOLENOID CONTROL MODULE AND THE SOLENOID CONTROL VALVE HAD BEEN PUT IN BETWEEN THE CROSSMEMBER AND THE RACK AND PINION, A BOLT HAD CUT AND SHORTED OUT THE HARNESS, THIS IS THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE MOUNT OF THE RACK AND PINION, WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, THE MASTER CYLINDER AND RACK AND PINION MOVE, DEALER RECOMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK BUSHINGS AND RIGHT SWAY BAR LINK, HOWEVER STATED THE STEERING WAS NOT A PROBLEM. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RIGHT STEERING TIE ROD HAS RUBBED THROUGH TRANSMISSION HARNESS, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH RESULTED IN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF ENGINE. BRAKES SELF APPLYED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WOBBLES ALL ACROSS LANES.*AK

VEHICLE WENT IN THE OPPOSITE OF THE DIRECTION FROM WHERE IT WASSUPPOSE TO GO. DEALER REPLACED INNER TIE ROD & WHEEL ALIGNMENT. OTHER TIE ROD WILL NEED TO BE DONE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING A LACK OF STEERING & NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. RACK & PINION NEEDED REPLACING. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING A LACK OF STEERING & NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. RACK & PINION NEEDED REPLACING. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER.*AK

THIS CAR HAD A BUMPER TO BUMPER 60,000 MILE WARRANTY - TRANSMISSION AND AIR CONDITIONING SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED 100% I DID NOT PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE FROM VANDYNHOVEN'S ONLY HAD IT SERVICED THROUGH THEM. THEY ARE REIMBURSING ME 50% ON THE AIRCONDITIONING BECAUSE CHRYSLER HAS AGREED TO PAY 50% BUT I FEEL THAT THE EVAPORATOR CORE WAS WARRANTEED UP TO 70,000 MILES AND NOW I'M AT 71,700 AND THEY AREN'T COVERING IT IN FULL. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AT LEAST 2 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY WITH AIR PROBLEMS ? SAME WITH THE TRANSMISSION - IT WAS BROUGHT IN ON SEVERAL OCCATIONS WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FULLY COVERED AND I HAD TO PAY $750.00 THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ON 10/04/99 *AK

RACK & PINION STEERING WENT OUT. ALSO, LEFT INNER TIE ROD BROKE. *AK

RACK & PINION STEERING WENT OUT. ALSO, LEFT INNER TIE ROD BROKE. *AK

TWO AND ONLY BOLTS OF RACK AND PINION COMPLETELY SHEARED OFF EXITING FROM GAS STATION RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AT 47K MILES WITH A NEW ONE. DEALER BEING VERY COOPERATIVE IN TRYING TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR US ($800+). OUR CONCERN IS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE BOLTS AND NEED TO ISSUE RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF BOLTS. WE KEPT ORIGINAL SHEARED BOLTS AND RACK. DEALER NOW HAS BOLTS AND HAS SENT THEM TO DETROIT FOR TESTING. DEALER ALSO HAS NOW TAKEN POSSESION OF RACK AND PINION SHOWING REMNANTS OF SHEARED BOLTS INSIDE. WE HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END/STEERING OF THIS VEHICLE. EACH TIME REPAIR IS MADE, PROBLEM GETS WORSE, NOW CULMINATING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING WHICH COULD HAVE ALSO RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, SHE HAD PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HOURS ON I-74 AT 65 MPH. SHOULD A 1994 CHRYSLER LHS NOW BE ON ITS THIRD RACK AND PINION. I THINK NOT. I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC DEALER WILL COME BACK WITH A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ALTHOUGH THE BOLTS WERE SENT TO CHRYSLER ENGINEERING FOR METALURGY TESTING. IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED ALL REPAIRS/PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD SUPPLY YOU WITH SAME. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING WELDS ARE BREAKING AWAY FROM THE K-FRAME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED STEERING PROBLEMS AND VIBRATION, REPLACED INNER TIE RODS HOWEVER FAILED INSPECTION AT A LATER DATE DUE TO FAULTY LOOSE TIE RODS. MJS

LEFT FRONT KNUCKLE FAILED. YH

THE STERRING WHEEL VIBRATES/PULSATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

DEAR NHTSA, IN JANUARY I BOUGHT A 94 CHRYSLER LHS IN GOOD CONDITION FROM A FRIEND. IT HAD AROUND 75000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. BEFORE I BOUGHT IT, SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD REPAIRED THE AC NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE WARRANTY HAD EVEN BEEN EXTENDED ON IT UNTIL 70,000 MILES. ALSO, I READ IN CONSUMER REPORTS THAT IN CANADA, THE CHRYSLER LHS AC WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 7 YEARS OR 150,000 KM TO ADDRESS AC EVAPORATOR PROBLEMS. WITH THAT IN MIND, WHEN I TRIED TO USE THE AC IN THE SPRING/SUMMER, IT SMELLED LIKE THE NASTIEST, WORST SMELL EVER AND I COULDN'T USE IT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR $1500. WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE HISTORY OF REPAIRS, THEY OFFERED NO PAYMENT HELP WHATSOEVER. I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO MY REGULAR REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ONLY THE EVAPORATOR, AND IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $500 TO FIX. I PAID FOR THAT. THE REASON THAT I AM TELLING YOU THIS IS BECAUSE THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THE DEALERSHIP NOT ONLY WOULDN'T HELP ME WITH THE REPAIRS (EVEN THOUGHT THEY KNEW THE AC HAD A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS) BUT THEY TRIED TO SELL ME MORE UNNECESSARY PARTS (THE REST OF THE AC SYSTEM). THE SECOND PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IS THE RACK AND PINION. IN MID JANUARY I TURNED ON THE CAR ONE DAY AND THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT. I TOOK IT TO MY GOOD MECHANIC (NOT THE LIAR/THIEF CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP) AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE FIXED/REPLACED, ANOTHER $400-500 JOB. INSTEAD OF FIXING IT, I DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND I NOTICED YOUR INVESTIGATION PE99044 WHICH STARTED ON JUNE 28,1999 AND I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT MY RACK AND PINION IS ALSO DEFECTIVE, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME AT [email protected] THANKS AGAIN!!!

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. STARTED VEHICLE & ATTEMPTED TO BACK UP & NOTHING HAPPENED. HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED BY MECHANIC, BOLTS ON BOTH SIDE OF TIE RODS HAD BROKEN AND STEERING GEAR BOX HAD ALSO WENT. MJS

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. STARTED VEHICLE & ATTEMPTED TO BACK UP & NOTHING HAPPENED. HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WAS ABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED BY MECHANIC, BOLTS ON BOTH SIDE OF TIE RODS HAD BROKEN AND STEERING GEAR BOX HAD ALSO WENT. MJS

1) RACK & PINION STEERING COMPONENTS ARE BECOMING WORN AFTER ONLY 59000 MILES. AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED, A "CLUNKING" NOISE IS HEARD COMING FROM THE RACK & PINION GEAR BOX, RESULTING IN VIBRATION THROUGH STEERING WHEEL AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS. 2) TRUNK IS FILLING WITH WATER DUE TO BODY WELDING CRACKS. WELDING CRACKS ARE LOCATED IN EACH REAR CORNER OF TRUNK LID NEAR EACH TURN INDICATOR. 3) ENGINE TICKING IS COMING FROM VALVE TRAIN WEAR. *AK

LEFT TIE ROD BUSHING MISSING DUE TO ERROR IN ASSEMBLY, LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS FAILED.

LEFT TIE ROD BUSHING MISSING DUE TO ERROR IN ASSEMBLY, LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS FAILED.

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED.

ENGINE ARBITRARILY LOSES POWER/CUTS OUT, DRIVER LOSES POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING, COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE AT ANY SPEED.*AK

BOLT SHEARED IN RACK AND PINION FAILED, RESULTING IN WHEELS DISCRIBED AS "PIGEON TOED". *AK