2000 Chrysler 300M Body and structure Problems

“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. …”

“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.”

“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?”

“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. …”

“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. …”