2005 Chrysler Crossfire Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN PROMPTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLASTIC PART OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING PIN BECAME DULL AND WORN. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SUBJECT TO INTERNAL FAILURE. AUTONATION CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM MOBILE (3118 GOVERNMENT BLVD, MOBILE, ALABAMA 36606, (251) 202-2253) AND MERCEDES-BENZ OF MOBILE (3060 DAUPHIN STREET, MOBILE, ALABAMA 36606, (251) 472-2369) WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PART TO CORRECT THE FAILURE WAS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

I HAVE A 2005 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE CONVERTIBLE, THE KEY DOES NOT TURN. MY CAR DOES NOT TURN ON. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY BIG ISSUE AS I FOUND POSTING FROM OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME ISSUE. ALL THE POSTING STATES THAT THE IGNITION GOES BAD WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CHRYSLER IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. I THINK THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

WENT TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. CONTINUED TO GO AND THE CAR DROVE LIKE IT DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL AND IT IS RIGHT TO THE LINE AND LOOKS VERY CLEAN. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THE STEERING QUIT AFTER ONLY HAVING LESS THAN SIX THOUSAND MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT LOCK, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,720.

THE COMMON PROBLEM OF THE IGNITION LOCKING AND KEY UNABLE TO TURN. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND OTHERWISE BY CROSSFIRE LOVING OWNERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO SUDDENLY TURN THEIR KEY...AND THE DEALERSHIPS CHARGING WELL OVER A $1000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT, DUE TO BAD DESIGN. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

IGNITION KEY MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH UNTIL IT RELEASES AND ALLOWS THE KEY TO START THE CAR. EVERYTIME THE CAR IS STOPPED, IT CAN TAKE UP TO 5 OR MORE MINUTES TO RESTART BY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK & FORTH WHILE TRYING TO TURN THE KEY. DEALERSHIP HAS NO ANSWERS. SAYS REPLACE PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEB OF 2009. *TR

IGNITION KEY MECHANISM "LOCKS" AND CANNOT BE TURNED TO START THE VEHICLE LEAVING USER STRANDED AND REQUIRING TOW. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY MANY USERS OF THIS VEHICLE (SEE COMMENTS AT WWW.CROSSFIREFORUM.ORG; SEARCHFOR "IGNITION, LOCK, CYLINDER") AND APPEARS EVEN IN VEHICLES WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. DEALER ADVICE IS TO REPLACE THE "IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER" WHICH IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION. SOME REPORT THAT THE NEW PART ALSO FAILS WITHIN A RELATIVELY SHORT TIME. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A RELIABLE ONE. I WAS STUCK IN A PARKING LOT AT 112F (SOUTHWEST US LOCATION) FOR 1/2 HOUR TRYING TO GET THE IGNITION MECHANISM TO TURN. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A STEERING WHEEL LOCKING PIN THAT BECOMES JAMMED. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THEN IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR