Front End Issues

[csmithson63]

Bought a 2011 Chrysler 200 convertible in January of this year. We are having an issue with the front end making a loud clunking noise whenever it's being driven on uneven payment/roads, over speed bumps in parking garages, roads, parking lots. It starts making this noise after it's been driven for 30 miles or so. The farther it's driven, the louder and worse it gets.

We've had it into the dealer 3 times now. The first time they "couldn't reproduce the sound" so they torqued all the front end parts and called it good. This did not fix the noise.

The 2nd time the front end tech said "sounds like a strut", however they replaced the lower control arm instead of the strut.

This time it's been in the shop for 3 weeks, because I refuse to drive a car with front end issues. How can they possibly know it's safe to drive when they have no idea what it is? They ordered craddle bushings and just got them in, now they are waiting on Chrysler to tell the tech how to put them in.

The dealer has said they have even opened a "star case" with the Chrysler engineers, and we've been told that they haven't heard of anything like this.

Wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue and if so, was the dealer able to fix it, and what was the problem? This is frustrating as the vehicle only has 5,000 miles on it, and a new car should not sound like it's falling apart every time I drive it!! I would appreciate any feedback that anyone could provide.

Thanks!

[JonnyTbone]

I purchase a 2011 200S convertible in November. After 6 months (about 9000 miles) I started hearing a clucking sound coming from the left front end, when driving over a bumpy road or upon coming to a stop or when taking off from a stopped position. It does not do it all of the time, and it sound like a bad bushing or something loose. I brought it in to Chrysler, but they were unable to hear the noise while test driving it and did not observe any problem when they inspected the front end. Guess I'll just have to wait until it gets worse or more people start to report this :-(

[csmithson63]

JonnyTbone
Mine would start after I had been driving it awhile, usually after 40 - 50 miles. Adam at Allan Samuels Dodge opened a Star Ticket with the engineers, so the engineers at Chrysler DO KNOW about this issue. I took my car in when it was making the noise and had the front end tech ride with me. He actually did this twice. It took them forever to "recreate" the noise, but since Adam had heard it he knew there was something wrong. Now that they have changed the sway bar bushings and sway bar mounts, I have not heard it again. I picked my car back up on April 21, and it's still good. They told me the same thing the first 2 times I took my car in - they LOOKED at the front end and didn't see anything. That's when I decided to take it in and have someone ride with me when it as making the noise. Then they knew I wasn't crazy!! Good Luck!

[ktaylorm]

PHEW... for a minute I thought I was nuts until I started reading this thread. Have a 2011 200 Ltd. with 20,000 miles that has had front end issues since day one. Within a week of having the car it had to be aligned because it pulled so bad to the right I couldn't let go of the steering wheel. Not a week later I had it back in the shop for a clunking noise in the right front; they replaced a brake caliber but noise is still there. For the past three or four months the front end noise has gotten so bad it sounds like it's going to fall apart. Took the car into the shop and they look at everything and said they couldn't find anything. Still have the noise and now I have a shimmy from 40mph-60mph; they said it was tires out of balance. Have had the tires balanced two times in as many months and still have the shimmy and still have the front end clunking, rattling, junk car falling apart noise. When I drive over roads that have bumps the steering wheel bounces and shakes like a ping pong ball on a tournament table. I'm a proud American but this will be my last American car if this is what one considers "normal". So back to the garage I go and let's see what they don't find this time. The companies who balanced my tires suggested it might be a bad axle - hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, maybe I could suggest they check that.

[Jeremy Crawford]

So I take it in, 2011 200 with 26,565 on it, love the car. One day, as driving, it sounds like there is a loose toolbox in the front end and I can feel it in the streering, gas pedal and the passenger is unnerved. So I take it in at 8 am on a Monday, they keep it till Tuesday and I suggest a rotor shield or something loose. They insist its my brakes (at 26.5k?). We argue, I approve it, and no, its not that. Although in some relationships I've had I would have paid way more than $20 to hear "you're right", somehow this isn't the same. As soon as I drive away, the noise is back. Good thing I have my 1969 Chevy C10 to drive around Fort Worth without HVAC and dodge tornadoes. Grrr.

So I take it back the next Monday, they keep it until Wednesday. Hey, the visor and map light are in after being on National Backorder (good band name). Ya sold a million cars, how is that? Anyway, after a 60 minute wait and after it cools off long enough to need a 5 minute drive to really get a full throated banging, the svc manager (who is very nice mind you) hears it and he says its a rack and pinion issue, and he will get a new one in. So I leave it, take the shuttle can and go without car for 3 days (now 5 total). :(

Weds night and most of Thursday its fine, but very tight to steer and pulls to the left. I check the invoice, and they adjusted the toe. Well, they didn't do it right, I didn't ask for that, and at no time is it correct for the car on its own want to turn left. Then an idiot pulls out in front of me, just as I am almost home. I screech to a stop from maybe 35 mph, the ABS does not activate and there is a loud "wham" :eek:inside the front end along with banging. Now I have a horrible "binding" sound if I let up on the gas, accelerate, brake or turn the steering wheel and about 30 minutes (2") into a left turn, it sounds like someone is hitting the sterring column with a wrench, really hard. Loud enough that people near intersections have pointed it out! :mad:So the car is demostrably worse now. Plus, if I turn the streering to the left, I nearly pop a "uey" and I have to crank it to the right. Tire pressure 34 all around when hot, 31 cold. I call and leave a message saying that they need to drive the damn thing before sending it back and THIS time I had better get a loaner, since I am self employed and between showing up for bids soaking wet in the 69 Chevy, it gets 8 mpg and I spent $100 in 3 days on gas. Killer. No return call since Friday 3 pm. :mad:

I've been going to a Mortiz. Is there a better dealership around here? Not having luck at Moritz, they just really seem "present" but not actively engaged. Plus, some of the answers I've heard them give to folks over the phone (well, how fast is it leaking out? Nah, it'll make it to the airport) shock the hell out of me.

Afraid to drive my lovely 1 year old red 200. What can I do? Take it to the same place for a 3rd try?:confused:

[JMSawyer]

I am on my 3rd Strut. Noise in right side b/t wheel & dash. They replaced strut. Noise still there. They ordered new strut, that was defective & sent it back. Dealer ordered a new strut, mount & other parts. Still wait for it. Almost 2 wks now. Had problems with the steering wheel shimmying when you stopped at a light or stop sign. problem went away as soon as you gave it gas. Been in 2 times for this. They downloaded a FIX??? Transmission was part of the FIX as the sensors couldn't figure out if you wanted 2nd gear & would jump to 3rd. Thought buying AMERICAN would be better now, but am very disappointed in the car. I do get great gas mileage though. 28-35. I run nitro in the tires as the tires heat up and used to go to 40psi. Now it only jumps 1-2 psi.

[JMSawyer]

You are not nuts. Trouble is they "never" seem to replicate the problems! But this time I TOOK THEM OVER THE BUMPY ROAD. They heard it. Awaiting my 3rd strut. Doubt its the problem, but we will see. The noise is unnerving for sure. My passenger thought I had a flat tire & told me to pull over to check. Car is a year old.

[jbolash]

Bought a 2011 Chrysler 200 convertible in January of this year. We are having an issue with the front end making a loud clunking noise whenever it's being driven on uneven payment/roads, over speed bumps in parking garages, roads, parking lots. It starts making this noise after it's been driven for 30 miles or so. The farther it's driven, the louder and worse it gets.

We've had it into the dealer 3 times now. The first time they "couldn't reproduce the sound" so they torqued all the front end parts and called it good. This did not fix the noise.

The 2nd time the front end tech said "sounds like a strut", however they replaced the lower control arm instead of the strut.

This time it's been in the shop for 3 weeks, because I refuse to drive a car with front end issues. How can they possibly know it's safe to drive when they have no idea what it is? They ordered craddle bushings and just got them in, now they are waiting on Chrysler to tell the tech how to put them in.

The dealer has said they have even opened a "star case" with the Chrysler engineers, and we've been told that they haven't heard of anything like this.

Wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue and if so, was the dealer able to fix it, and what was the problem? This is frustrating as the vehicle only has 5,000 miles on it, and a new car should not sound like it's falling apart every time I drive it!! I would appreciate any feedback that anyone could provide.

Thanks!
Yes my 200has the same problem on the passengers side . The dealer has had the car 3 times annd can't find the problem. My son drives this car on highway and I would like to also get this problem solved.

[MikeM]

I bought a leftover brand new 2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible in January 2012. In the spring of 2012 I started to hear a loud clanking noise from the front end. The noise was only heard after the car was driven for 25-30 miles or so and was warmed up. It made the noise when going over changes in elevation quickly on the road and/or bumps. Picture going over a speed bump it would make the clunk/clank noise as the shock/strut compressed going up and down. Clunk - Clunk.

It was obnoxious and I brought it to the dealer as soon as I could so it would get fixed while under warranty. Well I was assured the problem was fixed.

I have made a total of 5 trips to the same dealer for this specific issue since buying this vehicle. The last 4 trips were all in a 3 month span. I was told it was the control arms, the struts, the linking something, and then lastly the engine mount. The noise is still there. I have lost all patience. I am pursuing other options. This issue is inexcusable and I am very unsettled that Chrysler either doesn't know what the problem is or they have not figured out a way to resolve it.

[JonnyTbone]

Hi Everyone - Just an update from my original post back in July 2012. My 200S convertible no longer makes the crazy clunking/clanking noise that it had back around 10,000 miles. My car currently has 34,000 miles on it and I can't remember the last time I heard those strange noises (>9 months ago?). Reviewing some of the old posts, it seems that Jeremy Crawford had the problem "loose toolbox" sound with over 26,000 miles on his car.

[SGIFL]

What Fixed it??? My 2012 200S doing the same--cradle was re torqued 26K miles

[JonnyTbone]

I took it in to Chrysler, but they could never find a problem. It just stopped making the noise after after putting on miles. Makes you wonder if something in the suspension wasn't seated properly, then did so on its own after driving a while. Very strange.

[nspatial]

I too, have one of the plagued 200's. First, I loved the car, but now, quite frankly, it is at the point that I don't even want to look at this car anymore.

I started hearing the "clunking" sound at around 6K miles. I brought the car in for an oil change, and described the sound. The technician said he couldn't replicate the issue, but it was probably just a bushing that was seating.

Within a week, I had to take the car to Florida, and it took me a while to find the time and a reputable dealer to take a look at a vehicle. After the dealer (Jacksonville, FL) spent almost a week, they opened the first 5-star service ticket. No solution was found. A couple of weeks, I took the car to Tallahasee Dodge, and they too opened a star ticket. This time, they heard the noise, and re-torqued the cars steering connecting rod, and deemed the issue resolved. After 12 miles, the sound was back, and increased in frequency, volume and also began making the same sound on the right side too.

About two months later, I brought the car back to the dealer where I purchased the car, in Pennsylvania, and have basically had the car sitting for three weeks now.

Week 1: "5-Star" case was opened with Chrysler. After two days, the decision was made to order a new strut for the drivers side front. A control arm and bushing was also ordered.

Parts arrived the next day, but the dealership did not put the parts in until the following day (Thursday). After test-drive, the technician said not sound was found.

Upon driving it 7 miles, the sound was back, with no changes. Steering and suspension damping/rebound was markedly different now between the right and left side.

I returned car to dealer, and notified issue was not fixed, and the difference in steering and suspension. I was told that the car would now need a 4 wheel alignment; get this, at MY cost, but yet, the ONLY reason my car needs an alignment is due to warranty service and parts replacement. I am currently "negotiating" with Chrysler on this.

Week 2: Now, a steering shaft was ordered. Two days receive the part and even think about starting repair. By the end of that day, I called Service manager, and he informed me the car was done.

Week 3: Currently, steering shaft was replaced. I took the car for a test drive yesterday, after being told it was fixed. Wrong! The car is HORRIBLE now.

In addition to the original noise, I now have the marked suspension rebound/damping differences to contend with, now, I have a very scary grinding noise and thunking when braking or turning. When I stopped this morning, on my way to dealership (air temp 55 degrees), the grinding and clicking coming from my front left tire, sounded like it had sand in the CV joint. Then a horrible scraping and thunking noise was observed.

After telling the service manager yesterday, that I could not hang around, due to massive loss of wages (I work in computers, and lose about 450 dollars a day), I ended up spending 9 hours at the dealership, waiting for the tech to free up, to test my car, and call chrysler.

At the end of today, supposedly chrysler said to put a special grease on the parts, and have me take the car out. I said no. I know have NO confidence in the car, the mechanic or Chrysler. I will be fighting with Chrysler again tomorrow, and I already have a lemon law lawyer. One way or another, I will NEVER drive or own another 200 until they fix this issue and own the responsibilty.

[nspatial]

Now, right strut and control arms have been changed. For those of you keeping score; both struts, mounts, control arms and all bushings are new. Steering shaft was retorqued twice, then replaced.
All engine and transmission bolts have been loosened and retorqued. Alignment has been done twice, and yet, problem remains. Finally contacted lemon lawyers 4 months suffering through trial and error is enough! I'm spending 2-3 days a week at the dealers,multiple tanks of gas for test rides and rental cars. Give me a damn new car, and no; not another 200 S!

[jbolash]

I bought a leftover brand new 2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible in January 2012. In the spring of 2012 I started to hear a loud clanking noise from the front end. The noise was only heard after the car was driven for 25-30 miles or so and was warmed up. It made the noise when going over changes in elevation quickly on the road and/or bumps. Picture going over a speed bump it would make the clunk/clank noise as the shock/strut compressed going up and down. Clunk - Clunk.

It was obnoxious and I brought it to the dealer as soon as I could so it would get fixed while under warranty. Well I was assured the problem was fixed.

I have made a total of 5 trips to the same dealer for this specific issue since buying this vehicle. The last 4 trips were all in a 3 month span. I was told it was the control arms, the struts, the linking something, and then lastly the engine mount. The noise is still there. I have lost all patience. I am pursuing other options. This issue is inexcusable and I am very unsettled that Chrysler either doesn't know what the problem is or they have not figured out a way to resolve it.

Same problem with my 200 ,4 trips so far to the dealer. They just ordered sway bar bushings They are only guessing . find a fix [email protected]

[likels]

hmm.. front struts, and additional repairs totaling over $5000.. really don't want to keep the car now.. I am afraid of it

[SGIFL]

SpellingWe are having an issue with the front end making a loud clunking noise whenever it's being driven on uneven payment/roads, over speed bumps in parking garages, roads, parking lots.
It starts making this noise after it's been driven for 100 miles or so. The farther it's driven the louder and worse it gets.
When it is stopped for an hour or two it is quiet as can be --starts up again after driving 100 miles or so.
I was on the road this weekend to Charlotte NC and stopped in to Lake Norman Chrysler Jeep, when they checked it out the noise was not there the car had been sitting over night-- they checked out the front end and their technician said that they had some complaints; He retorqued the Cradle and lower control arms. After driving a couple hundred miles it started again.
On the Chrysler Fourm http://www.chrysler200.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31

There are many complaints—one shown below

[Mine would start after I had been driving it awhile, usually after 40 - 50 miles. Adam at Allan Samuels Dodge opened a Star Ticket with the engineers, so the engineers at Chrysler DO KNOW about this issue. I took my car in when it was making the noise and had the front end tech ride with me. He actually did this twice. It took them forever to "recreate" the noise, but since Adam had heard it he knew there was something wrong. Now that they have changed the sway bar bushings and sway bar mounts, I have not heard it again. I picked my car back up on April 21, and it's still good. They told me the same thing the first 2 times I took my car in - they LOOKED at the front end and didn't see anything. That's when I decided to take it in and have someone ride with me when it as making the noise. Then they knew I wasn't crazy!! Good Luck!]
Call us for pickup

MY RESULTSOct 15,2013

They re-torqued all underneath ans replaced both right and left stabilizer links see link
http://www.autopartsmopar.com/parts-catalog/chrysler/200/2012/s/3-6l-v6-flex/front-suspension/stabilizer-bar-and-components

Will tale a trip longer than 100-200 miles in mext few weeks. WILL POST results SGIFL

[jbolash]

yes I have a carbon copy of your problem.I have been at the dealer 4 times. I notice when it is damp out that the noise is not as bad, The next part that they are replacing sway bar bushings.If someone finds the problem please let us know. Also a Star case .

[nspatial]

I write this for all of you out there having unresolved front end clunking issues with the 200. As you will see in my previous posts, I was having this issue that took well over two months to fix. In summation, here are the parts replaced:

Both left and right struts
Both sides inner and outer tie rods
Steering shaft
both lower control arms
cradle was re-torqued.
Engine was unbolted and re-attached to cradle
two four-wheel alignments

In the end, as a result of Chrysler engineers, a new tie rod was created for both sides. Instead of the normal rubber type bushing, the new part is a semi-metallic composition.

There is supposed to be a TB issued in the near future; as of yet, I don't know the number, but I will post it for you all when I get it. So far, the car is now rock-steady, and that is after I drove it "very aggressively :-)". I did this since I have almost exhausted my bumper to bumper warranty, and wanted to speed along the process of the lemon law.

In terms of the lemon law, I am still pursuing this, as my car was having this issue since 3000 miles, and after multiple complaints, and being told that the bushings will "seat", and two months bringing the car back to the shop 3 times a week, only drive it long enough to fill up the tank, and have the car returned on empty from the "test drives". I actually was terminated from my job for "too much missed time" due to this problem, so I just want the car gone.

My lawyers said I only have a couple of more days before Chrysler has to give me their first decision on my car, but flat out, I will never be happy with this car, or the 200 again, until they change the components.

That being said, I already picked out my next car, a black 300C with the Pentastar and all of the toys. Just waiting to finalize the deal. Good luck everyone!

[SGIFL]

Lost the reply to my post. But the both front stabilizer links were replaced and I just finished a 2000mile trip and THERE ARE NO NOISES

FRONT SUSPENSION/STABILIZER BAR & COMPONENTS for 2013 Chrysler 200

Exploded Auto Parts Diagram
1
2
3
4
5
6
No. Part Number Description List Price Our Price
1 68080525AA STABILIZER BAR $142.00 $99.16 Add to Cart
ALL
2 5168245AA STABILIZER BAR BUSHING RIGHT $16.60 $11.64 Add to Cart
ALL
2 5168245AA STABILIZER BAR BUSHING LEFT $16.60 $11.64 Add to Cart
ALL
3 5151025AA STABILIZER BAR CLAMP RIGHT $7.50 $5.27 Add to Cart
3 5151025AA STABILIZER BAR CLAMP LEFT $7.50 $5.27 Add to Cart
4 6104418AA STABILIZER BAR SCREW LEFT $2.60 $1.81 Add to Cart
4 6104418AA STABILIZER BAR SCREW RIGHT $2.60 $1.81 Add to Cart
5 5174185AC STABILIZER LINK RIGHT $45.60 $32.00 Add to Cart
5 5174185AC STABILIZER LINK LEFT $45.60 $32.00 Add to Cart
6 6509401AA STABILIZER LINK NUT LEFT $0.95 $0.64 Add to Cart
6 6509401AA STABILIZER LINK NUT RIGHT $0.95 $0.64 Add to Cart

[SGIFL]

Mine Fixed Tallahassee DCJ replaced both front stabilizer links. Did a two thousand mile run and no NOISES.

[Carol]

I started hearing a noise in the front end within a week of purchase, had the car back to dealership 3 times. Finally it was bad enough they found the steering rack was bad, only showed up if I drove the car for 30 mins before taking to dealership.
One month later, noise is back. They had to replace the tie rods ends (second set), changed the first set when they did the steering rack.
One week after I got the car back the noise is back and now I am having problems with it pulling to the right and steering wheel shaking. I think Chrysler needs to look into this problem, dealership said it was bad parts from the supplier but don't think all of this should happen on a car with only 20,000 miles.

[iammeiamfree]

I am driving a 2013 Chrysler 200. I am also hearing that clunking noise. Not all the time, but I hear it mostly when I am making a turn or, like the others, when driving on a bumpy road or going over speed bumps.

Can anyone tell me or does anyone know- that if I take the car into the dealership, is this an issue that would be covered under the warranty? We have about 46000 miles on it- so we only have a few hundred more miles on our car before the warranty is up.

[JP_200_Limited]

I am currently dealing with this same front end clunking issue. I will be making my 3rd appearance at the dealership later this week. It started ever so slightly at the end of last summer between 40-50k miles, and went away in the winter, but now its back louder than ever this summer.

Symptoms are as follows:

You never hear a sound during the winter (or basically below 40-50 deg. weather) As soon as the season changes and warms up and you drive the car ~20 to 30 miles/minutes you hear a clunk about every 10 feet or so (or more on uneven pavement or bumps). The clunk can be felt in the steering. The audible noise is coming predominantly from the front left/center (more left than center) of the vehicle.

It seems that the entire engine compartment must be brought up to temperature before the problem announces itself. I have taken 2 service reps for a drive, and both times they nodded and agreed that its completely annoying and clunking like crazy. Then, they take the car out back, park it for 3 hours until someone can work on it..... and the car cools down, stops making the noise because its cooled..... and the technicians put it on the hoist and poof, they say nothing is wrong....

Apparently, they have to confer with the service rep to explain what they think is wrong... and since neither of them really knows whats wrong, they just agree to throw some parts on it and test drive it for 30 seconds around their parking lot and call it fixed. I even told them to drive the car --- PLEASE drive the car for 30 mins --- the gas is on me!.... both times they said it was fixed and both times a 30 minute drive proved otherwise.

So far, I have gotten a free lower control arm, free torsion stabilizer sway link or something, and some more work done on the right rear (when the noise was coming from the front) They recommended an alignment, and Chrysler threw that in for free ($150 bux) and the clunk has not even remotely stopped happening.

Even if they fix this, which I know will only be a Band-Aid fix, I will not buy another 200 again, this drive train is junk. It makes more creeks, groans, thumps and noises than a 150 year old haunted house in a hurricane.

I am now looking at Jeeps

[Boblcraft]

I had two Chyrsler Sebrings'- 2009 Limited Hardtop Convertible and a 2010 Sedan Touring. The 2009 convertible started the clunking sound on the driver's side at about 2000 miles. The dealer replaced the CV joint, struts and finally the rack and pinion. It corrected it for about 3000 miles and the noise returned. The dealer replaced the rack and pinion for a second time and it corrected the problem. I subsequently drove the vehicle to 141,000 miles and no noise. The 2010 Sedan started the noise at about 40,000 miles and although we had experience with the 2009 and the same noise the dealer thought it was the driver side CV joint. It correct the noise for about 10,000 miles and the clunking returned. He then still refused to accept the rack and opinion proof and replaced the struts. The noise went away for about 5000 miles then returned. Upon review, the previously replaced CV joint on the driver side started leaking. They replaced the boot. The noise remained until I sold the car at 143,000 miles. My money is on the rack and pinion unit.

Two things strike me- (1) Chrysler HAS TO ABSOLUTELY BE AWARE OF THIS! This is nonsense that they hide from it. (2) The rack and pinion units are almost always on back order according to my dealer.

[Boblcraft]

Not giving up on Chyrlser because of the convertible, I bought a 2012 Limited Hardtop Convertible used with about 20,000 miles. As soon as I started the long drive home a vibration/shimmy (felt more in my seat than the wheel) was pronounced starting at about 60 mph. The more you drove the more annoying. Standard highway surface- nothing out of the ordinary.

I thought it might be a "flat spot" sitting on the lot or alignment. I immediately took it to the dealer and they aligned it and balanced the tires. The problem persisted. They then said it might be a bad tire. I replaced all 4 tires and at their suggestion with the OEM Goodyears. Down the road and the problem is still there! I have it back at the dealer and want them to look at the struts or torsion bar bushings or even a tie rod. It's unacceptable Does anyone have any suggestions as to a corrective action. As soon as I get it back from the dealer I'll post the results but don't have much faith they will fix this.

[manualsco]

You should download Chrysler repair manuals, workshop manuals and wiring diagram.

[Janiece]

So I take it back the next Monday, they keep it until Wednesday. Hey, the visor and map light are in after being on National Backorder (good band name). Ya sold a million cars, how is that? Anyway, after a 60 minute wait and after it cools off long enough to need a 5 minute drive to really get a full throated banging, the svc manager (who is very nice mind you) hears it and he says its a rack and pinion issue, and he will get a new one in. So I leave it, take the shuttle can and go without car for 3 days (now 5 total).