Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Chrysler Concorde owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have a 1996 Chrysler Concorde lxi. My brother in law has one the same year and model also. We both have the same problem. The steering gear bushings wear out and allows the steering to wander. I have come very close to having an accident as well as my brother in law while going around a corner and expecting the car to follow the direction of steering but instead the car wanted to go straight until the steering gear had traveled as far as it could go then the steering reacted. This problem also causes excessive vibration in the front end leading a mechanic to believe the rotors are warped when in fact it is the steering gear bushings. These bushings are not available through Chrysler. Instead they want you to purchase a whole new steering gear for over $1000. …
I recently purchased a 1996 Chrysler Concorde from an individual party. 2 days after I bought the car, my boyfriend had parked along the street in front of a friends house for a moment, and had just began to pull away from the curb, when he heard a clunking noise. At the same time, he was turning the steering wheel to the left, away from the curb, but the car just kept going straight. Luckily, he was going at a very low speed, so no one was injured. After stopping the car, he looked underneath the vehicle as well as under the hood, and found that the bolts from the rack and pinion steering mechanism had been completely sheared off. They had snapped in half, leaving part of the bolts inside of the unit. I thank god that no one was hurt, and that my 12 year old son wasn't in the car when this happened. …
I have a 1996 Chrysler Concorde and while driving had the tie rod bolts break completely off from the rack, since I have had the bushings and bolts replaced twice, and am still in need of rack mount bushings as they have failed and I now once again feel the car floating where ever it wants to go on the road. The rack mount bushings are approx. $53 for two and I am in need of four. I work barely part time and cannot afford to continue to fix a problem that shouldn't even exist. Where does a company like dc stop assuming responsibility for issues that are very much on their end of the stick? Had I been on the highway I would have definitely been killed no question. I have 3 children that regularly ride in the car and is Chrysler going to pay for our funeral when their product kills one of us or on of their millions of other customers? I highly doubt it. …
A popping sound was coming from the front left side of the vehicle when the brakes were applied. Steering wheel constantly vibrates and has since I've owned the vehicle. A July 2008 safety inspection revealed "excessive play" in the steering linkage and left outer tierod was bad. Repairs performed and the same thing happened yet again three months later. After learning of all the complaints related to steering problems in Chrysler vehicles, I now fear for my safety and that of my family. Chrysler needs to held responsible for the dangerous products they are putting on the market.
I use to own a 1996 Chrysler Concorde lxi I have encountered several problems, such as my wheels falling off, looseness in the steering. A Chrysler dealership stated the car should not be driven on the road at all! My engine failed while driving 45 m.p.h., all power to the car died. I have been talking to several Concorde owners and this is a well know problem with these. I stop making payment for this car after the original dealership where I brought it from would not fix it while under warranty. I fear for the person who has this car now, they could lose their life.
Steering rack replacement in 1996 Chrysler Concorde is very costly and problematic. Had I known about such an inherent bad design I would never have purchased this vehicle, let alone any Chrysler product. My particular unit has failed at the low mileage of 110,000 and became dangerously close to failure! Furthermore, during the repair process many other components had to be replaced due to the required tear down to access the failed steering rack components. In addition to the steering rack failure, the fuel rail gaskets also failed in leakage at the same time.
Well as I can tell this is a wide spread problem the rack and pinion, bushings and steering gear failure and tie rod ends. My concord has had a clunk grinding sound for sometime in the steering and now the car is beginning to not turn when I turn the steering wheel. Not every one has a $1000.00 to $2000.00 to get this fixed what will it take to get Chrysler to fix the problem a school bus full of children getting hit buy one of the many Chrysler cars with the same steering problem on the road. Please help before someone gets killed if not already.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle's front end rattled and shook at various speeds. The dealership determined the front tie rod ends and bushings needed to be replaced for the third time in three years. The first time in August 2003, the passenger side wheel fell off. The second time in June 2004, the front end rattled and shook. Each time the dealership determined the front tie rod ends and bushings needed to be replaced.
Mounting support bushings to "rack & pinion" become brittle and allow movement of rack which reduces steering response. During cold weather the problem is also noticeable as a squeaking noise when turning the wheel 'back and forth'. The heat from the exhaust pipe is directly below the rack and that pipe should be insulated to reduce the heat transfer to the bushings that anchor the rack (above).
Steering is very bad. Pulls to the left. Rack and pinion bushings bad, as well as a tie rod. Usually makes a popping noise when turning. Engine cooling system has malfunctioned. Continues to overheat. Replaced water pump twice as well as thermostat. ABS light continues to come on. Brakes are very bad. I've replaced them numerous times.
NHTSA investigations
Steering system rack and pinion
Since opening the preliminary evaluation (pe), odi has received 6 additional complaints.during the pe it was determined multiple failure modes are involved in this matter.the warranty claim rate is high for a steering system concern.the issues reported involve premature wear out at the rack and pinion interface with the inner tie rod end(s), binding and sticking of the steering gear, cracked or broken tie rod ends,…
Steering system rack and pinion
There is no summary currently available
Steering complaints in other Concorde years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1996 Chrysler Concorde?
NHTSA has 61 complaints about the steering of the 1996 Chrysler Concorde, 38% of the model year's 161 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (30 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Chrysler Concorde steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 1996 Chrysler Concorde, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Chrysler Concorde steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury and 1 death to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.