Power steering is the dominant complaint. Hoses rupture, leak, or slip off clamps—most frequently in winter or on cold startups. One owner was stranded on a -20°F Minnesota road with two children; another's vehicle caught fire from a ruptured steering fluid line two months after purchase. Multiple owners report identical symptoms to NHTSA Campaign 16V273000 but were denied coverage because their vehicles lack engine block heaters, a part unrelated to the steering system.
Brake problems run deep. Rotors warp and wear out in cycles—some owners replaced them three to four times before reaching 25,000 miles. One brake shop told a customer brakes would have failed within three days without service. Owners report the caliper design and brake pad material inadequate for the vehicle's weight; steering wheel pulsates violently during braking.
Engine stalls occur unexpectedly during normal driving at all speeds, sometimes at highway cruising speed, accompanied by loss of power steering and power brakes. Horn honks randomly while driving and parked, sometimes for 15 minutes straight, with fuses removed as a temporary workaround. Traction control and ABS systems activate on dry pavement with no provocation, locking steering and brakes simultaneously. One 2010 owner reported an ignition module fault requiring $492 for replacement; Chrysler denies recalls to vehicles matching recall descriptions, citing block heater exclusions or model-year cutoffs despite 2009-model recalls for the same defects.
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering hose rupture, leak, or detachment
Power steering hose fails suddenly—hose ruptures, disconnects from crimped connection, or clamps fail to hold. Owners report loss of power steering assist and fluid leaks, sometimes during cold weather or on engine start. Multiple incidents occurred in freezing temperatures (-20°F), with several owners stuck on roadsides or highways.
When: Often on cold startups or winter conditions; one instance at 40 mph; one at highway speed during curve; failure mileages range 10,000–180,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering assist; Power steering fluid leaking or pooling under vehicle; Fluid dripping inside engine bay or under hood; Steering wheel becomes difficult or impossible to turn; Hose noise or audible rupture on startup
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite hose replacement costs of hundreds of dollars; some dealers refuse repair under warranty or recall exclusions despite block heater absence
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V273000 (Steering) covers hydraulic power assist hose, piping, and connections but excludes vehicles without engine block heaters; some owners also cited Campaign 10V475000. Chrysler denies coverage to many owners reporting identical symptoms due to block heater requirement.
Steering wheel vibration or shaking during braking
Steering wheel vibrates or shakes violently when braking at moderate speeds (40 mph) or during sharp turns. Often accompanied by warped rotors and premature brake wear. One incident involved brakes locking up on dry road with traction control light.
When: Starting around 21,000 miles; occurs during braking at 40 mph and above; one incident at highway speed turning a curve
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibrates or shakes violently when braking; Pulsation felt in steering wheel; Brakes feel wobbly or lock up without warning; Traction control light illuminates on dry roads; Front end shakes during braking
Codes mentioned: Traction control fault (inferred from multiple owner reports)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced rotors multiple times (3–4 sets within 21,000 miles); replaced brakes and pads repeatedly; one owner spent $575 for brake system repair
Engine stall or loss of power while driving
Engine stalls without warning during normal driving—both at low speeds and on highways. Occurs intermittently and unpredictably. Loss of power steering assist and power brakes accompanied stalls. One instance resulted in fire originating from steering fluid line defect.
When: Intermittent occurrences throughout ownership; incidents at 35 mph, 45 mph, 50 mph, 60 mph highway speeds; one fire incident 2 months after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls unexpectedly while driving; Loss of power steering and power brakes during stall; Steering wheel locks or becomes difficult to turn; Lights and radio remain on during stall; Vehicle can be restarted after stopping; Engine fire originating near windshield from steering fluid line
Codes mentioned: Ignition module fault (owner cited diagnostic result)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner spent $492.46 for WIN module replacement; some owners report fire damage with total vehicle loss
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign R03 (ignition/key fob) mentioned by one owner; Chrysler stated parts on restriction and unable to assist; one owner reported Chrysler Legal refused to issue recall for 2010 model despite 2009 recall
Random horn honking or continuous horn activation
Horn honks repeatedly by itself while driving, while parked, and with vehicle off. Owners remove horn fuses as temporary fix, losing horn functionality. One instance caused near-crash when horn honked on major road, distracting driver and other motorists.
When: Random occurrences throughout ownership; one cluster of incidents over 3 days; can persist for 5–15 minutes per episode
Symptoms owners cite: Horn honks repeatedly without driver input; Honking occurs while vehicle is parked and powered off; Honking occurs while driving on roads; Key fob does not stop horn activation; Horn continues despite dealer diagnostics clearing sensors
Repairs/costs cited: Owners removed horn fuses to silence; dealership cannot permanently fix despite multiple visits; battery drain continues even after fuse removal
Brake system failure—inadequate braking power and rotor warping
Brake system inadequate for vehicle weight; rotors warp and wear prematurely. Brake pads wear at accelerated rates. Calipers rub pads, causing extreme wear. Brake shop advised owner brakes would have failed within 3 days if not serviced. Multiple owners required 3–4 rotor replacements and 2+ brake pad sets within short ownership periods.
When: Starting early in ownership; one customer had brakes nearly fail by 21,000 miles; another after 6 years of ownership required third brake replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pads wear prematurely and excessively; Rotors warp, causing pulsation and steering wheel shake; Screeching noise from brakes; Brake calipers rub against pads; Brakes become less responsive over time
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $575 for brake system repair; multiple owners replaced rotors 3–4 times in short periods; brake shop stated manufactured brakes inadequate for vehicle weight
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge declined warranty coverage due to expiration; no recalls issued despite multiple complaints
Vehicle steering angle or alignment drift to the right
Vehicle pulls to the right; steering alignment off since purchase. Multiple alignments performed without permanent correction. Steering pulls right during normal driving.
When: Present from purchase; issues persist across multiple alignment attempts
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drifts or pulls to the right; Steering alignment off despite repair attempts; Requires constant correction to stay straight
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment service provided but did not resolve issue permanently
Traction control and stability control faults—brakes and steering lock
Traction control light illuminates on completely dry roads; steering and brakes lock simultaneously without driver input. Occurs intermittently and unpredictably on dry asphalt, creating dangerous driving conditions.
When: Intermittent episodes; one replaced TPM sensor 6 months prior; recurred multiple times after replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Traction control light illuminates; Steering tightens or locks up; Brakes freeze or lock up; Loss of vehicle control on dry roads
Codes mentioned: Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) fault code
Repairs/costs cited: TPM sensor replaced once; failure recurred after replacement
Synthesized from 83 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.