The cross member is the structural support that runs under the engine from side to side. It is either going to bolted to the body or it will be welded on. If it's welded, I'll have to rethink my story. If it's bolted on, it is likely it was removed to get the transmission out. Doing that causes a real lot of headaches on GM front-wheel-drive cars. Chrysler doesn't have that problem. I'm not sure about your car unless I had one nearby to look at.
At issue is reinstalling that assembly in exactly the same place it was before. Chrysler has theirs designed so you can't mess it up. On GMs, that assembly can be slid to either side a little. That will cause a major alignment problem AND all the symptoms you described. An alignment will not solve the problem unless the mechanic knows the history of the recent repairs. Then he will look at "steering axis inclination", (SAI), on the alignment computer. SAI has to be corrected first, then the car must be aligned.
Thursday, February 19th, 2015 AT 5:30 PM