707 of the
8,078 complaints filed about the Dodge Intrepid
are about the steering —
9% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1996.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL FUNCTION AND POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURS I HAVE NO POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, BRAKES, NOTHING. IT FLICKERS ON AND OFF LIKE THAT MULTIPLE TIMES. IT TOOK ME 1 1/2 HOURS TO DRIVE HOME, WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ONLY HALF HOUR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW IN FEAR THAT I WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH DODGE VEHICLES. I CAN'T DRIVE MY VAN IN FEAR IT WILL END UP KILLING MYSELF, MY FAMILY, OR SOME INNOCENT PERSON ON THE ROADWAY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. A RECALL IS NEEDED TO FIND THIS ONGOING ISSUE. THERE ISN'T A SPECIFIC DATE BUT A CONSTANT ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11363860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE ARE WRITING TO LET YOU KNOW OF A MAJOR CAR FIRE THAT OCCURRED IN OUR DODGE INTREPID. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE HOT/COLD NEEDLE BEGAN MOVING UP AND DOWN. THEN THE BRAKES GAVE OUT. THEN, THE POWER STEERING GAVE OUT. THE CAR STARTED SMOKING PRODUCING BLACK CHEMICAL SMOKE INTO THE CABIN. THEN, FIRE STARTED SHOOTING OUT OF THE VENTS. WITH NO BRAKES AND FIRE AND SMOKE INTO THE CAR, THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO JUMP OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLL ONTO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CAR STILL GOING 30-40 MPH. THE DRIVER WAS IN EXTREME DANGER INSIDE THE CAR AND OBVIOUSLY LAYING ON THE INTERSTATE AS WELL. THE CAR ENDED UP IN THE DITCH WHILE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. HE WAS ABLE TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THEY DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED INSIDE THE AREA OF THE HEATING CORE. THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT IT MELTED THE BOLTS WE WERE TOLD BY THE FIRE MARSHAL. THERE OBVIOUSLY WAS SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE HEATER CORE TO GIVE THIS MUCH DAMAGE. THE DRIVER WAS TREATED AT THE ER FOR SMOKE INHALATION. THE CONTENTS IN THE CAR WERE EITHER BURNED, MELTED, OR HAVE SEVERE SMOKE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE IS A COMPLETE LOSS OF COURSE. WE LOST MANY ITEMS OF VALUE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE CAR, THE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED CONTENTS AND ANY MEDICAL BILLS.
NHTSA complaint #11283205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RACK AND PINION ISSUES. ISSUES WITH FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING. I'VE HAD IT FIXED THREE TIMES, VERY EXPENSIVE. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, WHEN THE STEER STOPPED CONTROLLING THE WHEELS. I'M GRATEFUL I WASN'T ON THE FREE WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10905974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN TURNING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND ALL LIGHTS, METERS, AND GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #10715019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, HE HEARD A POP. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE RACK AND PINION BOLTS HAVE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. AP
NHTSA complaint #10587743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS BACKING INTO A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR, JUST AS I TAPPED THE CURB WITH MY BACK TIRES AT 2 MPH. I WENT TO PULL FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR AND ATTEMPT THE PARKING JOB AGAIN, WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULD NO LONGER TURN THE WHEELS. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED WITH EASE IN MY HAND, BUT THE TIRES DID NOT BUDGE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD AND BUSHINGS REPLACED AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, NOW I HAVE NO STEERING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE I'M IN A SMALL TOWN AND THE NEAREST DEALER IS 45 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE TIE RODS TO THE RACK HAD "POPPED OUT." NOT SURE IF THIS IS MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS BOTH BOLTS POPPED OUT OR IF IT WAS THE RESULT OF A POOR MECHANICAL REPAIR AT THE LAST SHOP, BUT AFTER READING MANY REVIEWS ON THE CAR, IT IS POSSIBLE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. HOWEVER THE MECHANIC STATED "IN MY 25+ YEARS OF MECHANICAL WORK, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN WHERE IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING THE DRIVER DID OR COULD HAVE PREVENTED."
NHTSA complaint #10499782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND APPROACHED MY EXIT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO CONTROL THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY HITTING SOME BRUSH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES WERE INCURRED, BUT THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING! NOW, THE STEERING IS STILL GETTING STUCK ON TURNS AND I HAVE NO HORN! THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOW SHOWING AND I DON'T KNOW WHATS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. NO WARNINGS, OR RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE, AND THERE A MANY CONCERNS OF OTHERS GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!
NHTSA complaint #10458284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2000 INTREPID S ENGINE BLEW UP 2 YEARS AGO AND AGAIN 2DAYS AGO THERE WAS NO WARNING. MASTER CYLINDER IS FAILING AND THE STEERING PIN BROKE IN THE CAR AND LEFT ME HELPLESS I ENDED UP IN A DITCH. I CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY PAST 7 YEARS AND ITS ONLY BEEN 2.
NHTSA complaint #10455935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS LEAVING A FRIENDS WEDDING WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, SHE WAS TURNING AROUND ON A SIDE STREET SHE LOST ALL STEERING I WAS THERE IN A SEPARATE CAR I WENT OUT AND CHECKED FOR THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT BOTH BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE INNER TIE RODS TO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD BEEN BROKEN COMPLETELY. THIS IS MY WIFE'S DAILY DRIVER SHE HAS IT ON THE FREEWAY EVERYDAY.
NHTSA complaint #10452147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 15MAR12 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30PM I WAS DRIVING AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED WHILE LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR. AFTER I REGAINED CONTROL, THE STEERING STILL FELT EXTREMELY LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10451880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING WHICH CAUSES CAR TO WANDER WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTING WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND MAKES ME A LITTLE LEARY ABOUT DRIVING IT AT ALL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROMBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I WONDER WHY THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAY SAFETY HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT!
NHTSA complaint #10448471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN JUNE 2009. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS. AT FIRST THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCK ON THE RIGHT SIDE UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH ENDED UP BEING THE CONTROL ARM- COMPLETELY LOOSE AND ALMOST DISCONNECTED. IT HADN'T BEEN LIKE THAT WHEN I MADE THIS WASTE OF A PURCHASE. OVER THE LAST 20 MONTHS (12/2/2011), THE PROBLEMS HAVE PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE (AND MORE EXPENSIVE). THE LOUD BANG IS BACK, ADDING TO IT A LACK OF FULL CONTROL OF STEERING. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD (ENTIRE SYSTEM) AND THE RACK AND PINION. I UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CAR WAS DISCONTINUED, JUST NOT WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10438134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, TIRE RODS, SWAY BAR BUSHING AND MOTOR MOUNTS WORE PREMATURELY AND NEEDED CONSTANT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #10436762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT AND TURNED TO THE LEFT STEERING POPPED AND THEN THERE WAS PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. PLAY GOT WORSE OVER TIME WENT TO PAYTON DODGE IN CLINTON THEY REPLACED TIEROD ON LEFT AND HAD CAR BALANCED GOT CAR BACK IT WAS WORSE INFORMED THEM, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PICK THE CAR UP NEVER DID AND AFTER 2 WEEKS TOOK CAR TO ANOTHER GARAGE WHERE I ALMOST GOT RUN OVER BY A BIG TRUCK BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT HARDLY TURN TO THE LEFT ON SHARP TURNS AND WAS MAKING POPPING NOISE THE RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THINK BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF DODGE AND THE RACK AND PINION PAYTON DODGE DID NOT WANT TO WORK ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10418888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING PROBLEMS 2002 DODGE INTREPID. STEERING GEAR REPLACED AT APPROX 60,000 MILES THEN INNER TIE ROD BUSHINGS FAILED AT 196,000 MILES NOW THEY HAVE FAILED AGAIN AT 224,000 MILES 18 MONTHS AND THERE IS MAJOR PLAY IN THE STEERING OF THE CAR AS WELL AS MOVEMENT IN THE TIRE LEADING TO POSSIBLE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10414937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
NHTSA complaint #10412260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RACK AND PINION / STEERING ISSUES IN 1997 DODGE INTREPID. AFTER JUST DRIVING 65-70 ON THE I-15 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, I FELT AN ODD VIBRATION AND PULL IN THE STEERING OF THE 1997 DODGE INTREPID I WAS DRIVING. EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE WHEN THE FRONT END SENT A POP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS STUCK IN A RIGHT TURN POSITION DURING ANY POSITION SET ON THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE REMAINED INTACT AND NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #10389884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE OWNED A 1996 DODGE INTREPID FOR 6 MONTHS NOW AND WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS AWARE THAT THE STEERING WAS A LITTLE LOOSE, WHAT I DID NOT KNOW WAS THAT THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM AS WELL AS MOST OF THE TIE RODS AROUND THEM WERE COMPLETELY SHOT. MY STEERING WHEEL GRINDS WHEN I TURN IT LEFT AND RIGHT NOW AND MY STEERING HAS A HORRIFIC DRIFT WHEN TURNING FROM EXTREME TO EXTREME. THE BUSHINGS ON THE RACK AND PINION (AS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC) ARE COMPLETELY GONE. THE BROKEN PIECES ARE RATTLING AND VIBRATING SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE SHIMMYING I FEEL ON MY CAR IS ACTUALLY CAUSED BY THE STEERING. WHEN I BRAKE AT HIGH SPEEDS (50MPH) THE STEERING PULLS TO EITHER AN EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE STRUGGLING WITH THESE SAME ISSUE. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY OWNER OF A 1996 DODGE INTREPID IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. MY MECHANIC SAID TO ME THAT HE HAS NO GUARANTEE THAT MY STEERING WILL WORK RIGHT. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD NOW I'M AFRAID I'LL LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY GIRLFRIEND MIGHT FREQUENTLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT I AM AFRAID THAT THE STEERING MAY GO OUT WHEN SHE IS DRIVING IT. I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED. I PLAN TO SAVE THE PARTS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE IN HOPES THAT I WILL GET SOME COMPENSATION FOR THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10380033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY. AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL GO ON ITS OWN IN THE DIRECTION THAT I PREVIOULSY TURNED. IT WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER SAFELY THEN IT TAKES AN EXTRA SECOND FOR STEERING TO RESPOND. IT STEERS LIKE A BOAT. NO INJURIES VECHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AFRAID TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10354072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 DODGE INTREPID, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND, WHEN HIS RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE CAUSING HIM TO GO OFF TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY STRIKING THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0344-91)*JB UPDATED 08/06/10
NHTSA complaint #10345513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.