NHTSA Complaint #10058680 — 1997 DODGE INTREPID

THIRD FAILURE OF MY DODGE 97 INTREPID FOR POWER STEERING AND TIE ROD FAILURE. REPLACEMENTS WERE AS FOLLOWS: 3/27/98 7,999 MILES-POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED(PREVIOUS OWNER) 11/2/01 41,530 MILES-THUMP NOISE IN FRONT END-REPAIRED STRUT ASSEMBLY (PREVIOUS OWNER) 11/9/01 41,923-I PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DODGE EWALD-DRIVING HOME I HEARD A THUMPING IN THE RIGHT WHEEL UPON TURNING. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHO REPLIED "THIS IS NORMAL" I STATED NO WAY!!!! REPLACED STRUT ASSEMBLY AND FROZEN OUTER TIE RODS AND ADJUSTING SLEEVINGS. 8/7/02 68,116 MILES-PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY-STEERING WENT. TOWED TO DEALER. REPLACED RACK ASSEMBLY AND INNER TIE RODS. 2/16/04 85,344 MILES-BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT-THUMP HEARD, NO CONTROL OF STEERING AND RIGHT WHEEL SEVERELY FACING IN. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. REPLACED RACK ASSEMBLY, TIE RODS. WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE HOWEVER TOOK HANDS OF STEERING WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP TOLD THAT RIGHT WHEEL IS WORN (I WONDER WHY!) -SPOKE TO SERVICE AND INFORMED THEM THAT THIS PART WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES-STATED THAT THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG. ALSO EACH TIME THE "RACK" HAD TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED DUE TO NONE IN STOCK (I NOW KNOW WHY!) PREVIOUS TIME I HAD TO PAY DEDUCTIBLE BUT THIS LAST TIME MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE ONLY GUARANTEED FOR 1 YR. I HAD TO PAY $1,600 FOR THIS REPAIR! RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON-LINE HAS REVEALED THAT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON THE INTREPID VEHICLES-MULTIPLE YEARS!!!!!. *JB