NHTSA Complaint #10093685 — 1996 DODGE INTREPID

WHILE DRIVING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL MY WIFE STATED THE CAR "DRIFTED" IN THE LANE A LOT WITHOUT STEERING INPUT. I TOOK IT FOR TEST DRIVE, NOTICED A STRANGE "FEEL" TO THE STEERING AND THE DRIFT SHE SPOKE OF. I DECIDED IT WAS UNSAFE FOR HER TO DRIVE AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TO BE CHECKED. THE MECHANIC PUT IT UP ON THE RACK AND IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM--THE LEFT SIDE STEERING RACK BUSHINGS WERE COMPLETELY GONE. HE GAVE US A QUOTE FOR THE REPAIR (IT IS BEING DONE TODAY), AND THEN HE PULLED ME ASIDE TO LET ME KNOW HE HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD "GOODWILL IT" (HIS TERM) AS HE SAYS IT WAS HIS UNDERSTANDING THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AS ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED AND THAT A NEW STYLE BUSHING WAS AVAILABLE THAT DID NOT DETERIORATE LIKE THIS ONE AND WAS MUCH SAFER. CONTACTED THE DEALER IN AUBURN AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE SAID CAR IS TOO OLD (1996) SO WE ARE OUT OF LUCK AND QUOTED ME A REPAIR PRICE ALMOST DOUBLE THE LOCAL MECHANIC. *AK