NHTSA Complaint #10116557 — 1996 DODGE INTREPID

HAVE JUST BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS APPARENTLY WITH THE CERNTER TAKE OFF SYSTEM, HAVE HAD IT AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN KINGSPORT (1-423-247-3155), THEY PUT STEERING BUSHINGS ON IT, COSTLY REPAIR, STILL DID NOT TOUCH THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A HORRIBLE PROBLEM STEERING THE CAR, APPARENTLY THERE WAS A REPORT ISSUED TO THEM ABOUT THE SYSTEM IN 01-31-1999, BUT THEY DID NOT NOTIFY THE CAR OWNERS. HAVE THOUGHT I HAD PROBLEMS WITH A STARTER PULLEY, NOTICED SOME ENGINE SHAKE, SLIGHTLY, A LITTLE SMOKE AROUND THE BACK BUMPER, THE CAR HAS 74 THOUSAND MILES ON IT, I HAVE MY RECORDS AND THE PREVIOUS OWNERS RECORDS OF REPAIRS AND OIL CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN KEPT UP. ONLINE I HAVE READ OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE WRECKED AND DIED BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CENTER TAKE OFF SYSTEM OF THESE CARS, (BUSHINGS, THE RACK AND PINION GEER INTERFACE, INNER TIEROD, ON THE STEERING GEAR) FAILURE IS UNAVOIDABLE WITHOUT A COSTLY REPAIR OF THE DEFECTIVE STEERING SYSTEM AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. I HAVE ALSO READ OF ENGINES SIEZING UP AT AROUND 40 THOUSAND MILES EVEN WITH PROPER MATINENCE. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THIS CAR, I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER OR HAVE THE FACTORY DEFECTS FIXED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE NOICE OF THE LH FAMILY OF CARS, BUT INSTEAD HAVE SENT ME DOWN THE ROAD OF COSTLY REPAIRS KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THE REPAIRS MADE WILL NOT FIX THIS CAR. THESE CARS ARE A HAZZARD AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THE GOV DOES NOT GET INVOLVED AND PROTECT THE CONSUMER AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD FROM THE PROSPECT OF HORRIBLE INJUIRES AND POSSIBLE DEATH DUE TO THIS BIG CORPERATION'S FAULTY EQUIPMENT. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? *AK