NHTSA Complaint #10133598 — 1996 DODGE INTREPID

MY SON WAS TRAVELING TO WORK ON AUGUST 10 2005. HE WAS DRIVING A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. HE WAS TURNING A CORNER WHEN HIS STEERING CONTROL WAS SUDDENDLY AND COMPLETELY LOST. HIS CAR WENT OVER A CURB AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO STOP. NO ONE WAS HURT. INSPECTION OF THE CAR SHOWED THAT 2 BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE TIE RODS TO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WERE COMPLETELY SEVERED. A PICTURE HERE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS. IF YOU GO TO THIS SITE : HTTP://WWW.ALLPAR.COM/FIX/INTREPID-STEERING.HTML YOU WILL SEE A CLEAR PICTURE OF 2 CENTER BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE INNER TIE RODS TO THE RACK AND PINION STEEING. THESE WERE THE 2 BOLTS THAT SUDDENLY BROKE LEAVING THE CAR WITH NO STEERING CONTROL. IF THAT HAD HAPPENED A WEEK EARLIER WHEN I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY SON ON A SUPER HIGHWAY I AM QUITE SURE THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE WOULD BE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL OR WORSE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I FOULD ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I FEEL THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE TO REPLACE THESE BOLTS. HIS CAR HAD 112,000 MILES ON WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURED. YOU'RE RECALL OF THESE CARS I FEEL WOULD SAVE OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES. THANK YOU!