NHTSA Complaint #10139179 — 2000 DODGE INTREPID

AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES TO WORK THE CAR WAS PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WHILE STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS A LOUD POP WAS HEARD AND THE CAR HAD NO STEERING. THE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT (2) TWO 1/2 INCH THREADED BOLTS (THAT BOLT THE TIE RODS TO THE STEERING RACK HAD SHEARED OFF. ONE OF THE TIE ROD BUSHINGS WAS GONE AND THE AREA THE BUSHING WAS IN WAS EXTREMELY WORN, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE AT 20,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY REMOVING THE RACK, BACKING OUT THE OLD BOLT ENDS AND INSTALLING NEW BOLTS. THE ONE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY OFFERED NO HELP ON THE REPAIR. THE DISTRICT REP WAS ASK TO HELP AND HE DENIED ANY HELP. (HE DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD NOT OVER RULE DETRIOT). *JB