NHTSA Complaint #10146333 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 2.7 LITER INTREPID. FIRST, PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD. SENT TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSTICS CAME BACK 'WITHIN PARAMETERS'. TOLD IT MUST BE HOW WE DRIVE IT. SINCE THEN, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 2/3 GEARS. LEFT ME STRANDED OUT OF TOWN. HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE TWICE ($35.00 PART). KEEP A SPARE IN THE GLOVE BOX JUST IN CASE. SECOND PROBLEM, A CLUNKING SOUND AND TICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THEY WOULDN'T TOUCH IT. HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED OR SEEN BY DEALER. HOWEVER, I HAVE SEEN MANY TSB'S ON YOUR WEBSITE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. THIRD, ENGINE STARTING MAKING A BANGING SOUND AT ABOUT 126K. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED (BOUGHT A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE) AT A COST OF $5000.00, WAS TOLD SOMETHING IN THE BOTTOM END WENT. COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY NEW CAR AND HAVE CAR PAYMENT. ONLY HAD 6 MORE PAYMENTS TO GO. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON WITH THESE ENGINES. WHY IS THIS ENGINE STILL ON THE MARKET IF IT HAS SOOOO MANY PROBLEMS? *JB