NHTSA Complaint #10380033 — 1996 DODGE INTREPID

I HAVE OWNED A 1996 DODGE INTREPID FOR 6 MONTHS NOW AND WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I WAS AWARE THAT THE STEERING WAS A LITTLE LOOSE, WHAT I DID NOT KNOW WAS THAT THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM AS WELL AS MOST OF THE TIE RODS AROUND THEM WERE COMPLETELY SHOT. MY STEERING WHEEL GRINDS WHEN I TURN IT LEFT AND RIGHT NOW AND MY STEERING HAS A HORRIFIC DRIFT WHEN TURNING FROM EXTREME TO EXTREME. THE BUSHINGS ON THE RACK AND PINION (AS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC) ARE COMPLETELY GONE. THE BROKEN PIECES ARE RATTLING AND VIBRATING SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE SHIMMYING I FEEL ON MY CAR IS ACTUALLY CAUSED BY THE STEERING. WHEN I BRAKE AT HIGH SPEEDS (50MPH) THE STEERING PULLS TO EITHER AN EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I FOUND OUT THAT I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE STRUGGLING WITH THESE SAME ISSUE. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY OWNER OF A 1996 DODGE INTREPID IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. MY MECHANIC SAID TO ME THAT HE HAS NO GUARANTEE THAT MY STEERING WILL WORK RIGHT. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD NOW I'M AFRAID I'LL LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY GIRLFRIEND MIGHT FREQUENTLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT I AM AFRAID THAT THE STEERING MAY GO OUT WHEN SHE IS DRIVING IT. I SPOKE WITH MY MECHANIC AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED. I PLAN TO SAVE THE PARTS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE IN HOPES THAT I WILL GET SOME COMPENSATION FOR THEM. *TR