NHTSA Complaint #733557 — 1996 DODGE INTREPID

THE FRONT TIE RODS AND THE BUSHINGS IN THE RACK AND PINION FAILED. THE STEERING AT FIRST BECAME VERY SLUGGISH AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL GOT TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT RETURN TO CENTER. IT GOT SO BAD THAT IT WOULD NOT TRIGGER THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. WE FIRST HAD THE TIE RODS REPLACED AND THE CAR ALIGNED BUT THAT DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. WE CONTACTED SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND THEN WERE TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE RACK ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WE CONTACTED CHAMPION CHRYSLER IN INDEPENDENCE, MO AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN "UPGRADE KIT" AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THE BUSHINGS IN THE RACK. WE PURCHASED THE KIT BUT NO ONE WOULD TAKE ON THE REPAIR OTHER THAN THE DEALER, SO WE WERE FORCED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER.*AK