NHTSA Complaint #758293 — 2002 DODGE INTREPID

STEERING SOMETIMES SQUEALS/SQUEAKS AT END OF U-TURN WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED ALL THE WAY (LOCK TO LOCK CONDITION) AT ABOUT 10MPH. STEERING BEGAN TO SOMETIMES SLIGHTLY DRIFT TO THE LEFT EVEN ON FLAT ROADS WHERE PREVIOUS VEHICLE DID NOT. THIS FIRST OCCURED AT ABOUT 200 MILES. THE CONDITION WAS UNFORTUANTELY NOT NOTICED ON VEHICLE TEST DRIVE. AT ABOUT 3000 MILES ISSUE PERSISTS AND NOW SOMETIMES CLUNK IS FELT IN STEERING AT TIMES WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED AND STOPPING. THIS USUALLY OCCURS WHEN STEERING IS TURNED SHARP THEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED. STEERING ONCE FELT LOOSE AND FLOPPY SUDDENLY THEN SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MILES. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT DEALER DUE TO ISSUE. SHOP FOREMAN CALLED AND STATED THAT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE ANY OF THE ISSUES. WENT ON ROAD TEST WITH SHOP FOREMAN AND WAS ABLE TO GET STEERING TO SQUEEK AT THE END OF SHARP TURNS SEVERAL TIMES. HE THOUGHT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE PAINT ON THE ROAD WITH THE TIRES. I TOLD HIM THIS HAS ALSO OCCURED OTHERWISE. I WAS ABLE TO GET STEERING TO CLUNK SEVERAL TIMES AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AND STATED THAT NOT MUCH COULD BE DONE SINCE STEERING ASSEMBLY SEEMED FINE. HE OFFERED TO CHECK AND TIGHTEN STEERING RELATED BOLTS AND DID THIS. STEERING CURRENTLY HAS BETTER FEEL AND SEEMS TO PERFORM BETTER, NOT SURE YET IF THESE ISSUES ARE COMPLETELY CORRECTED. I AM STILL CONCERNED BECAUSE I HAD COUNTLESS STEERING PROBLEMS WITH MY PREVIOUS INTREPID, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. I ASSUMED THIS ISSUE WAS ONLY WITH THAT INTREPID SINCE IT SEEMED TO BE A LEMON. I ASSUMED THAT A NEW 2002 DODGE INTREPID WOULD NOT HAVE THESE KINDS OF ISSUES.*AK