NHTSA Complaint #759643 — 2002 DODGE INTREPID

I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE WHERE I PURCHASED IT COMPLAINING OF INTERMITTENT LOOSENESS IN STEERING, SQUEAKING AND CLUNKING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THESE ISSUES, SQUEAKING WAS SUPPOSEDLY TIRE NOISE, CLUNKING WAS "JUST BUSHINGS". MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS SEVERLY WORN ON THE OUTER EDGES AT ONLY 5900 MILES, THE LEFT TIRE WEAR IS NORMAL. DEALER WOULD NOT EXPLAIN OR ASSES WHY THIS IS. TODAY I HAD THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED SHARP TO THE LEFT AND THERE WAS A VIBRATING NOISE AS IF METAL WAS HITTING AGAINST METAL. I CALLED SOMEONE OUT TO WITNESS THIS. ABOUT TWO MILES LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN ALL OF A SUDDEN AND STEERING FELT HEAVY. VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN TURNS SHARPER AND STEERING RESPONDS DIFFERENT THAN USUAL. WHEN TRYING TO INVESTIGATE ISSUE AND MANUVERING THE STEERING BACK AND FOURTH THE VEHICLE WAS SWERVING EXCESSIVELY AS IT NEVER HAD BEFORE. FRONT END FELT AS IF IT WAS TAKING BUMPS HARDER THAN USUAL AND WAS EVEN HOPPING SLIGHLY OVER SOME BUMPS. I COULD HEAR NOISE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AREA. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE SHOP FOREMAN ROAD TESTED AND WOULDN'T SAY MUCH ABOUT THE STEERING. I EXPLAINED THAT THE WHEEL WAS ALWAYS MUCH EASIER TO TURN AND EXPLAINED THAT THE STEERING IS ALL OF A SUDDEN RESPONDING DIFFERENTLY. SEVERAL BUMPS FELT HARSH FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THEY HAD NOT FELT AS HARSH BEFORE. I COULD HEAR AND FEEL A LIGHT CLUNKING DURING BRAKING THREE TIMES FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT. SHOP FOREMAN DIDN'T REALLY SEEM TO NOTICE MUCH WRONG AS USUAL. HE DID SEE THE TIRE WEAR AND WAS LIKE "WOW". HE IS GOING TO ASK THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR PERMISSION TO PUT THE VEHICLE ON THEIR ALIGNMENT MACHINE. THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON THE LIFT TWICE AND NEVER FOUND ANYTHING VISUALLY WRONG. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR A SECOND OPINION. I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND UNFORTUNATELY NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE TO GET TO WORK.