NHTSA Complaint #762768 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

CAR STARTED MAKING A NOISE IN THE FRONT END. IT WOULD ONLY START AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAT 45 MINUTES. NOISE WAS SO BAD AT TIMES THAT IT SOUNDED AS IF THE FRONT END WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. SHORTLY AFTER, THE STEERING GOT EXTREMELY LOOSE FROM LEFT AND RIGHT. STEERING IS SO BAD, YOU CAN'T KEEP THE CAR IN BETWEEN THE LINES ON THE ROAD. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH OTHER INTREPIDS AND TIE-ROD END BUSHINGS, HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH MINE. I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM ANOTHER REPUTABLE TECHNICIAN AND HE CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL TECHS TELL ME THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A RACK WEAR OUT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS UNLESS THE PART WAS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND IT BECAUSE THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY IS OUT. IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, HOW CAN THEY NOT STAND BEHIND THEY PRODUCT OR BE HELD RESPONSIBLE? THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS $1200.00. BECAUSE OF SAFETY FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN, I CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL I HAVE THE MONEY FOR REPAIRS. JUST A NOTE, I FINANCED THE CAR FOR THREE YEARS AND IT WON'T EVEN BE PAID FOR UNTIL DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR. IT'S ASHAME THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN ON A CAR THAT ONLY HAS 50,000 MILES AND LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME.*AK