NHTSA Complaint #764381 — 1999 DODGE INTREPID

STEERING: I STARTED TO FEEL A SLIGHT BINDING IN THE STEERING WHEN TRYING TO RETURN WHEEL TO CENTER FROM A TURN. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE I OCCASIONALLY HAD TO "WRESTLE" THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER POSITION. IT ALSO FEELS LOOSE, SUSPENSION RATTLES AND I'VE GOT 4 INCHES OF PLAY AT CENTER. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $1200 TO FIX. SERVICE REP TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS WAS PRETTY COMMON NOWADAYS WITH THE SEALED RACKS AND NOT JUST DODGE. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN ALL OF THE YEARS I'VE OWNED CARS AND THINK THIS IS JUST A POOR DESIGN THAT DODGE IS KEEPING MUM ABOUT. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. I'M PURCHASING A USED RACK FROM A SALVAGE YARD AND HAVING DODGE INSTALL IT FOR $380 AND THEN I'M SELLING IT. THIS CAR IS QUICKLY FALLING APART. AIR CONDITIONING: STARTED HEARING A HISSING TYPE SOUND FROM BEHIND THE DASH. SOON AFTER A/C DID NOT BLOW COLD AIR. CONTROL MODULE DISPLAY ALSO STOPPED WORKING. DODGE SAID IN ORDER TO FIX THE A/C THEY HAD TO REPAIR THE MODULE. COST: ABOUT $600. I BOUGH A MODULE FROM A SALVAGE YARD AND DID IT MYSELF, SAVED $500. THEN DODGE RECHARGED THE SYSTEM ONLY TO HAVE IT LEAK OUT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. BROUGHT IT BACK TO DODGE WHERE THEY FOUND A CRACK IN THE EVAPORATOR. REPLACEMENT COST: $500. POWER WINDOW MOTOR: RIGHT FRONT POWER WINDOW STARTED FAILING INTERMITTENTLY, THEN STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. DEALER SAID THAT THE WINDOW SOMETIMES GETS STUCK IN THE TIGHT WEATHERSTRIPPING DUE TO DIRT AND GRIME ON THE WINDOW AND I SIMPLY NEED TO COAX IT BY MY PALM PRESSING DOWN ON IT WHILE ACTUATING THE BUTTON. WHAT A BUNCH OF @*$%! REAR RIGHT WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, THIS MUST BE A COMMON PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS $200+ TO REPAIR. WHAT A RACKET! I'VE NEVER HAD SO MANY MAJOR REPAIRS ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR IN MY LIFE, AND DON'T PLAN TO EVER AGAIN IF DODGE KNOWS WHAT I MEAN!!*AK