1994 DODGE INTREPID Steeringrack And Pinion Problems

I HAVE A 1994 DODGE INTREPID AND I TOOK IT IN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION BECAUSE MY STEERING WAS TIGHT. I REPLACED IT BUT THE CAR IS STILL MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE AT A RED LIGHT. IT IS VERY ANNOYING. *TR

WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE STEERING SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAILED TO RESPOND, TOTAL FAILURE, NO STEERING CONTROL, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR STEERED ITSELF HARD TO THE RIGHT INTO A CONCRETE BARACAD ON THE FREEWAY AND TOTALED THE CAR. AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO WORK. I HAVE STORED THE CAR. IT HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED SINCE THE ACCIDENT. I WILL KEEP IT IN STORAGE FOR A SHORT TIME IN CASE YOU WANT TO INSPECT IT. IT APPEARS BASED ON AN EXTERNAL VISUAL ONLY INSPECTION THAT COMPONENTS IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. I HAVE TAKEN SOME DIGITAL PHOTOS.*JB

THE RACK AND PINION FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. *DT *JB

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, I HEARD A SLIGHT POP/CRACK AND THEN LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. I HAD NO WARNING THAT SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN ONE FATALITY. THE DEALER SAID MY 7/70 WARRENTY HAD EXPIRED (TIME) AND I WOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE COST OF THE REPAIR WHICH HE INITIALLY GUESSED WOULD BE $1375 BUT COULD BE MUCH MORE ONCE THEY GOT IT UP AND LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT ESPECIALLY WITH NO WARNING OR REQUIREMENT TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED AFTER A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF MILES. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS CAR. DT

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC DETERMINED A BOLT THAT HOLDS RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD BROKEN.*AK

I HAD THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION INSPECTED AT 73,000 MILES AND I WAS GIVEN A CLEN BILL WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED. APPROXIMATLY 3 MONTHS LATER WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT APPRX, 10-15 MPH THE INNER RACK AND PINION BOLTS SHEARED OFF AND LEFT ME WITH NO DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ,AND BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE SPLAYED OUT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING AND THE PLACE WHERE I HAD IT REPAIRED SAID THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE*AK

EA 99 031/STEERING SYSTEM RACK AND PINON: WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT RACK AND PINON FAILED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

RACK AND PINION SNAPPED, CAUSING FAILURE OF POWERING STEERING. DEAELR WILL REPAIR VEHICLE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE STEERING FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND THERE WAS A POP NOISE. *YH

STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DLR, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION. *AK

BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A BANG AND THE STEERING FAILED. INSPECTION REVEALED THE FAILURE OF BOTH OF THE BOLTS CONNECTING THE INNER TIE RODS, TO THE RACK AND PINION. I NOTED AT LEAST 4 OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS FAILURE REPORTED IN YOUR FILES IN 2000. PLEASE STRIVE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RECTIFIED SOON, ANOTHER 5 MINUTES AND I'D HAVE BEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND MAY NOT BE HERE TO REPORT THIS OCCURRENCES. *AK

THE TIE RODS FAILED AS A RESULT OF RACK AND PINION BOLTS SHEARING, CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING.*ET

INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY DETERMINED THAT THE RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY REQUIRES REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. *AK

INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY DETERMINED THAT THE RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY REQUIRES REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. *AK

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN I HEARD A "THUNK" SOUND AND THEN NOTICED MY STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE. THE TWO BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE RACK AND PINION TOGETHER HAD FAILED AND BROKEN COMPLETELY. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND TOLD THEM I COULD UNDERSTAND JUST ABOUT ANY MECHANICAL FAILURE EXCEPT THE COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TOWARD THE REPAIR. THEY SAID THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAD TOO MANY MILES FOR THEM TO OFFER ANY COMPENSATION. NO ONE I HAVE TALKED TO INCLUDING THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP HAD EVER HEARD OF SUCH A FAILURE. THE DEALER QUOTED ME $2200 TO REPAIR IT; I FOUND AN INDEPENDENT TO REPAIR IT FOR APPROXIMATELY $740. I FEEL THIS KIND OF MECHANICAL FAILURE SHOULD NEVER OCCUR! *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURES (2) SINCE 1994, REBUILT IN 1996. AIR CONDITIONER FAILURES (2) SINCE 1994 COMPRESSOR REPLACED 1999. ENGINE REMOVED SO THE FIREWALL CRACK(S) COULD BE WELDED FROM DEFECTIVE ORIGINAL WELDING, APPARENTLY WAS AFFECTING THE RACK N PINION STEERING.

EA99031/RACK AND PINION STEERING: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PULSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH OR MORE; VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT INNER TIE ROD BROKE, AFFECTING THE STEERING SYSTEM. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP IN AND OUT OF GEAR OR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. ALSO RACK AND PINION STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED.

RACK AND PINION FAILED.

AT 48,000 MILES THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE RACK PINION ASSEMBLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30-40 MPH, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. *AK TIE ROD END IS WORN AND RACK AND PINION BUSHINGS LOOSE, DEALER REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS AND RACK BUSHINGS. *SLC