1996 DODGE INTREPID Steeringlinkages Problems

BUSHINGS IN RACK AND PINION SYSTEM ALONG WITH TIE RODS FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE WOBBLING SEVERELY. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS COMMON FOR THOSE VEHICLES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, RIGHT SIDE INNER TIE ROD CONNECTING BOLT BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING TO RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND TOTAL LOSS OF CONTOL OF VEHICLE. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED FAILURE OF BOTH INNER TIE ROD BUSHINGS.VEH TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. DAIMER CHRYSLER CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO COMPENSATE FOR REPAIRS. COST OF REPAIR $ 1600.00 WHICH INCLUDES COST OF A REMANUFACTURED STEERING UNIT BECAUSE THE TIE ROD BOLT SHEARRED OFF INSIDE THE UNIT.

WE HAVE HAD THREE FUEL RAIL PROBLEMS THEY WERE ALL COVERED UNDER RECALL NOTICE. I DONT THINK THAT IT SHOULD HAVE TO BE CORRECTED THAT MANY TIMES. THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT DEALER REPAIRED IT. THE STEERING RACK WENT OUT 2 WEEKS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT DEALER REPLACED. THE TIE ROD BOLTS CAME OUT 6MONTHS OF STEERING WAS REPLACED. DEALER REPLACED. THERE STILLIS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION AND THE LINES. ALSO WITH THE OIL SENDING UNIT . I THINK THIS CAR IS A REAL LEMON. HOW MANY MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A CAR CAN FAIL THERE ARE A FEW MORE THAT I HAVE NOT REPORTED ON THIS FORM LOWER INTAKE GASKET TIE ROD BOLTS . I THINK THE COMPANY SHOULD BUY BACK THIS CAR BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH IT FOR ONLY BEING 5 YEARS OLD. *AK

THIS IS SUPPLEMENTAL TO ODI NO. 736871 - FURTHER EXAMINATION OF PARTS INDICATES THAT NEITHER SET OF BOLT RETAINING TABS HAD BEEN SET AT THE FACTORY- ALLOWING BOTH TIE ROD BOLTS TO BACK OUT ALMOST HALF WAY - ONE SET OF TABS HAD BEEN SET TO STOP FURTHER TURNING BY SOMEONE, PROBABLY DURING SERVICING - THE OTHER BOLT CONTINUED TO BACK OUT A COUPLE OF TURNS - SOMETIME DURING ALL OF THIS, BOTH BOLTS BROKE THRU PAST THE HALFWAY POINT AND BOTH BROKE THE REST OF THE WAY ON 11/13.2000 - DISABLING THE STEERING. *AK

HAD THE LT TIE ROD REPLACED AND NOW THE RT IS BAD, MY WIFE NORMALLY DRIVES THE CAR AND I HAPPENED TO DRIVE THE CAR . I NOTICED THE CAR WAS STEERING ODD AND WHEN I WENT AROUND A CORNER IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT END WAS SHIFTING. WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS AND GIVING IT GAS THE CAR WOULD TORQUE STEER VERY BAD JUMPING TO THE LEFT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO FOUND THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY, RECOMMENDED THAT WE DIDN'T DRIVE THE CAR. HE ALSO SHOWED ME THE STEERING RACK BUSHINGS WERE GOING BAD, HE SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK AS THE BUSHING ARE NOT AVAILABLE BY THEMSELVES AS ARE THE 95'S AND BELOW. HE TOLD ME THAT BOTH ARE VERY COMMON PROBLEMS FOR THE DODGE INTREPID AND BOTH COULD HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FAILURES. I...

INNER TIE RODS BOTH FAILED DURING A BACKING OPERATION - BACKING OUT OF PARKING AREA - BOTH BOLTS APPARENTLY SHEARED AFTER PARTIALLY BACKING OUT - IT LOOKS AS IF THE KEEPER PLATE WAS CRIMPED ON AN EDGE OF THE BOLTS INSTEAD OF THE FLAT- STEERING WAS LOST ENTIRELY. *AK

BUSHINGS WORN ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT INNER TIE RODS. THIS CAUSED STEERING TO SHAKE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF WHEEL(S) WHILE DRIVING. TIRES WERE WORN BADLY DUE TO TIE ROD PROBLEM. REMEDY CONSISTED OF REPLACING BOTH TIE RODS AND BOTH FRONT TIRES.

STEERING RACK BUSHINGS,SWAY BAR LINKS,AND INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS. EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, BARELY AVOIDING A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH CHILDREN IN CAR.

THE RUBBER THAT FITS BETWEEN THE INNER TIE ROD (ITE) AND THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE ITR TO THE STEERING GEAR WAS COMPLETELY WORN AWAY

ALL OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER, AS WELL AS THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. THE FUEL LINE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THE TIE RODS WERE CORRECTED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DELEARSHIP CLAIMS THEY CANNOT REPORDUCE THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE DYING. CHRYSLER CORPORATION WOULD NOT OFFER ASSSISTANCE WITH ANY OF THE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS 25 TIMES IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. I AM UNABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF TOWN AT ALL, FOF FEAR IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEED.

STEERING TIE RODS COLLASPED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

TIE RODS ARE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. 2. A LEAK FROM WATER PUMP IS DRIPPING ONTO TIMING BELT, POSSIBLY STRETCHING THE BELT, AND RUINING ENGINE. ALSO, DEALER HAS REPLACED RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TIE ROD DISENGAGED FROM THE RACK AND PINION, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK