1996 DODGE INTREPID Suspensionfront Problems

IT STARTED OUT MY STEERING WOULD GET REALLY TIGHT AND YOU COULDN'T MOVE IT AT ALL AND IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY NOW WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE RACK-N-PINION AND SO THEY FIXED IT AND ITS STILL DOING IT. *TR

REPEATED OVERHEATING PROBLEMS RESULTED IN REPLACING MY RADIATOR TWO TIMES, THERMOSTAT THREE TIMES AND THERMOSTAT W/ BREATHER HOUSING TWO TIMES. COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDES EXTERNAL METAL PIPES WHICH HELP CIRCULATE COOLANT TO HEATER. THE PIPES ARE HIDDEN FROM CLEAR VIEW AND WHEN MINE SPRUNG LEAKS DUE TO THEIR PLACEMENT THE LEAKS WERE DIAGNOSED AS BEING BLOWN HEAD/HEAD GASKET BY THREE SEPARATE SHOPS. REPLACEMENT OF PIPES SOLVED OVERHEATING. MOISTURE GETS TRAPPED IN AND AROUND THE FRAME AND SUBFRAME AREAS WHERE THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ARE LOCATED AND ALLOWS FOR UNNECESSARY PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF ALL THE MOUNTS, BUSHINGS, MAIN FRAME AND SUBFRAME. THIS HIDDEN CONDITION HAS RESULTED IN ALL MOUNTS NEEDING REPLACEMENT, TRANSMISSION DROPPING, FRONT INNER&OUTER TIE RODS AND BUSHINGS GOING OUT, RACK N PINION PROBLEMS AND THE SUBFRAME COLLAPSING. DOCUMENTED RECORDS SHOW THAT FROM 2004 THROUGH 2008 ON AVERAGE I DROVE 7000 MILES A YEAR. IN THAT 28000 MILES I REPLACED...

I OWN A 1996 DODGE INREPID WITH 61,255 MILES ON IT AS OF TODAY ( 1/16/2003). THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE FAILUERS OF THE WATER PUMP AT A COST TO REPAIRE OF $500.00 EACH TIME TO REPAIRE. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAIL, WHICH COST $1185.00 TO REPAIRE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN HARD, MILEAGE WILL SHOW MAYBE 10,000 MILES PER YEAR. I FEEL BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SYSTEM THAT THE MANUFACTURE HAS HAD MORE THAN NORMAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR BOTH THESE PROBLEMS. I THINK A RECALL IS CALLED FOR, AND SOME SORT OF REMIBRUSMENT FOR THE COST OF REPAIRES MADE. ALL MY REPAIRES WHERE DONE BY A GOODYEAR FACILITY OR DEALERSHIP.

I HAD ALMOST CONSTANT PROBLEMS I.E. MECHANICAL,EQUIPMENT AND FOUGHT A NEVERENDING BATTLE WITH THE DEALERSHIP/WARRANTY DEPT. AND LOST WORK/JOBS ULTIMATELY LEADING TO HAVING NO MONEY TO ALL MY MONTHLY BILLS OR TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED, I HAD TO VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP TO REPOSESSION TO THE LENDER, AND JUST RECENTLY OVER A YEAR LATER I AM RECIEVING NOTICES OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS ON THIS VEHICLE.CAUS. NO SAFETY DEFEC TSTATED. *AK

PROBLEM W/STEERING COLUMN AFFECTED ALIGNMENT CAUSING NEED FOR NEW TIRES.

MAKES POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING ,SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. HAD FRONT ALIGN. TIRES REPLACED. TIE ROD BOLTS KEEP BECOMING LOOSE. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS NOW SCARED TO DRIVE CAR ESSPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE A TODDLER.CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE AND TURNING WHEELS THERE IS A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END. ALSO, STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

ON COLD MORNINGS WHILE BACKING UP TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, THERE IS A LOUD CREAKING/POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *AK

THERE IS NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE INNER TIE RODS BREAKING. DEALER REPLACED THE TIE RODS/STUTS/ SWAY BAR, AND DID A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. *YC

3 TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FRONT END REPAIRS. STRUTS AND BUSHINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. LAST TIME TAKEN IN THE STEERING RACK WAS LOOSE.

VEHICLE WANDERED BADLY. REPLACED RACK & PINION. THEN FOUND BROKEN FRAME WELD FROM FACTORY. FACTORY REPAIRED WELD. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED . CAR WANDERS AND WEARS OUT TIRES RAPIDLY

THERE IS A LOUD "CLUNKING NOISE" COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR ON COLD MORNINGS. THE CAR MUST BE WARMED UP FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. IF YOU START THE CAR AND GO THE NOISE OCCURS. WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT IT CLUNKS UNTIL THE CAR IS WARMED UP. WE HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT OUT ON TWO OCCASSIONS. THE FIRST TIME THEY DID NOT HEAR IT BECAUSE IT WAS A FAIRLY WARM DAY. THE SECOND TIME, THE CAR WAS DROPPED OFF THE NIGHT BEFORE. WE SPECIFIED TO THEM TO START THE CAR THE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. WHEN WE CHECKED WITH THEM TO SEE IF THEY STARTED THE CAR WHEN WE TOLD THEM TO, THEY SAID THEY DID IN THE AFTERNOON. THEY CLAIM THEY STILL DID NOT HEAR THE NOISE. THE CAR IS STILL MAKING THE C LUNKING NOISE ON COLD MORNINGS...

POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END.