1997 DODGE INTREPID Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, TIRE RODS, SWAY BAR BUSHING AND MOTOR MOUNTS WORE PREMATURELY AND NEEDED CONSTANT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

RACK AND PINION / STEERING ISSUES IN 1997 DODGE INTREPID. AFTER JUST DRIVING 65-70 ON THE I-15 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, I FELT AN ODD VIBRATION AND PULL IN THE STEERING OF THE 1997 DODGE INTREPID I WAS DRIVING. EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE WHEN THE FRONT END SENT A POP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS STUCK IN A RIGHT TURN POSITION DURING ANY POSITION SET ON THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE REMAINED INTACT AND NORMAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS INOPERATIVE. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE BOLT IN THE KIT OFFERED BY THE DEALER HAS A SMALLER HEAD AND AN IMPROPER LOCKING PAD THAT WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO A FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 222,000.

1997 DODGE INTREPID-169,610 MILES > > I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 1-1/2 YEARS WITH LESS THAN > 3,500 MILES DRIVEN. > > TODAY ON MARCH 16, 2008 AT 1:15PM, I CAME BACK TO > COLLEGE FROM SPRING BREAK. I NOTICED THAT I WAS 29 > MILES AWAY FROM THE COLLEGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL > STARTED TO JERK TO THE RIGHT AND MOVE ON ITS OWN. I > TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT AND HAD TO > FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND MOVE WHERE I NEED TO GO. > > > THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER MADE NOISES AS I WAS > DRIVING > TODAY, BUT I NOTICED THAT I HAD TO FORCE THE WHEEL > HARD TO MAKE A TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT. WHEN I > TRIED TO PARK, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND, SO I HAD > TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN...

PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HESITANT ON TURNS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK IT TO HAYWARD DODGE REPAIR THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A $4500.00 OF REPAIR THIS IS ALONG WITH SOME OTHER THINGS THEY SAY IS WRONG WITH THE VECH. THEY DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE MAIN PROBLEM OF THE STEERING . ALSO AFTER I PICKED UP THE VECH. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY & MY HOOD FLEW OPEN & CAME THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS CHARGED $135.00 FOR THIS 21 POINT INSPECTION. WITH MY HOOD &WINSHIELD DAMAGED I WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY, THE SERVICE MGR.TOLD ME TO TAKE HIM TO COURT THEY WONT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE. *TR

IN THE FALL OF 2005,THE BUSHINGS ON THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. ON JULY 10 2006,MY WIFE BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO STREET,BUT COULD NOT GO EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARD. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALL QUOTED $1460.00 AND CAR WAS TRANSPORTED TO DEALER. DEALER QUOTED $1460.00 TO REPLACE STEERING RACK & RODS. *NM

THIRD FAILURE OF MY DODGE 97 INTREPID FOR POWER STEERING AND TIE ROD FAILURE. REPLACEMENTS WERE AS FOLLOWS: 3/27/98 7,999 MILES-POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED(PREVIOUS OWNER) 11/2/01 41,530 MILES-THUMP NOISE IN FRONT END-REPAIRED STRUT ASSEMBLY (PREVIOUS OWNER) 11/9/01 41,923-I PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DODGE EWALD-DRIVING HOME I HEARD A THUMPING IN THE RIGHT WHEEL UPON TURNING. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHO REPLIED "THIS IS NORMAL" I STATED NO WAY!!!! REPLACED STRUT ASSEMBLY AND FROZEN OUTER TIE RODS AND ADJUSTING SLEEVINGS. 8/7/02 68,116 MILES-PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY-STEERING WENT. TOWED TO DEALER. REPLACED RACK ASSEMBLY AND INNER TIE RODS. 2/16/04 85,344 MILES-BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPOT-THUMP HEARD, NO CONTROL OF STEERING AND RIGHT WHEEL SEVERELY FACING IN. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. REPLACED RACK ASSEMBLY, TIE RODS. WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE HOWEVER TOOK HANDS OF STEERING WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP TOLD THAT RIGHT WHEEL IS WORN (I WONDER WHY!) -SPOKE...

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT 2 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A CRACKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. A FEW SECONDS LATER STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SPIN IN CIRCLES, WITHOUT ACTUALLY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO TOLD CONSUMER THAT STEERING BOLT SHEARED OFF. *AK THE TIE ROD GROMMET DETERIORATED WHICH CAUSED VIBRATIONS. THE CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING RACK, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS AND GROMMETS. *NM

MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT INVOLVING A DODGE INTREPID. WE ARE INVESTIGATING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A STEERING FAILURE. SHE WOULD HAVE LIVED HAD HER SEAT BELT NOT FAILED. HER SEAT WAS RECLINED AND AS A RESULT SHE SLID UNDER THE SEAT BELT CAUSING HER INJURIES. WHY IS THERE NO WARNING THAT THIS FAILURE CAN OCCUR? KIDS DO NOT READ THE OWNER?S MANUAL! WE FEEL THAT THE CASE MAKER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DEATH BUT NO ONE WANTS TO HELP BECAUSE OF THE COST. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP US? SINCERELY, CONSUMER COMPLAINANT STATED DURING A FOLLOW UP CALL THAT BOTH BELTED FRONT OCCUPANTS DIED AS A RESULT OF REAR ENDING A PARKED TRAILER WITH AN IMPACT SPEED OF APP. 40-45 MPH ACCORDING TO THEIR INVESTIGATOR. BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CRASH. THE MALE DRIVER'S HEAD IMPACTED THE TRAILERS SAFETY BAR...

CONSUMER STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THERE WAS A LOUD "POP" NOISE ,AND THEN STEERING HAD FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK