2000 DODGE INTREPID Unknown Or Other Problems

TAKATA RECALL

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE INTREPID BOUGHT ALMOST A YEAR AGO.HAD A SHORT IN THE IGNITION HAD TO WIGGLE KEY TO GET SOMETHINGS TO KICK ON.THEN A MTH AGO.I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT STARTED TO TAKE OFF IT VIBRATED REALLY BAD AND NOW IT'S STUCK IN LOW GEAR.THEN IT HAD A PROBLEM STARTING, SOMETHING DRAINS THE BATTERY.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON.2 MACHINICS LOOKED MY CAR IT WON'T READ DIAGNOSTICS BECAUSE THERE'S A SHORT IN ELECTRONICAL SYSTEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE IS OFTEN PARKED IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. THE CRACK HAS NOT BEGUN TO SPREAD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 79,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

I HAVE ALSO REPLACED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. NOW THE DRIVER SIDE BACK LOCK ACTUATOR IS GOING OUT. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE RADIO, DASH LIGHTS OR DOME LIGHTS. I AM OUT OF MONEY FOR THE TIME BEING. I HAD TO REFINANCE AND ADD $4900. TO GET MOST OF THE REPAIRS DONE. MY ENGINE BLEW DUE TO SLUDGE AND I NOW HAVE A USED REBUILT ONE THAT WILL PROBABLY DO THE SAME THING.

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN THE ROAD, AND NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IS BEYOND REPAIR, THAT WE WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE. CONSIDERING THAT I OWE $9000, TO SPEND $4000 TO REPAIR IS BEYOND MY MEANS. WE ORIGINALLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN 2002 WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND ACCORDING TO THE DODGE DEALER IN OUR AREA, THE CODE WAS FOR THE LEAK DETECTION SENSOR. THIS LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A WHILE, AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TO WORRY UNTIL IT STARTED FLASHING. MYSTERIOUSLY, THE LIGHT WOULD THEN GO OFF. WE HAD SEVERAL OTHER REPAIRS AFTER THAT FOR THE SAME CODE AND SENSORS/MODULES REPLACED, THEN WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE ULTIMATELY TOLD IT WAS A BROKEN WIRE UNDER THE SEAT?. EVENTUALLY, IN JUNE 2003, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN...

SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON OCTOBER OF 1999, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 31 TIMES TO FIX THINGS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR 100 DAYS. I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET $3,137.64. I AM NOW ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I STILL OWE $8,000.00 ON MY CAR. IT HAS 60,000 MILES. I HAVE MAINTAINED IT EVERY 3,000 MILES AS SUGGESTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I ONLY USE 97 OCTANE GAS. I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER. I TAKE CARE OF THE CAR BUT THE CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAYS PUTTING MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN AND WHERE SO I AM ALWAYS UNDER TERRIBLE STRESS. I PRAY AS I DRIVE THAT I MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE I BOUGHT...

SLUDGE BUILDUP, ENGINE IS BEING REPLACED

DEDEMBER 2002 STARTED CAR AND ENGINE MAKING TERRIBLE NOISE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE HAD WENT OUT. THEY HAD TO RE-DO THE ENGINE THAT COST ME $1350.00. I HAD BEEN HEARING A KNOCKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS LOOSE. WHEN I TYRNED THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT IT WOULD STICK AND I HAD LOUD POPPING FROM THE STEERING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION. THAT WAS ON JANUARY 21, 2003. IN THE SAME WEEK I NOTICED OIL LEAKING. THE OIL LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS LEAKING DUE TO THE OIL SWITCH. TO FIX THE RACK AND OIL LEAK IT COST ME ANOTHER $1300.00. I AM TRYING TO GET THE DODGE COMPANY TO FESS UP AND PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTANENCED AND ONLY 51,000 MILES.

I HAVE ONLY MADE 4 PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR, AND I AM SCHEDULED FOR MY 7TH REPAIR ATTEMPT ON 12/3/02. TO DATE, I HAVE HAD 2 STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENTS, 1 RACK & PINION REPLACEMENT, A COMPLETE STEERING FLUID CHANGE WITH FLUID SUPPOSEDLY SPECIFIED BY DODGE, 1 APPOINTMENT THAT ENDED UP BEING A TEST DRIVE ONLY-WAS ADVISED TO TAKE CAR HOME PENDING RESPONSE FROM DODGE ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH REPAIRS..(WAS TOLD RESPONSE "DIDNT REALLY PERTAIN TO MY CAR.."), 1 VENT WIRE AND OIL SENDER UNIT REPLACED, AND IN AUGUST 02, I HAD A 1 MONTH AUTO CHECK UP. THESE REPAIRS, WHILE NOT ALL IN SEQUENCE, TOOK PLACE BETWEEN 9/17/02-11/20/02.MY STEERING PROBLEM RETURNED IN FULL FORCE 11/25/02. THE STEERING IS LOUD AND DOES NOT QUIET WHEN DRIVING. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR FEAR OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR, IN MY OPINION, IS VERY DANGEROUS! OF LATE, DODGE...

I PURCHASED MY 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES IN NOV. 2001. SINCE THEN I HAVE REPLACED MY INPUT/OUT TRANSMISSION SENSORS, AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I MUST NOW REPLACE MY RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY DUE TO STEERING PROBLEMS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS PREMATURE FAILURE IS VERY COMMON AND AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH DODGE INTREPIDS. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUTABLE AND FORCED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES HAVING THESE AND OTHER COMMON PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND WILL COST LIVES IF NOT ADDRESS BY NHTSA. MR

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH ENGINE SENSOR LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. CONSUMER STARTED TO EXIT HIGHWAY WHEN VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED. CONSUMER STATES THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE OF ONCOMING VEHICLESTHAT WERE SPEEDING IN THAT DIRECTION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER STATED THAT MOTOR WAS LOCKED AND ENGINE EXPLODED. BUT, CONSUMER HEARD NO EXPLOSION. DEALER SAID ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER REWIRED IGNITION COIL. SINCE THEN, VEHICLE HAS STALLED TWICE. DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK