1993 Dodge Intrepid

ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2004, MR. ROBERT GALENTY OF ISELIN, NJ, PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OF CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1993-1997 VEHICLES PRODUCED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.HIS PETITION IDENTIFIED THREE ISSUES OF CONCERN: 1) FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR RAILS; 2) BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE; AND 3) SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE FRAME TO DAMAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED.MR. GALANTY ALLEGED THAT HIS 1996 DODGE INTREPID HAD EACH OF THESE THREE PROBLEMS.CONCERNING FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE, DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMMENCED A RECALL (98V-184) OF APPROXIMATELY 722,600 VEHICLES TO ADDRESS ENGINE FUEL RAIL LEAKS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, INCLUDING THOSE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION AND THE PETITIONER'S 1996 DODGE INTREPID.ON OCTOBER 7, 1998, NHTSA OPENED A RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION (RQ98-018) TO EVALUATE THE ADEQUACY OF THE RECALL REMEDY.THAT INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED ON JULY 8, 2002 WITHOUT REQUIRING FURTHER ACTION BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.VERY RECENTLY, ON JUNE 9, 2004, NHTSA DENIED A PETITION (RP04-001) TO REOPEN RQ98-018 AFTER FINDING THAT THERE WAS NO NEW INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY BASIS FOR REOPENING IT.THIS IS STILL THE CURRENT POSITION OF NHTSA ON THIS ISSUE.CONCERNING BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION AND FRAME ALIGNMENT, A REVIEW OF NHTSA'S DATABASE SHOWS NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON EITHER ONE OF THESE ISSUES ON THE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION.

THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.

MR. LARRY A. SACKEY SUBMITTED A PETITION TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18, 2003, REQUESTING THAT NHTSAFURTHER INVESTIGATE THE DEFECTIVE COLLAPSIBLE STEERING SHAFT SYSTEM ON 1987-1995 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.IN PART BECAUSE OF 49 CFR ? 30120(G), NHTSA HAS DECIDED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF THE PETITION VEHICLES TO 1993-1995 MODELS, EXCLUDING THE 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AND 1994-1995 DODGE RAM SERIES TRUCKS THAT WERE RECALLED (93V210 & 96V230) FOR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE.IF THE ANALYSIS OF THESE VEHICLES HAD IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM, THE SCOPE COULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED IN AN INVESTIGATION.A REVIEW OF ODI'S DATA BASE SHOWS NO RECENT COMPLAINTS AND A LACK OF A COMPLAINT TREND CONCERNING THE SUBJECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AS A WHOLE OR BY INDIVIDUAL MODELS.THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE VOLUME 68, NO. 130, JULY 8, 2003.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE INTREPID. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DORAL FDL60 TIRES, TIRE SIZE 225/60/16. THE DOT NUMBER WAS 7TA6 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND AN AUTO SHOP, WHO BOTH STATED THAT THE FOUR TIRES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE TREAD BELT SEPARATION AND UNEVEN WEAR. IN ADDITION, THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND. PREVIOUSLY, FRONT SUSPENSION REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE; UNCERTAIN OF THE SPECIFIC REPAIRS WHICH ALSO INCLUDED A TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCING ON THE FOUR TIRES. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE FRONT TWO TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH NEW TIRES AND THE VEHICLE'S ROAD PERFORMANCE IMPROVED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO REPLACE THE TWO REAR TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,370.

NHTSA ID

10462291

Incident

Apr 7, 2011

Mileage

159,370 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING, THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE THE O-RINGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V184000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) BUT ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE O-RINGS WERE COVERED BY THE RECALL, NOT THE DRIVER SIDE O-RINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ID

10418113

Incident

Jul 29, 2011

Mileage

67,000 mi

MY CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND I BOUGHT IT USED A FEW MONTHS AGO MY CAR IS A 1993 DODGE INTREPID WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS?CAR WILL RUN FOR 20 MINUTES OR UNTIL SHUT OFF AND THEN DIE FOR 20 MINUTES TO 10 HOURS, NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON DIAGNOSTICS SAY CAR IS FINE EVEN WHEN IT WILL NOT START. I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALLS TODAY AS I SOUGHT TO FIND ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEM I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN 500 DOLLARS TO FIX ONLY TO BEGIN AGAIN WITH NO SOLUTION, DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST DODGE?PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR,I SAVED FOR MONTHS TO BUY THIS CAR ONLY TO BE IN WORSE SHAPE THAN BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254444

Incident

Jan 9, 2009

Mileage

105,000 mi

NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE, IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I NOTICED MY CAR STARTED SWAYING AND "FLOATING" I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND LOOKED UNDER THE LEFT REAR TO SEE THAT THE SWAY BAR SNAPPED AT THE JOINT, AND THE SWAY BAR LINK HAD DISCONNECTED. THE RUBBER BUSHING IS STILL IN THE ARM, BUT NOT THE BOLT. CAN'T FIND A NEW SWAY BAR, BUT I HAVE A REPAIR KIT FOR THE LINK. THIS INCIDENT DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO DRIVE OVER 20 MPH WITH WHEEL SHAKING. CANNOT REVERSE AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254275

Incident

Jan 5, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS HESITANT TO MOVE INTO THE PARK POSITION AND HAD TO BE FORCED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK IN FRONT OF HER HOME AND UPON EXITING, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. HOWEVER, THE GEAR SHIFT WAS STILL IN THE PARK POSITION. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V021000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 108,000.

NHTSA ID

10241823

Incident

Sep 1, 2008

Mileage

108,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, A 12-YEAR OLD CHILD ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWNHILL AND STRUCK A TREE. THE 12-YEAR OLD STATED THAT HE DID NOT TOUCH THE GEARS, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT, THE PASSENGER WINDOW, AND A DENT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WERE THE ONLY DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NUMBER (04V021000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT) IN MAY OF 2007. THE VEHICLE NO LONGER SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,487 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10199819

Incident

Jan 20, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RADICAL CHANGE IN THE STEERING. THE STEERING WENT FROM ORDINARY TO MORE COMPLEX. WHILE HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL THE VEHICLE WOULD WONDER. HE WOULD HAVE TO OVER COMPENSATE TO GET BACK ON COURSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION ,AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE REAR END ALMOST SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REAR END WAS RUSTED. THE MECHANIC HAD TO GET A REAR END ASSEMBLY FROM A JUNK VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR END. HE SPOKE WITH CHRYSLER , THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE, AND REFERRED HIM TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140872

Incident

Sep 1, 2004

Mileage

56,000 mi

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS. ONCE THE HEADLIGHT LENSES BEGIN TO OXIDIZE, VISIBILITY BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THERE IS A YELLOW TINT THAT DEVELOPS DURING THE PERIOD OF OXIDATION. *AK *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10115618

Incident

Jan 15, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

Valve Body. These may cause over drive cycling.

FLASH PROGRAMMING FAILURE RECOVERY. *SLC

SUBJECT REGARDING LOW OR NO CABIN HEAD, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM SYSTEM FILL PROCEDURE. *TT

SUBJECT REGARDING CAMSHAFT / BEARING SERVICE. *TT

SUBJECT REGARDING AIRBAG / CLOCK SPRING SERVICE FOR VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2002 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY. *TT

SOME OWNERS MAY EXPERIENCE LOOSE FEEL OR CLUNK IN THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE WHEEL IS MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *TT