RoadVitals

1995 Dodge Intrepid Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
105
Latest Sep 13, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 589 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
13

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Dodge Intrepid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 105 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

The 25 most recent of 105, in the owner's own words

Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 13, 2016

RACK AND PINION ISSUES. ISSUES WITH FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING. I'VE HAD IT FIXED THREE TIMES, VERY EXPENSIVE. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, WHEN THE STEER STOPPED CONTROLLING THE WHEELS. I'M GRATEFUL I WASN'T ON THE FREE WAY.

NHTSA ID
10905974
Incident
Sep 5, 2013
Mileage
175,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 10, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT HAD MINIMAL CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 195000.

NHTSA ID
10318723
Incident
Mar 9, 2010
Mileage
195,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 12, 2008

INNER STEERING BUSHING REPLACED NOW THE STEERING RACK KNOCKING AND NOT TURNING TO RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10251606
Incident
Dec 11, 2008
SteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 26, 2008

FACTORY STRUTS(SUSPENSION) ARE INADEQUATE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. MY STRUT MOUNT/PLATE &BOLTS BROKE AT 55 MILE PER HOUR & THE STRUT WENT THROUGH THE STRUT HOUSING/PLATE. THE STEERING/SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY AFFECTED WHEN THE STRUTS BEGIN TO FAIL ON ALL VEHICLES. WHEN STRUTS FAIL SPRINGS ALSO FAIL CAUSING EVEN MORE STRESS ON THE OTHER STEERING/SUSPENSION PARTS(ALL BUSHINGS, TIE RODS. CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, CV JOINTS, TRANSAXLE, SWAY BAR. I HOPE IM MAKING SENSE, THIS NEEDS SERIOUS EXAMINATION AS CLUNK/ BUMP NOISES EVERY INTREPID ARE BAD STRUTS OR BAD STRUT MOUNT/BOLTS WHICH IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR SUSPENSION/STEERING SYSTEM IS BEING BANGED UP. THE INNER TIE ROD BOLTS IN STEERING RACK BACK OUT OR TRY TO DUE TO TORN BUSHINGS IN THE INNER TIE RODS AT THE STEERING RACK CENTER. THESE BUSHINGS TEAR DUE TO WORN STRUTS THAT PUT STRESS ON TIE RODS SWAY BAR& STEERING RACK MOUNT BUSHINGS BOTH COMPRESS WITH THE EXTRA STRESS OF FAILING STRUTS. STEERING RACK SHIFTS DUE TO BAD INNER TIE ROD BUSHINGS CAUSING PLAY IN YOUR TIE RODS AND THE STEERING RACK MOUNT BUSHINGS NOW COMPRESSED CAUSE THE RACK TO SHIFT ALSO. SAME WITH SWAY BAR BUSHINGS&ANY OTHER SUSPENSION PARTS AND STEERING WHEN THIS HAPPENS SUCH AS INNER TIE RODS, OUTER TIE RODS, CV JOINTS, TRANSAXLE, BALL JOINTS,ALL BUSHINGS,LINKAGES,MOUNTS,CRADLE CAR WAS BUILT DEFECTIVELY AS THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE IS TOO MUCH FORCE FOR THE STRUTS THAT COME FACTORY INSTALLED. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IMMEDIATE CALL BACK ON THE STRUTS WITH A SERVICE ORDER TO EXAMINE AND REPAIR TORN OR COMPRESSED BUSHINGS IN THE INNER TIE RODS/STEERING RACK MOUNTING/SWAY BAR/BALL JOINT/CONTROL ARM/OUTER TIE ROD/ALONG WITH ANY DAMAGE TO THE CV JOINT&TRANSAXLES DUE TO THE DESIGN DEFECT USING INADEQUATE STRUTS FOR THE VEHICLES WEIGHT! THIS MAY SEEM LIKE AN EXTREME REQUEST BUT SINCE THEY WERE NEGLIGENT TO NEVER REPORT THE INADEQUACY OF THE STRUTS VS DESIGN IN ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON STEERING/SUSPENSION A RECALL IS IN ORDER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246723
Incident
May 9, 2008
Mileage
150,000 mi
SteeringTransmission
Filed Jul 14, 2008

THE VEHICLE HAD THE USUAL FILTER, AND FLUID CHANGES AND BEGAN TO SLIP AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT. THE FLUID IN IT IS STILL CLEAN. CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD JUST GO OUT LIKE THAT. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE HAD. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE RACK-N-PINION ON IT. THE BOLT HOLDING IT TOGETHER CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234327
Incident
May 8, 2008
Interior & seatsPowertrain (other)Steering+2 more
Filed Aug 3, 2006

LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND AXLE, LEFT AND RIGHT OUTER TIE RODS, FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT, STRUT ROD BUSHINGS, WINDSHIELD WIPER BEARINGS, LEFT FRONT DOOR LOCK DOESN'T WORK, LEFT FRONT WINDOW WON'T LET DOWN AND ROOF PAINT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164420
Incident
Feb 21, 2006
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Oct 24, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. HAD THE INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS REPLACED TWICE. DID ONE REPLACEMENT BEFORE THE TIRE FELL OFF. THE SECOND REPLACEMENT WAS DONE AFTER THE TIRE CAME OFF. THE REPLACEMENTS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING IT FELT AS THOUGH THE WHEELS WERE FALLING OFF. WHEN HITTING A BUMP WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A SNAPPING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER CONCERN WAS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT WILL WORK ON BRIGHT AND ONLY ONE WILL WORK ON DIM. THE CONTACT REPLACED BOTH BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. HE CHECKED THE FUSES, AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FELL OFF WITHOUT BEING HIT OR KNOCKED OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
10140556
Incident
Oct 23, 2005
Mileage
85,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Dec 11, 2004
Fire reported

SINCE OWNING THE 1995 DODGE INTREPID WE PURCHASED BRAND NEW, THESE ARE THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED SINCE OWNING AND THE PROBLEMS BEING EXPERIENCED NOW. WE HAVE HAD STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH REQUIRED THE POWER STEERING PUMP TO BE REPLACED, ALSO SOME ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WOBBLING. OUR ELECTRIC LOCKS HAVE ENGAGED AS IF HOLDING THE SWITCH FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE DRIVER SIDE. NEVER WAS FIXED DUE TO DEALER NOT DUPLICATING. OUR AC/HEAT ELECTRONIC CONTROLS STUCK AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ANY COMMANDS AND CONSTANTLY WAS BLOWING HOT AIR, PULLING FUSE WAS ONLY REMEDY. ELECTRONIC GAUGES WILL NOT ALWAYS SHOW CORRECT INFORMATION IE. FUEL LEVEL, TEMP, FUEL USED, COMPASS, ..ETC, TURNING CAR ON/OFF WILL USUALLY CORRECT IT. OUR FUEL RAILS HAS BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY RECALL, BUT I STILL WILL SMELL FUEL INSIDE. OUR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS WARPED. OUR HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON AT TIMES AND EVEN GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. FLASHING HIGH/LOW BEAM STEERING COLUMN SWITCH WILL USUALLY MAKE THEM COME ON. OUR MOST RECENT PROBLEM AND THE STATE OUR VEHICLE IS IN RIGHT NOW IS SMOKE IS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT IS VERY HOT AND I BELIEVE A FIRE IS TRYING TO START. THE CAR IS PARKED AT THE LOCATION THIS STARTED AT AND IS NOT BEING DRIVEN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10102667
Incident
Dec 9, 2004
Mileage
5,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 12, 2004

WHILE REPAIRS WAS BEING MADE AT THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS PART HAS LESS THEN 41,000 MILES OF WEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10096590
Incident
Oct 7, 2004
Mileage
40,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 10, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10042740
Incident
Oct 10, 2003
Steering
Filed Jul 21, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TURNING AND WITHOUT WARNING RACK AND PINION STEERING SNAPPED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10029730
Incident
Jul 19, 2003
Steering
Filed Feb 26, 2003

THE TIE ROD BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO ONLY GO IN ONE DIRECTION.*JB

NHTSA ID
10009370
Incident
Mar 4, 1997
Mileage
133,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 25, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIE THAT HOOKS TO RACK AND PINION KEEPS COMING LOOSE. THIS IS CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE INOPERATIVE. NLM *SCC

NHTSA ID
8019400
Incident
Sep 17, 2002
Steering
Filed Aug 9, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING POWER STEERING FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8015968
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
SteeringTransmission
Filed Jun 25, 2002

I CALLED AND REPORTED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE ROD ENDS, I JUST ADDED MORE TO THE LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. I AM TRYING TO OTHER OWNERS OF DODGE INTREPIDS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS TO ALSO CALL AND REPORT THESE PROBLEMS SO SOMETHING WILL BE DONE.*AK

NHTSA ID
763487
Incident
Aug 10, 2001
Steering
Filed Jun 14, 2002

VEHICLE WILL BOUNCE, THIS IS CAUSED BY TIE ROD: INNER WEARING OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID
8011869
Incident
Jun 14, 2001
Steering
Filed May 6, 2002

WHILE REVERSING VEHICLE TURNING STEERING WHEEL HARD A NOISE, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO BE INOPERABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009272
Steering
Filed Mar 8, 2002

WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE THERE A WAS POPPING SOUND. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, BUT TIRES WOULD NOT MOVE WITH STEERING. DEALR SAID TIE RODS AND RACK AND PINION HAD BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005233
Steering
Filed Aug 3, 2001

STEERING WHEEL IS OUT OF LINE INSTEAD IN DRIVER'S HANDS AT A 10:00 TO 2 ANGLE WHILE HANDS ARE AT 12 AND 8 ANGLES. IN ORDER FOR VEHICLE TO GO STRAIT HAS TO TURN STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT STEERING RACK AND TIE RODS WENT OUT. STEERING HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS OR MORE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
893405
Incident
Jul 26, 2001
Steering
Filed Jun 26, 2001

BOTH INNER AND OUTER TIRE RODS BROKE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ID
891311
Incident
Jun 16, 2001
Steering
Filed Jun 12, 2001

WAS AT A STOP. HAD STARTED TO MAKE A TURN WHEN STEERING SUDDENLY WAS FREE WHEELING. WAS NO WARNING. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT RACK AND PINION BOLTS HAD SNAPPED IN HALF.*AK

NHTSA ID
890247
SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 18, 2001

WHEN VEHICLE WENT TO MAKE A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION AT ANY SPEED UNDER NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS, A 'CRUNCHING' NOISE WOULD COME FROM FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TIE RODS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT, AND NOISE REMAINED. DEALERSHIP THEN LUBRICATED AN UNKNOWN PART OF SUSPENSION, WHICH DID ELIMINATE NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
886201
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Other / unspecifiedSteeringTransmission
Filed Mar 19, 2001

WHILE SWITCHING LANES LOST CONTROL OF STEERING MOMENTARILY. CONSUMER HAD TO USE FORCE TO GET VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO MECHANICS, AND THEY SAID THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. *AK 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS STATED THAT THE BUSHINGS ON THE STEERING RACK WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY OR MOVEMENT IN THE ENTIRE STEERING MECHANISM, HOWEVER REPLACEMENT OF THE BUSHINGS WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THE PLAY OR MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING BOX WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSING WEAR ON THE BUSHING, THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHENEVER STOPPING AND TURNING IN OR OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, PARKING LOT, ETC, OR ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP, CONSUMER CAN HEAR SOUNDS AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS KICKED OUT OR SLIPS FROM UNDER VEHICLE'S FRONT END, CONSUMER HAS COMPLAINED TO DEALER ON 4 OCCASIONS. TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN MAKING SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD, DEALER STATED OPERATING AS DESIGNED. LEFT FRONT SPLASH SHIELD RUBBING ON TIRE MAKING A NOISE, DEALER REPOSITIONED SPLASH SHIELD. *SLC

NHTSA ID
883370
Incident
Mar 9, 2001
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 12, 2001

THE VEHICLE HAS AHD MULTIPLE ALIGNMENT AND TIE-ROD PROBLEMS. IT DISPLAYS WOBBLING AT VERY LOW AND INTERSTATE SPEEDS. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE STEERING RACK & PINION AND TIE RODS, I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL IS WARRANTED.

NHTSA ID
742287
Incident
Mar 10, 2001
Steering
Filed Feb 6, 2001

CONSUMER HAD REPLACED STEERING UNIT TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
879903
Incident
Jan 4, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .