1996 Dodge Intrepid Body & structure Problems

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 ALL MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, ALL 4 INNER&OUTER TIE ROD BUSHINGS/ENDS TWICE, RADIATOR TWICE, THERMOSTAT HOUSING TWICE, COOLANT PIPES ONCE AND HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES. I AM REPLACING SUBFRAME, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AND FRONT AXLE AGAIN. I CONTINUE FIXING THE CAR BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT BUT I AM GETTING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STEERING, AXLE OR BRAKES GIVING OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC. SO CONCERNED MY DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO FAMILY MEMBERS IN CASE OF FATALITY RESULTING FROM THE DEFECTS MENTIONED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246579

Incident

Oct 7, 2008

Mileage

148,689 mi

1. THE EVENT OCCURRED WHILE BACKING INTO MY DRIVEWAY 2. 1996 DODGE INTREPID, 3.5L, 196,000 MILES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT THAT IS A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT OF THE CAR'S SUBFRAME HAD METAL FATIGUED AND SEPARATED FROM THE SUBRFAME. THIS CAUSED THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO MOVE OUTWARD AND LODGE AGAINST THE FENDER. WHEN THE WHEEL MOVED OUTWARD, THE HALF-SHAFT PULLED OUT OF THE CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT DISENGAGING THE DRIVETRAIN FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. 3. THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE SUBFRAME WAS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE, SO THE CAR IS GOING TO BE SCRAPED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10139668

Incident

Oct 13, 2005

Mileage

197,205 mi

RECENTLY I TOOK MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID INTO A COLLISION REPAIR SPECIALIST DUE TO SEVERE PAINT CHIPPING ON MY HOOD. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH DODGE VEHICLES - THAT THE HOODS AND TRUNKS ARE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT DUE TO THE SEAMS BEING PINCHED WELDED WHICH IS ALLOWING MOISTURE TO GET INSIDE. ALSO FOUND THAT THE TRUNK IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, BUT DIDN'T KNOW THIS UNTIL WE WERE INFORMED OF THE HOOD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 85,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF VERY WELL. OTHER THAN THAT - IT IS IN TOP CONDITION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10130665

Incident

Jul 20, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER STATED THAT 1996 , DODGE, INTREPID HAD A BOLT STICKING OUT ON BOTH BACK DOORS. THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING SAFETY DEVICE TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED IN CASE OF A COLLISION. CONSUMER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT GETTING GROCERIES OUT WHEN HER SHOE STRING BECAME ENTANGLED AROUND THE BOLT AND CONSUMER FELL ON CONCRETE AND BROKE HER HIP. CONSUMER DID NOT REALIZE THAT STRING WAS ENTANGLED AROUND THE BOLT. CONSUMER WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL, THEN SHE TAKEN INTO SURGERY, SHE HAD TO HAVE 3 SCREWS PLACED INTO HER HIP. CONSUMER WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 5 DAYS . THEN, CONSUMER WAS CONFINED TO A WALKER FOR SEVERAL WEEKS UNTIL THE BONE HEALED. CONSUMER CONTINUED WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON MAY 18, 2005. CONSUMER HAD TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY SOMEONE ELSE FOR QUITE A WHILE. CONSUMER WAS IN CONTACT WITH CHRYSLER IN JUNE 2005. THEY SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND TAKE PICTURES. CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHRYSLER ON JULY 5, 2005 STATING THAT HER CLAIM WAS DENIED. CONSUMER HAD NOT FILED ANY CLAIM WITH CHRYSLER. ALL CONSUMER WANTED WAS THE VEHICLE TO BE RECALLED SO THAT THE BOLT COULD BE REMOVED. CONSUMER HAD NOT TAKEN ANYONE TO CHRYSLER. SHE JUST WANTED TO INFORM OTHER PEOPLE THAT THE BOLT WAS DANGEROUS AND COULD INJURE OTHERS MORE SEVERELY. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE WAS STILL BEING DRIVEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10130337

Incident

May 18, 2005

Mileage

100,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES: THE ENGINE CRADLE MOUNT ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS RUSTED IN THE BACK, AND THE ENGINE MOUNT ON THE LEFT IS STARTING TO RUST IN THE BACK. WAS MAKING NOISE, GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER, AND COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10121694

Incident

May 19, 2005

Mileage

34,500 mi

BUSHINGS SUPPORTING 3 OF THE 4 CONNECTION POINTS OF THE FRONT SUBFRAME CRADLE HAVE FAILED, RESULTING IN A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN MOVING. THE CLUNKING SOUND HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, BUT HAS GOTTEN WORSE RECENTLY. IN LOOKING UNDER THE CAR I DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER HALVES OF THE RUBBER BUSHINGS HAVE FALLEN OUT AT THREE OF THE FOUR LOCATIONS. THIS CRADLE SUPPORTS THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND ALL STEERING COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID

766880

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK. *TT

NHTSA ID

566216

Incident

Mar 1, 1997

A RUBBER BUSHING, FRAME MOUNT HAS BROKE CAUSING MY CAR AND MOTOR TO SHAKE CAUSING A OIL LEAK AND VARIES OTHER PROBLEMS. I DON'T FELL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BROKE, I BODY MOUNT HOLDS YOUR WHOLE CAR TOGETHER. IT IS NOT A MOTOR MOUNT, IT'S A BODY/FRAME MOUNT. *AK

NHTSA ID

756919

Incident

Jan 15, 2002

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE A RATTLING NOISE WAS COMING FROM FRONT END. A PRIVATE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED PROBLEM OF REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CORRODING. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

897281

Incident

Oct 2, 2001

FRONT SUB-FRAME MOUNTS FAILED.

NHTSA ID

562583

THE CHASSIS BROKE CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO FEEL SOMETHING WHILE DRIVING. NLM

NHTSA ID

558554

Incident

Aug 10, 1999

RACK & PINION HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE & SAME SYMPTOMS ARE OCCURING AGAIN. THERE IS A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEN TURNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TIRES & STRUTS SOONER THEN NORMAL. BRAKES HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE ROTORS WERE BAD & BRAKE PADS WERE WARPED. REAR WINDOW GLASS WAS REMOVED & A NEW SECTION BETWEEN THE REAR DOOR & BACK GLASS WAS REPLACE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE SAME CONDITION EXISTS AGAIN. THE BACK DOOR IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN DUE TO MISALAIGNMENT. DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY SERVICE AFTER ORIGINAL WARRANTY. CHRYSLER CORP. AUTHORIZED THE REPLACEMENT OF RACK & PINION, WATER PUMP, & REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS AT 45450 MILES. DUE TO DEFECTS, MAINLY IN THE STEERING, I CONTINUE TO PAY A MECHANIC TO ASSESS THE SAFETY OF OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

715274

Incident

Oct 30, 1999

CENTER CONSOLE FOLDING ARM PLASTIC SUPPORT BROKE.

NHTSA ID

539107

TRUNK LID COLLAPSES FROM A SLIGHT BREEZE/ON AN INCLINE OR IF YOU BUMP THE REAR OF VEHICLE. QCAW

NHTSA ID

540957

BRAKES FAILED TWICE ALMOST RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO CALIPER'S LEAKING.

NHTSA ID

538556

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER DOOR LOCKS REMAIN IN THE LOCKED POSITON WHEN OTHER LOCKS UNLOCK. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERS, A WAITING DIAGNOSTIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

825933

Incident

Jul 27, 1998

ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO UNLOCK ON OCCASION.

NHTSA ID

532590

MISSING REINFORCEMENT PLATE CAUSED FRAME TO CRACK.

NHTSA ID

531649

Incident

Jul 1, 1996

PARTICLES FOUND IN BRAKE FLUID, TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR, THE MOON ROOF FELL ON OWNERS HEAD.

NHTSA ID

528965

ROOF SIDE PANEL MOULDING COVER AND RIGHT REAR APPLIQUE COVER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

605484

Incident

Oct 10, 1996

DRIVER NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE DOOR ASSEMBLY. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 2 WEEKS BEFORE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE DOOR ASSEMBLY, AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING. DEALER DID NOT SEE ANY SMOKE. SO THE DEALR SENT THE VEHICLE HOME. 2 WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS POWER CONTROLED. THE FIRE WAS SO BAD THAT IT MELTED THE DOOR ASSEMBLY DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

817070

Incident

Oct 1, 1997

BLACK PLASTIC BEHIND REAR DOORS CRACKED AT BASE ON BOTH SIDES (DECORATIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT).

NHTSA ID

605035

Incident

Sep 1, 1996

TRUNK LID SUPPORT ROD FAILED.

NHTSA ID

515392

Incident

Mar 6, 1997

DASHBOARD DESIGN ALLOWS FOR REFLECTION TO BE ON WINDSHIELD CREATING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID

508582