1996 Dodge Intrepid Brakes Problems

PURCHASED 1996 DODGE INTREPID IN MAY 2005. FOLLOWING WEEK HAD TO TAKE CAR BACK TO DEALER RE: BRAKES, TO NO AVAIL. A MECHANIC STATED BRAKES WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. WAS ADVISED THAT TIRES WERE NOT IN SUCH GREAT CONDITION EITHER. KEPT HEARING STRANGE SOUNDS (RATTLING NOISES) FROM THE CAR. IN AUGUST, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CAR WOULD NOT STEER AT ALL. HAD TO TAKE CAR TO MECHANIC, WHO TOLD US FAN BELT HAD COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AND POWER STEERING LINE. HE ALSO ADVISED THAT RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. FINALLY, ON AUGUST 26TH, WAS GETTING IN CAR TO DRIVE AND DID NOT GET VERY FAR, WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND FOUND TWO BOLTS ON THE GROUND. PLEASE HELP !!! DISTRESSED. DO WE HAVE ANY RECOURSE HERE? HAVE RECEIPTS, BUT DO NOT HAVE OLD PARTS. *JB *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10134636

Incident

Aug 26, 2005

Mileage

85,000 mi

I WOULD FIRST AND FORMOST LIKE TO REPORT THE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE STEERING RACK ON MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID AT AROUND 77,000 MILES. THE RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A HEFTY PRICE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ALARMINGLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER LH BODIED VEHICALS, ESPECIALLY DODGE INTREPIDS, AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. I HAD THE RACK REPLACED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND ALREADY MY CAR IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF MORE STEERING RELATED PROBLEMS. I DRIVE ONLY A MODERATE AMOUNT SO THIS COULD NOT BE JUST "USUAL WEAR AND TEAR". IN ADDITION TO THE STEERING RACK, WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE AN AXEL REPLACED, ALL OF THE BREAKS DUE TO PREMATURLY WARPED ROTORS (THE BREAKS ACTUALLY WENT OUT ONCE AND I ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE), THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND GETS STUCK IN GEAR FOR A MYSTEROUS REASON NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT, AND A LOOSE WIRE CAUSED THE CAR CAUSED MULTABLE DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS. (THE DATE BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE, THESE THINGS OCCURED BETWEEN 2003 AND PRESENT)

NHTSA ID

10124178

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

77,000 mi

THE LIGHT GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD FLICKERED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY PULLING OVER AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. THEN, DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115021

Incident

Mar 11, 2005

THE RACK AN PINION BUSHING FAILED HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION.ALSO THE AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED THE RING FOR THE ABS AND TRACION CONTROL COME OFF THE AXLE.THERES A SHORT IN THE IGNTION SWITCH, THE GAUGES DONT WORK, AND THE CAR WONT DRIVE IT GOS IN DEFAULT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093730

Incident

Nov 11, 2003

Mileage

98,000 mi

I HAVE HAD THIS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID WITH THE BRAKES. FIRST I THOUGHT I JUST NEEDED NEW BRAKES. WELL I HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON THE CAR AND THEN A WEEK LATER, THE BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHICH DAMAGED THE NEW BRAKES, THE ROTAR, THE CALLIPER, AND THE SPINDLE. THEN TWO WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR FOR THE FUEL REGULATER TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTARS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AGAIN ALREADY. THEN IN ANOTHER WEEK AND A HALF THE BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE AGAIN. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE IN THIS KIND OF TROUBLE WITH A BRAKE SYSTEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND I HAVE TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH MY SON IN THERE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IF YOU ARE GONNA MAKE A PRODUCT YOU SHOULD STAND BEHIND IT. ENGINE WISE THE CAR SEEMS TO BE FINE RUNS LIKE A CHARM BUT THAT DOESNT DO ME A BIT OF GOOD IF I CANT DRIVE IT. AMONG THE FACT THAT I CANT AFFORD TO PAY FOR ALL THIS TROUBLE WITH IT AND PAY FOR THE CAR TOO.*AK

NHTSA ID

10063911

Incident

Feb 21, 2004

FIRST TO GO WAS THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, THEN THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. NEXT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW THE DIFFENTAIL AND TIE RODS. DT

NHTSA ID

770507

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE PEDAL INTERMITTENLY WILL GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED, GREATLY INCREASING VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REOCCURRING SINCE 1997. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO THOROUGHLY DUPLICATE OR REMEDY PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

8023628

Incident

Jan 1, 1997

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK. *TT

NHTSA ID

566216

Incident

Mar 1, 1997

DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AT 40 MPH TO AVOID A BUS AND NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND ABOUT 40 MILES LATER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT GASKETS ON WHEEL CYLINDER HAD POPPED OUT, AND WERE CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. DRIVER INSISTED THAT IF ALL BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT THERE WILL BE NO BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8005306

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

I HAD ALMOST CONSTANT PROBLEMS I.E. MECHANICAL,EQUIPMENT AND FOUGHT A NEVERENDING BATTLE WITH THE DEALERSHIP/WARRANTY DEPT. AND LOST WORK/JOBS ULTIMATELY LEADING TO HAVING NO MONEY TO ALL MY MONTHLY BILLS OR TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED, I HAD TO VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP TO REPOSESSION TO THE LENDER, AND JUST RECENTLY OVER A YEAR LATER I AM RECIEVING NOTICES OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS ON THIS VEHICLE.CAUS. NO SAFETY DEFEC TSTATED. *AK

NHTSA ID

758054

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

CONSUMER HAD BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS REPLACED 10 TIMES. BRAKES ARE MAKING A GRINDING SOUND, BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

882779

Incident

Mar 23, 1998

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH STEPPED ON THE BRAKES PEDAL AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND NO PRESSURE ON BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

878856

Incident

Jan 21, 2001

EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATION PAWL FAILED TO ENGAGE DURING WINTER, CAUSING PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR, DEALER SPRAYED WITH WD-40 AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED, POSSIBLY CAUSED DUE TO LACK OF LUBE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

558896

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ,VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSING A REAREND ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

866112

BRAKES ON DODGE INTREPID'S SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH A QUALITY PRODUCT. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. THESE DEALERSHIPS ARE ONLY OUT FOR OUR MONEY. THEY MAY SAY SERVICE IS NUMBER 1 BUT THIS IS A LIE. RECALL THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THESE CARS. JUST LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL, RECALL RECALL RECALL....DO THE RIGHT THING, RECALL!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

721888

Incident

Mar 1, 2000

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CONSISTANTLY WARP. ONLY HAD THE CAR 1 YEAR, AND THEY HAVE WARPED 4 TIMES, REPLACING THEM TWICE, AND RESURFACING THEM 2 MORE TIMES. THEY ARE NOW WARPED FOR THE FIFTH TIME. ROTORS WERE REPLACED WITH OEM PARTS AT A AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

720590

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

RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED ON THE 0-RING (98V-184), HOWEVER AFTER REPAIR ENGINE CONTINUALLY STALLS, NOT ABLE TO BE RECTIFIED. MJS

NHTSA ID

549075

Incident

Feb 5, 1999

VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE TURNED AND DOESN'T DO WELL WITH ANY PADS WE HAVE USED, ALWAYS NOISY, HAVE ONLY HAD CAR FOR 1 1/2 YEARS, FRONT PLASTIC CENTER WHEEL CAPS KEEP FALLING OFF, HAVE LOST 4 ALREADY. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING, AS WELL AS, THE O-RING RECALL PROBLEM. IT ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS GAUGE, HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS 2 TIMES. THE CAR ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING, DOESN'T MATTER IF TEMPERATURE IS HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE, SITTING IN TRAFFIC OR NOT.

NHTSA ID

702763

Incident

Dec 5, 1998

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN THE WHEEL WENT RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK REPLACED PARKING BRAKE, AND FUEL PUMP. *YD

NHTSA ID

829365

Incident

Oct 22, 1998

BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

780479

Incident

Sep 20, 1998

BRAKES AND ROTORS WARPED. FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS ALSO REQUIRED AT THE TIME FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. CONCERNED THAT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS OF DRIVING (MOSTLY CITY) THE BRAKES HAD DETERIORATED SO SIGNIFICANTLY.

NHTSA ID

541526

Incident

Jul 10, 1998

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND WARPED/WORN AND UNABLE TO TURN. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS PART AT 31000 MILE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL WEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

826351

Incident

Jul 16, 1998

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

NHTSA ID

538556

BRAKES WILL NOT STOP VEHICLE QUICKLY WHEN APPLYING MAXIMUM PRESSURE TO PEDAL. FEELS LIKE AIR IS IN BRAKE SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

537505