1996 Dodge Intrepid Electrical Problems

AFTER PURCHASING CAR FROM AUCTION, WE TOOK FOR EMISSIONS TESTING IN ORDER TO PURCHASE A TAG. WE WERE TOLD THE TEST COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE THE COMPUTER HAD NOT FINISHED THE TESTS. WE WERE ADVISED HOW TO COMPLETE THE DRIVING REQUIREMENTS AND TO COME BACK AFTER THAT. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS THE TESTS STILL SHOWED INCOMPLETE. NOW SIX YEARS LATER THE ODBII STILL WILL NOT COMPLETE AND ACTUALLY RESTARTS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. AFTER LOTS OF RESEARCH WE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDESPREAD AND A DEFECT THAT REQUIRES THE ECU TO BE FLASHED WITH UPDATED PROGRAM INFORMATION. THERE IS EVEN A TSB #181897 WHICH COVERED THIS. DEALERS ARE EITHER UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM OR WANT TO CHARGE CLOSE TO $100. WE BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD DO THIS SERVICE AT NO CHARGE SINCE IT IS S DEFECT THAT THEY ARE AWARE EXISTS. THERE ARE NO CODES BEING THROWN AND WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TAG THE CAR FOR MANY YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552307

Incident

Aug 27, 2007

Mileage

131,937 mi

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY WHICH AFFECTS THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS & THE HEATING/AC COMPONENT. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE WINDOWS & HEATER/AC STOPPED WORKING. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE OFF POSITION. I HAD A 1993 DODGE INTREPID WITH THE SAME AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM DESCRIBED ABOVE, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE LIGHT TO GO OFF AT TIMES BY ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH ALLOWED THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND HEATER/AC TO WORK UNTIL THE LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON. THE DIFFERENCE IS I CANNOT GET THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO TURN OFF AT ALL ON THE 1996 MODEL, THE DIFFERENCE BEING BETWEEN THE TWO MODELS IS THAT THE 93 HAD THE GEAR SHIFTER ON THE FLOOR CONSOLE; WHILE 96 IS ON THE COLUMN. THE FACT THAT THE 93 AND 96 BOTH HAVE THE SAME AIRBAG LIGHT AFFECTING THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS & THE HEATER/AC IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT ONE THING SHOULD AFFECT THE OTHER, BUT MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT TO BE UNTRUE. IN MY OPINION THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH EITHER THE SENSORS OR SOMETHING IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, OR POSSIBLY THE WIRING WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN DUE TO POSSIBILITY OF MANUFACTURING ISSUES. THIS DOES POSE AS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN AND THE HEATER/AC WILL NOT COOL/HEAT THE CAR AND THE DEFROSTER CANNOT CLEAR THE WINDOWS OF CONDENSATION; WHICH CREATES OBSTRUCTED VIEW. THE NONWORKING HEATER/AC SEVERELY RESTRICTS THE TIMES YOU CAN DRIVE THE CAR, UNLESS YOU WOULD LIKE TO RISK HEAT EXHAUSTION DURING SUMMER OR FROSTBITE DURING THE WINTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543008

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONCE SHE MERGED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD THE VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,000.

NHTSA ID

10482896

Incident

Nov 1, 2012

Mileage

176,000 mi

MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID RECEIVED A CLEAN AIR WAIVER IN THE YEARS 2003 AND 2004. THE OBD COULD NOT BE READ BY THE EMISSIONS STATIONS. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE TRIED TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT RESOLUTION. THE CLEAN AIR FORCE SAYS THE SOFTWARE IS UPDATED AND SHOULD BE READABLE AND DODGE INSISTS IT'S THE CAF SOFTWARE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (18-005-01) FOR 1996 DODGE VEHICLES FAILING FOR READINESS. I KEEP FAILING FOR READINESS, AND THE DEALER NOR CLEAN AIR HAS FURTHER INFORMATION. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE A MASTER MECHANIC TRIES TO SOLVE MY SITUATION. THE LENGTH OF TIME TELLS ME A FAVORABLE REPLY MAY NOT BE FORTHCOMING. I WAS TOLD I CAN NOT SELL THE CAR, AS THE EMISSIONS ISSUE WILL ALWAYS BE MY (THE OWNERS) PROBLEM. I CAN NOT GET A TAG FOR THIS CAR AND THEREFORE LEGALLY CAN NOT DRIVE IT. WHAT CAN I DO? *JB

NHTSA ID

10184602

Incident

Feb 22, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 70 MPH, WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER , THEN, SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118983

Incident

Mar 19, 2005

Mileage

200,000 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

DEFECT OF TRANSAXLES FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK, MANY PARTS IN ENGINE ARE EFFECTED, NEED REPLACEMENT. *BF ENGINE DAMAGE AS A RESULT IN A COLLISION. LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED. *TC

NHTSA ID

10099080

Incident

Jun 30, 2004

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 A 1996 DODGE INTREPID I BOUGHT IN 1998 I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS STEERING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE SPENT MUCH MONEY TO FIX THIS CAR. THE BUSHINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED,THE BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE STEERING HOSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED,ALL THIS WAS DONE AT UNDER 55,000 MILES AND LUCKILY GEFORE MY FIANCE AND MY CHILDREN WERE SERIOUSLY HURT IN AN ACIDENT DUE TO STEERING LOSE OR CONTROL. THESE PROBLEMS TOTALED AROUND 2,500.TO FIX. NOW WE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN WITH THE CAR HAVING 90,000 MILES NOW THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS OUT AGAIN AND THE RACK AND PINION IS OUT AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. WE ARE A LOW INCOME FAMILY SO TRADE THE CAR IN IS OUT OF THE QUESTION AND GETTING IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY IS SOMETIMES NOT POSSIBLE. JUST BY PURE LUCK I WAS LOOKING FOR PRICES OF RACK AND PINIONS AND I JUST STUMMBLED ACROSS THIS WEB SITE AND I AM GLAD I DID.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028747

Incident

May 10, 2001

Mileage

55,000 mi

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO, STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS DON'T WORK AS WELL AS THE PANEL AND OTHER THINGS IN THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026365

VEHICLE CONSTANLY FAILS TO START PER CONSUMER. THE DEALERSHIPS INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE COULD BE A BAD IGNITION SWITCH OR LEVER. CAUSE UNKOWN. TS

NHTSA ID

8023106

Incident

Sep 21, 2002

VEHICLE STARTED UP BY ITSELF. WHEN CONSUMER PUT KEY INTO RESTART VEHICLE AND IT WOULDN'T SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER HIT BRAKE PEDAL AND ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS USED AND NEVER PASSED INSPECTION. CHRYSLER REFERRED CONSUMER TO DEALER,AND HISTORY SHOWED THAT PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED BEFORE. PLEASE ADD THE VIN# AND MILEAGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

896054

Incident

Sep 8, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, THEN, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM DASH. SHE SHUT OFF ENGINE, PLASTIC ON DASH HAD MELTED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, REPLACED DASH, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS. DID NOT TELL CONSUMER WHAT PARTS WERE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

893696

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH FRONT END BEGAN TO SHAKE, STEERING WHEEL AS WELL. ENGINE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS FLASHING, TAKEN TO DEALER WHO REPLACED INGNITION COIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

883693

Incident

Mar 7, 2001

RECALL 00 V 135 000/IGNITION SWITCH/WIRING: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SHORTAGE IN WIRING HARNESS. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

879108

Incident

Jan 23, 2001

WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED (USED) IN 3/99, THE REAR DEFROSTER DIDN'T WORK. THE CAR WAS SENT TO CHARLIE THOMAS CHRYSLER FOR REPAIR AND THE FUSEABLE LINK WAS REPAIRED (6/99). ON 10/25/00 THE REAR DEFROSTER WAS ON AND SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF THE INTERIOR VENTS. I STOPPED THE CAR AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CLEARLAKE DODGE FOR REPAIR. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED WIRE HARNESS DAMAGE LEADING UP TO THE FUSEABLE LINK AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE MAIN WIRE HARNESS DUE TO MELTING AND SHORTING IN THE MAIN HARNESS. THE REAR DEFROSTER CIRCUIT WAS DISCOVERED TO BE SHORTED INTO A METAL CLIP AND IT IS PRESUMED THAT THIS CAUSED THE OVERLOAD. THE OVERLOAD CAUSED MELTING AND SCORCHING IN THE REAR DEFROST CIRCUIT AND THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS. THE FUSEABLE LINK FAILED TO PROTECT THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS. THE FAILURE OF THE FUSEABLE LINK CAUSED A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT COULD HAVE LED TO A FIRE OR AN ACCIDENT (IF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST).

NHTSA ID

737284

Incident

Oct 25, 2000

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER HOOD DUE TO A FAULTY STARTER. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

870595

Incident

Aug 20, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH, ALL OF SUDDEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM DASHBROAD. SMOKE FOGGED UP ALL WINDOWS, CAUSING POOR DRIVER VISIBILITY. DRIVER QUCKLY PULLED INTO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. A MECHANIC DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. MECHANIC FOUND ALL THREE WIRING HARNESS WERE MELTED TOGETHER. REPAIRS TO VEHICLE THROUGH STATE FARM INSURANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

868515

Incident

Jan 7, 2000

STEAM IS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BE INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

851603

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

INTERMITTENTLY THE BATTERY GOES DEAD. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

843400

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARGAGE AND THE OWNER CAME OUT AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BLOWEN UP AND WAS TOTALED. OWNER NEVER NOTICED ANY DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

823359

Incident

Apr 30, 1998

BATTERY BLEW UP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

702006

Incident

Dec 30, 1998

VEHICLE DID NOT START. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO AN AUTO SHOP. STARTER CAUGHT ON FIRE PER MECHANIC. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

830600

Incident

Oct 7, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE INSIDE OF THE CAR GOT SMOKY AND OBSTRUCUED THE CONSUMER'S VIEW. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO REALIZE THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT HAD STARTED BEHIND THE BACK SEAT, CAUSING NONE OF THE LIGHTS TO FUNCTION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

829647

Incident

Oct 11, 1998