RoadVitals

1996 Dodge Intrepid Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
23
Latest Jan 9, 2007
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.
5%
of 505 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Dodge Intrepid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 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 exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 9, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT A 1996 DODGE INTREPID WHICH HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS: HEADLIGHT MOUNTING BRACKET, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, AND HEADLIGHT LENS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE FAILURE CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WEREIN USE. SPEED AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10178247
Incident
Jan 9, 2007
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 16, 2005

1996 DODGE INTREPID I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS IS AND GOT IT HOME AFTER THE SAME NIGHT I FOUND OUT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK, WHICH IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I GOT THE CAR FROM THE LOOKED AT IT BUT WOULD NOT FIX IT CAUSE THEY CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T WORK, I EVEN ASKED IF THEY HAD TO INSPECT THE CAR BEFORE SELLING IT, YES THEY DID BUT NEVER FIXED THE HEADLIGHTS... I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED ASAP. *NM

NHTSA ID
10145504
Incident
Dec 12, 2005
Mileage
179 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 16, 2005

THE HEAD LIGHT LENSES WERE TURNING OPAQUE AND SMALL PIECES WERE PEELING OFF. THE LIGHTS WERE SO BAD THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD NOT DRIVE A NIGHT. *BF *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10112834
Incident
Feb 1, 2005
Exterior lightingSuspension
Filed Nov 1, 2004

ENTIRE SUSPENSION REPLACED. ACCORDING TO MECHANIC SUSPENSION WAS SHOT, AND HE HAS SEEN THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. HE SUGGESTED THIS MAY BE A RECALL PROBLEM, BUT ADVISED TO CHECK INTO IT TO BE SURE. ALSO, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO AND HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH HIGH BEAMS ON BECAUSE THE LOWER BEAMS DO NOT WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID
10098092
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 8, 2004

HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT VERY BRIGHT, EVEN ON HIGH BEAM. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT REFLECT BUT A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT'S EVEN HARDER TO SEE WHEN A VEHICLE IS COMING TOWARD YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086423
Incident
Aug 8, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 4, 2004

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT BOTH HEADLIGHTS MOVED OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO REALIGN THE HEADLIGHTS. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PLASTIC BRACKETS, WHICH SUPPORT THE HEADLIGHTS BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FALL OUT OF THE HOUSING. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10068647
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 1, 2003

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 11, 2003

HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE STUCK ON THEIR HIGH-BEAMS. WHEN CYCLING BETWEEN THE LOW/HIGH BEAMS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON IN ADDITION TO THE HIGH BEAMS, WHICH WILL NOT TURN OFF. WHEN "FLICKING" THE DIMMER SWITCH OR TRYING TO FLASH SOMEONE, SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT COMPLETELY, LEAVING ME WITH MY PARKING LIGHTS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10014262
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Mileage
79,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 31, 2002

THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DULL, MAKING VISIBILITY IMPOSSIBLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS SCC

NHTSA ID
10001770
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+7 more
Filed Jun 25, 2002

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK. *TT

NHTSA ID
566216
Incident
Mar 1, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 16, 2001

CONSUMER HIT DEER AND BROKE HEADLIGHT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DEALER REPLACED HEADLIGHT COVER, NEW ONE IS SEEN THROUGH, PASSENGER'S SIDE ONE IS MILKY FROM AGE AND MOISTURE THAT COLLECTS BEHIND COVER . WHEN CONSUMER DRIVES AT NIGHT, VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED DUE TO ONE SIDE BEING BRIGHT, AND OTHER SIDE VERY DIM.*AK

NHTSA ID
883247
Incident
Jan 15, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 8, 2000

THE HEADLIGHTS FILL WITH CONDENSATION MAKING THEIR LIGHT OUTPUT MINIMAL AND DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. THEY ARE $300 FOR A NEW PAIR AND I CAN'T KEEP PURCHASING A NEW PAIR EVERY 20,000 MILES. THEY ARE DELAMINATING AND THE DEALER SAYS "THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE INTREPID" YET THEY WON'T FIX IT. THE DEALER EVEN SUGGESTED THAT I PURCHASE "ILLEGAL" HIGH OUTPUT OFF ROAD USE ONLY BULBS TO MAKE UP FOR THE "POOR PERFORMANCE". EVERY INTREPID I SEE AROUND TOWN HAS THE SAME PROBLEM!! HELP! *AK

NHTSA ID
721185
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 10, 1999

HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE CLEARLY AT NIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID
715899
Incident
Sep 18, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 2, 1999

VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT AND DIMMER, WHEN TURNNING THE DIMMER THE HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
844073
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 23, 1999

THE HEADLIGHT MOUNTS BROKE CAUSING EXTREME STOPPING CONDITIONS. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER CAUSING DISTRACTION TO OTHER VEHICLES WHICH MAY RESULT IN COLLISION. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID
843110
Incident
Jan 15, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 1, 1999

WHEN CHANGING HEADLIGHT BULBS THE AREA AROUND THE SCREW HEAD BREAKS AWAY MAKING THE BRACKET USELESS.

NHTSA ID
544760
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Jul 29, 1998

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

NHTSA ID
538556
Heating & air conditioningExterior lighting
Filed Jul 14, 1998

MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ID
583306
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 9, 1998

HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING POOR NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY DURING RAINY WEATHER.

NHTSA ID
534130
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 8, 1997

THE HEADLIGHTS, BOTH HIGH AND LOW, PRODUCE INSUFFICIENT/EXTREMELY DIFFUSED LIGHT, AFFECTING NIGHT VISION. *AK

NHTSA ID
523851
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 30, 1996

LOW/HIGH BEAMS TOO DIM.

NHTSA ID
513274
Incident
Dec 18, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 1, 1996

HEAD LIGHTS SEEM TO BE TOO DIFFUSED FOR SAFE NIGHT DRIVING. *DH

NHTSA ID
505200
Incident
Feb 9, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed May 16, 1996

HEALIGHTS PROVIDE INSUFFICIENT LIGHTING, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY ALSO MOISTURE ENTERS HEADLIGHT LENSES. *SD

NHTSA ID
504502
Incident
Feb 23, 1996

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 .