Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 45 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.
The 25 most recent of 45, in the owner's own words
IT STARTED OUT MY STEERING WOULD GET REALLY TIGHT AND YOU COULDN'T MOVE IT AT ALL AND IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY NOW WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE RACK-N-PINION AND SO THEY FIXED IT AND ITS STILL DOING IT. *TR
1996 DODGE INTREPID HAD TO HAVE ALOT OF FRONT END WORK DONE ON TIE ROD ENDS AND BUSHINGS WORN OUT THEN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE BRAKES FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND CAUSED A ACCIDENT WHOLE FRONT END TOTALED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHY IS IT THAT DODGE AUTO AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY. *TR
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
THERE ARE SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND FRONT COMPONENTS SUCH AS TIE RODS, BUSHING FAILURE- MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS, ETC. STEERING HASN'T BEEN RIGHT FOR YEARS. LOW MILEAGE, STRANGE NOISES, HANDLING. CAR DOESN'T STAY IN ALIGNMENT, WHEEL DOESN'T RETURN TO CENTER, CAR JUMPS OUT OF DRIVING LANE. *JB
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
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AUTOMATIC IN "DRIVE" POSITION SHIFTS INTO 3RD GEAR CAUSING HIGH [300-400K] RPM AND HIGH FUEL CONSUMPTION. CONDITION CAN BE CORRECTED BY STOPPING VEHICLE, TURNING SWITCH OFF, WAITING UNTIL SIGNAL LIGHTS HAVE DISAPPEARED, THEN TURNING SWITCH ON AGAIN. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO POTENTIAL FOR REAR-END COLLISION WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OFF. *AK
VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THEN, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BUSHING WAS WORN OUT, AND STEERING RACK BROKE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
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
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
I OWN A 1996 DODGE INREPID WITH 61,255 MILES ON IT AS OF TODAY ( 1/16/2003). THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE FAILUERS OF THE WATER PUMP AT A COST TO REPAIRE OF $500.00 EACH TIME TO REPAIRE. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAIL, WHICH COST $1185.00 TO REPAIRE. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN HARD, MILEAGE WILL SHOW MAYBE 10,000 MILES PER YEAR. I FEEL BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SYSTEM THAT THE MANUFACTURE HAS HAD MORE THAN NORMAL NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR BOTH THESE PROBLEMS. I THINK A RECALL IS CALLED FOR, AND SOME SORT OF REMIBRUSMENT FOR THE COST OF REPAIRES MADE. ALL MY REPAIRES WHERE DONE BY A GOODYEAR FACILITY OR DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V215000 LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET; FRONT LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM IS DETERIORATING WITH JUST A MATTER OF TIME OF COMPLETE FAILURE W/TIRE SPERATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AKBOTH OF THE INNER TIE RODS AND EIGHT BUSHINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS FAILURE WAS PREMATURE. *JG
THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT LOCK. *TT
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
AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT BUSHINGS WERE PREMTURELY WEARING OUT. THIS PREVENTED VEHICLE FROM BEING ALIGNED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
PROBLEM W/STEERING COLUMN AFFECTED ALIGNMENT CAUSING NEED FOR NEW TIRES.
MAKES POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING ,SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. HAD FRONT ALIGN. TIRES REPLACED. TIE ROD BOLTS KEEP BECOMING LOOSE. AFTER READING COMPLAINTS NOW SCARED TO DRIVE CAR ESSPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE A TODDLER.CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN CONSUMER IS BACKING OUT THERE IS A NOISE IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER CAN HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND WHENEVER DRIVING OVER A BUMP, SOUND COMES FROM LEFT FRONT OR MIDDLE OF VEHICLE. NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. *AK
WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE AND TURNING WHEELS THERE IS A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END. ALSO, STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
I'M A MOTHER OF A 2 YEAR OLD, AND HAVE TO TAKE HER IN MY CAR EVERYDAY. COME TO FIND OUT MY BUSHINGS ARE BAD, AND THAT WHOLE PART HAS TO BE REPLACED WITH THE PART COSTING $800. PLUS LABOR. THE DEALERSHIP IN TOWN SAID THAT IT IS A COMMON THING IN THE 96 AND 97 INTREPIDS, BECAUSE THEY WENT TO THE NEW BODY, I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR, OR $800 TO GET THIS FIX, AND BELIEVE THAT DODGE SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THIS, BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IS COMMON. I'VE READ LOTS OF COMPLAITS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND WORRY ABOUT HAVING MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR EVERYDAY. MY STEERING IS VERY LOSE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I DID NOT INCLUDE DATE AND MILAGE OF WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BECAUSE IT WAS A SLOW PROCESS. I JUST NOTICED WHEN IT WAS MAKING THE LOAD NOICE WHEN I TURN. *AK
I HEARD NOISES LIKE A LOOSE BOLT IN THE FRONT END. BUSHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES. COULD NOT JUST REPLACE BUSHINGS HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TIE RODS. STILL NOISE IN THE FRONT END WILL HAVE CHECKED SOON. ALSO LOUD NOISE WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN COLD. SOUNDS LIKE METAL IS STICKING.*AK
STEERING WHEEL IS SHIMMYING AND KNOCKING. *AK RIGHT TIE ROD FAILED. *YH
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING COIL SPRING BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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