1996 Dodge Intrepid Tires & wheels 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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER LIFELINER TOURING SLE TIRES, SIZE 205/60R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BLOW OUT. THE FAILURES CAUSED THE FENDER TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THE SPEED, VIN, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 236,000.

NHTSA ID

10199680

Incident

Aug 13, 2007

Mileage

236,000 mi

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

DOUGLAS, TOURING, P225/60R16, DOT # KMXOTCLR1603. CONSUMER SAYS THAT TIRES CONSTANTLY LOSE AIR. CONSUMER BELIEVES VALVE STEM MAY BE DEFECTIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10042115

TIRE HAD ONLY 22,000 ON IT. THE TIRE PRESS WAS CHECKED 5 DAYS EARLIER. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDE WALL. (DOT NUMBER: BEXBEUU379 TIRESIZE: 225/60 R16)

NHTSA ID

736108

Incident

Nov 10, 2000

WHEN AT ANY SPEED AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN THERE IS A POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING, AND CONSUMER'S TIRES ARE BALD, AND THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AND THE TIRES ARE NOT ANY GOOD, WHICH CAN CAUSE A SAFETY DEFECT WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID

835806

Incident

Mar 4, 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

TIRES FAILED (MICHLIN 225 60 16).

NHTSA ID

604259

Incident

Sep 1, 1997