1997 Dodge Intrepid

ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2004, MR. ROBERT GALENTY OF ISELIN, NJ, PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OF CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1993-1997 VEHICLES PRODUCED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.HIS PETITION IDENTIFIED THREE ISSUES OF CONCERN: 1) FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR RAILS; 2) BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE; AND 3) SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE FRAME TO DAMAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED.MR. GALANTY ALLEGED THAT HIS 1996 DODGE INTREPID HAD EACH OF THESE THREE PROBLEMS.CONCERNING FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE, DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMMENCED A RECALL (98V-184) OF APPROXIMATELY 722,600 VEHICLES TO ADDRESS ENGINE FUEL RAIL LEAKS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, INCLUDING THOSE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION AND THE PETITIONER'S 1996 DODGE INTREPID.ON OCTOBER 7, 1998, NHTSA OPENED A RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION (RQ98-018) TO EVALUATE THE ADEQUACY OF THE RECALL REMEDY.THAT INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED ON JULY 8, 2002 WITHOUT REQUIRING FURTHER ACTION BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.VERY RECENTLY, ON JUNE 9, 2004, NHTSA DENIED A PETITION (RP04-001) TO REOPEN RQ98-018 AFTER FINDING THAT THERE WAS NO NEW INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY BASIS FOR REOPENING IT.THIS IS STILL THE CURRENT POSITION OF NHTSA ON THIS ISSUE.CONCERNING BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION AND FRAME ALIGNMENT, A REVIEW OF NHTSA'S DATABASE SHOWS NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON EITHER ONE OF THESE ISSUES ON THE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION.

THE PETITIONER, PHILIP MCBROOM,ALLEGES THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE FUEL RAIL, AND OR FUEL O-RINGS, WHICH CAUSED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.THIS EVENT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL (98V-184) REMEDY WAS PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE.HE HAS PETITIONED THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE REMEDY ADEQUACY OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-184.ON AUGUST 10, 1998, DAIMLERCHRYSLER NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD RECALL APPROXIMATELY 722,600 VEHICLES BUILT WITH3.5L V6 ENGINES, INCLUDING THE 1997 INTREPID.DAIMLERCHRYSLER REPORTED THAT A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT FROM DETERIORATED O-RINGS OR HAIRLINE CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC FUEL RAILS.FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATONS, RQ98-018 AND RP00-001, ESTABLISHED THAT POST REPAIR LEAKAGE COMPLAINTS WOULD LEVEL OFF TO APPROXIMATELY 20 PER YEAR AND MOST ARE NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL REMEDY.SINCE THESE INVESTIGATIONS, THERE HAS BEEN NO NEW INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY BASIS FOR INITIATING A NEW INVESTIGATION.FOR THE FOREGOING REASONS, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF THE AGENCY'S INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES ON THE ISSUES RAISED BY THE PETITION DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AND THE PETITION IS DENIED. FOR DETAILS, SEE FEDERAL REGISTER, VOL. 69, NO. 111 (JUNE 9, 2004).

THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.

THE PRESSURE ON MY FUEL RAIL DOES NOT HOLD SO THAT MEANS A LEAK.IF I ASK FIRST CHRYSLER ANY THING THEY SAY NO RECALLS.I KNOW BETTER 98V184000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705117

Incident

Apr 18, 2013

HARD STARTING LEAKING FUEL RAIL 3.5. *TR

NHTSA ID

10684149

Incident

Feb 7, 2013

I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR 1500$ THE INSPECTION RAN OUT AT THE END OF THAT MONTH, INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED AS A "LICKEM STICKEM" THE CAR 2 WEEKS LATER WAS DETERMINED BY AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAZARDOUS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, CAR WAS LEFT AT PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR TWO (2) WEEKS IN WHICH TIME NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE CAR REMAINS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NOT RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468795

Incident

Jul 14, 2012

Mileage

169,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT REVERSED AND DROVE OVER A TWO INCH BEAM. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE CONTROL ARM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V215000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER ARM). THE RECALL HOWEVER, WAS ONLY ISSUED FOR THE 2004 MODEL DODGE INTREPID AND NOT THE 1997 MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.

NHTSA ID

10459877

Incident

May 21, 2012

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, TIRE RODS, SWAY BAR BUSHING AND MOTOR MOUNTS WORE PREMATURELY AND NEEDED CONSTANT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10436762

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

98,000 mi

RACK AND PINION / STEERING ISSUES IN 1997 DODGE INTREPID. AFTER JUST DRIVING 65-70 ON THE I-15 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, I FELT AN ODD VIBRATION AND PULL IN THE STEERING OF THE 1997 DODGE INTREPID I WAS DRIVING. EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE WHEN THE FRONT END SENT A POP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS STUCK IN A RIGHT TURN POSITION DURING ANY POSITION SET ON THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE REMAINED INTACT AND NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10389884

Incident

Mar 11, 2011

Mileage

186,112 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS INCLUDING 10 MPH, THERE WAS SHAKING SENSATION ACCOMPANIED BY DIFFICULTY STEERING. THE DEALERS TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM WOULD COST $1000.00 TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,890.

NHTSA ID

10266525

Incident

Nov 14, 2008

Mileage

95,700 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS INOPERATIVE. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE BOLT IN THE KIT OFFERED BY THE DEALER HAS A SMALLER HEAD AND AN IMPROPER LOCKING PAD THAT WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO A FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 222,000.

NHTSA ID

10253607

Incident

Dec 26, 2008

Mileage

222,000 mi

Charging System, Battery Diagnostic Tools and Warranty This information only bulletin discusses using the correct test equipment for testing batteries and charging systems, and also warranty reimbursement when battery replacements are necessary.

Use of Aftermarket Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of aftermarket parts.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.

Repair Parts Used For Structural Repairs This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to structural repair parts usage.

Use of Salvage/Recycled Parts This bulletin involves discussing FCA US LLC position with regard to collision repair industry awareness regarding the use of recycled or salvage parts.