1997 Dodge Intrepid Exterior lighting Problems

1997 DODGE INTREPID-169,610 MILES > > I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 1-1/2 YEARS WITH LESS THAN > 3,500 MILES DRIVEN. > > TODAY ON MARCH 16, 2008 AT 1:15PM, I CAME BACK TO > COLLEGE FROM SPRING BREAK. I NOTICED THAT I WAS 29 > MILES AWAY FROM THE COLLEGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL > STARTED TO JERK TO THE RIGHT AND MOVE ON ITS OWN. I > TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT AND HAD TO > FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND MOVE WHERE I NEED TO GO. > > > THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER MADE NOISES AS I WAS > DRIVING > TODAY, BUT I NOTICED THAT I HAD TO FORCE THE WHEEL > HARD TO MAKE A TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT. WHEN I > TRIED TO PARK, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND, SO I HAD > TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND STILL DID NOT WORK. > I'M NOW TRAPPED IN THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE I'M NOT > SURE THAT I'M SAFE ON THE ROAD. > > I'M LOCATED IN SOUTHFIELD, MI AND IN 8 WEEKS, I NEED > TO DRIVE BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS, IN (APPROXIMATELY 312 > MILES, 7-9 HOURS). INCIDENT TWO I WAS 4 MILES AWAY FROM SCHOOL AND NOTICED THAT I HAD STEERING PROBLEMS. AS I WAS FORCING THE WHEEL TO CORPORATE A TRUCK WAS TO MY RIGHT AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR AS THE CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT. CAUSING ME TO HIT THE TRUNK FROM MY FRONT RIGHT TO THE PASSENGER TIRE. NOW MY ENGINE IS HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT DEAL WITH ONE OF THE CYLINDERS NOT RESPONDING AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY IF IDLED FOR SECONDS AND MOVING SOMETIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, MY STEERING STILL DIDN'T WORK SO COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR WITHOUT HELP AND MY CAR BLOCKED SEVERAL CARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1400 IN KEEPING THE ENGINE FROM COLLAPSING TO THE GROUND AFTER THE INCIDENT, A PART THAT KEEPS THE CAR FROM FLIPPING OVER WHEN TURNING. I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221382

Incident

Mar 16, 2008

Mileage

11 mi

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY'RE OCCASIONALLY HARD. FRONT END WILL DIP, CAR SLOWLY SLOWS DOWN, WON'T COME TO A STOP SOON ENOUGH. I HAD BARELY STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY WERE HARD, BRAKES WOULDN'T ENGAGE. CAUSING ME TO REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH. (SPARK PLUG WIRES) ABOUT EVERY 12,000 MILES WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG WIRES DUE TO THE 2ND CYLINDER WIRE BEING BURNT FROM THE ENGINE. A SIMPLE GUARD COULD FIX THIS PROBLEM! IF NOT, A FIRE COULD RESULT! (SEATS/SEAT BELTS) THE SEATS WILL LEAN BACK SLIGHTLY & UNEXPECTEDLY, COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT! THE SEAT BELTS DON'T SEEM TO STAY TIGHT AROUND THE WAIST. THE SEAT BELT SITS TOO HIGH OFF THE LAP. IF IN AN ACCIDENT, I WAS AFRAID I WOULD SLIDE UNDER THE BELT BECAUSE IT'S SO LOOSE! I WOULDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO ME, MY SPOUSE OR ANY OF MY CHILDREN. HEAD LIGHTS) THESE LIGHTS ARE PATHETIC! THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL GO OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING, SOMETIMES WON'T COME ON AT ALL MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GO ANYWHERE! THEY ARE VERY DIM & THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ABOUT WORTHLESS BECAUSE THE BEAM IS TOO MUCH TO THE SIDES OR UP TOO HIGH. VISIBILITY ISN'T VERY FAR AND IT'S TOO SCARY TO DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE DIM LIGHTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10196535

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

95,000 mi

I HAD A RECALL PERFORMED ON VEHICLE LAST YEAR AT MARTIN DODGE IN BOWLING GREEN, KY. AFTER GETTING THE SERVICES RENDERED I NOTICED SEVERAL PROBLEMS. ONE WAS THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WERE NO LONGER OPERABLE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PAST SECOND GEAR AND WOULD MISS GEARS REPEATEDLY, AND ABS BRAKES FAILED. ALSO NOTICED THAT SUSPENSION WAS WORSE AFTER THEY PERFORMED SUSPENSION RECALLS. I HAVE TRIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ONLY SUGGESTED THAT I BRING IT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AT MY COST, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEMS EXISTED AFTER GETTING THE RECALLS FIXED. I INCURRED COURT COST OF $166.00 BECAUSE OF IMPROPER EQUIPMENT AND THE BUY, HERE, PAY HERE LOT WAS REQUESTING $2,280 FOR A CAR THAT I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO JUNK IT BECAUSE NO BEING ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION FOR THE ROAD. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO AID IN ME ABSORBING THE COST OF THIS SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10194912

Incident

Sep 7, 2006

DT: THE HEADLIGHTSEERE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND THE OUTER SHELL WAS YELLOW. HAD A HARD TIME SEEING WHEN RAINING. NOTICED MANY DODGE VEHICLES WITHTHE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131409

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

ACRYLIC HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE BECOME YELLOWED AND CLOUDY, RESULTING IN DIMINISHED BRIGHTNESS OF HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT AND IN DARK WEATHER CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

10124828

Incident

Jan 3, 2004

Mileage

92,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AFTER BEING SERVICED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID

10098978

Incident

Jan 18, 2000

Mileage

72,864 mi

RAIN STORM DRIVING AT NIGHT POOR HEADLIGHTING ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD,LIGHTING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM ,NO RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM EITHER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10096053

Incident

Oct 18, 2004

Mileage

5,000 mi

AT NIGHT WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON HEADLIGHTS WILL COMPLETELY GOOUT WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013081

Incident

Jun 25, 2002

THESE HEADLIGHT ARE PATHETIC FOR A 1997 VEHICLE! THEY ARE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH, ESPECIALLY ON HIGH BEAM. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT IN RURAL AREAS. MY OLD 1984 FIREBIRD HEADLIGHTS ARE MUCH BETTER!!! ALSO, THE LENSES ARE CLOUDED, NOT CLEAR BUT WASN'T MUCH BETTER BEFORE THEY WERE CLOUDED. DODGE SHOULD REMEDY THIS SOMEHOW.*AK

NHTSA ID

762863

MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH LOCATED ON LEFT SIDE OF STEERING COLLAR THAT CONTROLS TURN SIGNALS, HIGH/LOW BEAM SELECTION ,AND WIPER BLADES HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE ORIGNAL SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT A COST OF 197.00 DOLLARS ON 21 JAN 2000. 14 MONTHS LATER THE SWITCH FAILED AGAIN, PART REPLACED ON 6 MARCH 2001 AT A COST OF 228.00 DOLLARS WITH ANOTHER SERIVE CENTER. 16 MONTHS LATER, AGAIN THE SWITCH HAS FAILED- AWAITING REPAIR. THESE SWITCH FAILURES RESULT IN A SMOLDERING FIRE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUM RESULTING IN SMOKE RISINF FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERNG COLUMN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. FAILURE CAUSES HEADLIGHTS TO INTERMITTANTLY GO OUT DURING NIGHT DRIVING, TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO WORK , AND WIPER BLADES ARE INOPERABLE. TO PRECLUDE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF WIRING HARNESS, FUSES WERE PULLED NEGATING USE OF THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED CONTROLS.*AK

NHTSA ID

749119

Incident

Jul 24, 2001

SUN ROOF- PROBLEM EXISTED AT TIME OF SALE, DEALER AWARE THAT PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NO REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE. STILL NOT FIXED AS OF 5/24/1999. CAR DRIFTED TO THE LEFT ON FLAT ROADS AND CROWNED HIGHWAYS-RIGHT LANE. DRIFT WAS SEVERE. FULL LANE CHANGE WITHIN 300 FT OR LESS. DEALER RESPONSE- ALL COMPONENTS SET TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECS. NOTHING HE CAN DO. LAST TRIP IN MARCH 1999 DEALER NOTICED WEAR ON TIRES AND ROTATED THEM. ALSO ORDERED POWER STEERING PUMP AND A STEERING IDLER ARM. CAR DOES NOT DRIFT ANYMORE. FRONT END HAS HAD A VIBRATION FROM DAY 1. DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO NOTICE IT OF FIND OUT THE CAUSE. CHANGED TIRES, ROTATED TIRES, CHECKED ON BRAKE DISCS, ETC. STILL NO FULL SOLUTION. VIBRATION IS LESS THE FIRST NOTICED BUT STILL PRESENT AT 5/24/99. SOME WAS CORRECTED 12/08/1997, MORE REMAINS. LIGHTS DO NOT SEEM TO BE BRIGHT ENOUGH OR THE THROW PATTERN IS WRONG. LEAVES BLIND, BARK AREAS IN FRONT OF CAR ESPECIALLY THE HIGH BEAMS. DEALER RESPONSE: LIGHTS ARE SET ACCORDING TO SPECS. THEY SEEM TO THROW LIGHTS MORE UPWARD-SHORT RANGE AND TO THE SIDES. ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMPLAINTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

706854

Incident

Oct 27, 1997

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY ON BRIGHT BEAM. WHEN PUT ON DIM BEAM CONSUMER CAN SEE A LITTLE BETTER. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIRWORK HAS BEEN DONE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER STATES NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

836599

Incident

Mar 1, 1997

HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AND NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE AT NIGHT. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER. DEALER NOT ABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

834492

CHEMICAL ODOR IN VEHICLE CAUSES SORES IN EYES AND NOSE. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO TEST AIR.

NHTSA ID

546870

Incident

Aug 1, 1996

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER HAVING IS A HARD TIME WITH SEEING THE ROAD (POOR VISIBILITY) DUE TO THE HEADLIGHTS BEING TOO LOW AND WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE HEIGHT ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. CONSUMER CLAIMS HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

807977

Incident

Sep 12, 1996