1998 Dodge Intrepid Steering Problems

POWER STEERING FEELS LIKE THERE IS NO POWER STEERING ,NO POWER STEERING LEAKS BELTS OK AND NO NOISE UNDER HOOD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255485

Incident

Jan 18, 2009

Mileage

280,000 mi

SEVERE STEERING PROBLEMS. WHEEL LOCKS WHEN TURNED COMPLETELY TO RIGHT OR LEFT. WANDERS ON DRY PAVEMENT, ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN WET WEATHER. HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE STEERING RACK AND INNER TIE RODS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251146

Incident

Dec 8, 2008

Mileage

122,544 mi

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 40MPH, CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN ORDER TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON TO ANOTHER STREET. ONCE MAKING THIS RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE WHEEL BEING TURNED BACK TO THE LEFT. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STRIKE THE CURB. ONCE STOPPED THE STEERING SEEMED TO BE CORRECTED BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST TWO MORE TIMES. THE INNER AND OUTER TIRE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH THE STRUTS AND HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ALIGNMENTS NONE OF WHICH HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THE RACK AND PINION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238689

Incident

Jun 13, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH,THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE POWER STEERING BECAME INOPERABLE AND EVENTUALLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 68,000.*AK

NHTSA ID

10186349

Incident

Mar 27, 2007

Mileage

68,000 mi

SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE IN 1998, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUE WITH: ELECTRICAL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING (DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM) RACK AND PINION HAD TO REPLACE AT 36,000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES EVERY YEAR, THEY CONSTANTLY ARE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE POWER WINDOW MECHANISM ON DRIVER SIDE WHEN FIRST BOUGHT VEHICLE, NOW THE AUTOMATIC POWER DOWN ON DRIVE SIDE IS NOT WORKING AS WELL AS NOT BEING ABLE TO USE POWER UNLOCK AND LOCK FOR REAR DRIVER PASSENGER DOOR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEAK FROM HOSE, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HOSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10155215

Incident

May 1, 2002

Mileage

31,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HE LOST CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT ABOUT 3 MPH WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON. THEY FOUND THE RACK AND PINION CAME APART. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THIS HAPPENED. THEY WERE UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10142747

Incident

Oct 11, 2005

RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V527000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10108959

Incident

Oct 7, 2004

Mileage

126,000 mi

RECALL 03V527000, WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN FROM A STOP STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP DID NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067185

Incident

Mar 29, 2004

Mileage

114,000 mi

REPAIRS WERE DONE TO THE ENGINE ON 3 OCCASIONS, ROTORS 2 OCCASIONS, BRAKES 1 OCCASION, CONTROL ARMS (SUSPENSION) 1 OCCASION, STEERING 1 OCCASION, & ELECTRICAL. ALTHOUGH I ONLY HAVE 54,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE ONGOING ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER, ROD HARRIS, ADMITS IT A LIFTER TICKING BUT INSISTS THAT IT IS NORMAL. CHRYSLER GAVE ME AN "ADDED CARE SERVICE CONTRACT" THAT IS GOOD THROUGH 6/26/04 AND TO 75,000 MILES. PLAN CODE IS AD675H. THEY REFUSE TO FIX MY CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, AFTER THE FIRST THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT, I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER ON 1/12/04. ALSO NOTE THEY STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE TODAY 1/12/04 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT'S BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 5 DAYS. TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON 1/7/04. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE FAILING NOW WITH MY 10 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. *LA

NHTSA ID

10052955

Incident

Jan 7, 2004

ME CAR WAS PURCHASED USED 1/16/03, SINCE PURCHASE, HAVE HAD SEVERAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS; IDLER PULLEY WARPED, BROKE POWER STEERING BELT WHILE ON ROAD COOLING FAN MOTOR WENT OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR -THE ENGINE IN MY 1998 DODGE INTREPID BLEW -UP WHEN I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE (ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC). I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL LOCAL AUTO MECHANICS AND DODGE DEALERSHIPS THAT THESE ENGINES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING QUIT WHEN ENGINE QUIT. CAR DIAGNOSED BY LOCAL MECHANIC " NEEDS ENGINE REPLACED".*AK

NHTSA ID

10032955

Incident

May 22, 2003

Mileage

89,749 mi

1998 DODGE INTREPID--RACK AND PINION FAILED/BROKE. I HAD PULLED UP TO THE CURB TO RETRIEVE THE MAIL AND AS I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO PULL AWAY, I FELT/HEARD A LOUD POP. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE RACK AND PINION AS THE R&P HAS FAILED/BROKEN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FREELY TURN BUT THE WHEELS WERE NOT MOVING. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AT A COST OF $650.00. FORTUNATELY, THE DEALER SPLIT THE COST WITH ME AS I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR (USED) 30 DAYS PRIOR. I WAS STILL OUT $350.00. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY, SPECIFICALLY MY WIFE AND MY 2 YEAR OLD SON HAD THAT PART FAILED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC. IT COULD HAVE COST US OUR LIVES...I ALSO HAVE A SLIGHT SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I'M GUESSING A WARPED ROTOR AS I RECALL READING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT BEING AN INTREPID PROBLEM ALSO....I WARN ANY OF YOU WHO ARE HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS TO GET IT FIXED BEFORE YOU DRIVE IT....THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM THAT WONT BE RECALLED COULD HAVE COST US OUR LIVES.

NHTSA ID

10021343

Incident

Sep 1, 2002

STEERING RACK FAILED PREMATURELY

NHTSA ID

10005578

Incident

Jan 20, 2003

Mileage

68,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED IN JAN. 1998 AND IS NOT OLD ENOUGH OR HAS NOT HAD HARSH ENOUGH TREATMENT TO HAVE THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FAIL. WE FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE STEERING CAN LOCK UP DURING A TURN (IT DID FOR US) WHICH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT SINCE THE CAR WOULD BE GOING IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION. I FOUND SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT TOPIC AND FEEL THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLES OR REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO INCURR UNNECESSARY REPAIR EXPENSES DUE TO EITHER LOW QUALITY PARTS OR BAD DESIGN.*AK

NHTSA ID

763359

Incident

Jun 21, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

763096

Incident

Jun 11, 2002

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BUSHINGS. THERE IS A CRUNCHING TYPE OF NOISE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEN SITTING AT IDLE AND CRANKING WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BUSH ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS REPLACED. *JG

NHTSA ID

565780

RACK AND PINION STEERING IS LOOSE, AND VEHICLE IS HARD TO STRAIGHTEN OUT WHILE MAKING A TURN.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007323

Incident

Mar 15, 1998

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN AN UNUSUAL NOISE OCCURS WITHIN STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8003083

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES. VEHICLE HIT A TREE. ALSO, STEERING LOCKED UP. MANUFACTURER SENDING INSPECTOR TO CHECK VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

897579

Incident

Sep 26, 2001

THERE IS ABOUT TWO INCHES OF PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

892445

STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLE SOUND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD ON DRIVER'S SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT STEERING GEAR BOX WAS UNSAFE , AND NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE UNTIL STEERING GEAR WAS FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ID

890972

Incident

Jun 21, 2001

FRONT TIE RODS ARE CORRODED, WHEELS CANNOT BE ALIGNED ANY LONGER.*AK STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. *SLC

NHTSA ID

885803

Incident

Nov 15, 2000

IDLER PULLEY BROKE FIRST TIME IN AUG 1998, THIS TIME WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IT BROKE, AND CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID

881689

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A RATTLE IN STEERING; VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL, AND OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

879090

Incident

Jan 24, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

739337

Incident

Nov 7, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

736818

Incident

Nov 7, 2000