Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Dodge Intrepid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 59 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 59, in the owner's own words
EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY. AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL GO ON ITS OWN IN THE DIRECTION THAT I PREVIOULSY TURNED. IT WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER SAFELY THEN IT TAKES AN EXTRA SECOND FOR STEERING TO RESPOND. IT STEERS LIKE A BOAT. NO INJURIES VECHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AFRAID TO DRIVE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 INTREPID TO A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT. I WAS TRYING TO PARK IN THE PARKING DECK, ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD CLICK. FROM THAT POINT ON THE CAR WOULD NOT STEER RIGHT NOR LEFT. THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO FORWARD OR BACK. MY MECHANIC SAID THE STEERING BROKE. ALL MY 34 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. YES THE CAR IS OLD BUT I HAVE HAD OLDER CARS THAN THIS AND NOTHING HAPPENED THIS BAD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND AND ALL POWER STEERING ABILITY WAS LOST. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. SHE THEN HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
LOSS OF STEERING, KLUNKING IN THE FRONT END, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP.. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHRYSLER INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAVE FAILED. SHE STATED THAT THE BOLTS DISPLAYED SIGNS OF CORROSION. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, IT KNOCKED DOWN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE RODS AND CAUSED HER TO LOSE COMPLETE POWER AND CONTROL OF THE STEERING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT COULD BE DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE AND/OR PART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CANNOT BE OF ASSISTANCE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 79,902.
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH FELT LOOSE PLAY IN STEERING AND BEGAN MOVING OVER TO THE SLOW LANE AND AS I DID THE STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. AFTER I STOPPED AND IN THE PRESENCE OF A HIGHWAY PATROL I TURNED THE WHEEL AND YOU COULD SEE THAT THE WHEELS DID NOT TURN AT ALL. COMPLETE FAILURE. LUCKILY SINCE I WAS MOVING RIGHT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE MY CAR WAS POINTED TOWARD THE SHOULDER AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY ON THE SHOULDER. CAR WAS TOWED TO DODGE DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION HAD SHEARED OFF. COST OF REPAIR WAS $1600. *AK
VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE. LOUD METAL CLANGING TYPE NOISE. SUDDEN LACK OF ACCELERATION. STALLING AND FAILURE OF POWER STEERING AT 45 MPH. I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM MY SON'S SCHOOL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WE ALMOST CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. FORTUNATELY I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN ENOUGH CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO SOMEWHAT SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN GEAR, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE STEERING RACK BOLTS CAME OUT FOR THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FUSES HAVE BLOWN FIVE TIMES AND THE BRAKE AND INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STEERING POORLY AND THEREFORE, IT WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE RACK WAS BROKEN AND IT WAS REPLACED. NOW, WHILE DRIVING 3MPH THE WHEELS TOW IN AND THE TIE RODS MOVE TO THE CENTER OF THE RACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR BY THE PRIOR REPLACEMENT OF THE RACK AND PINION.
SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 2.7 LITER INTREPID. FIRST, PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD. SENT TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSTICS CAME BACK 'WITHIN PARAMETERS'. TOLD IT MUST BE HOW WE DRIVE IT. SINCE THEN, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 2/3 GEARS. LEFT ME STRANDED OUT OF TOWN. HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE TWICE ($35.00 PART). KEEP A SPARE IN THE GLOVE BOX JUST IN CASE. SECOND PROBLEM, A CLUNKING SOUND AND TICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THEY WOULDN'T TOUCH IT. HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED OR SEEN BY DEALER. HOWEVER, I HAVE SEEN MANY TSB'S ON YOUR WEBSITE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. THIRD, ENGINE STARTING MAKING A BANGING SOUND AT ABOUT 126K. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED (BOUGHT A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE) AT A COST OF $5000.00, WAS TOLD SOMETHING IN THE BOTTOM END WENT. COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY NEW CAR AND HAVE CAR PAYMENT. ONLY HAD 6 MORE PAYMENTS TO GO. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON WITH THESE ENGINES. WHY IS THIS ENGINE STILL ON THE MARKET IF IT HAS SOOOO MANY PROBLEMS? *JB
DT: THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 1999 DODGE INTREPID WHEN THE CAR LOCKED, INCLUDING THE STEERING AND THE ENGINE. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS KIND WITH THIS CAR. ALSO, THE CONTACT HAS A 2000 DODGE INTREPID AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. HE REPORTED OF HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS. NO LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THERE WERE NO NOISES OR ANY WARNING. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ON THE ENGINE EXPIRED. *AK
MY 1999 DODGE INTREPID HAS HAD STEERING PROBLEMS WITH CLUNCKING, STICKING AND PLAY IN THE STEERING. ON 7/22/2005 THE STEERING STUCK SO BAD THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL AND ENDED UP IN THE LANE OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING WHICH I HAVE RESEARCH IS A MAJOR FALIURE IN THE DODGE INTREPID AND A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE.
WHILE OPERATING MY 1999 DODGE INTREPID W.BOUND ON A CITY STREET IN PHILADELPHIA I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL STUCK FORCING ME INTO THE NORTH BOUND LANE. I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. FORTUNATLEY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC IN THAT NORTH BOUND LANES OR I AM CERTAIN I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER I PURCHSED THE VEHICLE FROM, SINCE THE CAR HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY WARRANTY WAS UP AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. SINCE I AM RETIRED AND COULD NOT YET AFFORD TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED IT IS STILL IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY WIFE WHO WAS IN THE AUTO AT THE TIME, REFUSES TO GET BACK INTO THE CAR.
AS OF 02/18/2005 I STARTED TO FEEL A SLIGHT BINDING IN THE STEERING WHEN TRYING TO RETURN WHEEL TO CENTER FROM A TURN. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE I OCCASIONALLY HAD TO "WRESTLE" THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE CENTER POSITION. IT ALSO FEELS LOOSE, SUSPENSION RATTLES AND I'VE GOT 4 INCHES OF PLAY AT CENTER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $1300 TO FIX. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN ALL OF THE YEARS I'VE OWNED CARS AND THINK THIS IS JUST A POOR DESIGN THAT CHRYSLER IS KEEPING MUTE ABOUT. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE BABYED IT EVER SINCE. IT HAS LESS THAT 60,000 MILES ON IT; I'VE OWN OTHER MANUFACTURERS THAT HAVE LASTED FOR A LOT LONGER. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR THAT HAS BEEN AS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AS THIS. IIF CHRYSLER FAILS TO ACT ON THIS PROBLEM IT WILL BE THE LAST TIME THEY GET MY BUSINESS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE TURNING RIGHT THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE STEERING AND THE TIRES WERE NO LONGER PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING ROD WAS BENT. *SC *JB
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN POWER STEERING FAILED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IDLER PULLEY BEARING DETERIORATED AND STEERING PUMP FAILED. *AK
POWER STEERING WENT OUT THEN THE ENGINE SEIZED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS RACK AND PINION. *AK THE REPLACEMENT OF PRESSURE HOSE AND PUMP DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *LA
IN THE FALL OF 2001, WE BOUGHT A CERTIFIED USED CAR FROM CONTINENTAL AUTO MALL. IT IS A 1999 DODGE INTREPID. A SERVICE AGREEMENT ON THE CAR WAS ALSO PURCHASED. THE FOLLOWING HAS THEREAFTER TAKEN PLACE: THE TIMING CHAIN IDLER BROKE IN MARCH OF 2002. CONTINENTAL FIXED THE CAR UNDER SERVICE AGREEMENT. 67 MILES LATER, THE CAR DIED WITH MY DAUGHTER AND WIFE 7 MILES FROM HOME. IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO CONTINENTAL AUTO MALL. WE ASKED WHAT HAPPENED AND WERE TOLD THAT THE OIL PUMP SCREEN WAS PLUGGED UP. WE ASKED FROM WHAT AND THEY SAID FROM THE FIBERS FROM THE TIMING CHAIN IDLER. FROM MY FATHER'S LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN MECHANIC WORK, THE OIL PUMP SCREEN BEING CLOGGED FROM FIBERS FROM THE CHAIN IDLER MEANT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT FLUSHED. SO FOR 67 MILES AFTER THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPAIRED, THESE FIBERS WERE GOING THROUGH THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY CLOGGING THE OIL PUMP SCREEN. THE OIL PRESSURE MUST HAVE BECOME SO LOW THAT A SAFETY SWITCH SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SAFETY SWITCH SHUT THE ENGINE OFF SO THAT THE LOW PRESSURE WOULDN?T FURTHER DAMAGE THE ENGINE. REPAIRS WERE AGAIN MADE BY CONTINENTALS SHOP. UNTIL THESE TWO INCIDENTS, WE WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE CAR. AFTER WE GOT THE CAR BACK AFTER THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THIS IS WHAT WE NOTICED: 1. THE ENGINE DIDN?T SEEM AS QUIET WHEN RUNNING. 2. IT NEEDED A QUART OF OIL THE FIRST WEEK. 3. BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, WE HAD TO ADD OIL 2-3 TIMES. BEFORE IT HAD NEVER USED ANY OIL. OTHER THAN ADDING OIL, WE DIDN?T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL THE POWER STEERING BELT IDLER BROKE THE 2ND WEEK IN AUGUST OF 2003. OUR MECHANIC, JOHN RICKMAN OF JOHN?S AUTO IN GIRARD, SHOWED US THE BRACKET FROM THE IDLER. THE BRACKET IS A FIVE-BOLT BRACKET, WHICH HAD ONLY TWO BOLTS IN IT, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THOSE TWO BOLTS HAVE BEEN WORKING. ON AUGUST 20, 2003, I PARKED THE CAR AT A FLOWER SHOP IN GIRARD. I CAME BACK TO THE CAR TO GO HOME AND THE CAR WOULDN?T START.
MY NAME IS [XXX], THE FOUNDER OF THIS WEBSITE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED RIDICULOUS PREMATURE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION AND STEERING PROBLEMS WITH A LOW MILEAGE '99 DODGE INTREPID AND EXPERIENCED STEERING, TRANSMISSION, ABS PROBLEMS AND OTHER ISSUES WITH A BRAND NEW 2002 DODGE INTREPID. YOU WILL FIND MY PERSONAL STORY OF THE NIGHTMARE I HAD WITH BOTH VEHICLES, PICTURES AND THE STORY OF MY '99 ACCIDENT AFTER SUDDEN POOR STEERING CONTROL AND MORE. SINCERELY, [XXX] EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: WWW.DAIMLERCHRYSLERVEHICLEPROBLEMS.COM ADDRESS: PO BOX 2021, SAN LEANDRO, CA 94577 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CONSUMER STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WAS A LOT OF PLAY. CONSUMER SAYS THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL . *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO STATED THE GEAR HAD WORN OUT, THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. *JB *NLM
THE FRONT POWER WINDOWS FELL DOWN WITHOUT USING THE CONTROLS. *NLM THERE WERE FUSE/WIRING SHORTAGES, HEADLIGHT/INTERIOR LIGHT FLICKERED WITHOUT WARNING, THE BELTS, MAIN POWER TRAIN, A/C BELT, AND THE COMPRESSOR CAUGHT FIRE AND THE POWER STEERING HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. *SCC THE DOORS DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. *JB *PH
RACK AND PINION SHOT ON MY 99 INTREPID WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES. A SERIOUS PLAY TO THE LEFT AND AN INTENSE RATTLING SOUND IN THE FRONT END ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP OR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 10 MILES, ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING. HEADLIGHTS ALSO CAME ON BY THEMSELVES AND COULD NOT GET WARM AIR OUT OF THE HEATER WITHOUT HAVING THE ACCELERATOR PRESSED. *LA
I HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK ON MY 1999 INTREPID AFTER ONLY 27,000 MILES. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY IN IT, AND SEVERAL TIMES WOULD NOT GO IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH I WAS TURNING.THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THIS, OR TO PREVENT IT. HE HAS REPACED RACKS AT 80,000 TO 100,000 MILES, BUT NEVER AS LOW AS 27,000 MILES. HE SAID THE INTERNAL GEARS WERE ALL WORN OUT. I WAS CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND ANY PASSENGERS IN A CAR THAT LOSES IT' STEERING. CHRYSLER DID WANT TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. THEY SAID THE WARRANTY WAS UP.THEY ONLY REGRETED I HAD A PROBLEM .I CANNOT BELIEVE THE LACK OF CONCERN FOR SUCH A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS BEYOND ANY TYPE OF NORMAL MAINTAINENCE CONTROL. THIS GIVES ME GREAT CONCERN WHEN CONSIDERING ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. IT COST OVER $1300.00 TO REPAIR.
THIS IS FOR MY MOTHER. MY MOTHER PURCHASED A 1999 DODGE INTREPID NEW AT INTEGRITY CHRYSLER,PLYMOUTH, DODGE. THE COMPLAINT IS THAT SHE WENT TOO TURN THE CORNER AND HER FRONT END LOCKED UP. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE RACK & PINION SNAPPED IN TWO. MY MOTHERS CAR ONLY HAS 14,460 MILES ON IT. SHE TOOK THE CAR TOO THE DEALERSHIP (WHICH IS NOW CALLED GROGANS TOWNE CHRYSLER) SHE TOLD THEM THAT SHE HAD A WARRANTY WITH $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. THE WARRANTY WAS THROUGH A COMPANY CALLED PROTECTIVE. GROGANS CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY INFORMATION ON THIS AND CHARGED HER $1251.54. SHE DUG OUT HER CONTRACT AND SHOWED THEM , IT DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD, SHE ALSO CALLED PROTECTIVE AND THEY SAID THAT SHE MAY OR MAY NOT RECEIVE ANY OR POSSIBLY A PARTIAL OF HER MONEY BACK. SOMEBODY'S NOT WARRANTING THERE WARRANTY AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MY MOTHER. ALL SHE WANTS IS HER MONEY BACK.*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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