2000 Dodge Intrepid Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN TURNING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND ALL LIGHTS, METERS, AND GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10715019

Incident

Feb 24, 2015

Mileage

135,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND APPROACHED MY EXIT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO CONTROL THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY HITTING SOME BRUSH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NO DAMAGE OR INJURIES WERE INCURRED, BUT THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING! NOW, THE STEERING IS STILL GETTING STUCK ON TURNS AND I HAVE NO HORN! THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOW SHOWING AND I DON'T KNOW WHATS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. NO WARNINGS, OR RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE, AND THERE A MANY CONCERNS OF OTHERS GOING THROUGH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *JS

NHTSA ID

10458284

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

191,963 mi

MY 2000 INTREPID S ENGINE BLEW UP 2 YEARS AGO AND AGAIN 2DAYS AGO THERE WAS NO WARNING. MASTER CYLINDER IS FAILING AND THE STEERING PIN BROKE IN THE CAR AND LEFT ME HELPLESS I ENDED UP IN A DITCH. I CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY PAST 7 YEARS AND ITS ONLY BEEN 2. *JS

NHTSA ID

10455935

Incident

Apr 17, 2012

Mileage

150 mi

VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING WHICH CAUSES CAR TO WANDER WHILE DRIVING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTING WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND MAKES ME A LITTLE LEARY ABOUT DRIVING IT AT ALL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROMBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I WONDER WHY THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAY SAFETY HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10448471

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

2000 DODGE INTREPID, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND, WHEN HIS RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE CAUSING HIM TO GO OFF TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY STRIKING THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0344-91)*JB UPDATED 08/06/10 *BF

NHTSA ID

10345513

Incident

Jun 14, 2010

2000 DODGE INTREPID THE POWER STEERING STARTED ACTING UP, PROBLEM'S LIKE WINING AND HARD TO STEER AT TIMES. THAN FINALLY IT WENT OUT ALL TOGETHER WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL SHOP AFTER TWO POWER PUMPS AND A NEW STEERING RACK-N-PINION THE MECHANIC STILL COULDN'T FIGURE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.WHEN HE CALLED AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE HE COULD DO ABOUT THE STEERING PROBLEM AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING IT TO STEER SO HARD,SO HE TOLD US TO COME AND GET THE !@#$%'THING OUT OF HIS SIGHT ! SO THAT'S WHEN I WENT ON LINE AND READ ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEM'S EVERYONE ELSE WAS HAVING AND ALSO CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS ON WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. (THE WRONG FLUID IN RES.)SO NOW THAT I DRAINED THE FLUID AND FLUSHED ALL THE LINES A COUPLE TIMES THE THING WORKS FINE . *TR

NHTSA ID

10310043

Incident

Jan 26, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. CAR STARTED SHAKING SO WE PULLED OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE INNER TIE ROD BUSHINGS WERE COMPLETELY GONE WITH JUST THE BOLT AND WASHER HOLDING THE TIE ROD ON THE STEERING RACK. HAD TO REPLACE THE INNER TIE RODS, BUT STILL NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK.

NHTSA ID

10276423

Incident

Jul 3, 2009

Mileage

160,000 mi

BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN 2000 DODGE INTREPID ES WITH 140K MILES, THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING IN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE BOLT THAT SECURES THE TIE ROD TO THE RACK AND PINION HAD COMPLETELY PULLED OUT OF THE RACK AND PINION. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT HAVE THE PART REPLACED, SO I STILL HAVE THE OLD PART. I HAVE PARKED THE CAR AND REFUSE TO DRIVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268276

Incident

May 7, 2009

Mileage

140,364 mi

THE 2000 DODGE INTREPID ES 3.2L MODEL HAS A RACK AND PINION PROBLEM. MINE STARTED AROUND MAY OF 05 AT ABOUT 63,000 MILES. IT STARTED OUT JUST AS A CLUNKING NOISE. I HAD REPLACED ALL KINDS OF PARTS WITHIN THE PAST FEW YEARS LIKE LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS, INNER TIE RODS (TWICE), FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, ETC., THINKING THAT THE NOISE WOULD BE FIXED. AFTER ALL THAT WAS REPLACED ON THIS CAR, I FIGURED THAT THE CAR WAS JUST MADE THAT WAY. AS OF THIS YEAR, THE STEERING STARTED MAKING A LOUDER CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS. AT THIS POINT IT JUST KEEPS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. I'VE HAD THIS LOOKED AT TWICE BY DIFFERENT MECHANICS. THE DEALER IN PITTSBURGH SAYS THAT THE REPLACEMENT IS $875.00 (WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR) AND THAT IT IS ON BACK ORDER AND THAT THE REMANUFACTURED ONES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH MANY CHYRYSLER/DODGE VEHICLES. IT SEEMS ALOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOU. THE ONE SITE IS: HTTP://WWW.DONTBUYDODGECHRYSLERVEHICLES.COM/DODGE_CHRYSLER_STEERING_PROBLEMS.HTM THERE WAS ANOTHER SITE THAT I CONTACTED EARLIER THIS YEAR (WWW.DODGECHRYSLERSTEERINGPROBLEMS.COM) (WHICH AS I LOOKED TODAY ARE NO LONGER THERE) AND THEY SAID TO CONTACT YOU WHICH I AM DOING. PLEASE REPLY TO THIS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID MY YEAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM! GUESS WHAT... IT DOES! AS I LOOK AT THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE LISTED BELOW, LUCKILY I CAN SAY I DON'T HAVE TO CLICK ON YES TO ANY OF THEM OR TO PUT IN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS.....AND HOPEFULLY I WON'T NEED TO. BUT FROM WHAT I'M SEEING, MY DAYS ARE NUMBERED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250635

Incident

May 1, 2005

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE INTREPID. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WOULD NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL BACK MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD INTERNAL PLAY AND THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 1900101 (STEERING). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,445. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF UPDATED 10/06/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10240174

Incident

Aug 28, 2008

Mileage

67,445 mi

NOTICED PLAY IN STEERING GETTING WORSE AS TIME WENT ON SO I WENT TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED AND COMPLETE ALIGNMENT DONE ON VEHICLE. THEY REPLACED THE TIRES BUT REFUSED TO DO AN ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THEY SAID THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN THE INNER TIERODS AND THAT THE STEERING GEAR MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OF 300.00 FOR EACH INNER TIEROD AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO FIND A DIFFERENT SHOP TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT. CAR STILL DRIFTS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND THE STEERING STILL HAS PLAY. I REFUSE TO HAVE MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THIS DEATH TRAP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10207627

Incident

Oct 31, 2007

Mileage

117,400 mi

VEHICLE INFORMATION: 98,975 MILES ON THE CAR BUSHINGS BROKE SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 TOOK THE CAR IN FOR STEERING NOISE AND ACCESSIVE SHAKING THEY WERE REPLACED AND WITHIN THAT SAME DAY THE BOLTS BROKE OFF IN MY DRIVE-WAY THAN MY MECHANIC DID HIS HOMEWORK AND FOUND THIS DEFECT ONLINE....CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE. WHAT DO WE DO??? DO WE FIX THE CAR AND PARK IT UNTIL DODGE DOES SOMETHING OR LEAVE AS IS.... PLEASE HELP.... *TR

NHTSA ID

10203442

Incident

Sep 18, 2007

Mileage

98,971 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE REPAIR SHOP PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CONTACT WAS ISSUED REFERENCE NUMBER 16542975. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10197365

Incident

Jul 10, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY 200O DODGE INTREPID HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AT ABOUT 58,000. WHENEVER I MADE A TURN LEFT OR RIGHT MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT. I WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE TO TURN IT FORCEFULLY AND IT WOULD MAKE A TERRIBLE CLUNKING AND GRINDING NOISE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AS I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND I WAS FORCED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, FORTUNATELY I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR AND NO ONE WAS ON THE EMBANKMENT AS THEY USUALLY ARE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A DODGE DEALER AND THEY ARE REPAIRING IT FOR $1067.00. THEY SAID IT IS THE STEERING GEAR AND RACK. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. I FEE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AN SHOULD BE ON A RECALL STATUS. I WAS HOPING TO PURCHASE A 300 CHRYSLER NOW I'M NOT SURE IF I WANT TO STAY WITH THIS COMPANY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162971

Incident

Jul 13, 2006

Mileage

58,000 mi

AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES TO WORK THE CAR WAS PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND WHILE STRAIGHTENING THE WHEELS A LOUD POP WAS HEARD AND THE CAR HAD NO STEERING. THE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT (2) TWO 1/2 INCH THREADED BOLTS (THAT BOLT THE TIE RODS TO THE STEERING RACK HAD SHEARED OFF. ONE OF THE TIE ROD BUSHINGS WAS GONE AND THE AREA THE BUSHING WAS IN WAS EXTREMELY WORN, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE AT 20,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY REMOVING THE RACK, BACKING OUT THE OLD BOLT ENDS AND INSTALLING NEW BOLTS. THE ONE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY OFFERED NO HELP ON THE REPAIR. THE DISTRICT REP WAS ASK TO HELP AND HE DENIED ANY HELP. (HE DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD NOT OVER RULE DETRIOT). *JB

NHTSA ID

10139179

Incident

Oct 3, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

STEERING ON CAR MAKES LOUD CLUNKING NOISES AND FREEZES/LOCKS AT LOW TO MEDIUM SPEEDS( PREVENTING ANY OPERATOR CONTROL FOR 1 TO 5 SECONDS). USUALLY SEEMS TO BE WHEN TURNING LEFT HOWEVER THAT IS NOT STEADFAST EITHER. EVEN TURNING WHEEL TO BACK CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY WILL MAKE LARGE CLUNKING SOUND IN FRONT END. SEEMS TO BE USUALLY WITHIN FIRST FIVE TO 10 MINUTES OF CAR RUNNING HOWEVER THAT IS NOT STEADFAST. THIS CAR HAS NOT CRASHED YET BUT THE POTENTIAL HAS PRESENTED ITSELF MORE THAN ONCE. AT THIS POINT I REFUSE TO LET MY SMALL CHILDREN RIDE IN CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10137269

Incident

Sep 20, 2005

Mileage

3,000 mi

I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AND NOTICED A PROBLEM ON THE WAY HOME IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AND EXTREMELY EASY TO TURN RIGHT I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED IT AGAIN THE RACK AND PINION IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10137245

Incident

Sep 19, 2005

Mileage

123,000 mi

I THOUGHT I HAD FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS INCIDENT BEFORE BUT IT DOES NOT SHOW UP IN THE SEARCHES. THE STEERING WOULD LOCK-UP WHEN TURNING TO GET THE CAR TO STRAIGHTEN OUT I WOULD HAVE TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ALL OF MY STRENGTH LATER THE STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION. I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS COMPONENT FAILING MORE THAN ONCE ON SEVERAL VEHICLES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137148

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

Mileage

52,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 DODGE INTREPID I LOST ALL STEERING THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS PART HAS FAILED THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JULY OF 2002. *NM

NHTSA ID

10137146

Incident

Sep 17, 2005

Mileage

123,000 mi

STEERING CLUNKS AND STICKS AT RANDOM WITH NO WARNING, TOLD RACK AND PINION IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS ONLY A LITTLE OVER 48,000 MILES ON IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136862

Incident

May 18, 2005

Mileage

48,000 mi

DT: ON 8-17-04 THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THE STEERING NEEDED ALIGNMENT AND THE TIE ROD ENDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT BEEN EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. THE CONSUMER HAD THE OUTER TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED AND THE FRONT END ALIGNED. AFTERWARDS, ON 9-15-04, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOO MUCH FREE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE GEAR IN THE STEERING RACK WAS WORN OUT, AND HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT HAD IT FIXED AS OF YET. THE STEERING RACK GOT MUCH WORSE AND NOW HAS TO BE MANUALLY PULLED BACK TO CENTER WHEN TURNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10136011

Incident

Aug 17, 2004

Mileage

93,335 mi

DT: 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH 60,000 MILES. THE STEERING FAILED. IT STARTED WITH A LOT OF LOOSE PLAY IN THE STEERING. WHEEL. CURRENTLY WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT THE WHEEL WAS UPSIDE DOWN. THIS PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES AGO, COMPLETE FAILURE OCCURRED ON JULY 27, 2005. THE VEHICLE BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT. IT SHOWED RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE SYMPTOMS. CHRYSLER WAS NOT WILLING TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DID NOT GO IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THE TIRES WERE RECENTLY REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS BALANCED AND ALIGNED.*AK THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131055

Incident

Jul 2, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

DT: 2000 DODGE INTREPID BOUGHT IN APRIL USED WITH 11,000 MILES. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN SHOP 9-10 TIMES, MOSTLY CONSISTING OF STEERING PROBLEMS, SUCH AS RACK AND PINION AND THE STEERING COUPLER. THERE WERE OTHER ISSUES, BUT THIS WAS THE MAIN CONCERN. ONE WEEK AGO THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, FRONT END IMPACT FOR WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. NO REPAIRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE THERE WAS OVER $6,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *AK EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE IT WAS NOT CONNECTED. THE DEALER REPOSITIONED/REASSEMBLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION BECAUSE THE SHIFT INTERLOCK CABLE BROKE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *NM

NHTSA ID

10124663

Incident

May 31, 2005

Mileage

20,000 mi

DT: WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF SET. THE STEERING LOCKED UP. AFTER DRIVING HOME THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID THE RACK AND PINION WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN. ALSO, THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING. THIS WAS GOING TO COST CONSUMER ABOUT $900.00 TO REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10125185

Incident

Jun 3, 2005

Mileage

63,500 mi

IT STARTED WITH A "SMALL" NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT END. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. AFTER 2 YEARS OF LISTENING TO THE "SMALL" NOISE, THE STEERING STARTED ACTING STRANGE. WHEN MAKING A TURN, IT WOULDN'T GO BACK TO THE CENTER. THEN IT STARTED LOCKING UP AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CENTER POSITION UNLESS I USE ALL THE STRENGTH I HAVE. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP BUT "THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING". I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DETERMINED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION STEERING IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT SOMEWHERE AROUND $1000.00. SO AS IT STANDS, I HAVE A 2000 DODGE INTREPID WITH 35,000 MILES, NO WARRANTY, AND NO HELP FROM DODGE EITHER.

NHTSA ID

10123840

Incident

May 11, 2000

Mileage

31,278 mi