2000 Dodge Intrepid Suspension Problems

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING STALL, FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE FREE FROM ENGINE CRADLE RESULTING IN TOTAL IMMOBILIZATION OF VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE MOUNTING BRACKET WHICH IS WELDED TO THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT CAUSING FAILURE. SIMILAR FAILURES ON OLDER MODELS HAVE HAD NHTSA RECALLS, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 99V215000, ISSUED DUE TO LOSS OF POWER OR CONTROL RESULTING IN A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE FOR WEAR PARTS SUCH AS BRAKES, SHOCKS AND SUSPENSION JOINTS TO FAIL DUE TO USE AND MILEAGE BUT FRAME MEMBERS SHOULD BE MADE SOLID AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURER TO ENSURE LONG TERM RELIABILITY.

NHTSA ID

10383868

Incident

Feb 11, 2011

Mileage

113,410 mi

MY WELL MAINTAINED DODGE INTREPID HAS MANY FAILURES STARTING WITH THE CRACKING ON THE CHASIS AND MASSIVE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278381

Incident

Nov 13, 2008

Mileage

130,000 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

CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT STEERING WHEEL HAVING A 3 INCH PLAY WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN DRIVING 15 MPH OR MORE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091948

Incident

Aug 13, 2004

Mileage

25,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM REAR. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072161

Incident

May 5, 2004

ENGINE IN 2000 CHRYSLER INTREPID STARTED TAPPING NOISE AT 58017KM BROUGHT TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT, TOLD THEY WOULD NOT TAKE ENGINE APART TO CHECK NOISE. I TOLD THEM I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE 2.7 ENGINE HAD PROBLEMS WITH SLUDGE THAT PREVENTED THE OIL FROM CIRCULATING PROPERLY. THEY STILL REFUSED TO CHECK ENGINE. AT JUST OVER 62000 KM ENGINE BECAME NOISY. BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER WHO KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS, THEN TOLD ME ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6500.00 AND THERE WOULD BE NO WARRANTY COVERAGE OR GOODWILL. I GAVE THEM A COMPLETE HISTORY OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWING THAT PROPER MAINTENANCE WAS DONE WITH IN THE REQUIRED MILEAGE AND TIME. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE INVOICES DO NOT CLEARLY IDENTIFY MY 2000 BLACK INTREPID AND THAT IT COULD OF BEEN ANOTHER CAR. I ONLY OWN ONE 2000 INTREPID. THE INVOICE SHOWS THE WORK THE MILEAGE AND MY NAME AND DATE. NEXT ME THEY TOLD ME THE INVOICE NUMBERS WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE WORK WAS DONE AT FOUR DIFFERENT GARAGES. THEN THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS SLUDGE THAT SHOWED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THEN THEY ASKED ME THE BRAND OF OIL THE GARAGES USED AS IT MAY HAVE BEEN FAULTY. END RESULT IS THAT THEY REFUSE TO CHANGE THEIR POSITION IN REGARDS TO WARRANTY COVERAGE OR GOODWILL REPAIRS AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE AN ENGINE THAT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MAY 2001. I AM FRUSTRATED AND DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ID

10071392

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

58,017 mi

SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON OCTOBER OF 1999, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 31 TIMES TO FIX THINGS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR 100 DAYS. I HAVE PAID OUT OF POCKET $3,137.64. I AM NOW ON AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I STILL OWE $8,000.00 ON MY CAR. IT HAS 60,000 MILES. I HAVE MAINTAINED IT EVERY 3,000 MILES AS SUGGESTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I ONLY USE 97 OCTANE GAS. I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER. I TAKE CARE OF THE CAR BUT THE CAR HAS LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAYS PUTTING MY LIFE AND THE LIVES OF MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER. I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN AND WHERE SO I AM ALWAYS UNDER TERRIBLE STRESS. I PRAY AS I DRIVE THAT I MAKE IT TO MY DESTINATION. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE BLOWING. MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS DRIVING AND I WAS THE PASSENGER ON SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY (US1) IN SOUTH MIAMI WHEN WE WERE AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN STARTED TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, NOISES, OR ANYTHING THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE LANE. WE HAD TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE. IT WAS RUSH HOUR AND THIS HIGHWAY IS FILLED WITH VERY AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS. THEY WERE ALL CURSING, BEEPING, SIGNALING, AND DRIVING SO CLOSE TO US AS TO ALMOST TOUCH US. I WAS PETRIFIED. I THOUGHT A CAR WAS GOING TO HIT US. I PAID FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR OUT OF MY POCKET, BECAUSE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TOLD THE DEALER THEY COULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILD UP. THEY SEND AN ADJUSTOR WHO REPORTED IT TO THEM. THE DEALER TOLD US TO FIGHT IT BECAUSE THE SLUDGE WAS NORMAL FOR THAT TYPE OF ENGINE. WE PROVIDED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ALL THE RECEIPTS FOR THE MAINTENANCE THAT WE RELIGIOUSLY DID ABOUT EVERY 3000 MILES. WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER MECHANIC GO IN AND LOOK AT THE CAR. THE OTHER MECHANIC SAID THAT THESE TYPES OF ENGINES ALWAYS HAD THE PROBLEM OF SLUDGE BUILD UP AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE ENGINE AND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD COVER IT.

NHTSA ID

10071035

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053554

Incident

Dec 29, 2003

Mileage

37,000 mi

THE SHOCKS AND COOLING FAN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN A STRAIGHT PATH ALTHOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT. THE RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. *JB *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID

10009307

Incident

Feb 21, 2003

Mileage

54,500 mi

WHEN DRIVING UP THE HILL THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE, LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THE NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10034242

Mileage

41,000 mi

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE INTREPID, PURCHASED AT 54,000 MILES. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ROAR VERY BAD, A/C WENT OUT NEEDS EVAPORATOR, AND THE CAR RARELY STARTS UNLESS YOU ROCK THE WHOLE CAR, I AM VERY DISPLEASED AND NO ONE WILL TRADE IT IN , WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT AND I RAN OFF THE ROAD. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023525

Incident

May 1, 2003

Mileage

54,000 mi

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE. WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY FELT VIBRATION INSIDE OF STEERING WHEEL.*AK

NHTSA ID

8010619

Incident

May 1, 2002

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING 70MPH. ACCIDENT DAMAGED RIGHT FRONT CORNER PANEL, EVERY THING ELECTRICAL WAS KNOCKED OUT, AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, 2-3 INCH CREASE RIGHT UNDERNEATH LEFT HEAD LIGHT. SINCE ACCIDENT FUEL EMISSIONS LIGHT HAS BEEN OFF AND ON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES SINCE FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FUEL EMISSIONS LEAK, CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PUT ON GAS CAP. *AK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT, THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FUEL EMISSIONS LEAKS. FINALLY, A BROKEN FUEL LINE WAS FOUND AND WAS FIXED. *YH

NHTSA ID

885120

Incident

Oct 2, 2000

EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING SYSTEM, CREATED A LOOSE STEERING FEEL, WHICH REQUIRES OVER CORRECTIONS AND DIRECTIONAL WANDERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. CJ

NHTSA ID

559624

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH BACK END WAS WEAVING, NEXT DAY AT 70 MPH VEHICLE WAS FISHTAILING, CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL OVER AND VEHICLE WENT ON IT OWN ,WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENTAND MADE 180 DEGRESS TURN AND THEN VEHICLE STOPPED BUT ENGINE DID NOT STOP RUNNING. HAD VEHICLE TOWED OUT OF MUD AND DROVE TO DEALER WHO FOUND THAT A STRUT WAS BENT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

879170

Incident

Jan 19, 2001

VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ID

861988

Incident

Feb 28, 2000