2001 Dodge Intrepid Steering Problems

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT, THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL FUNCTION AND POWER. WHEN THIS OCCURS I HAVE NO POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, BRAKES, NOTHING. IT FLICKERS ON AND OFF LIKE THAT MULTIPLE TIMES. IT TOOK ME 1 1/2 HOURS TO DRIVE HOME, WHICH SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ONLY HALF HOUR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW IN FEAR THAT I WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH DODGE VEHICLES. I CAN'T DRIVE MY VAN IN FEAR IT WILL END UP KILLING MYSELF, MY FAMILY, OR SOME INNOCENT PERSON ON THE ROADWAY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. A RECALL IS NEEDED TO FIND THIS ONGOING ISSUE. THERE ISN'T A SPECIFIC DATE BUT A CONSTANT ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11363860

Incident

Sep 26, 2020

Mileage

134,865 mi

STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT AND TURNED TO THE LEFT STEERING POPPED AND THEN THERE WAS PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. PLAY GOT WORSE OVER TIME WENT TO PAYTON DODGE IN CLINTON THEY REPLACED TIEROD ON LEFT AND HAD CAR BALANCED GOT CAR BACK IT WAS WORSE INFORMED THEM, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PICK THE CAR UP NEVER DID AND AFTER 2 WEEKS TOOK CAR TO ANOTHER GARAGE WHERE I ALMOST GOT RUN OVER BY A BIG TRUCK BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT HARDLY TURN TO THE LEFT ON SHARP TURNS AND WAS MAKING POPPING NOISE THE RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THINK BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF DODGE AND THE RACK AND PINION PAYTON DODGE DID NOT WANT TO WORK ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10418888

Incident

Jun 27, 2011

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000.

NHTSA ID

10412260

Incident

Jul 13, 2011

Mileage

57,000 mi

THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ON MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID R/T STARTED MAKING THIS CREAKING AND CRACKING SOUND IT DOES IT 100% OF THE TIME I'M DRIVING THE DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WE TOOK IT IN A SECOND TIME AND THEY SAID THE STEERING RACK HAD FAILED AND THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY FIXED IT DROVE THE CAR NO MORE THAN 100 MILES AND THE SAME CREAKING AND CRACKING SOUND WAS BACK I FEAR FOR OUR LIVES BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD LOTS OF REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THESE CARS AND YET DODGE HAS YET TO HAVE A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM I FOUND THIS INFORMATION AT WWW.CHRYSLERVEHICLEPROBLEMS.COM I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10230995

Incident

Feb 21, 2007

Mileage

45,880 mi

I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT TRAVELING 30 MILES PER HOUR IN MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID ES. MY RIGHT FONT TIRE SOMEHOW SNAPPED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT COURSE AND DID NOT HIT ANY DEBRIS OR POTHOLES WHILE ON THE ROAD. I HAD NO CONTROL OF ANY STEERING WHILE IT HAPPENED AND CRASHED INTO AND ONCOMING CAR AT 30MPH AS I SAID I HAD MY SEATBELT ON AND HIT THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE OPPOSING VEHICLE. THE RESULT WAS A 4 INCH GASH IN MY FOREHEAD FROM THE B BAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SEATBELT DIDN'T PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ADJUSTED TO PROPER SHOULDER HEIGHT AND PULLED TIGHT AROUND MY WAIST. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE CAR AT ALL. AS A RESULT I SUFFERED INJURIES RESULTING IN THE PAYMENT OF $2900 TO MY LOCAL HOSPITAL AND AMBULANCE BUSINESS. THE VEHICLE HAD PASSED AN INSPECTION JUST A COUPLE MONTHS EARLIER HAD A TUNEUP AND INSPECTION FOR WORN JBALL JOINTS FITTINGS WIRES HOSES AND WIRES AND BOLTS WHICH COST A LARGE SUM OF MONEY. A FEW MINOR PARTS WERE REPLACED AND THE CAR WAS DEEMED TO BE IN SAFE WORKING ORDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230272

Incident

May 28, 2007

Mileage

92,000 mi

THIS CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN OFF THE HIGHWAY MOSTLY. WHEN TAKEN TO THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE PLAY; ABOUT A QUARTER TURN TO EACH SIDE, LEFT AND RIGHT. ID DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT IT NEARLY DID. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WHERE THE CAR IS TAKEN MANY TRUCKS ALSO COMMUTE AND THE EXCESSIVE PLAY THROWS THE CAR ONTO ADJACENT LANES OR THE SEPARATING BARRIER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228379

Incident

May 20, 2008

Mileage

102 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE DRIVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT EITHER THE RACK AND PINION OR AN UNKNOWN COMPONENT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE SOME CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10201037

Incident

Aug 27, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

FIRST THING IS THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED. GOT IT REPAIRED AND THEN TIE ROD FELL OFF. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND JUST CUT OFF. GOT IT OFF THE ROAD BUT IT WOULD NOT START AFTER THAT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 75,435 MILES ON IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173242

Incident

Mar 8, 2004

Mileage

75,435 mi

STEERING BECAME VERY PROBLEMATIC STARTING IN JULY 2006. WHEN TURNING THE CAR, THERE WERE CATCHES WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE PROBLEM HAS GROWN WORSE. THE CAR WAS SERVICED IN EARLY AUGUST WHEN THE SHOP DIAGNOSED IT AND REPLACED THE TIE RODS. THAT DID NOT FIX IT AND WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE STEERING GEAR RACK ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL NEAR-MISSES AS THE STEERING LOCKS WHEN MAKING TURNS IN PARKING LOTS OR TIGHT SPACES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171322

Incident

Aug 12, 2006

Mileage

96,000 mi

I NOTICED A PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 42,000 MILES. AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES I NOTICED THAT STEERING WHEEL WOULD "GET CAUGHT" ON SOMETHING WHILE TRYING TO BRING IT BACK TO ITS NORMAL POSITION AFTER TURNING, AND CLICKING WHILE GETTING OVER WHATEVER WAS CATCHING IT. AT THE SAME TIME RATTLING IN THE FRONT END CAME ALONG WHILE DRIVING ON UNEVEN SURFACES - LIKE A DIRT ROAD, BUMPS, HOLES ON THE ROAD. AT 46,000 MILES I WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING RACK ASAP BEFORE I LOOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER MY CAR ON THE ROAD AND HURT ME/SOMEBODY ELSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166982

Incident

Jun 5, 2006

Mileage

46,000 mi

POWER STEERING PUMP ON MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID WITH 46,000 MILES IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155459

Incident

Apr 9, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 4/14/2006 - THE STEERING PROBLEM BEGAN ON 1/05 AND FLUCTUATED BETWEEN BEING STIFF WHEN MAKING TURN TO BEING VERY LOOSE WHEN MAKING TURN. EVENTUALLY THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON 3/28/05. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154276

Incident

Mar 28, 2006

Mileage

33,700 mi

201 DODGE INTREPID: INNER TIE RODS WORN AT APPROX. 70,000 MILES. ALONG WITH RACK AND PINION LEAKING FLUID. CAUSED SEVER PROBLEMS WITH STEERING AND CAR CONTROL. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAID I SHOULD NOT BEING DRIVING CAR BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL STEERING CONTROL LOSS. SET APPOINTMENT TO HAVE INNER TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED AND RACK AND PINION AND WOULD NOTIFIED THAT IT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR WEEKS. 1999 CHRYSLER CONCORD: SAME EXACT PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT ONLY COMPLETE STEERING BOX RATHER THAN RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED WITH REPLACEMENT OF INNER TIE ROD ENDS. ALSO, BOTH DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKES PREMATURELY WORE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PASSENGER SIDE WAS FINE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10147866

Incident

Nov 19, 2005

Mileage

69,000 mi

LTR SEEKING STATUS OF COMPLAINT FILED W/ODI RE DEFECTS OF THE STEERING RACK ON HIS 2001 DODGE INTREPID, REPLY TO CONSTITUENT/COPY JOHN LEITCH/WASH. DC, REF ES05-006486 /S/ HARRINGTON 8/11/05. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID

10142116

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

Mileage

50,000 mi

FAXED COPY OF EMAIL FM JOHN BRZOSTOWSKI (MD) SEEK STATUS OF COMPLAINT FILED W/ODI RE DEFECTS OF THE STEERING RACK ON HIS 2001 DODGE INTREPID.*MR *JB

NHTSA ID

10131304

Incident

Jan 17, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

DT: PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO, THE STEERING WAS LOOSE. WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 5-10 DEGREES IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE STEERING SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND. THEN, THE VEHILCE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE OWNER WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET HELP FROM CHRYSLER, BUT THEY WERE NOT OFFERING HELP. OWNER NOTICED UPON INVESTIGATION THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WITH THIS CONCERN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10126058

Incident

May 20, 2005

Mileage

34,100 mi

I HAVE A STEERING PROBLEM WITH MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID. A MECHANIC SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING RACK. IT "STICKS AND BINDS UP ON LEFT TURNS". FOR A FAIRLY NEW CAR WITH NOT THAT MANY MILES ON IT I BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE MECHANICS NAME IS [XXX]AND HIS NUMBER IS [XXX]. JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10118349

Incident

Oct 12, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

I BELIEVE THE STEERING MECHANISM IN MY INTREPID IS DEFECTIVE. I CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ALMOST ONE HALF TURN WITHOUT TURNING THE CAR. BILL SMITH, SERVICE MANAGER, BAY AREA TIRE AND SERVICE CENTER, GLEN BURNIE, MARYLAND, HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR AND BELIEVES THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING RACK, WHICH HE SAYS MUST BE REPLACED. HIS PHONE NUMBER IS (410) 969-0701. BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ AND DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. SMITH AND OTHER AUTOMOBILE MECHANICS, I BELIEVE THAT SUCH A PROBLEM IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE MATERIALS, WORKMANSHIP, OR DESIGN. SIMPLY, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE FOUND IN AN AUTOMOBILE WITH ONLY 57,000 MILES. IT WILL COST ABOUT $700.00 TO REPAIR THE STEERING IN MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

10106497

Incident

Jan 17, 2005

WHILE DRIVING, POWER STEERING COLUMN WENT OUT. *BF THE REAR POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097689

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

WHILE STEERING, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097316

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

WE HAVE A 2001 DODGE INTREPID ES 4 MONTHS OFF WARRANTY THAT NEEDS A COMPLETE RACK N PINION REPLACEMENT. AFTER NOTICING A LACK OF MOBILITY ON CORNERS, WE PURCHASED NEW TIRES (HEY NEVER THOUGHT IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS HUGE A DEFECT AS THIS) AFTER THEY SHOWED SOME WEAR AND WINTER IS COMING. MANUEVERABILITY ON CORNERS BECAME WORSE AND MY HUSBAND TOOK IT IN TO OUR DEALER TODAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A COMPLETE RACK N PINION, STEERING STABILIZERS, AND BUSHINGS. THIS CAR HAS 38,000 MILES ON!!! AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, IT SEEMS VERY BLATANT THAT IT SHOULD BE A DEFECT ON THESE AUTOMOBILES OR AT A MINIMUM A WARRANTY ITEM. I WILL NEVER LET MY TEENAGER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND AFTER GETTING IT REPAIRED WILL TRADE IT. IT IS A SHAME THAT IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE MANY ACCIDENTS AND GOD FORBID DEATHS BEFORE EITHER NHTSA OR DODGE WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10093208

Incident

Sep 27, 2004

Mileage

37,800 mi

I WAS TURNING CORNER, GOING APPROX. 5 MPH, WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, I COULDN'T STEER THE CAR AT ALL. I ENDED UP 1/2 IN THE DITCH 1/2 IN THE STREET. I HAD TO PUT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP, BUT HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. WE CALLED DOUGLAS IN CLINTON, IL. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A LOANER CAR AND WERE GOING TO LOOK AT IT FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING. THEY NOTIFIED MY HUSBAND AT WORK, MONDAY AND TOLD HIM THAT THE RACK & PINION HAD BROKE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE PART, REMANUFACTURED WAS $300.00 NEW WAS $800.00. THEY FINALLY GOT PART IN ON FRIDAY AND I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR BACK THAT EVENING. TOTAL REPAIR BILL WAS $640.72. THAT INCLUDED PART,LABOR, TAXES AND REALIGMENT. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10091274

Incident

Sep 10, 2004

WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, AND THE HORN BECAME INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10092697

Incident

Aug 10, 2004

JULY, 2004, I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 DODGE INTREPID WHEN I MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO THE RIGHT. IT HAPPENED TWICE AS I TURNED INTO INTERSECTIONS SAME DAY. HAD THERE BEEN A VEHICLE IN THE OPPOSITE LANE, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO RECOURSE BUT TO CRASH IN TO IT. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE INSIDE LANE! THIS WAS A SUNDAY..TOOK CAR TO DODGE REPAIR SHOP EARLY MONDAY MORNING AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BUSHINGS. 4 DAYS LATER, WAS TOLD AFTER THE BUSHINGS WERE PUT IN, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM...THAT IT WAS NEEDING A NEW RACK! THE BUSHING REPAIR WAS $426.46. THE REPAIRMAN TOLD ME THAT IN HIS OPINION, A RACK SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AS WAS THE CASE IN MY VEHICLE. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. THE DODGE REPAIR MAN EVEN CALLED THEM AND THEY REFUSED HIM, BECAUSE IN MY FRUSTRATION AFTER THEY DECLINED MY REQUEST I HAD USED THE WORD "[XXX]" AND "[XXX]" IN THE CONVERSATION. WHICH IS BESIDE THE POINT, AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE...WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ME A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT! MY CAR WAS FINALLY REPAIRED AFTER BEING IN THE SHOP 3 WEEKS (THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AS I AM A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD) AND I WAS CHARGED A TOTAL OF $823.48 FOR THE BUSHINGS AND A REBUILT RACK! SHIELDS MOTORS IN CHANUTE MAY STILL HAVE THE OLD PART, I AM UNSURE. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RECALLING THEIR VEHICLES AFTER RESEARCHING AND FINDING SEVERAL OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE THE STEERING HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS, ETC. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10090461

Incident

Jul 11, 2004

Mileage

49,984 mi

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10083213

Incident

Jul 9, 2004