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 2002 Dodge Intrepid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, HE HEARD A POP. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE RACK AND PINION BOLTS HAVE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. AP
MY PREGNANT WIFE WAS LEAVING A FRIENDS WEDDING WITH MY THREE YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, SHE WAS TURNING AROUND ON A SIDE STREET SHE LOST ALL STEERING I WAS THERE IN A SEPARATE CAR I WENT OUT AND CHECKED FOR THE PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT BOTH BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE INNER TIE RODS TO THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAD BEEN BROKEN COMPLETELY. THIS IS MY WIFE'S DAILY DRIVER SHE HAS IT ON THE FREEWAY EVERYDAY. *TR
STEERING PROBLEMS 2002 DODGE INTREPID. STEERING GEAR REPLACED AT APPROX 60,000 MILES THEN INNER TIE ROD BUSHINGS FAILED AT 196,000 MILES NOW THEY HAVE FAILED AGAIN AT 224,000 MILES 18 MONTHS AND THERE IS MAJOR PLAY IN THE STEERING OF THE CAR AS WELL AS MOVEMENT IN THE TIRE LEADING TO POSSIBLE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WOULD CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, HE OBSERVED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, VACUUM LINES, AND HOSES. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 4/23/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO SMOKE AND AT TIMES IT WOULD STALL. THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACE. UPDATED 04/27/09. *JB
LEAVING A PARKING LOT SPACE, CAR SUDDENLY HAD TROUBLE TURNING, AND FELT AS THOUGH TIRE LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL STEERING PROPERLY RESULTED IN CRASH INTO A CEMENT LIGHT POST IN PARKING LOT. DAMAGES APPROX. $ 2,500 TO CAR. CAR BEING REPAIRED. *TR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2002 DODGE INTREPID COMING FROM MY MOTHERS HOUSE, LUCKILY IT WAS AT LOW SPEED. WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE UPPER STEERING CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE RACK AND PINION PORTION OF THE STEERING CONTROL LEAVING THE CAR UNABLE TO STEER. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO MY NEAR BY AUTO MECHANIC. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AT 99,000 MILES I HAD LOOKED FOR THE BOLT THAT HELD THIS ARM INTO PLACE IT WAS A GRADE 8 BOLT THAT STRIPPED OUT OF THE RACK. LUCKILY SHE WASN'T ON A INTERSTATE GOING 65 MPH WHILE THIS HAPPENED WITH OUR 2 KIDS AS THIS WOULD HAVE LEFT A CATASTROPHE OR DEATH UPON ALL THREE DODGE REALLY NEEDS TO MAKE A PLAN TO RECALL THESE CARS AS IT SHOWS TO BE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AROUND A TIGHT CURVE, THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. SLUDGE WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING. HE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIE ROD IS BENT, BUT THE BOLT IS STILL ATTACHED. THE TIRE HAS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND HAD TO BE CHANGED THREE TIMES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
I TOOK MY 2002 DODGE INTREPID TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK OUT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND TO HAVE SOME OTHER SERVICE PERFORMED. I TOLD THEM THE FRONT END (WHEELS, STEERING) VIBRATED AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AND WHEN BRAKING. SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE VIBRATION WAS A "TIRE PROBLEM". AS I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME THE VIBRATION PROCEDED TO GET WORSE. WHEN I CHECKED THE VEHICLE IT TOOK ALL OF 5 MINUTES TO FIND THAT THE RIGHT INNER TIE ROD END WAS WORN OUT AND THE SOURCE OF THE VIBRATION. I HAVE SUBSEQUNTLY FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ENDEMIC OF THE INTREPID, AND AS SUCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN READILY VISIBLE TO A DODGE MECHANIC
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING CONTROL. THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LUBRICATED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DEALER. *JB
RACK & PINION FAILED. REPORTED TO DEALER MORE THAN ONCE AFTER INITIAL CLUNKING NOISE. DEALER FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 39,000 MILES ON THE CAR. CALLED CHRYSLER AND THEY SAID SINCE WARRENTY HAD EXPIRED THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. NEW RACK AND PINION INSTALLED BY LOCAL WORKSHOP.*AK
STEERING MAKES CLUNKING SOUNDS AND TENDS TO BE VERY "SWISHY" WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE AND COMPLAINED, BOTH TIMES THEY STATED THE STEERING WAS WITHIN SPECS EVEN THOUGH MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAD FOUND PROBLEMS. *LA
LOOSE GROUND WIRE TO BATTERY POSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO, ODOMETER TAMPERING. VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, SUSPENSION/ STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR BULBS ON HEADLAMPS AND HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH ,AND CLEANED OUT ENGINE HOSES, PCV VALVE AND FUEL FILTER. *AK
I HAVE HAD STEERING/SUSPENSION AND BRAKE RELATED ISSUES FROM NORMAL DRIVING IN THE BAY AREA SINCE 200 MILES AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE NEW. I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR A PROFESSIONAL COMPUTERIZED FULL PRECISION ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING OF TWO TIRES THAT WERE OUT OF BALANCE FROM THE FACTORY. TWO DODGE/CHRYSLER DEALERS AND WHEEL SPECIALSTS HAVE CHECKED AND ADJUSTED TIRE PRESSURE. VEHICLE SEEMS TO DRIVE STRAIGHT MORE OFTEN BUT STILL DRIFTS TO THE LEFT, SOMETIMES TO THE RIGHT. FRONT WHEELS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE SLIPPING BAD OVER BUMPS EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. VERY INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARDER TO TURN AND IS MUCH MORE SENSITIVE ALL OF A SUDDEN. VEHICLE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE HANDLING OR TAKING BUMPS VERY WELL AT TIMES. WHEEL DOES NOT USUALLY RETURN SMOOTHLY OR CONSISTANTLY, SOMETIMES JERKY AND SOMETIMES SLOW, USUALLY OFF CENTER, OVERSTEERING OR UNDERSTEERING. STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES NEEDS CONSTANT ATTENTION, HAVING TO REMIND WHEEL WHERE TO GO. WHEEL WILL MOVE BY ITSELF EXCESSIVELY AT TIMES ON BUMPY ROADS OR ON SLANTED ROADS SOMETIMES ALMOST MAKING COMPLETE TURNS ON IT'S OWN. SOMETIMES STEERING WHEEL HAS LOOSENESS. CLUNK IN STEERING STILL CONTINUES WHEEN WHEEL IS TURNED SHARP AND BRAKING. EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF GROANING NOISE WHEEN TURNING WHEEL AT TIMES. I HAD TO BRAKE HARD THE OTHER DAY AND WAS ABLE TO LOCK VEHICLE UP INTO A HEAVY SKID ALTHOUGH VEHICLE HAS ABS. VEHICLE FEELS UNSTABLE SOMETIMES AND OVER BUMPY ROADS SOMETIMES. EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE YOU CAN HEAR SQUEAKING FROM STRUTS. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES. I HAVE WITNESS TESTIMONY ON VIDEO AND VIDEO PROOF. I HAVE VIDEO OF MASSIVE TIRE SQUEALING AT LOW SPEED 15MPH MANUVERING IN PARKING LOT. MY GIRLFRIEND DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR ALSO EXPERIENCING AND COMPLAINING OF THESE ISSUES. TRANSMISSION STILL HESITATES OR STUMBLES SOMETIMES. TWO DEALERSHIPS SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR AND COULDN'T DUPLICATE ANYTHING ABNORMAL WITH STEERING. CHRYSLER DOES NOTHING. CAR IS UNSAFE AT TIMES.
I HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE WHERE I PURCHASED IT COMPLAINING OF INTERMITTENT LOOSENESS IN STEERING, SQUEAKING AND CLUNKING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THESE ISSUES, SQUEAKING WAS SUPPOSEDLY TIRE NOISE, CLUNKING WAS "JUST BUSHINGS". MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS SEVERLY WORN ON THE OUTER EDGES AT ONLY 5900 MILES, THE LEFT TIRE WEAR IS NORMAL. DEALER WOULD NOT EXPLAIN OR ASSES WHY THIS IS. TODAY I HAD THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED SHARP TO THE LEFT AND THERE WAS A VIBRATING NOISE AS IF METAL WAS HITTING AGAINST METAL. I CALLED SOMEONE OUT TO WITNESS THIS. ABOUT TWO MILES LATER I WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN ALL OF A SUDDEN AND STEERING FELT HEAVY. VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN TURNS SHARPER AND STEERING RESPONDS DIFFERENT THAN USUAL. WHEN TRYING TO INVESTIGATE ISSUE AND MANUVERING THE STEERING BACK AND FOURTH THE VEHICLE WAS SWERVING EXCESSIVELY AS IT NEVER HAD BEFORE. FRONT END FELT AS IF IT WAS TAKING BUMPS HARDER THAN USUAL AND WAS EVEN HOPPING SLIGHLY OVER SOME BUMPS. I COULD HEAR NOISE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AREA. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE SHOP FOREMAN ROAD TESTED AND WOULDN'T SAY MUCH ABOUT THE STEERING. I EXPLAINED THAT THE WHEEL WAS ALWAYS MUCH EASIER TO TURN AND EXPLAINED THAT THE STEERING IS ALL OF A SUDDEN RESPONDING DIFFERENTLY. SEVERAL BUMPS FELT HARSH FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE THEY HAD NOT FELT AS HARSH BEFORE. I COULD HEAR AND FEEL A LIGHT CLUNKING DURING BRAKING THREE TIMES FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT. SHOP FOREMAN DIDN'T REALLY SEEM TO NOTICE MUCH WRONG AS USUAL. HE DID SEE THE TIRE WEAR AND WAS LIKE "WOW". HE IS GOING TO ASK THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR PERMISSION TO PUT THE VEHICLE ON THEIR ALIGNMENT MACHINE. THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ON THE LIFT TWICE AND NEVER FOUND ANYTHING VISUALLY WRONG. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR A SECOND OPINION. I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND UNFORTUNATELY NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE TO GET TO WORK.
STEERING ISSUES STILL CONTINUE. AFTER STEERING WAS FEELING LOOSE FOR SOME TIME IT FELT AS IF IT TIGHTENED UP ALL OF A SUDDEN. SLIGHT VIBRATION ONCE FELT IN STEERING WHEEL ON FREEWAY. STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY FLOPPED TO THE RIGHT TODAY WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING SEEMED TO DRIFT. STEERING FELT JERKY AND WOULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO ALMOST SWERVE. STEERING DOES NOT FEEL NORMAL. MANUFACTURE IS SUPPOSED TO ARRANGE FOR DISTRICT TECHNICIAN TO CHECK AT DEALERSHIP. STEERING JERKS USUALLY DURING HARD ACCELERATION AND DID NOT DO THIS WHEN VEHICLE WAS NEW UNTIL RECENTLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING MY FAIL OR NOT PERFORM AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE HAD A WITNESS DRIVE MY CAR FOR VERIFICATION. STEERING ATTITUDE INTERMITTENTLY CHANGES. I AM USED TO DRIVING FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CHRYSLER VEHICLES AND THE STEERING ATTITUDE SHOULD NOT CHANGE AS SUCH.*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
Data on this page last refreshed .