Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Dodge Intrepid problems

Owners filed 515 complaints about the 1996 Dodge Intrepid with NHTSA between Feb 1996 and Jan 2016. The most-cited component is steering (147).

Complaints
515
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
33
Reported by owners
Fires
22
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering147
  2. Engine and engine cooling79
  3. Fuel system, gasoline77
  4. Power train43
  5. Suspension41
  6. Air bags34
  7. Electrical system31
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic30
  9. Exterior lighting21
  10. Structure20
  11. Equipment13
  12. Visibility11
  13. Tires7
  14. Fuel system, other7

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
199621
199723
199851
199994
200082
200158
200250
200339
200431
200531
20064
200713
20087
20093
20101
20111
20123
20132
20140
20150
20161

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

147 reports2 crashes
“ON 15MAR12 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30PM I WAS DRIVING AROUND A SLIGHT CURVE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED WHILE LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR. AFTER I REGAINED CONTROL, THE STEERING STILL FELT EXTREMELY LOOSE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2012SteeringODI 10451880

Engine and engine cooling

79 reports3 crashes3 fires
“REPEATED OVERHEATING PROBLEMS RESULTED IN REPLACING MY RADIATOR TWO TIMES, THERMOSTAT THREE TIMES AND THERMOSTAT W/ BREATHER HOUSING TWO TIMES. COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDES EXTERNAL METAL PIPES WHICH HELP CIRCULATE COOLANT TO HEATER. THE PIPES ARE HIDDEN FROM CLEAR VIEW AND WHEN MINE SPRUNG LEAKS DUE TO THEIR PLACEMENT THE LEAKS WERE DIAGNOSED AS BEING BLOWN HEAD/HEAD GASKET BY THREE SEPARATE SHOPS. REPLACEMENT OF PIPES SOLVED OVERHEATING. MOISTURE GETS TRAPPED IN AND AROUND THE FRAME AND SUBFRAME AREAS WHERE THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ARE LOCATED AND ALLOWS FOR UNNECESSARY PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF ALL THE MOUNTS, BUSHINGS, MAIN FRAME AND SUBFRAME. THIS HIDDEN CONDITION HAS RESULTED IN ALL MOUNTS NEEDING REPLACEMENT, TRANSMISSION DROPPING, FRONT INNER&OUTER TIE RODS AND BUSHINGS GOING OUT, RACK N PINION PROBLEMS AND THE SUBFRAME COLLAPSING. DOCUMENTED RECORDS SHOW THAT FROM 2004 THROUGH 2008 ON AVERAGE I DROVE 7000 MILES A YEAR. IN THAT 28000 MILES I REPLACED ALL MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, ALL 4 INNER&OUTER TIE ROD BUSHINGS/ENDS TWICE, RADIATOR TWICE, THERMOSTAT HOUSING TWICE, COOLANT PIPES ONCE AND HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES. I AM REPLACING…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2008Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Structure, TiresODI 10246579

Fuel system, gasoline

77 reports4 fires1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WAS MOVING FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE CHANGED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INJECTORS. HE DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V184000, BUT WAS UNAWARE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2009Fuel system, gasolineODI 10260605

Power train

43 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“MY SON DIED IN DEC 12,2002 IN A 1996 DODGE STEALTH TWO DAYS AFTER HE DIED I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. CAR LOST CONTROL ON FREEWAY AND WENT OFF ROAD AND ROLLED. HE JUST PUT A TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED CLUTCH, AND PUT IN NEW ENGINE THROUGH TRACY DODGE IN TRACY, CA. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 20, 2007Engine and engine cooling, Power train, EquipmentCrash reportedODI 10212385

Suspension

41 reports1 crash
“IT STARTED OUT MY STEERING WOULD GET REALLY TIGHT AND YOU COULDN'T MOVE IT AT ALL AND IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY NOW WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE RACK-N-PINION AND SO THEY FIXED IT AND ITS STILL DOING IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2008Steering, SuspensionODI 10251846

Air bags

34 reports23 crashes
“TAKATA RECALL: I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND A PIECE OF METAL WENT THROUGH MY EYE CAUSING IMMEDIATE BLINDNESS AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF THE LEFT EYE. THE PIECE OF METAL WAS PULL OUT IN THE ER. THERE WERE NO OTHER INJURIES. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET IN DETROIT MI TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH. I'VE BEEN WEARING A PROSTHETIC EYE SINCE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2016Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10821794
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.