1996 Dodge Intrepid engine and engine cooling problems

“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…”

“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”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. AS OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,301.”

“I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. ALL REPAIRS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED. OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING THAT NO ONE WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE. MY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS A SNOW BANK OR OUR HOUSE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOSS AS WELL. THROUGH THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR SYMPTOMS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED, WITHOUT REPAIR, BUT ARE LISTED IN RECALL INFORMATION. WE ARE GETTING THE RUN AROUND ABOUT HOW TO PURSUE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL PROVISIONS. *AK”

“MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID RECEIVED A CLEAN AIR WAIVER IN THE YEARS 2003 AND 2004. THE OBD COULD NOT BE READ BY THE EMISSIONS STATIONS. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE TRIED TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT RESOLUTION. THE CLEAN AIR FORCE SAYS THE SOFTWARE IS UPDATED AND SHOULD BE READABLE AND DODGE INSISTS IT'S THE CAF SOFTWARE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (18-005-01) FOR 1996 DODGE VEHICLES FAILING FOR READINESS. I KEEP FAILING FOR READINESS, AND THE DEALER NOR CLEAN AIR HAS FURTHER INFORMATION. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE A MASTER MECHANIC TRIES TO SOLVE MY SITUATION. THE LENGTH OF TIME TELLS ME A FAVORABLE REPLY MAY NOT BE FORTHCOMING. I WAS TOLD I CAN NOT SELL THE CAR, AS THE EMISSIONS ISSUE WILL ALWAYS BE MY (THE OWNERS) PROBLEM. I CAN NOT GET A TAG FOR THIS CAR AND THEREFORE LEGALLY CAN NOT DRIVE IT. WHAT CAN I DO? *JB”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V184000 FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE RECALL INDICATED THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL O-RINGS, AND REINFORCE THE OUTLET ON PASSENGER'S SIDE FUEL RAIL. ALSO, IT INDICATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE SHOWED SIGNS OF FUEL LEAKAGE ON THE OUTLET FUEL RAIL THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE RECALL LEAD THE CONTACT TO BELIEVE THAT THE OUTLET FUEL RAIL, THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS WOULD BE REPLACED AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY IF NECESSARY. SHE WAS INFORMED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THAT THIS WAS NOT TRUE. THE RECALL REMEDY WAS COMPLETED ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER GUIDELINES. ADDITIONALLY, THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS WERE REPLACED. *AK THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB”