1996 Dodge Intrepid suspension problems

“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”

“1996 DODGE INTREPID HAD TO HAVE ALOT OF FRONT END WORK DONE ON TIE ROD ENDS AND BUSHINGS WORN OUT THEN WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE BRAKES FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND CAUSED A ACCIDENT WHOLE FRONT END TOTALED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHY IS IT THAT DODGE AUTO AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY. *TR”

“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…”

“THERE ARE SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND FRONT COMPONENTS SUCH AS TIE RODS, BUSHING FAILURE- MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS, ETC. STEERING HASN'T BEEN RIGHT FOR YEARS. LOW MILEAGE, STRANGE NOISES, HANDLING. CAR DOESN'T STAY IN ALIGNMENT, WHEEL DOESN'T RETURN TO CENTER, CAR JUMPS OUT OF DRIVING LANE. *JB”

“1. THE EVENT OCCURRED WHILE BACKING INTO MY DRIVEWAY 2. 1996 DODGE INTREPID, 3.5L, 196,000 MILES. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MOUNT THAT IS A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT OF THE CAR'S SUBFRAME HAD METAL FATIGUED AND SEPARATED FROM THE SUBRFAME. THIS CAUSED THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO MOVE OUTWARD AND LODGE AGAINST THE FENDER. WHEN THE WHEEL MOVED OUTWARD, THE HALF-SHAFT PULLED OUT OF THE CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT DISENGAGING THE DRIVETRAIN FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. 3. THE REPLACEMENT COST OF THE SUBFRAME WAS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE, SO THE CAR IS GOING TO BE SCRAPED.*JB”

“UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AUTOMATIC IN "DRIVE" POSITION SHIFTS INTO 3RD GEAR CAUSING HIGH [300-400K] RPM AND HIGH FUEL CONSUMPTION. CONDITION CAN BE CORRECTED BY STOPPING VEHICLE, TURNING SWITCH OFF, WAITING UNTIL SIGNAL LIGHTS HAVE DISAPPEARED, THEN TURNING SWITCH ON AGAIN. THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO POTENTIAL FOR REAR-END COLLISION WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OFF. *AK”