1997 Dodge Intrepid engine and engine cooling problems

“1997 DODGE INTREPID-169,610 MILES > > I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 1-1/2 YEARS WITH LESS THAN > 3,500 MILES DRIVEN. > > TODAY ON MARCH 16, 2008 AT 1:15PM, I CAME BACK TO > COLLEGE FROM SPRING BREAK. I NOTICED THAT I WAS 29 > MILES AWAY FROM THE COLLEGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL > STARTED TO JERK TO THE RIGHT AND MOVE ON ITS OWN. I > TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT AND HAD TO > FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND MOVE WHERE I NEED TO GO. > > > THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER MADE NOISES AS I WAS > DRIVING > TODAY, BUT I NOTICED THAT I HAD TO FORCE THE WHEEL > HARD TO MAKE A TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT. WHEN I > TRIED TO PARK, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND, SO I HAD > TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND STILL DID NOT WORK. > I'M NOW TRAPPED IN THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE I'M NOT > SURE THAT I'M SAFE ON THE ROAD. > > I'M LOCATED IN SOUTHFIELD, MI AND IN 8 WEEKS, I NEED > TO DRIVE BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS, IN (APPROXIMATELY 312 > MILES, 7-9 HOURS). INCIDENT TWO I WAS 4 MILES AWAY FROM SCHOOL AND NOTICED THAT I HAD STEERING PROBLEMS. AS I WAS FORCING THE WHEEL TO CORPORATE A TRUCK WAS TO MY RIGHT AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR AS THE CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT. CAUSING ME TO HIT THE TRUNK FROM MY…”

“I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER WORK IN MY 97 DODGE INTREPID, MY ENGINE FAILED. MY MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAD NO SIGNS OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*JB”

“VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED AN ENGINE SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK”

“WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO A DRUG STORE PARKING LOT AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB”

“WHEN DRIVING OVER 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASION, BUT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE THIRD TIME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK”

“MY 1997 INTREPID'S (DODGE) ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY A FEW WEEKS AGO. THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND T HE BRAKING MUCH REDUCED AS A RESULT. DANGEROUS SITUATION. DODGE DOESNT TAKE ANY BLAME EVEN THOUGH THEY DID MAJOR ENGINE WORK ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIOR (HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO OIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON.*AK”