1997 Dodge Intrepid steering problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, TIRE RODS, SWAY BAR BUSHING AND MOTOR MOUNTS WORE PREMATURELY AND NEEDED CONSTANT REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.”

“RACK AND PINION / STEERING ISSUES IN 1997 DODGE INTREPID. AFTER JUST DRIVING 65-70 ON THE I-15 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, I FELT AN ODD VIBRATION AND PULL IN THE STEERING OF THE 1997 DODGE INTREPID I WAS DRIVING. EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE WHEN THE FRONT END SENT A POP SOUND AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT. DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL WAS STUCK IN A RIGHT TURN POSITION DURING ANY POSITION SET ON THE STEERING WHEEL, WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE REMAINED INTACT AND NORMAL. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS INOPERATIVE. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE BOLT IN THE KIT OFFERED BY THE DEALER HAS A SMALLER HEAD AND AN IMPROPER LOCKING PAD THAT WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO A FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 222,000.”

“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…”

“PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HESITANT ON TURNS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK IT TO HAYWARD DODGE REPAIR THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A $4500.00 OF REPAIR THIS IS ALONG WITH SOME OTHER THINGS THEY SAY IS WRONG WITH THE VECH. THEY DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE MAIN PROBLEM OF THE STEERING . ALSO AFTER I PICKED UP THE VECH. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY & MY HOOD FLEW OPEN & CAME THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS CHARGED $135.00 FOR THIS 21 POINT INSPECTION. WITH MY HOOD &WINSHIELD DAMAGED I WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY, THE SERVICE MGR.TOLD ME TO TAKE HIM TO COURT THEY WONT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE. *TR”

“RACK AND PINION STEERING BROKE ON OUR 1997 DODGE INTREPID WITH NO WARNING WHILE IT WAS BEING BACKED UP, IT WAS TOTAL STEERING FAILURE. WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THANK GOODNESS WE HAD ALREADY MADE IT TO OUR DESTINATION AND THIS HAPPENED BEFORE WE HEADED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME AND IS STILL PARKED IN THE GARAGE UNTIL I CAN GET SOME INFO ON WHY THIS HAPPENED, AND HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS NOT A DEFECT, BUT THE MORE I LOOK INTO IT THE MORE I SEE IT AS THE NORM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES BUT ALSO FOR ANYONE IN THEIR PATH. *TR”