1993 DODGE INTREPID Complaints

CONSUMER SAID THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT PROBLEM COULD BE THE ISOLATORS ON THE STABLIZERS THAT CAUSE AUTOMOBILE TO SOUND AS IF STEERING IS ABOUT TO TEAR UP. *AK

WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING STALL, A LOUD CLUNK WAS HEARD ... AND THEN A LOUD "ROTARY CLUNKING" NOISE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER MOVE ... AND THE "ROTARY CLUNKING NOISE" COULD BE HEARD IN ALL FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS (I.E., ALL GEARS EXCEPT PARK & NEUTRAL). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AAMCO SHOP. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS "TORN FROM THE FRAME" ... AND I NOTED THAT THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL/TIRE WAS NO LONGER CENTERED IN THE WHEEL WELL (MOVED SUBSTANTIALLY FORWARD). AAMCO DETERMINED THAT DUE TO THE SUSPENSION BRACKET FAILURE, THE AXLE HAD BROKE (AT THE U-JOINT) AND WAS ALLOWED TO SPIN FREELY ... HENCE THE LOUD "ROTARY CLUNKING" NOISE. AAMCO REPLACED BOTH AXLES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AUTOWEST DODGE (43155 AUTO MALL CIRCLE; FREMONT, CA; 94538; 510 252-5000) TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CRADLE SUB-FRAME, BUSHINGS, ETC. ... AND RE-ATTACH THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. THIS LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET FAILURE IS SUSPICIOUSLY SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V215000 ... BUT ACCORDING TO AUTOWEST DODGE AND DAIMLERCHRYSLER (1-800-992-1997), MY VEHICLE'S VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT ON MY VEHICLE? PERHAPS THE SCOPE OF THE "99V215000 RECALL" SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER LH BODY PRODUCTION RUNS. NOTE THAT OLD AXLES WERE RETAINED BY AAMCO FOR CORE EXCHANGE ... AND I HAVE ASKED TO RETAIN POSSESSION OF THE FAILED ENGINE CRADLE. I'M SURE A QUALIFIED METALLURGIST WOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE FAILURE/FATIGUE (POOR ENGINEERING, POOR WORKMANSHIP, POOR WELD PENETRATION, ETC.). FORTUNATELY, MY VEHICLE'S BRACKET FAILURE OCCURRED AT A VERY LOW SPEED AND NO HARM WAS DONE TO THE DRIVER (MY WIFE) OR THE PASSENGER (MY 15-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER). I'M ONLY OUT THE $2500.00 (APPROX.) REPAIR BILL ... I WOULD HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED!. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION HAD A SHUDDER BETWEEN 35-45 MPH AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR CHRYSLER AND DODGE VEHICLES. ALSO DURING THIS RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD MANY PROBLEMS WHICH I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE. I FFEL THAT SINCE THIS HAS OCCURREDSO OFTEN THAT IT DEFINATELY IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER SHOULD BE FIXING THESE PROBLEMS. MY CHARGE CAME TO $1700 AND I FEEL THAT DODGE SHOULD BE PICKING UP THE BILL. THE AIR CONDITIONER JUST PLAIN STOPPED WORKING. THROUGH MY RESEARCH, THIS IS DEFINATELY A FREQUENT PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED. *AK

SMELLED FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE & TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. RECALL NOTICE 98V184000 ON VEHICLE FOR FUEL SYSTEMS. MECHANIC REPAIRED VEHICLE'S FUEL RAIL. NOW THE RECALL REMEDY HAS FAILED AND FUEL IS LEAKING AGAIN. *AK

UPON MOVING BACKWARD TO LEAVE A PARKING LOT, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL; ITS FRONT RIGHT WHEEL MOVED IN UNUSUAL POSITION. THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BRACKET SEPARATING FROM THE ENGINE CRADLE. *AK

THE SEAT METAL BRACKET BOTTOM PAN BROKE, CAUSING THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBACK TO COLLAPSE. *YC

ENGINE CRADLE HAS CRACKED, CAUSING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. DEALER SAID THAT TRANSAXLE/ ENGINE CRADLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NOT YET NOTIFIED ABOUT RECALL OF SUSPENSIOIN:INDEPENDENT FRONT CONTROL ARM: LOWER NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 99V215000. *AK

RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED (98V-184), HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE FAILURE OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND LEAKAGE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER REPAIR. MJS

HEADLAMPS PLASTIC COVERING WOULD FOG UP ON THE INSIDE, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO HAVE LESS LIGHT SHOWING, EVEN WITH HI BEAMS ON. HAVE BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY & IT WAS UP TO OWNER TO REPAIR HEADLIGHTS. *AK