1997 DODGE INTREPID Complaints

PLEASE REFER TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #98V184000. MY CAR WAS SERVICED UNDER THE RESULTING RECALL; FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED IN 1999. NOW FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS I HAVE SMELLED GAS. TWO INDEPENDENT GARAGES STATED THAT THE FUEL RAIL IS LEAKING. I WENT TO HUFFINES CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH IN PLANO, TX, WHO SAID THE FUEL INJECTOR O-RINGS WERE LEAKING AND WERE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. YOUR ONLINE NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL STATES THAT BOTH THE FUEL RAIL AND INJECTOR O-RINGS SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE TO VEHICLE OWNER. HUFFINES REFUSED SUCH SERVICE. THIS COMPLAINT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT SAFETY BUT ABOUT A DEALERSHIP WHO GAVE BAD SERVICE AND MISLED THE CUSTOMER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

CONSUMER UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR OR WOULD NOT SHIFT IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *YH

AFTER HAVING ABOUT 40-50% PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, AND THE DEALER AND DODGE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM. DODGE OFFERED TO GIVE ME A 50% DISCOUNT ON REPAIRS, BUT I FEEL IT IS A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE COVERED 100%. ON

UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS , AND RPMS RACE HIGH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO JERK FORDWARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK

WHENEVER SHIFTING VEHICLE INTO LOW GEAR, IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. TOOK TO DEALER TO CHECK & REPAIR. HAD THE CABLE REPLACED OR ADJUSTED ,AND BRACKET REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. FAILS TO GO INTO REVERSE. *AK

STEERING WOULD NOT TURN TO LEFT EXCEPT WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO TURN STEERING AT LOW SPEEDS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS DETERMINED THE RACK AND PINION FAILED. *AK

ON 6/10/00 MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 DODGE INTREPID WHILE TAKING 3 OF HIS FRIENDS HOME. AS HE TURNED ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 5 MPH THE TIE ROD END BOLT ON THE LEFT SIDE BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN HIS LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY OR HAD HE BEEN DRIVING CARELESSLY. HE WAS HOWEVER HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT HAD HIT A PARKED CAR . THE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURIES AND OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE TIE ROD END BOLT BREAKING. WE HAVE SINCE HAD THE CAR EPAIRED, BUT WE ARE ADVISED BY OUR MECHANIC NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE CONDIDTIONS IN WHICH THE BOLT HAD BROKE. HE FEELS THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE THERE WAS NOTHING INDICATING THAT THE BREAK WAS GOING TO OCCUR AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. WE WOULD ALSO FEEL RESPONSIBLE IF WE WERE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY OR FOR THAT MATTER ANYWHERE ELSE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT. *AK

POWER WINDOW WAS ROLLED UP, AND THE CHILD GOT WEDGED IN BETWEEN THE SEAL AND THE WINDOW. WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL BACK DOWN TO RELEASE THE CHILD. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. FROM ABOUT 25,000 MILES TO ITS CURRENT 58,000+ MILES, EVERY SO OFTEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE FROM PARK TO DRIVE, OR PARK TO REVERSE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I USUALLY PLACE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND REV UP THE ENGINE -- THE TRANSMISSION WILL THEN USUALLY ENGAGE -- WITH A CLUNK. WHEN THAT DOESN'T WORK, I USUALLY TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT. THE TRANSMISSION THEN USUALLY ENGAGES IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED - BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF MY FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE WHILE I REV UP THE ENGINE - IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE -- THAT I COULD ACCIDENTLY RUN OVER A LOVED ONE OR HIT ANOTHER CAR. I FEEL THAT THE NHTSA AND DODGE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS TRANSMISSION DEFECT. IF NHTSA AND/OR DODGE IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER DODGE TRANSMISISONS, PERHAPS YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WITH THE INFORMATION I NEED TO RELAY TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOR "THE FIX." MY EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. *AK

INNER TIE ROD BOLTS THAT HOLD RACK AND PINION BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK