1997 DODGE INTREPID Complaints

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I OWN A 1997 DODGE INTREPID ES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MY RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE INSTALLED THE NEW RACK AND PINION, BUT I STILL HEARD INTERMITTENT "CLUNKING" NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO HIM, HE CHECKED IT, TIGHTENED IT AND SAID IT SHOULD BE FINE. THIS PAST FRIDAY (07/01/05), I WENT TO BACK OUT OF A FRIEND'S DRIVEWAY AND HEARD ONE BIG CLUNK... THEN REALIZED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL HAD COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM BOTH FRONT WHEELS! I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND THE (NEW) MECHANIC REALIZED THAT THE (ORIGINAL) BOLTS HOLDING THE INNER TIE RODS HAD BOTH SNAPPED AT ONCE. HE CONTACTED THE MECHANIC THAT HAD REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION (A YEAR AGO) AND FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD REUSED THE ORIGINAL, FACTORY INSTALLED BOLTS, THINKING THEY WERE FINE. HE HAD NO REASON TO THINK THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE REUSED. MY NEW MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT DODGE (DAIMLERCHRYSLER) HAS A BOLT KIT TO REMEDY THIS "PROBLEM" OF THE ORIGINAL BOLTS BREAKING. MY NEW MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW UNTIL HE CALLED CHRYSLER FOR THE REPLACEMENT BOLTS. I AM HOPING THAT YOU CAN TELL ANY MECHANIC THAT ORDERS A REPLACEMENT RACK AND PINION FOR 1997 OR EARLIER LH PLATFORM CARS, THAT THEY USE THIS BOLT KIT, PROVIDED BY DODGE (FOR APPROX $55.00) - IF MY MECHANIC HAD SOME WAY OF KNOWING TO USE THE HEAVIER BOLTS IN THE FIRST PLACE, LESS RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLIES WOULD BE DAMAGED. I WISH THERE WERE SOME WAY OF LETTING ALL OWNERS OF THESE CARS KNOW ABOUT THE HEAVIER BOLT KIT - AND SUGGEST OR REQUIRE THAT THESE BOLTS BE CHANGED OUT - BEFORE THE RACK AND PINION FAILS IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE INFORMATION IS AS FOLLOWS: NAPA PART NO: 22-335 RACK AND PINION MOPAR KIT NO: 5072586AA BOLT KIT CHRYSLER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 19004-2 "BOLT KIT FOR STEERING RACK"

MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I OWN A 1997 DODGE INTREPID W/86K MILES. I HAVE WELL CARED FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS PAST WEEKEND, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE SEIZED/QUIT ISSUE WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH MY TWO KIDS. I FIGURED IT WAS THE HEAT; SO I LET IT COOL DOWN. STARTED BACK ON OUR ROAD TRIP.. WHICH IT HAPPENED AGAIN 10 MILES LATER. MIND YOU; THERE WAS A FULL TANK OF GAS FROM SHELL, RECENT OIL CHANGE AND FUEL FILTER CHANGE. ONE YEAR EARLIER, I HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT/INJECTION RAIL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHRYSLER-DODGE BUT THE RECALL FOR THIS YEAR IS ONLY WITH THE 3.5 ENGINE; NOT THE 3.3 ENGINE-SO THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR AT THE DEALERSHIP. THANK GOD MY OLDER MOTHER WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR; FOR SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE MANUAL STEERING AND ABLE TO GET THE CAR SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO BE HEARD AND SHARE MY STORY W/YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE A COIL AND TIE RODS PUT ON THE CAR. PICKED UP THE CAR THIS MORNING AFTER SHE GOT HOME WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *AK *SB

ACRYLIC HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE BECOME YELLOWED AND CLOUDY, RESULTING IN DIMINISHED BRIGHTNESS OF HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT AND IN DARK WEATHER CONDITIONS.

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FUEL INJECTION RAIL REPLACED WHICH WAS LEAKING UNDER THE O RINGS, AND WITHIN A MONTH THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE BOLT THAT HELD THE TIE ROD TO THE RACK AND PINION BROKE IN THE CONSUMER'S 1997 DODGE INTREPID WHICH CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO COLLAPSE UNDER THE VEHICLE. *NM *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

WHEN CHANGING OIL CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEAK WAS DUE TO THE O RINGS.*AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN RECEIVED CONCERNING TRANSAXLE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK FAILURE. *BF *SC