1999 DODGE INTREPID Complaints

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40-45MPH ON SAN LEANDRO BLVD. AROUND A SLIGHT BEND, SPEED LIMIT WAS 40MPH, IT WAS A SLIGHTLY WET FROM PREVIOUS RAIN BUT TRACTION WAS FINE. ALL OF A SUDDEN SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING BROKE, CAME LOOSE, FAILED OR DIDN'T PERFORM AS NORMAL. I DIDN'T HEAR ANY NOISE AS IF SOMETHING BROKE HOWEVER. THE FRONT RIGHT PIVOTED FUNNY THEN THE FRONT END BEGAN TO WOBBLE, THEN I STARTED TO SPIN OUT I STARTED TO SPIN AIMING AND GOING TOWARD ONCOMMING TRAFFIC, I FOUGHT TO GAIN CONTROL. I LET OFF THE BRAKES TRYING NOT TO MAKE IT WORSE. I HIT THE MEDIAN, SMASHED THROUGH A SMALL TREE, THEN BOUNCED BACK INTO MY LANE SLIDDING ABOUT 70 FEET THEN SPINNING AND EVENTUALLY SMASHING INTO A FENCE WITH BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. I HAVE HAD A BAD COUGH SINCE PROBABLY DUE TO THE AIRBAGS. I HAVE BEEN SOAR AND HAVE MISSED WORK BUT I AM OK. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET BECAUSE I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES COMPLAINING OF STEERING PROBLEMS. I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALLED, I HAVE PICTURES IF NECESSARY. I HAVE COPIES OF INVOICES PROVING I HAVE COMPLAINED OF STEERING ISSUES.*AK

OIL PAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 41500 MILES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE THREADS WEAR OUT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 OIL CHANGES ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC.DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED BUT BECAUSE CAR IS OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE COST OF REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED.*AK

ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH, VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED WHEN ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED. TAKEN TO DEALER 6-7 TIMES, CO PILOT WAS INSTALLED, BUT DID NOT SHOW A PROBLEM.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE- THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO 3RD GEAR. WE HAVE CALLED DODGE WITH NO HELP A VERY RUDE REP. SD THAT SINCE WE DID NOT BUY IT FROM A DODGE DEALER THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT ALSO THE MILES. ALTHOUGH THE WEEK BEFOR WHEN I PUT THE COMPLAINT IN THE LADY FORM DODGE SD WE WOULD NEED TO BRING THE CAR TO A CERTIFIED DODGE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I TOLD HER WE ALREADY HAD A DIAGONSTIC DONE BY A CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION PLACE AND HAD TO PAY 89.00 FOR THIS. SHE TOLD ME THAT WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH THAT IF WE WANT DODGE TO HELP WE NEED TO BRING IT TO DODGE. KNOW WE ARE STUCK WITH ANOTHER DIAGONSTIC BILL FOR 85.00 FROM DODGE AND NO FURTHER HELP. REALLY UPSET THAT I PAY 11,000 FOR A CAR AND THEN 2,000 ON A TRANSMISSION. IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER DODGE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS BAD THEY EVEN US BAD LANGUAGE AT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY JUST WANTED MORE MONEY OUT OF ME WHEN THEY MADE ME GO DO A DIAGONSTIC AT THER LOCATION. KNOW I AM OUT THE MONEY WITH A CAR THAT WILL ONLY GO 30MPH AND IS PRETTY MUCH WORTHLESS.*AK

1999 DODGE INTREPID ES: WHEN TEMPERATURE IS TURNED UP ON CLIMATE CONTROL AND DEFROSTER IS TURNED ON THERE IS A FLUTTERING NOISE THAT CAN BE HEARD FROM DRIVERS SIDE DASH WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER VENT. THIS EXCESSIVE NOISE/FLUTTERING NOISE IS OFTEN A DISTRACTION WHEN DRIVING. NOISE IS ONLY WHEN TEMPERATURE IS TURNED UP OR TURNED TO HEAT ON CLIMATE CONTROL. NOISE CHAGNES WHEN TEMPERATURE IS ADJUSTED. NOISE SOUNDS LIKE BROKEN DAMPER IN VENTILATION HAYWARD AUTO CHRYSLER-JEEP DEALERSHIP STATES THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT. I DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM FOR SERVICE MANAGER GREGORY MARTIN. HE PUT A CARD ABOVE IT TO VERIFY THAT IT WAS BLOWING AIR THEN STATED "THAT'S AIR BLOWING THROUGH THE VENT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT". HE STATED HE'D HAVE THE TECHNICIAN CHECK IT OUT WHEN THEY REMOVE THE DASH ASSEMBLY OFF TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DASH MIDRANGE SPEAKER. THEY NEVER DID, THEY NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NONE OF THE SIMILAR DODGE INTREPIDS I TEST DROVE DID THIS.*AK

1999 DODGE INTREPID ES: TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN OVERHAULED THREE WEEKS AGO BECAUSE OF INTERMITTENT BUMP, SURGING IN AUTOMATIC, ROUGH SHIFTING IN LOWER GEARS. THERE WAS ALSO A ONE TIME SLIPPAGE, A JAM IN FOURTH GEAR AND TRANSMISSION ONCE SHIFTED BACK IN FOURTH RAPIDLY IN LOWER GEARS. TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED, INPUT/OUTPUT SPEED SENSORS, TORQUE CONVERTER, DISC CLUTCH REPLACED. TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO WORK BETTER SINCE OVERHAUL AND REPLACEMENTS THREE WEEKS AGO. PROBLEMS ARE NOW SLOWLY STARTING TO COME BACK. TRANSMISSION DOES NOT FUNCTION CONSISTANTLY AS IT SHOULD. RECENT EXAMPLES: 11/19 MADE U-TURN, LET OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL THEN PRESSED PEDAL FOR MEDIUM ACCELERATION, TRANNY HESITATED THEN BUMPED THEN FINALLY WORKED. 11/20 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT THEN LIGHTLY PRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL, TRANNY SEEMED TO LOCK DOWN HARD AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY QUICKLY, FASTER THAN USUAL. VEHICLE ALMOST SMASHED INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. ENGINE DID NOT REV AS LIKE IT WAS A THROTTLE REQUEST. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE OR TWICE SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SAYS TRANSMISSION IS FINE AND SHIFTS FINE. I ASKED DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR FAULT CODES, THEY STATE THAT NO CODES WERE FOUND. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. *AK

1999 DODGE INTREPID ES 34000 MILES: STEERING INTERMITTENTLY IS VERY LOOSE AND AWKWARD, STEERING SOMETIMES IS TIGHT LIKE IT SHOULD BE. STEERING WHEEL HAS LIMPED TO THE LEFT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE STOPPED OR DRIVING SLOW AND STEERING FEELS REALLY STRANGE. WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND FOURTH QUICKLY ONLY FROM LEFT TO CENTER WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED THERE IS SLIGHT KNOCK OR BUMP SOUND IN STEERING. STEERING WHEEL JERKS TO THE RIGHT DURING MEDIUM TO HARD OR HARD ACCELERATION SOMETIMES IN AUTOMATIC USUALLY IN AUTOSTICK. WHEN STEERING WHEEL DID NOT FUNCTION AND RETURN AS USUAL A COUPLE TIMES I ALMOST WOUND UP IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE SOMETIMES ALSO SWAYS FUNNY WHEN STEERING IS ACTING UP. THE STEERING'S SENSITIVITY AND ATTITUDE INTERMITTENTLY CHANGES. SOMETIMES THERE IS A SLIGHT VIBRATION FELT IN STEERING WHEN BRAKING OR DRIVING. THERE IS SOMETIMES EXCESSIVE MOVEMENTS IN STEERING. BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO HAYWARD AUTO CHRYSLER-JEEP DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALERSHIP FOUND MISSING LEFT STRUT WASHER, REPLACED. DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO NEVER BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR FIND PROBLEM. TECHNICIAN (SUPPOSED SHOP FOREMAN) DID ADMIT HE FELT THE SLIGHT VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEN BRAKING WHILE ON TEST DRIVE BUT DID NOTHING ABOUT IT AND COULDN'T REALLY EXPLAIN IT. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY'D PUT IT ON ALIGNMENT MACHINE AND CHECK FOR ANYTHING LOOSE WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK FOR SPK REPLACEMENT. THEY JUST TOLD ME IT WAS FINE WITH NO DATA FROM SUPPOSED ALIGNMENT. THE CAR HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING IT WITH 28000 MILES AND I FEEL THEY ARE SICK OR SEEING IT. I STRONGLY BELEIVE THEY DID NOT PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE ALIGNMENT MACHINE OR CHECK FOR ANYTHING LOOSE SINCE THEY ARE SICK OF SEEING IT AND BELEIVE THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD OTHERS DRIVE MY VEHICLE WHEN THE STEERING IS AWKWARD AND THEY ALL VERIFY THAT IT DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT. I HAVE TEST DRIVEN TWO SIMILAR DODGE INTREPIDS AND BOTH OF THEM DO NOT DRIVE OR STEER LIKE THIS. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SOON.

I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND AND DISATISFIED WITH MY DODGE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE I HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FROM HAYWARD AUTO CHRYSLER-PLYMOUTH-JEEP. SINCE PURCHASING THE 1999 DODGE INTREPID ES FROM HAYWARD AUTO WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE LOST 5+ QUARTS OF OIL IN 2215 MILES AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP SHORTLY AFTER PUCHASING. I HAD THE OIL AND FILTER CHANGED JUST 2 MONTHS PRIOR W/RECIEPT. I JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER IN APRIL 2001. DEALER ALMOST DID NOT REPLACE ENGINE TRYING TO BLAME ME FOR IT'S FAILURE. I REGULARLY MAINTAIN AND INSPECT MY VEHICLE. THERE IS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THIS FAILURE AND I FEEL INSULTED. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FAIL AND WAS OVERHAULED, SPEED SENSOR AND TOURQE CONVERTER REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE. COMPONENT FELL OFF OF LEFT LOWER SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM, REPLACED. SPEAKERS BLOWN, REPLACED, REAR POWER WINDOW FAILS, REPLACED. ONCE, DEALER DID NOT SEAL TRANNY CORRECTLY WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR TRANNY SERVICE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND RELEASED VEHICLE WITH TRANNY POURING OUT FLUID WHEN I GOT HOME. STEERING FAILED TWICE, STEERING BEHAVIOR CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AFTER EACH INCIDENT. WHEN SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME HE TOLD ME TIRE PRESSURE WAS OUT OF WHACK. THEY ADJUSTED THE TIRE PRESSURE THE LAST TIME IT WAS IN! I OVERHEARD TECH ON PHONE YELLING WITH BAD ATTITUDE AS IF I HAVE THE PROBLEM FURTHER INSULTING ME. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER/OWNER, TRIED TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN THROUGH WITH THIS VEHICLE. MR. GREGORY MARTIN DIDN'T LET ME FINISH, TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED, PLACED THE BLAME ON ME. " WELL, YOU HAVE A NEW ENGINE?" I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY PATIENT WITH THIS CAR AND THESE PEOPLE. THEY SHOULD BE APOLOGIZING TO ME AND THANKING ME FOR MY PATIENTS INSTEAD OF TREATING ME LIKE I AM RETARDED. I GUESS YOU HAVE TO BUY A BMW TO GET A DECENT CAR AND SERVICE. I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED AND LET DOWN WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THEN ADDITIONALLY THIS SERVICE.*AK

1999 DODGE INTREPID ES: 11/07/01: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN CITY STREET AND AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO ABOUT 10MPH WHILE PREPARING TO MAKE A TURN, EASING HANDS OFF STEERING WHEEL WHILE WAITING FOR TRAFFIC, STEERING WHEEL WENT LIMP TO THE LEFT. STEERING CONTROL BECAME EXTREMELY POOR. BROUGHT VEHICLE HOME FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED QUARTER TURN TO LEFT, LEFT WHEEL REMAINED STRAIGHT. STEERING BECAME VERY AWKWARD AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT IN, TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE HOWEVER FOUND MISSING BOLT OR WASHER FROM LOWER LEFT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM AND REPLACED. STEERING CONTROL IMPROVED AFTER. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AS NORMAL FOR ONLY ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE, THIS SECOND STEERING RELATED FAILURE OCCURRED. VEHICLE STEERING NEVER FELT RIGHT IN FIRST PLACE EVEN PRIOR TO BOTH FAILURES. STEERING HAS ALWAYS FELT LOOSE AND FLIMSY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED. TECHNICIAN DROVE VEHICLE AT TIME AND STATED IT WAS NORMAL. MY VEHICLE IS AGAIN AT THE DEALER OVERNIGHT. SERVICE ADVISER ASKED ME "DID YOU HIT SOMETHING?" WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN 11/08/01. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I FEEL THAT THEY THINK I AM CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS SOMEHOW OR SOMETHING. I AM VERY CAREFUL AND I AM A GOOD DRIVER. I AM ONCE AGAIN GREATLY INCONVENIENCED AND WITHOUT MY VEHICLE. I AM ALMOST HAVING TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER FOR SOME TYPE OF REPAIR SERVICE EVERY TWO WEEKS. AT 33685, MY ENGINE BLEW UP AND HAS BEEN REPLACED, TRANSMISSION FAILED AND OVERHAULED, TOURQUE CONVERTER REPLACED, MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, SPEED SENSORS REPLACED, SPEAKERS FAILED AND REPLACED, SPEAKERS FAILING AGAIN, COMPONENT FELL OFF LEFT LOWER SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM, STEERING FAILURE, STEERING FAILURE AGAIN. AGAIN, JUST 33685 MILES. ISN'T THERE A LEMON LAW? UPDATE: AS OF 11/08/01 1:15 DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE STEERING PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN SOUNDS VERY DEFENSIVE AND I COULD HERE HIM IN THE BACKGROUND YELLING THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT VEHICLE.*AK

THERE WAS A LIGHT TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE AREA, THAT GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT SHORT BLOCK CAUSED ENGINE TO LEAK OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK