1997 Dodge Intrepid Complaints

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

WARMED UP CAR BEFORE GOING TO WORK WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. GOT OUT TO LEAVE AND COULD SMELL GASOLINE EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS OPERATIONAL AND GOT ME TO WORK. *TR

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE ITS PURCHASE REQUIRING REPAIRS AT MY EXPENSE. THE LATEST BEING A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO A FAILURE IN THE WIRING CONNECTION TO THE RADIATOR COOLING FANS ON 2 OCCASIONS. REPLACEMENT OF THE FAN HARNESS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT WILL SHORT OUT AND BURN THE CONNECTION AGAIN. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

THE ORIGINAL HEAD LIGHTS ARE WARN, DETERIORATED, AND DON'T LAMINATE DRIVING AT NIGHT, HIGH BEAMS ARE EQUAL TO ALL OTHER CARS LOW BEAMS. THE LUMIUNS DON'T GET OUT, BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE LENS COVER. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL CARAVANS AROUND THE DATE OF 1997 HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AT A COST OF AROUND $200.00 EACH. THEY ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AT NIGHT, A REAL HAZARD, AND THEY ARE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SHOULD BE REPLACED BY CORP/ DEALER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IN MOTION. THE FAILURE CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. ON AUGUST 8, 2007, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE KEY FELL FROM THE IGNITION. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 04V021000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 147,000.