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1996 Dodge Intrepid

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Dodge Intrepid do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 377.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 75 of 505 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

32 crash reports22 fire reports17 injury reports

What owners actually said

505 reports
86,000 miles · Sep 13, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. AS OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,301.

NHTSA ODI #10202880

236,000 miles · Aug 15, 2007
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER LIFELINER TOURING SLE TIRES, SIZE 205/60R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BLOW OUT. THE FAILURES CAUSED THE FENDER TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER LIFELINER TOURING SLE TIRES, SIZE 205/60R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BLOW OUT. THE FAILURES CAUSED THE FENDER TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THE SPEED, VIN, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 236,000.

NHTSA ODI #10199680

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2007
Power Train

ON JUNE 1ST, 2007, I, SHARON S. HATCHER, WENT TO TUFFY AUTO SERVICE CENTER TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED. THEY PROCEEDED TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE WHEN THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER TO PASS ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC II [OBD II] LANGUAGE...MY VEHICLE WAS REJECTED BECAUSE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED! WELL, I DROVE TH…

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ON JUNE 1ST, 2007, I, SHARON S. HATCHER, WENT TO TUFFY AUTO SERVICE CENTER TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED. THEY PROCEEDED TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE WHEN THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER TO PASS ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC II [OBD II] LANGUAGE...MY VEHICLE WAS REJECTED BECAUSE THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAMMED! WELL, I DROVE THIS CAR ALL DAY YESTERDAY AND LAST NIGHT AND I TOOK IT TO 2 OTHER PLACES AND THE SAME THING SHOWED UP LIKE AT TUFFY AUTO SERVICE CENTER!! I TOOK IT TO STEVE WHITE MOTORS [CHRYSLER, DODGE, AND JEEP DEALERSHIP] AND THEIR SERVICEMAN SAID TO DRIVE IT AROUND FOR 20-30 MILES AT A CONSTANT SPEED OF 45-55MPH. WELL, I DID THAT AND I TOOK AT BACK TO TUFFY'S AUTO SERVICE CENTER AND THE SAME BULLENTIN POPPED UP AGAIN AS LIKE AT THE OTHER PLACES. SO THE COMPLAIT THAT I AM FILING IS ON A 1996 DODGE INTREPID. I HAVE BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT PLACES TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED AND AT ALL 3 PLACES ITS SHOWING THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE FLASHED OR REPROGRAMMED. THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IS NOT WANTING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLENTIN [TSB] REFERENCE NUMBER AS ALONG WITH PAPERWORK FROM THESE PLACES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A NEW RECALL ON MY VEHICLE THAT HASN'T BEEN RESEARCHED OR LOOKED INTO ON ALL MAKES OF DODGE INTREPID'S DURING 1996. I AM NOT PAYING FOR A RECALL THAT HAS TO DO WITH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10192301

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFire

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. ALL REPAIRS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED. OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING THAT NO ONE WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE. MY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. THANK…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER. ALL REPAIRS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED. OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING THAT NO ONE WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE. MY HUSBAND WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HOURS AND THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS A SNOW BANK OR OUR HOUSE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOSS AS WELL. THROUGH THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR SYMPTOMS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED, WITHOUT REPAIR, BUT ARE LISTED IN RECALL INFORMATION. WE ARE GETTING THE RUN AROUND ABOUT HOW TO PURSUE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL PROVISIONS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10188081

75,000 miles · Mar 9, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID RECEIVED A CLEAN AIR WAIVER IN THE YEARS 2003 AND 2004. THE OBD COULD NOT BE READ BY THE EMISSIONS STATIONS. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE TRIED TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT RESOLUTION. THE CLEAN AIR FORCE SAYS THE SOFTWARE IS UPDATED AND SHOULD BE READABLE AND DODGE INSISTS IT'S THE CAF SOFTWARE. T…

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MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID RECEIVED A CLEAN AIR WAIVER IN THE YEARS 2003 AND 2004. THE OBD COULD NOT BE READ BY THE EMISSIONS STATIONS. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE TRIED TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT RESOLUTION. THE CLEAN AIR FORCE SAYS THE SOFTWARE IS UPDATED AND SHOULD BE READABLE AND DODGE INSISTS IT'S THE CAF SOFTWARE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (18-005-01) FOR 1996 DODGE VEHICLES FAILING FOR READINESS. I KEEP FAILING FOR READINESS, AND THE DEALER NOR CLEAN AIR HAS FURTHER INFORMATION. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE A MASTER MECHANIC TRIES TO SOLVE MY SITUATION. THE LENGTH OF TIME TELLS ME A FAVORABLE REPLY MAY NOT BE FORTHCOMING. I WAS TOLD I CAN NOT SELL THE CAR, AS THE EMISSIONS ISSUE WILL ALWAYS BE MY (THE OWNERS) PROBLEM. I CAN NOT GET A TAG FOR THIS CAR AND THEREFORE LEGALLY CAN NOT DRIVE IT. WHAT CAN I DO? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184602

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL RAIL LEAKS IN MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID. I READ THAT THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE BUT DO NOT KNOW IF MY VEHICLE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AS I PURCHASED IT IN 1999. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10181730

75,000 miles · Jan 18, 2007
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER, WARPED, LOOSE, RATTLES, POSSIBLE UNINTENDED ENGAGEMENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179067

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

ON 11-23-06 I NOTICED A GAS LEAK IN MY WIFE'S, NOW EX-WIFE'S, 1996 DODGE INTREPID. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED ME OF A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP, POMMERING DODGE. POMMERING MECHANICS CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL RAIL WAS REPLACED AT N…

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ON 11-23-06 I NOTICED A GAS LEAK IN MY WIFE'S, NOW EX-WIFE'S, 1996 DODGE INTREPID. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED ME OF A POSSIBLE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP, POMMERING DODGE. POMMERING MECHANICS CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL RAIL WAS REPLACED AT NO COST UNDER A PRIOR RECALL RELATED TO BAD O-RINGS IN FUEL RAIL. HOWEVER, AFTER FUEL RAIL WAS REPLACED, DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE O-RINGS IN THE FUEL INJECTOR WERE ALSO BAD. O-RINGS AND FUEL INJECTOR WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, TOTAL COST $295.32. I INQUIRED BUT THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR O-RINGS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT SEEMS APPARENT TO ME THAT IF THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE O-RINGS IN THE FUEL RAIL NECESSITATING A RECALL, THERE MAY VERY WELL BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTOR O-RINGS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178579

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK HIS 1996 DODGE INTREPID TO THE GOODYEAR AUTO SHOP 1/11/07 AND WAS TOLD THAT GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE O-RINGS AND THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE GOODYEAR AUTO CENTER RECOMMENDED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC SAID THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE END …

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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK HIS 1996 DODGE INTREPID TO THE GOODYEAR AUTO SHOP 1/11/07 AND WAS TOLD THAT GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE O-RINGS AND THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE GOODYEAR AUTO CENTER RECOMMENDED FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC SAID THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE END OF THE RAIL. THE CONTACT DID TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO ANDY LEWIS DODGE AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE CHARGED FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, AND THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR THE HAIR LINE CRACK IN THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE DID HAVE THE O-RINGS REPLACED BACK IN 1999. THE CONTACT HAS ALL REPAIR ORDERS.

NHTSA ODI #10178445

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2007
Exterior Lighting

TL* - THE CONTACT A 1996 DODGE INTREPID WHICH HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS: HEADLIGHT MOUNTING BRACKET, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, AND HEADLIGHT LENS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE FAILURE CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WEREIN USE. SPEED AND WEATHER COND…

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TL* - THE CONTACT A 1996 DODGE INTREPID WHICH HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS: HEADLIGHT MOUNTING BRACKET, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, AND HEADLIGHT LENS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE FAILURE CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WEREIN USE. SPEED AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10178247

Official recalls

2

04V021000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Jan 13, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK MAY FAIL AND ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION WITH THE KEY REMOVED. AN INOPERATIVE INTERLOCK MAY ALSO ALLOW THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WHEN THE SHIFTER HAS NOT BEEN PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: EITHER CIRCUMSTANCE MAY RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOAD-LIMITING PUSH ROD INTO THE FLOOR SHIFTER LEVER OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

98V184000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

Aug 6, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.5L ENGINES. THE FUEL INJECTION DELIVERY SYSTEM CAN LEAK FUEL FROM SOME OF THE SEALING O-RINGS OR FROM HAIR LINE CRACKS IN THE THERMOSET FUEL INJECTION RAIL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL O-RINGS AND REINFORCE THE OUTLET (PASSENGER) SIDE FUEL RAIL. VEHICLES SHOWING FUEL LEAKAGE ON THE OUTLET FUEL RAIL MUST HAVE THE OUTLET RAIL REPLACED WHICH INCLUDES CHANGING THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS. HOWEVER, IF A VEHICLE IS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE O-RINGS OR FROM A CRACKED FUEL LINE, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

5

DP04007 · Fuel Rail, Brake Fluid, Chassis

Opened Oct 13, 2004 · Closed Oct 27, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid; Structure:frame And Members

ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2004, MR. ROBERT GALENTY OF ISELIN, NJ, PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OF CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1993-1997 VEHICLES PRODUCED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.HIS PETITION IDENTIFIED THREE ISSUES OF CONCERN: 1) FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR RAILS; 2) BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE; AND 3) SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE FRAME TO DAMAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED.MR. GALANTY ALLEGED THAT HIS 1996 DODGE INTREPID HAD EACH OF THESE THREE PROBLEMS.CONCERNING FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE, DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMMENCED A RECALL (98V-184) OF APPROXIMATELY 722,600 VEHICLES TO ADDRESS ENGINE FUEL RAIL LEAKS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, INCLUDING THOSE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION AND THE PETITIONER'S 1996 DODGE INTREPID.ON OCTOBER 7, 1998, NHTSA OPENED A RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION (RQ98-018) TO EVALUATE THE ADEQUACY OF THE RECALL REMEDY.THAT INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED ON JULY 8, 2002 WITHOUT REQUIRING FURTHER ACTION BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.VERY RECENTLY, ON JUNE 9, 2004, NHTSA DENIED A PETITION (RP04-001) TO REOPEN RQ98-018 AFTER FINDING THAT THERE WAS NO NEW INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY BASIS FOR REOPENING IT.THIS IS STILL THE CURRENT POSITION OF NHTSA ON THIS ISSUE.CONCERNING BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION AND FRAME ALIGNMENT, A REVIEW OF NHTSA'S DATABASE SHOWS NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON EITHER ONE OF THESE ISSUES ON THE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2004, MR. ROBERT GALENTY OF ISELIN, NJ, PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OF CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1993-1997 VEHICLES PRODUCED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.HIS PETITION IDENTIFIED THREE ISSUES OF CONCERN: 1) FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR RAILS; 2) BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE; AND 3) SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE FRAME TO DAMAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED.MR. GALANTY ALLEGED THAT HIS 1996 DODGE INTREPID HAD EACH OF THESE THREE PROBLEMS.CONCERNING FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE, DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMMENCED A RECALL (98V-184) OF APPROXIMATELY 722,600 VEHICLES TO ADDRESS ENGINE FUEL RAIL LEAKS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, INCLUDING THOSE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION AND THE PETITIONER'S 1996 DODGE INTREPID.ON OCTOBER 7, 1998, NHTSA OPENED A RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION (RQ98-018) TO EVALUATE THE ADEQUACY OF THE RECALL REMEDY.THAT INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED ON JULY 8, 2002 WITHOUT REQUIRING FURTHER ACTION BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.VERY RECENTLY, ON JUNE 9, 2004, NHTSA DENIED A PETITION (RP04-001) TO REOPEN RQ98-018 AFTER FINDING THAT THERE WAS NO NEW INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY BASIS FOR REOPENING IT.THIS IS STILL THE CURRENT POSITION OF NHTSA ON THIS ISSUE.CONCERNING BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION AND FRAME ALIGNMENT, A REVIEW OF NHTSA'S DATABASE SHOWS NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON EITHER ONE OF THESE ISSUES ON THE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2004, MR. ROBERT GALENTY OF ISELIN, NJ, PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OF CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1993-1997 VEHICLES PRODUCED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.HIS PETITION IDENTIFIED THREE ISSUES OF CONCERN: 1) FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR RAILS; 2) BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE; AND 3) SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE FRAME TO DAMAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED.MR. GALANTY ALLEGED THAT HIS 1996 DODGE INTREPID HAD EACH OF THESE THREE PROBLEMS.CONCERNING FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE, DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMMENCED A RECALL (98V-184) OF APPROXIMATELY 722,600 VEHICLES TO ADDRESS ENGINE FUEL RAIL LEAKS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, INCLUDING THOSE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION AND THE PETITIONER'S 1996 DODGE INTREPID.ON OCTOBER 7, 1998, NHTSA OPENED A RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION (RQ98-018) TO EVALUATE THE ADEQUACY OF THE RECALL REMEDY.THAT INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED ON JULY 8, 2002 WITHOUT REQUIRING FURTHER ACTION BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.VERY RECENTLY, ON JUNE 9, 2004, NHTSA DENIED A PETITION (RP04-001) TO REOPEN RQ98-018 AFTER FINDING THAT THERE WAS NO NEW INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY BASIS FOR REOPENING IT.THIS IS STILL THE CURRENT POSITION OF NHTSA ON THIS ISSUE.CONCERNING BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION AND FRAME ALIGNMENT, A REVIEW OF NHTSA'S DATABASE SHOWS NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON EITHER ONE OF THESE ISSUES ON THE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION.

Structure:frame And Members

ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2004, MR. ROBERT GALENTY OF ISELIN, NJ, PETITIONED THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OF CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1993-1997 VEHICLES PRODUCED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION.HIS PETITION IDENTIFIED THREE ISSUES OF CONCERN: 1) FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR RAILS; 2) BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION RESULTING IN BRAKE FAILURE; AND 3) SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE FRAME TO DAMAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED.MR. GALANTY ALLEGED THAT HIS 1996 DODGE INTREPID HAD EACH OF THESE THREE PROBLEMS.CONCERNING FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE, DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMMENCED A RECALL (98V-184) OF APPROXIMATELY 722,600 VEHICLES TO ADDRESS ENGINE FUEL RAIL LEAKS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, INCLUDING THOSE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION AND THE PETITIONER'S 1996 DODGE INTREPID.ON OCTOBER 7, 1998, NHTSA OPENED A RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION (RQ98-018) TO EVALUATE THE ADEQUACY OF THE RECALL REMEDY.THAT INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED ON JULY 8, 2002 WITHOUT REQUIRING FURTHER ACTION BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER.VERY RECENTLY, ON JUNE 9, 2004, NHTSA DENIED A PETITION (RP04-001) TO REOPEN RQ98-018 AFTER FINDING THAT THERE WAS NO NEW INFORMATION THAT WOULD INDICATE ANY BASIS FOR REOPENING IT.THIS IS STILL THE CURRENT POSITION OF NHTSA ON THIS ISSUE.CONCERNING BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION AND FRAME ALIGNMENT, A REVIEW OF NHTSA'S DATABASE SHOWS NO OTHER COMPLAINTS ON EITHER ONE OF THESE ISSUES ON THE VEHICLES CITED IN THE PETITION.

EA03011 · Auto Trans IGNITION-PARK Interlock

Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission

THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS ABOVE ARE BASED ON DAIMLERCHRYSLER?S (DC) ANALYSIS OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998 (POPULATION = 356,384) AND 1999 (POPULATION = 486,948) JA, JX AND LH FAMILY SUBJECT VEHICLE DATA (EARLIER MYS EXCLUDED).THE POPULATION NUMBER INCLUDES ALL MYS.THE PRECISE NUMBER OF DUPLICATES BETWEEN ODI AND DC REPORTS CANNOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MISSING OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.THE FATALITY INCIDENT INVOLVED AN ELDERLY PERSON WHO ATTEMPTED TO STOP A ROLL AWAY VEHICLE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.ODI ALSO GATHERED INFORMATION ON MY 1997-99 PROWLER VEHICLES IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THE PROWLER VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN SHIFTER MECHANISM (THE SHIFT LEVER IS SHORTER).THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS OF PROWLER INTERLOCK FAILURE IN ODI?S DATABASE, AND DC HAS RECEIVED NO REPORTS EITHER.THE PROWLER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL SCOPE.THE INVESTIGATION INVOLVED A CONDITION WHERE THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM COULD FAIL (OR BE MADE INOPERATIVE BY THE OPERATOR) DURING VEHICLE USE, POSSIBLY INADVERTENTLY.THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM IS REQUIRED UNDER FMVSS 114.WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE IGNITION KEY OFF, THE COMBINED ACTION OF PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON AND PULLING THE SHIFT LEVER REARWARD MAY RESULT IN THE OPERATOR OVERCOMING THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISCONNECT.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THERE IS NO OVERT INDICATION TO AN OPERATOR THAT THE SYSTEM IS DEFEATED, AND AN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY EXISTS.UNDER RECALL 04V021, DC WILL REPLACE DAMAGED SHIFT MECHANISMS, AND WILL INSTALL ON ALL VEHICLES A DEVICE WHICH INHIBITS THE OPERATOR?S ABILITY TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK AND DEFEAT THE SYSTEM.BEGINNING WITH MY 2000, DC INCORPORATED A BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM INTO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INTRODUCTION OF BTSI INVOLVED DESIGN CHANGES TO THE SHIFT MECHANISM, ONE OF WHICH RESULTED IN REDUCED MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (RMA) OF THE SHIFT BUTTON.THE RMA SHIFTER REQUIRES INCREASED FORCES TO OVERCOME THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM, MAKING THE SHIFTER LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE.

EA99031 · Steering System Rack And Pinion

Opened Oct 29, 1999 · Closed Sep 13, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

PE99044 · Steering System Rack And Pinion

Opened Jun 28, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

SINCE OPENING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE), ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS.DURING THE PE IT WAS DETERMINED MULTIPLE FAILURE MODES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER.THE WARRANTY CLAIM RATE IS HIGH FOR A STEERING SYSTEM CONCERN.THE ISSUES REPORTED INVOLVE PREMATURE WEAR OUT AT THE RACK AND PINION INTERFACE WITH THE INNER TIE ROD END(S), BINDING AND STICKING OF THE STEERING GEAR, CRACKED OR BROKEN TIE ROD ENDS, SHEARED RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY BOLTS, AND WEAR OUT OF THE RACK AND PINION MOUNT BUSHINGS.MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS MENTION STEERING WONDER AND LOOSE STEERING.THREE OF THE MOST RECENT COMPLAINTS ALLEGE A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO SHEARED BOLTS.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS PE IN ORDER TO PERFORM A THOROUGH TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THE VARIOUS SYSTEM FAILURE ALLEGATIONS AND TO QUANTIFY THE EFFECT THAT THESE FAILURES HAVE ON VEHICLE CONTROL.

RQ98018 · Fuel Injection Delivery System Fuel Leak

Opened Oct 7, 1998 · Closed Jul 8, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

No summary supplied.