1998 DODGE INTREPID--RACK AND PINION FAILED/BROKE. I HAD PULLED UP TO THE CURB TO RETRIEVE THE MAIL AND AS I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO PULL AWAY, I FELT/HEARD A LOUD POP. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE RACK AND PINION AS THE R&P HAS FAILED/BROKEN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FREELY TURN BUT THE WH…
Read full complaint
1998 DODGE INTREPID--RACK AND PINION FAILED/BROKE. I HAD PULLED UP TO THE CURB TO RETRIEVE THE MAIL AND AS I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO PULL AWAY, I FELT/HEARD A LOUD POP. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE RACK AND PINION AS THE R&P HAS FAILED/BROKEN. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD FREELY TURN BUT THE WHEELS WERE NOT MOVING. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION STEERING AT A COST OF $650.00. FORTUNATELY, THE DEALER SPLIT THE COST WITH ME AS I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR (USED) 30 DAYS PRIOR. I WAS STILL OUT $350.00. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY, SPECIFICALLY MY WIFE AND MY 2 YEAR OLD SON HAD THAT PART FAILED WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVY CITY TRAFFIC. IT COULD HAVE COST US OUR LIVES...I ALSO HAVE A SLIGHT SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I'M GUESSING A WARPED ROTOR AS I RECALL READING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT BEING AN INTREPID PROBLEM ALSO....I WARN ANY OF YOU WHO ARE HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS TO GET IT FIXED BEFORE YOU DRIVE IT....THE RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM THAT WONT BE RECALLED COULD HAVE COST US OUR LIVES.
NHTSA ODI #10021343
68,000 miles · Feb 10, 2003
Steering
STEERING RACK FAILED PREMATURELY
NHTSA ODI #10005578
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2002
Steering
THIS VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED IN JAN. 1998 AND IS NOT OLD ENOUGH OR HAS NOT HAD HARSH ENOUGH TREATMENT TO HAVE THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FAIL. WE FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE STEERING CAN LOCK UP DURING A TURN (IT DID FOR US) WHICH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT SINCE THE CAR WOULD BE GOING IN AN UNINTENDED D…
Read full complaint
THIS VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED IN JAN. 1998 AND IS NOT OLD ENOUGH OR HAS NOT HAD HARSH ENOUGH TREATMENT TO HAVE THE STEERING RACK AND PINION FAIL. WE FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THE STEERING CAN LOCK UP DURING A TURN (IT DID FOR US) WHICH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT SINCE THE CAR WOULD BE GOING IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION. I FOUND SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT TOPIC AND FEEL THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLES OR REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO INCURR UNNECESSARY REPAIR EXPENSES DUE TO EITHER LOW QUALITY PARTS OR BAD DESIGN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #763359
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2002
Air BagsSteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #763096
Mileage unknown · May 15, 2002
Steering
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BUSHINGS. THERE IS A CRUNCHING TYPE OF NOISE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEN SITTING AT IDLE AND CRANKING WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BUSH ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS REPLACED. *JG …
Read full complaint
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BUSHINGS. THERE IS A CRUNCHING TYPE OF NOISE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEN SITTING AT IDLE AND CRANKING WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BUSH ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS REPLACED. *JG
NHTSA ODI #565780
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2002
Steering
RACK AND PINION STEERING IS LOOSE, AND VEHICLE IS HARD TO STRAIGHTEN OUT WHILE MAKING A TURN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8007323
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002
Steering
WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN AN UNUSUAL NOISE OCCURS WITHIN STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8003083
Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2001
SteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrash
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES. VEHICLE HIT A TREE. ALSO, STEERING LOCKED UP. MANUFACTURER SENDING INSPECTOR TO CHECK VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #897579
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2001
Steering
THERE IS ABOUT TWO INCHES OF PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #892445
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2001
Steering
STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLE SOUND UNDERNEATH THE HOOD ON DRIVER'S SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT STEERING GEAR BOX WAS UNSAFE , AND NOT TO DRIVE VEHICLE UNTIL STEERING GEAR WAS FIXED. *AK
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLT BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR RESULTING IN THE SEAT BACK RECLINING UNEXPECTEDLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SEAT BACK UNEXPECTEDLY RECLINES WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLE. SOME PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING SOME REQUIRED COMPONENTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG MODULE IN THESE VEHICLES.
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
2
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.
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control:cables
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
BASED ON THE LOW FAILURE RATE, THE ABSENCE OF FAILURES OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE ABSENCE OF INJURIES, AND ODI'S FIELD INVESTIGATION OF INCIDENT VEHICLES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
1998 Dodge Intrepid Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration