2003 Dodge Intrepid

AS I WAS BACKING INTO A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR, JUST AS I TAPPED THE CURB WITH MY BACK TIRES AT 2 MPH. I WENT TO PULL FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR AND ATTEMPT THE PARKING JOB AGAIN, WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULD NO LONGER TURN THE WHEELS. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED WITH EASE IN MY HAND, BUT THE TIRES DID NOT BUDGE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD AND BUSHINGS REPLACED AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, NOW I HAVE NO STEERING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE I'M IN A SMALL TOWN AND THE NEAREST DEALER IS 45 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE TIE RODS TO THE RACK HAD "POPPED OUT." NOT SURE IF THIS IS MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS BOTH BOLTS POPPED OUT OR IF IT WAS THE RESULT OF A POOR MECHANICAL REPAIR AT THE LAST SHOP, BUT AFTER READING MANY REVIEWS ON THE CAR, IT IS POSSIBLE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. HOWEVER THE MECHANIC STATED "IN MY 25+ YEARS OF MECHANICAL WORK, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN WHERE IT WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING THE DRIVER DID OR COULD HAVE PREVENTED." *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY STALLING OCCURRED CAUSING PROBLEMS TO THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TIRE ROD ENDS WERE SHOT AND VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE CENSOR OF THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS ON THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE SOON ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SMOKE AND AN OIL BURNING SMELL TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE CAUSE FOR OVERHEATING WAS DUE TO SLUDGE IN THE MOTOR AND THAT THE COST FOR REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AS I TURNED THE WHEEL I HEAR A SOUND LIKE A CONECTOR COMING UNDONE IN MY STEERING WHEEL. ONCE THAT HAPPENED MY AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON, CRUISE CONTROL, AND HORN DO NOT WORK. I SEE ALOT OF RECALL INFO FOR DODGE/CHRISLER FOR CLOCK SPRING AND THATS WHAT DODGE TOLD ME IT WAS. TOTAL THEY WANT TO FIX IT IS OVER $350. *NM

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED, WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT, 18 MONTHS AGO. 6 TIMES TO SHOP: 1) ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, HAD TO HAVE TIE ROD REPLACED 2) BRAKES NEEDED AFTER APPROX 14 MONTHS FROM PURCHASE 3) ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 14 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE 4) WATER PUMP HOUSING CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE, AFTER DEALERSHIP CRIMPED WATER PUMP HOUSING WHEN PUTTING IN REPLACEMENT POWER TRAIN 5) SWAY BAR BUSHINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 16 MONTHS 6) WAS JUST DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND 4 MILES FROM HOME ENGINE BEGAN MAKING WEIRD NOISES AND BY THE TIME I GOT HOME WAS MAKING VERY LOUD ENGINE NOISES, SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION? DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE. TURNED CAR OFF WHEN I GOT HOME AND DIDN'T WANT TO START AN HOUR LATER, JUST CRANKED AND CRANKED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A LEMON, BUT SINCE I BOUGHT IT USED, DON'T THINK I'M COVERED UNDER LEMON LAW. WILL ATTEMPT TO FORCE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE CAR WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL TOMORROW. OH, AND ALSO THE INNER DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE DOESN'T OPEN THE CAR DOOR. IT BROKE ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, AND I HAVEN'T FIXED IT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CHARGE $50 FOR THE PART AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH FOR THE LABOR. *JB

THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION UNIT FAILED. FINALLY THE RACK WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER 2004. *BF THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION UNIT VALVES HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AND MADE DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE. THERE WAS A CONTINUAL LOSS OF FLUID. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT BROUGHT ABOUT LOUD POPPING AND OR BANGING. *SC *JB