1996 DODGE INTREPID Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

PURCHASED 1996 DODGE INTREPID IN MAY 2005. FOLLOWING WEEK HAD TO TAKE CAR BACK TO DEALER RE: BRAKES, TO NO AVAIL. A MECHANIC STATED BRAKES WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. WAS ADVISED THAT TIRES WERE NOT IN SUCH GREAT CONDITION EITHER. KEPT HEARING STRANGE SOUNDS (RATTLING NOISES) FROM THE CAR. IN AUGUST, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CAR WOULD NOT STEER AT ALL. HAD TO TAKE CAR TO MECHANIC, WHO TOLD US FAN BELT HAD COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AND POWER STEERING LINE. HE ALSO ADVISED THAT RACK AND PINION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. FINALLY, ON AUGUST 26TH, WAS GETTING IN CAR TO DRIVE AND DID NOT GET VERY FAR, WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND FOUND TWO BOLTS ON THE GROUND. PLEASE HELP !!! DISTRESSED. DO WE HAVE ANY RECOURSE HERE? HAVE RECEIPTS, BUT DO NOT HAVE OLD PARTS. *JB *AK *NM

Mileage: 85,000

I WOULD FIRST AND FORMOST LIKE TO REPORT THE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE STEERING RACK ON MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID AT AROUND 77,000 MILES. THE RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A HEFTY PRICE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ALARMINGLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER LH BODIED VEHICALS, ESPECIALLY DODGE INTREPIDS, AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. I HAD THE RACK REPLACED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND ALREADY MY CAR IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF MORE STEERING RELATED PROBLEMS. I DRIVE ONLY A MODERATE AMOUNT SO THIS COULD NOT BE JUST "USUAL WEAR AND TEAR". IN ADDITION TO THE STEERING RACK, WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE AN AXEL REPLACED, ALL OF THE BREAKS DUE TO PREMATURLY WARPED ROTORS (THE BREAKS ACTUALLY WENT OUT ONCE AND I ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE), THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND GETS STUCK IN GEAR FOR A MYSTEROUS REASON NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT, AND A LOOSE WIRE CAUSED THE CAR CAUSED MULTABLE DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS. (THE DATE BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE, THESE THINGS OCCURED BETWEEN 2003 AND PRESENT)

Mileage: 77,000

I WOULD FIRST AND FORMOST LIKE TO REPORT THE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE STEERING RACK ON MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID AT AROUND 77,000 MILES. THE RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A HEFTY PRICE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ALARMINGLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER LH BODIED VEHICALS, ESPECIALLY DODGE INTREPIDS, AND HAS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS. I HAD THE RACK REPLACED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND ALREADY MY CAR IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF MORE STEERING RELATED PROBLEMS. I DRIVE ONLY A MODERATE AMOUNT SO THIS COULD NOT BE JUST "USUAL WEAR AND TEAR". IN ADDITION TO THE STEERING RACK, WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE AN AXEL REPLACED, ALL OF THE BREAKS DUE TO PREMATURLY WARPED ROTORS (THE BREAKS ACTUALLY WENT OUT ONCE AND I ALMOST REAR ENDED SOMEONE), THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND GETS STUCK IN GEAR FOR A MYSTEROUS REASON NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT, AND A LOOSE WIRE CAUSED THE CAR CAUSED MULTABLE DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS. (THE DATE BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE, THESE THINGS OCCURED BETWEEN 2003 AND PRESENT)

Mileage: 77,000

THE LIGHT GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD FLICKERED ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHILE APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY PULLING OVER AND TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE. THEN, DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE RACK AN PINION BUSHING FAILED HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE RACK AND PINION.ALSO THE AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED THE RING FOR THE ABS AND TRACION CONTROL COME OFF THE AXLE.THERES A SHORT IN THE IGNTION SWITCH, THE GAUGES DONT WORK, AND THE CAR WONT DRIVE IT GOS IN DEFAULT.*AK

Mileage: 98,000

I HAVE HAD THIS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID WITH THE BRAKES. FIRST I THOUGHT I JUST NEEDED NEW BRAKES. WELL I HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON THE CAR AND THEN A WEEK LATER, THE BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHICH DAMAGED THE NEW BRAKES, THE ROTAR, THE CALLIPER, AND THE SPINDLE. THEN TWO WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR FOR THE FUEL REGULATER TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTARS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AGAIN ALREADY. THEN IN ANOTHER WEEK AND A HALF THE BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE AGAIN. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE IN THIS KIND OF TROUBLE WITH A BRAKE SYSTEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND I HAVE TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH MY SON IN THERE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT IF YOU ARE GONNA MAKE A PRODUCT YOU SHOULD STAND BEHIND IT. ENGINE WISE THE CAR SEEMS TO BE FINE RUNS LIKE A CHARM BUT THAT DOESNT DO ME A BIT OF GOOD IF I CANT DRIVE IT. AMONG THE FACT THAT I CANT AFFORD TO PAY FOR ALL THIS TROUBLE WITH IT AND PAY FOR THE CAR TOO.*AK

FIRST TO GO WAS THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, THEN THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. NEXT WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND NOW THE DIFFENTAIL AND TIE RODS. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKE PEDAL INTERMITTENLY WILL GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED, GREATLY INCREASING VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REOCCURRING SINCE 1997. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO THOROUGHLY DUPLICATE OR REMEDY PROBLEM. TS

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A GAS ODOR. RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V184000 FUEL INJECTION WAS PERFORMED, BUT AFTER RECALL REPAIR THE FUEL ODOR RETURNED, THE RECALL REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE FOUR TIMES YET THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *TT THE HEATER DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY, THE POWER DOOR LOCK WOULDN'T LOCK, THE DOORS WOULDN'T OPEN, THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TOO DIM, THE DOORS SQUEAKED, THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE BRAKES, THERE WAS PLAY IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE INNER TIE RODS AND POWER STEERING GEAR BUSHINGS. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERINCING BRAKE VIBRATION DUE TO FAULTY PADS AND ROTORS. *TT

DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AT 40 MPH TO AVOID A BUS AND NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND ABOUT 40 MILES LATER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT GASKETS ON WHEEL CYLINDER HAD POPPED OUT, AND WERE CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. DRIVER INSISTED THAT IF ALL BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT THERE WILL BE NO BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAD ALMOST CONSTANT PROBLEMS I.E. MECHANICAL,EQUIPMENT AND FOUGHT A NEVERENDING BATTLE WITH THE DEALERSHIP/WARRANTY DEPT. AND LOST WORK/JOBS ULTIMATELY LEADING TO HAVING NO MONEY TO ALL MY MONTHLY BILLS OR TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED, I HAD TO VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP TO REPOSESSION TO THE LENDER, AND JUST RECENTLY OVER A YEAR LATER I AM RECIEVING NOTICES OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS ON THIS VEHICLE.CAUS. NO SAFETY DEFEC TSTATED. *AK

CONSUMER HAD BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS REPLACED 10 TIMES. BRAKES ARE MAKING A GRINDING SOUND, BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY SITUATION. *AK

CONSUMER HAD BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS REPLACED 10 TIMES. BRAKES ARE MAKING A GRINDING SOUND, BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASES. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY SITUATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH STEPPED ON THE BRAKES PEDAL AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND NO PRESSURE ON BRAKES HAD TO BE APPLIED.*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ,VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSING A REAREND ACCIDENT. *AK

BRAKES ON DODGE INTREPID'S SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH A QUALITY PRODUCT. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT. THESE DEALERSHIPS ARE ONLY OUT FOR OUR MONEY. THEY MAY SAY SERVICE IS NUMBER 1 BUT THIS IS A LIE. RECALL THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THESE CARS. JUST LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL, RECALL RECALL RECALL....DO THE RIGHT THING, RECALL!!!!*AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CONSISTANTLY WARP. ONLY HAD THE CAR 1 YEAR, AND THEY HAVE WARPED 4 TIMES, REPLACING THEM TWICE, AND RESURFACING THEM 2 MORE TIMES. THEY ARE NOW WARPED FOR THE FIFTH TIME. ROTORS WERE REPLACED WITH OEM PARTS AT A AUTHORIZED CHRYSLER DEALER. *AK

BRAKES REPLACED. MJS

VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE TURNED AND DOESN'T DO WELL WITH ANY PADS WE HAVE USED, ALWAYS NOISY, HAVE ONLY HAD CAR FOR 1 1/2 YEARS, FRONT PLASTIC CENTER WHEEL CAPS KEEP FALLING OFF, HAVE LOST 4 ALREADY. ALSO, POWER STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING, AS WELL AS, THE O-RING RECALL PROBLEM. IT ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS GAUGE, HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS 2 TIMES. THE CAR ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING, DOESN'T MATTER IF TEMPERATURE IS HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE, SITTING IN TRAFFIC OR NOT.

BRAKE FAILURE.

BRAKES AND ROTORS WARPED. FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS ALSO REQUIRED AT THE TIME FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. CONCERNED THAT AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS OF DRIVING (MOSTLY CITY) THE BRAKES HAD DETERIORATED SO SIGNIFICANTLY.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE INSPECTED AND FOUND WARPED/WORN AND UNABLE TO TURN. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE A NORMAL WEAR FOR THIS PART AT 31000 MILE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL WEAR. *AK

BRAKES FAILED TWICE ALMOST RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO CALIPER'S LEAKING.

BRAKES WILL NOT STOP VEHICLE QUICKLY WHEN APPLYING MAXIMUM PRESSURE TO PEDAL. FEELS LIKE AIR IS IN BRAKE SYSTEM.

THE FRONT ROTORS WERE TURNED OVER ON MAY OF 97 FOR WARPING WITH 25,000 MILES. THE ROTORS NEED TURNING BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM THEY HAD WITH 48,000 MILES. WHEN APPLYING LIGHT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEELSHAKES AND THE CAR SURGES. *AK

BRAKES PULSATE WHEN COMING TO A STOP.

PARTICLES FOUND IN BRAKE FLUID, TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR, THE MOON ROOF FELL ON OWNERS HEAD.

HEAD CYLINDER FAILED.

BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO XLE RUBBING AGAINST BRAKE LINE, CAUSING LINE TO BREAK.

WHILE DRIVING APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHIMMIED. *AK

BRAKES FAILED.

CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID.

FAILURE ON THE ABS BRAKES, CONSUMER HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING A SUDDEN STOP. *AK

DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS ANTI LOCK BRAKES BECOME INOPERATIVE. RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. TT