1997 DODGE INTREPID Electrical System Problems

I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR 1500$ THE INSPECTION RAN OUT AT THE END OF THAT MONTH, INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED AS A "LICKEM STICKEM" THE CAR 2 WEEKS LATER WAS DETERMINED BY AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAZARDOUS TO PUBLIC SAFETY, CAR WAS LEFT AT PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR TWO (2) WEEKS IN WHICH TIME NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE CAR REMAINS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NOT RUNNING. *TR

Mileage: 169,000

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

Mileage: 86,000

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

Mileage: 86,000

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE MUST STOP BEFORE IT WILL RESTART. NO INDICATORS LIGHT CAME ON EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS AND ALL HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE DEALERSHIP STATES A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY CAN NOT GUARANTEE THIS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/7/2005. *NM

Mileage: 132,000

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE A COIL AND TIE RODS PUT ON THE CAR. PICKED UP THE CAR THIS MORNING AFTER SHE GOT HOME WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. *AK *SB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. *JB

Mileage: 89,887

WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL INTO A SHORT POST DAMAGING THE VEHICLE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Mileage: 70,000

CAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CLEANED USING HOSE WATER. AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR APPROX. 10 MILES, ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE AROUND ELETRICAL AND BATTERY AREA UNDER THE HOOD. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

OWNER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

Mileage: 112,000

I KEPT SMELLING SOMETHING HOT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. WHEN THE LOW BEAMS QUIT WORKING, I REMOVED THE COVER FROM THE STEERING COLUMN SINCE THAT IS WHERE THE SMELL SEEMED TO ORIGINATE AND IT OFTEN FELT HOT. I FOUND THE WIRE TO THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL OF THE DIMMER SWITCH HAD OVERHEATED BURNING OFF ABOUT AN INCH OF INSULATION AND DAMAGING BOTH THE SWITCH AND THE CONNECTOR ON THE WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW SWITCH AND AM PREPARING TO REPAIR THE CONNECTOR. *CB

Mileage: 105,450

THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING. UPON CLICKING THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH THEY WOULD COME BACK ON. INTERMITTENT WIPERS STARTING NOT WORKING ALSO. HIGH BEAM SWITCH STOPPED WORKING (NOT STAYING IN PLACE) DAY PRIOR TO MELTDOWN. WHILE DRIVING HOME ON 11/22/03 THERE WAS A SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. I CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND AROUND OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN I GOT HOME. SMELLED NOTHING OUTSIDE. GOT BACK IN CAR AND AT THAT POINT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK. BROUGHT CAR TO MECHANIC AND THE INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN (MODULE FOR HIGH BEAM/SIGNAL/WIPER AND WIRING HARNESS) COMPLETELY MELTED. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS ANY FIRE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. *NLM

Mileage: 95,000

STRONG SMELL OF ELECTRICAL FIRE WHILE DRIVING, AS WELL AS STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. WHEN CAR WAS PULLED OVER IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FABRIC COVERING THE CEILING OF THE CAR WAS BURNING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY REMOVED FUSE THAT CONTOLS INDOOR LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL. WE HAVE HAD NOT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AS YET.

Mileage: 87,600

PURCHASED CAR IN SEPT.2002 RAN GREAT TILL JUNE 2003. CAR SHUTS OF WHEN DRIVING. I WILL BE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY 55MPH AND CAR WILL JUST SHUT OFF NO WARNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING. IT HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES TO 3 DIFFERENT GARAGES. NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY, ALTINATER, 2 SENSORS SOFAR. NO CODES ARE SENT TO COMPUTER WHEN CAR ACTS UP. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

Mileage: 97,500

PURCHASED CAR IN SEPT.2002 RAN GREAT TILL JUNE 2003. CAR SHUTS OF WHEN DRIVING. I WILL BE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY 55MPH AND CAR WILL JUST SHUT OFF NO WARNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING. IT HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES TO 3 DIFFERENT GARAGES. NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY, ALTINATER, 2 SENSORS SOFAR. NO CODES ARE SENT TO COMPUTER WHEN CAR ACTS UP. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

Mileage: 97,500

PURCHASED CAR IN SEPT.2002 RAN GREAT TILL JUNE 2003. CAR SHUTS OF WHEN DRIVING. I WILL BE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY 55MPH AND CAR WILL JUST SHUT OFF NO WARNING NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING. IT HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES TO 3 DIFFERENT GARAGES. NO ONE CAN FIND ANYTHING WRONG. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY, ALTINATER, 2 SENSORS SOFAR. NO CODES ARE SENT TO COMPUTER WHEN CAR ACTS UP. I FEEL THIS IS A HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.*AK

Mileage: 97,500

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHEN HE WAS DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#98V32300 ISOLATOR CRADLE. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. *TS

Mileage: 65,700

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS HARD TO FIND THE HORN DURING AN EMERGENCY SINCE IT WAS LOCATED IN AN UNUSUAL PLACE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING, SMELT SMOKE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 55-60 MPH A FIRE STARTED , AND VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

STEERING WIRE HARNESS HAD CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING 30MPH. SMOKE WAS ENTERING VEHICLE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE CHECKED AFTER STOPPING. DROVE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPAIRED. WAS DRIVING 70MPH AND PROBLEM HAD REOCCURRED. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPAIRED. PROBLEM HAPPENED A THIRD TIN DOWN. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL QUIT FUNCTIONING. THIS HAPPENED AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP FOR A WHILE. WHEN VEHICLE COOLED DOWN, INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WOULD REAPPEAR, BUT DISAPPEARED AGAIN WHEN WARMED UP. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK OUT PROBLEM. WAS INFORMED A TYPE OF ELECTRONIC SWITCH WAS CAUSING LIGHTS TO QUIT. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE GUAGE CLUSTER WORKED FOR A WHILE. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH, CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, THEN SAW BACKSEAT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE INSIDE INTERIOR DASH AND OVERHEAD LIGHT COME ON AND OFF WHEN THEY WANT TO. THE DASH FLASHES, WHEN I OPEN THE DOORS SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS COME ON AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. THE HEADLIGHTS AUTOMATIC TIMER WHEN SHUT OFF DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. THE RIGHT AXEL ON THE PASSINGERS SIDE NEEDS TO BE REPLACES VERY LOSE. AUTOMATIC LOCKS FOR THE 2 BACK DOORS DON'T WORK.*AK

MY CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND AT APPROX 33000 MILES THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUG WIRING "BURNT" AND THE CAR 'S MOTOR STARTED MISSING. I HAD A NEW SET OF SPARK WIRES INSTALLED (UNDER WARRENTY-BY DEALER) AND AGAIN AT APPROX 47000 MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AGAIN I REPLACED THESE WIRES AT THE DEALER'S SHOP AT MY EXPENSE ($139). UPON ASKING AS TO WHY SUCH AN OCCURANCE OF THE SAME PROBLEM THE REPAIR SHOP FOREMAN TOLD ME THAT ALL INTREPIDS HAD THAT PROBLEM! I HAVE WRITTEN CHRYSLER TO COMPLAIN OF THIS BUT HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM THEM FOR A MONTH NOW. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER INTREPID OWNERS AND TO MY AMAZMENT THEY TOO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, JUST AS THE FOREMAN TOLD ME. MY QUESTION IS ONE OF SAFETY, WHAT IF SOMEONE WERE DRIVING AND THE WIRING WAS LOST TO SEVERAL OF THE PLUGS AT ONE TIME, WOULD THE MOTOR STOPRUNNING? DEPENDING UPON THE ROAD CONDITIONS THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS SAID THAT A SIMPLE SHIELD WOULD PREVENT THIS. WHY DOES NOT DODGE DO THIS ALSO? IN A NUTSHELL MY DODGE INTREPID HAS HAD 3 SETS OF SPARK PLUG WIRES IN 47000 MILES AND NO RELIEF IN SIGHT. THANK YOU, MARILYN J DAVIS

WHILE DRIVING WIRING HARNESS, NEXT TO THE FUEL RAIL, CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE PCM MODULE FAILED CAUSING FUSES TO SHORT OUT.

WIRING HARNESS FAILED.

SHORT IN ELECTRONIC RELAY CAUSING ENGINE SHUT DOWN.

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURES CAUSING VEHICLE'S ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN.

THE ELECTRICAL FUSE SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE RADIO PANEL AREA. PRIOR TO THIS FIRE, HAD 3 FUSES REPLACED, CAUSING THE HORN/LIGHTER AND RADIO NOT TO WORK. *AK *SLC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTED IN MANY COMPONENT FAILURES.