1996 Dodge Intrepid: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Feb 2, 2011 · Steering · 56,000 miles · SC

I have owned a 1996 dodge intrepid for 6 months now and when I bought the car I was aware that the steering was a little loose, what I did not know was that the entire rack and pinion system as well as most of the tie rods around them were completely shot. My steering wheel grinds when I turn it left and right now and my steering has a horrific drift when turning from extreme to extreme. The bushings on the rack and pinion (as told by my mechanic) are completely gone. The broken pieces are rattling and vibrating so violently that the shimmying I feel on my car is actually caused by the steering. When I brake at high speeds (50mph) the steering pulls to either an extreme left or right. After doing research, I found out that I wasn't the only one struggling with these same issue. It seems like every owner of a 1996 dodge intrepid is experiencing the exact same issues. My mechanic said to me that he has no guarantee that my steering will work right. Driving down the road now I'm afraid I'll lose control of the vehicle. My girlfriend might frequently drive the vehicle but I am afraid that the steering may go out when she is driving it. I spoke with my mechanic and I am in the process of getting the defective parts replaced. I plan to save the parts that are defective in hopes that I will get some compensation for them.

Filed Dec 9, 2003 · Steering · 30,000 miles · NY

In apirl 1996 I purchased a new 1996 dodge intrepid (VIN 2b3hd56f3th52925) from philips motors in philip sd. After approximately 2 years and 30,000 miles I began to notice a grinding noise and clunking in the steering while driving the vehicle from a "cold soak" condition. After approximately 5 minutes and once the car warmed up, the noise would cease. Over the course of the past 5 years I have taken the vehicle to five different repair shops in an attempt to isolate and repair the problem. Only when I moved to germany (current assignment in the usaf) did a german mechanic discovered the problem; worn rack and pinion steering gear bushing which are allowing the entire unit to shift left and right whenever the steeringwheel is moved. Over the past five years I've lived with this problem, I've noticed a continued degredation is steering crispness and increase noise as described above. Only when I researched the problem on the internet did I find 2 service recalls for this problem (19-03-97a and 19-001-01). The problem has gotten so bad, about 3 weeks ago I nearly lost control of the car in a sharp turn on a country road here in germany. I was able to recover from the turn (with the assistance of the front tire hitting the curb and bouncing me back into the lane) -- no one was hurt and the car (except the tire) was undamaged. I find it amazing that published service bulletins go un-noticed and high risk components such as steering systems go un-recalled despite potentially catastrophic consequences. My particular problem is further exasperated by the high speed nature of german autobahns.

Filed Jun 25, 2002 · Airbags, Body · MO

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.

Filed Feb 1, 2002 · Steering · MD

Steering wheel makes a grinding noise while turning vehicle, dealership is aware of problem, rack pinion failure caused vehicle to run off the road.*ak

Filed Mar 12, 2001 · Brakes · GA

Consumer had brake pads, calipers and rotors replaced 10 times. Brakes are making a grinding sound, braking distance increases. Dealer cannot remedy situation.