1997 Dodge Intrepid: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jun 2, 2006 · Suspension · 139,092 miles · MI

Dt*: the contact stated the rear end of the vehicle bounced up and down after driving over a bump. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop, where the rear struts were replaced. The vehicle then began to make a clunking noise in the rear end. The repair shop was alerted, but did not inspect the vehicle.

Filed Jul 8, 2005 · Steering · 152,016 miles · MA

Dear sir or madam, I own a 1997 dodge intrepid es. About a year ago, my rack and pinion needed to be replaced. He installed the new rack and pinion, but I still heard intermittent "clunking" noises coming from the front end. I brought it back to him, he checked it, tightened it and said it should be fine. This past friday (07/01/05), I went to back out of a friend's driveway and heard one big clunk... Then realized that my steering wheel had completely disconnected from both front wheels! I had the car towed and the (new) mechanic realized that the (original) bolts holding the inner tie rods had both snapped at once. He contacted the mechanic that had replaced the rack and pinion (a year ago) and found out that he had reused the original, factory installed bolts, thinking they were fine. He had no reason to think that they should not be reused. My new mechanic found out that dodge (daimlerchrysler) has a bolt kit to remedy this "problem" of the original bolts breaking. My new mechanic did not know until he called chrysler for the replacement bolts. I am hoping that you can tell any mechanic that orders a replacement rack and pinion for 1997 or earlier lh platform cars, that they use this bolt kit, provided by dodge (for approx $55.00) - if my mechanic had some way of knowing to use the heavier bolts in the first place, less rack and pinion assemblies would be damaged. I wish there were some way of letting all owners of these cars know about the heavier bolt kit - and suggest or require that these bolts be changed out - before the rack and pinion fails in the first place. The information is as follows: napa part no: 22-335 rack and pinion mopar kit no: 5072586aa bolt kit chrysler technical service bulletin: 19004-2 "bolt kit for steering rack"

Filed Oct 22, 2003 · Body · 17,000 miles · IL

Consumer stated when turning corners there was a loud clunky noise at which time the frame cracked.

Filed Jan 24, 2001 · Steering · VT

Bad steering rack. There is a clunking and rattling in the front end. I took it to the dealership and they told me that I need to replace the steering rack. The cost is $1100.00. I asked them if I could drive it the way it is and they told me that it is safe to drive. I bought the car with 33,000 miles on it and this problem occurred just a few months later.

Filed Nov 16, 2000 · Steering · NY

Dealer advised clunking from front of vehicle was bad steering rack. Steering rack should not be bad on a car that is only 3 yr old. Dealer would be happy to replace it for $1200. Not! This is a serious safety issue affecting the directional stability of the vehicle. This vehicle has not been abused in the least and for the steering rack to be bad after only 3 yrs and 60,000 miles is absurd and certainly indicative of a defect. There are 3 tsb's and 8 other odi complaints that directly address this defect. The only thing worse than not being able to steer a car is not being able to stop it. I cannot stress the seriousness of this defect enough. I hope chrysler will do the right thing and replace these bad racks and make the intrepid a safe car to drive.

Filed Oct 27, 2000 · Steering, Suspension · IA

Loud clunking noise in the front end. Steering wheel pulls left and right while driving. Mechanic said needed new steering rack and pinion and that vehicle is not safe to drive.

Filed Jun 27, 2000 · Transmission · ID

I have a 1997 dodge intrepid. From about 25,000 miles to its current 58,000+ miles, every so often the transmission fails to engage from park to drive, or park to reverse. When this happens, I usually place my foot on the brake and rev up the engine -- the transmission will then usually engage -- with a clunk. When that doesn't work, I usually turn the car off and restart it. The transmission then usually engages immediately. I have taken my car into the dealership twice to have this problem addressed - but they have been unable to even attempt to fix the problem. I am concerned that if my foot slipped off the brake while I rev up the engine - in an attempt to get the transmission to engage -- that I could accidently run over a loved one or hit another car. I feel that the federal safety agency and dodge should be aware of this transmission defect. If the federal safety agency and/or dodge is aware of this problem in other dodge transmisisons, perhaps you can provide me with the information I need to relay to my local dealer for "the fix." my extended warranty should cover the repair costs.

Filed Feb 25, 2000 · Engine, Steering · VA

Rust on oil level dipstick. Handle broken off oil level dipstick due to heat. Metallic scraping noise from left from of vehicle. Clunking from left front when wheels turned to right and driving in reverse. Steering column moves up and down contacting the dash over bumps. Car taken to dealer for all issues except dipstick tube. None of the problems were corrected. Charged $300 for sway bar end links and power steering pump. New power steering pump still noisy after driving 500 miles as directed by dealer.