1999 Dodge Intrepid: steering wheel locks up

Filed Feb 21, 2008 · Steering · 118,260 miles · MI

Loss of steering, klunking in the front end, and steering wheel lock up..

Filed Sep 25, 2006 · Engine · 134,500 miles · OR

I was driving and all of a sudden something started bonging and I looked down to notice that the check engine light was light up and then the check oil light came on. I was trying to pull over so that I could get out of traffic but the steering wheel froze up and made it extremely difficult to steer so that I could get out of traffic. Finally, after trying to steer the dead car out of traffic I called aaa and they towed it to the mechanic who has come to the conclusion it is the engine. It has been sitting there ever since due to the amount of money it will cost me to fix. After doing research regarding issues with the dodge intrepid I have come to see that I am not the only one having this problem. Dodge has known about this issue and refuses to send out a recall. I find that this could be extremely fatal depending on where a person is.

Filed Jun 12, 2002 · Steering · AR

While driving steering locked up, was unable to steer vehicle. Contacted dealer. Rack and pinion steering went out.

Filed Aug 27, 2001 · Steering · CA

1999 dodge inrepid es: steering is extremely loose, flimsy feeling and over sensitive. Steering seems to have far too much play. Vehicle usually jerks or sways when changing lanes because of this. Steering will also usually jerk when driving over bumps, accelerating or braking. Vehicle usually steers and pulls to the lowest side of uneven roads. Steering assembly feels like it violently jerks all over the place when driving over railroad tracks or heavily bumpy areas. Vehicle is sometimes difficult to control due to really loose, flimsy feeling steering that moves way too freely. Front wheels sometimes seem to slide, slip or loose traction around some slight turns at 30+ MPH. The vehicle has traction control, not sure if problem is related. Vehicle has 17" standard aluminum starblade wheels and standard goodyear tires. Steering lock for when vehicle is parked is defective, never works or is not present. I had never had these problems with my old 1995 dodge intrepid and I do not beleive that they are normal. I took the 1999 dodge intrepid es into the five star dealership where I purchased it, had technician drive it, I was told that it handled fine and that some vehicles have sensitive steering and that it was normal and nothing was wrong. It has been dangerous at times, I have to usually keep both hands tightly on the wheel being prepared to slow down when it starts loosing control or I feel the front wheels slipping or sliding.

Filed Aug 27, 2001 · Wheels · CA

1999 dodge intrepid es: I have previously made comments in regard to my vehicle handling and it's flimsy, loose feeling steering and how the front wheels feel like they slip sometimes around slight turns. The front wheels actually feel like they are sometmes fluttering especially over bumps or railroad tracks usually at 35+MPH. I have actually almost lost control when being in far left lane driving at around 65mph around bends in highway or freeway especially those that are bumpy. I brought in to five star dealer where purchased. I wasen't sure exactly how to explain the problem properly, I described the best I could. I have thought that the loose steering is causing the front wheels to bounce or flutter. The service center was not very receptive. The tech that drove my car stated that the sensitive steering was normal. Also there is no steering wheel lock when vehicle is parked or it is defective or not present. Does this have anything to do with it? I have read about 2 or 3 other odi's that described simular problems but not as in detail or with information of the front wheels sometimes bouncing all over the place or fluttering over bumps or front wheels sliding. With this problem I feel uncomfortible driving in wet or rainy conditions. It almost feels that around some freeway or road bends driving at 45+MPH it sometimes feels like the front wheels are slightly slipping or sliding. My old 1995 dodge intrepid was front wheel drive as well and never did this although it had it's problems. I could do 65mph on a rainy freeway and I could feel very comfortible with the vehicles traction and steering. My 1999 dodge intrepid es is newer with sport suspension and steering, better tires and 16" aluminum wheels yet I am having these problems never having them with my old inferior 1995 dodge intrepid. There is something wrong here. I do not feel my vehicle continually handles safely, I am afraid that I could loose control one day and crash. Please advise. Thank you.