Steering makes clunking sounds and tends to be very "swishy" while driving. I have taken to dealership twice and complained, both times they stated the steering was within specs even though my personal mechanic had found problems.
2002 Dodge Intrepid steering complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 15 of 15, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Loose ground wire to battery posed electrical problems. Also, odometer tampering. Vehicle died while driving. Also, suspension/ steering problems. Dealer replaced all four bulbs on headlamps and high/low beam dimmer switch ,and cleaned out engine hoses, pcv valve and fuel filter.
I have had steering/suspension and brake related issues from normal driving in the bay area since 200 miles after purchasing vehicle new. I have had to pay for a professional computerized full precision alignment and balancing of two tires that were out of balance from the factory. Two dodge/chrysler dealers and wheel specialsts have checked and adjusted tire pressure. Vehicle seems to drive straight more often but still drifts to the left, sometimes to the right. Front wheels feel like they are slipping bad over bumps even at low speeds. Very intermittently steering wheel becomes harder to turn and is much more sensitive all of a sudden. Vehicle does not seem to be handling or taking bumps very well at times. Wheel does not usually return smoothly or consistantly, sometimes jerky and sometimes slow, usually off center, oversteering or understeering. Steering wheel sometimes needs constant attention, having to remind wheel where to go. Wheel will move by itself excessively at times on bumpy roads or on slanted roads sometimes almost making complete turns on it's own. Sometimes steering wheel has looseness. Clunk in steering still continues wheen wheel is turned sharp and braking. Excessive amount of groaning noise wheen turning wheel at times. I had to brake hard the other day and was able to lock vehicle up into a heavy skid although vehicle has ABS. Vehicle feels unstable sometimes and over bumpy roads sometimes. Every once and a while you can hear squeaking from struts. I am not the only person experiencing these issues. I have witness testimony on video and video proof. I have video of massive tire squealing at low speed 15mph manuvering in parking lot. My girlfriend does not want to drive the car also experiencing and complaining of these issues. Transmission still hesitates or stumbles sometimes. Two dealerships say there is nothing wrong with car and couldn't duplicate anything abnormal with steering. Chrysler does nothing. Car is unsafe at times.
I have brought this vehicle to the dealership twice where I purchased it complaining of intermittent looseness in steering, squeaking and clunking. The dealer could not duplicate these issues, squeaking was supposedly tire noise, clunking was "just bushings". My right front tire is severly worn on the outer edges at only 5900 miles, the left tire wear is normal. Dealer would not explain or asses why this is. Today I had the steering wheel turned sharp to the left and there was a vibrating noise as if metal was hitting against metal. I called someone out to witness this. About two miles later I was driving and the steering wheel was difficult to turn all of a sudden and steering felt heavy. Vehicle all of a sudden turns sharper and steering responds different than usual. When trying to investigate issue and manuvering the steering back and fourth the vehicle was swerving excessively as it never had before. Front end felt as if it was taking bumps harder than usual and was even hopping slighly over some bumps. I could hear noise in the passenger side front wheel area. I immediately brought the vehicle to the dealer. The shop foreman road tested and wouldn't say much about the steering. I explained that the wheel was always much easier to turn and explained that the steering is all of a sudden responding differently. Several bumps felt harsh from the passenger side where they had not felt as harsh before. I could hear and feel a light clunking during braking three times from the passenger seat. Shop foreman didn't really seem to notice much wrong as usual. He did see the tire wear and was like "wow". He is going to ask the service manager for permission to put the vehicle on their alignment machine. They have looked at the vehicle on the lift twice and never found anything visually wrong. I have made an appointment to have the vehicle looked at by another vehicle for a second opinion. I feel unsafe in this vehicle and unfortunately no other alternative to get to work.
Steering issues still continue. After steering was feeling loose for some time it felt as if it tightened up all of a sudden. Slight vibration once felt in steering wheel on freeway. Steering wheel slightly flopped to the right today while driving and steering seemed to drift. Steering felt jerky and would cause vehicle to almost swerve. Steering does not feel normal. Manufacture is supposed to arrange for district technician to check at dealership. Steering jerks usually during hard acceleration and did not do this when vehicle was new until recently. I am concerned that the steering my fail or not perform as it should. I have had a witness drive my car for verification. Steering attitude intermittently changes. I am used to driving front wheel drive chrysler vehicles and the steering attitude should not change as such.
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