1997 Dodge Intrepid

MY 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT INVOLVING A DODGE INTREPID. WE ARE INVESTIGATING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A STEERING FAILURE. SHE WOULD HAVE LIVED HAD HER SEAT BELT NOT FAILED. HER SEAT WAS RECLINED AND AS A RESULT SHE SLID UNDER THE SEAT BELT CAUSING HER INJURIES. WHY IS THERE NO WARNING THAT THIS FAILURE CAN OCCUR? KIDS DO NOT READ THE OWNER?S MANUAL! WE FEEL THAT THE CASE MAKER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER DEATH BUT NO ONE WANTS TO HELP BECAUSE OF THE COST. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP US? SINCERELY, CONSUMER COMPLAINANT STATED DURING A FOLLOW UP CALL THAT BOTH BELTED FRONT OCCUPANTS DIED AS A RESULT OF REAR ENDING A PARKED TRAILER WITH AN IMPACT SPEED OF APP. 40-45 MPH ACCORDING TO THEIR INVESTIGATOR. BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CRASH. THE MALE DRIVER'S HEAD IMPACTED THE TRAILERS SAFETY BAR RESULTING IN AN OPEN HEAD WOUND. THE FEMALE PASSENGER SLID UNDER THE SEAT BELT RESIDING ON THE FLOOR BOARD WITH AN INTERNAL HEAD WOUND AND A LACERATED HEART. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE PASSENGER'S BELT WAS BUCKLED AFTER THE CRASH. THE ANGLE OF THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS BETWEEN 1-2 O'CLOCK. THE DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD A THE SCENE AND THE PASSENGER DIED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE TRAILER WAS PARKED AT A WEIGHT STATION ON RAMP WHEN IT WAS STRUCK ON A SUNNY AFTER NOON AT ABOUT 4:00PM. THE POSTED SPEED ON THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY WAS 70 MPH. THE ROAD WAS STRAIGHT AND KNOWN TO THE DRIVER. DRUGS OR ALCOHOL WERE NOT A FACTOR. EYE WITNESS SAYS THE DRIVER WAS AWAKE AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHY THE CRASH OCCURRED. THERE IS SPECULATION THAT THERE WAS A STEERING PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD THAT THE INTREPID HAD STEERING PROBLEM. THE COMPLAINANTS LAWYER IS INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE. ACCORDING TO LAWYER THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS RECLINED FURTHER BACK THAN WHAT WAS STATED BY COMPLAINANT. EYEWITNESS STATED AS SUCH. CW. *LA AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A STEERING OR BRAKING PROBLEM. *JB

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY'RE OCCASIONALLY HARD. FRONT END WILL DIP, CAR SLOWLY SLOWS DOWN, WON'T COME TO A STOP SOON ENOUGH. I HAD BARELY STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT A LIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY, I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY WERE HARD, BRAKES WOULDN'T ENGAGE. CAUSING ME TO REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MPH. (SPARK PLUG WIRES) ABOUT EVERY 12,000 MILES WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG WIRES DUE TO THE 2ND CYLINDER WIRE BEING BURNT FROM THE ENGINE. A SIMPLE GUARD COULD FIX THIS PROBLEM! IF NOT, A FIRE COULD RESULT! (SEATS/SEAT BELTS) THE SEATS WILL LEAN BACK SLIGHTLY & UNEXPECTEDLY, COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT! THE SEAT BELTS DON'T SEEM TO STAY TIGHT AROUND THE WAIST. THE SEAT BELT SITS TOO HIGH OFF THE LAP. IF IN AN ACCIDENT, I WAS AFRAID I WOULD SLIDE UNDER THE BELT BECAUSE IT'S SO LOOSE! I WOULDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO ME, MY SPOUSE OR ANY OF MY CHILDREN. HEAD LIGHTS) THESE LIGHTS ARE PATHETIC! THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL GO OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING, SOMETIMES WON'T COME ON AT ALL MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GO ANYWHERE! THEY ARE VERY DIM & THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ABOUT WORTHLESS BECAUSE THE BEAM IS TOO MUCH TO THE SIDES OR UP TOO HIGH. VISIBILITY ISN'T VERY FAR AND IT'S TOO SCARY TO DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE DIM LIGHTS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE SWITCH IS OFF, IT WILL ALSO TURN OFF WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BECOMING IN-OPERABLE & NO VISIBILITY! I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH DURING RUSH HOUR, IN THE POURING RAIN WHEN THEY STOPPED ON ME! AIR CONDITIONER) WHENEVER WE START UP THE CAR, A MILDEW SMELL COMES OUT OF THE VENTS. THIS COULD BE A HEALTH HAZZARD FOR PEOPLE WITH LUNG PROBLEMS. (FUEL) WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE WE SMELL FUEL & THE SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CAR SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE FUEL GAUGE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE, ONE MOMENT IT REGISTERS IT HAS A 1/3 TANK, NEXT MOMENT IT SAYS YOU ONLY HAVE A 1/16 OF A TANK! THIS CAR IS CURSED AND IS JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! *AK

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND EXITING, WITH THE DOOR OPENED THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND THE DOOR KNOCKED THE CONSUMER DOWN AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED. A RECALL WAS RECEIVED ON THE SHIFT INTERLOCK 04V021000. *JB SHIFT INTERLOCK INOPERATIVE. *TC

THE INSURED WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, IN WHICH THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND ALSO THE SEAT BELT RELEASED, THERE WERE 4 INJURIES. (CLAIM#52-2499-839)*JB

WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, CONSUMER RAN HEAD-ON INTO A POLE, DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, HOWEVER PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY, CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK. CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. *JB

ON FEBRUARY 25,2002 MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER CAR. DURING THE COLLISION, MY SEATBELT DISENGAGED, AND I WAS THROWN INTO THE REAR SEAT. THE ONLY INTERIOR DAMAGE WAS A SHATTERED CENTER FLOOR-MOUNTED CONSOLE. MY RIGHT HIP IS BRUISED. I BELIEVE THAT THE FORCE OF THE COLLISION THREW ME AGAINST THE CONSOLE CAUSING THE SEATBELT BUCKLE TO RELEASE. I WAS UNAWARE OF SEATBELT PROBLEMS IN MY VEHICLE. I LEARNED ABOUT THEM ON AN ABC NEWS PROGRAM MARCH 7. 2002.*AK

VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM REAR AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHILE AT A STOP POSITION, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY/SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK, AND DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40MPH ON A DIRT ROAD, THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR BAD SPOTS, CONSUMER HITA BAD SPOT AND CAR STARTED FISHTAILING AND HIT A DITCH HEAD-ON, SPUN AROUND IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND HIT AND EMBANKMENT. CAR LANDED ON ITS SIDE, UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

I WAS DRIVING MY INTREPID, A NEW ENGINE WAS JUST PUT INTO IT, AND THEY DID A COMPLETE INSPECTION OF EVERYTHING AT THE SAME TIME. I WAS GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR SWERVED TO MISS AN ANIMAL, SUDDENLY THE LEFT WHEEL MUST OF BROKE, PUT ME INTO A SPIN, I SPUN AROUND SEVERAL TIMES ENDING FLIPPED OVER INTO A DITCH. NO EXPLANATION EXCEPT THEIR MUST OF BEEN MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE STEERING OR WHEEL ASSEMBLIES. IT WAS A SLIGHT SWERVE NOTHING EXTREME. I AM HURT PRETTY BADLY, UNABLE TO BARELY MOVE TODAY, AND MY CAR WAS TOTALED AFTER HAVING TO JUST HAD TO PUT OUT MONEY FOR AN ENGINE THAT BLEW UP APPROXIMATELY A MONTH EARLIER. PLEASE HELP! I AM A SINGLE MOTHER, THIS WAS MY DREAM CAR, NOW I HAVE NOTHING, DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THANK YOU, SINCERELY, ROBIN STANLEY PHONE 707 428-4751, MY CELL NUMBER IS 707365-3829, AND MY ADDRESS 368 TULIP ST, FAIRFIELD, CA 94533. I AM NOW UNABLE TO WORK FROM THE INJURIES, NOT SURE FOR HOW LONG, AND SO THERE IS NO MONEY FOR A NEW CAR! WHAT DO I DO. ANY ASSISTANCE OR ADVICE WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BUCKET SEATS. DURING AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS REARENDED, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BROKE OFF THE TRACK. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY AND ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE HAD COME FROM THE REAR HOOD AREA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE #5 FUEL INJECTOR/WIRING HARNESS/FUEL RAIL. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST BRAKING POWER AND REVVED DURING THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WHERE THE ROCKER ARM COVER WAS REPLACED, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOISY, LEAKED, AND WAS REPLACED, AND THE BLEEDER SCREW WAS BROKEN AND THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS REPLACED. *SCC *NLM

1997 DODGE INTREPID-169,610 MILES > > I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 1-1/2 YEARS WITH LESS THAN > 3,500 MILES DRIVEN. > > TODAY ON MARCH 16, 2008 AT 1:15PM, I CAME BACK TO > COLLEGE FROM SPRING BREAK. I NOTICED THAT I WAS 29 > MILES AWAY FROM THE COLLEGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL > STARTED TO JERK TO THE RIGHT AND MOVE ON ITS OWN. I > TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT AND HAD TO > FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND MOVE WHERE I NEED TO GO. > > > THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER MADE NOISES AS I WAS > DRIVING > TODAY, BUT I NOTICED THAT I HAD TO FORCE THE WHEEL > HARD TO MAKE A TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT. WHEN I > TRIED TO PARK, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND, SO I HAD > TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND STILL DID NOT WORK. > I'M NOW TRAPPED IN THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE I'M NOT > SURE THAT I'M SAFE ON THE ROAD. > > I'M LOCATED IN SOUTHFIELD, MI AND IN 8 WEEKS, I NEED > TO DRIVE BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS, IN (APPROXIMATELY 312 > MILES, 7-9 HOURS). INCIDENT TWO I WAS 4 MILES AWAY FROM SCHOOL AND NOTICED THAT I HAD STEERING PROBLEMS. AS I WAS FORCING THE WHEEL TO CORPORATE A TRUCK WAS TO MY RIGHT AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR AS THE CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT. CAUSING ME TO HIT THE TRUNK FROM MY FRONT RIGHT TO THE PASSENGER TIRE. NOW MY ENGINE IS HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS THAT DEAL WITH ONE OF THE CYLINDERS NOT RESPONDING AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY IF IDLED FOR SECONDS AND MOVING SOMETIMES. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, MY STEERING STILL DIDN'T WORK SO COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR WITHOUT HELP AND MY CAR BLOCKED SEVERAL CARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1400 IN KEEPING THE ENGINE FROM COLLAPSING TO THE GROUND AFTER THE INCIDENT, A PART THAT KEEPS THE CAR FROM FLIPPING OVER WHEN TURNING. I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE INTREPID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR IN MOTION. THE FAILURE CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. ON AUGUST 8, 2007, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE KEY FELL FROM THE IGNITION. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 04V021000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 147,000.

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR, DRAGGING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THEN GOING INTO A DITCH. THIS WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO REPAIRS COULD BE MADE AT THIS TIME. NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK

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

STARTED VEHICLE PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARD FULL SPEED. *LA

CONSUMER WAS MAKING A K TURN AND PULLED TOWARDS THE CURB. HE PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH ON A WET SNOW SURFACE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, CRASHING INTO A UTILITY POLE HEAD-ON FIRST, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK