Problems with 2000 Dodge Intrepid STEERING

I bought my 2000 dodge intrepid in feb. 2003 with 37,295 miles on it. started to notice the car pulling to the right and a lot of play in the steering wheel. i took the car to keystone chrysler to be serviced on may 15, 2003. steve haller(rep.) said it sounds like an alignment problem. when i called mr. haller to check how things were going, he said they were having some trouble trying to align the car, but they will get it done. i dropped the car off at 7 a.m. and the car was not finished until 2:30 that afternoon. that seems like a long time for an alignment. when i picked the car up, i still noticed a lot of play in the steering wheel and the drifting to the right. it was as if i had no control over which direction the car was going. i then took the car back to the dealership and they said they would correct the problem. mr. doolittle(another rep.) then called me at home that afternoon to tell me that there is no alignment problem, but there is a problem with the rack and pinion. he said it needs to be replaced soon, but will cost $1200. he also told me that the car is unsafe to drive and he recommend that i do not drive it home. well, i had no other choice but to go pick up the car and drive it home. i did not have $1200 to fix the rack and pinion. on june 14, 2003, my car lost control. it pulled to the left and would not budge. it now sits in my driveway collecting dust. i recently been investigating into this rack and pinion problem with intrepid's and i realize i am not the only one with this problem. yet the problem is so common that the part is on back order because of high demand. doesn't that say anything to the chrysler corporation? the steering problems with the dodge intrepid is so serious, it is taking lives and injuring many people. i feel the rack and pinion should be recalled and fixed before it injures or kills anyone else. *nlm

The day after we had gotten new tires put on and aligned on our 2000 dodge intrepid the car pulled strongly to the right and made loud sounds on turns. took it to the dealer and had him look at it and said steering gear had dropped and had to be replaced. replaced the steering gear and did an alignment to the turn of $1400. went to the dealer in the first place to get seat fixed on free recall and ended up spending over $1800 dollars there. noticed lots of complaints about steering on mycarstats - is this a mfg defect that should be covered?*jb

While driving at any speed and with no warning steering bolt will lose and it is causing the steering wheel to jump around, making it hard for consumer to steer the vehicle.*ak

My dodge intrepid has 73000 highway miles. i am having severe steering problems that will require me to replace my rack and pinion steering to correct. the cost of this replacement will be $1500.00. i feel the rack and pinion steering problem should be considered a safety failure subject to recall. *nlm

Steering rack problems in a 2000 dodge intrepid with less 40,000 miles. read on websites that this is a common problem for this make/model. why not a recall? accident potential as well as some reported. costly replacement for consumer. this has turned me off to chrysler products and i am very upset. i am a single parent with two kids and can't afford costly repair bills. this is obvious a manufacturer defect with so many complaints. why isn't something being done to help us consumers? we need safe, reliable vehicles to provide transportation for our families. what is the problem here?! *jb

The shocks and cooling fan had to be replaced. the vehicle continued in a straight path although the steering wheel was turned left. the rack and pinion was replaced. *jb *ph *nlm

Vehicle's steering wheel is malfunctioning. the dealership indicated that the rack and pinion has to be replaced. ph

Dedember 2002 started car and engine making terrible noise. took it to the dealer and the engine had went out. they had to re-do the engine that cost me $1350.00. i had been hearing a knocking from the front of the car and the steering was loose. when i tyrned the wheel left or right it would stick and i had loud popping from the steering. i took it to the dealer and it was the rack and pinion. that was on january 21, 2003. in the same week i noticed oil leaking. the oil light was blinking on and off. the dealer said it was leaking due to the oil switch. to fix the rack and oil leak it cost me another $1300.00. i am trying to get the dodge company to fess up and pay for the repairs. the car has been well maintanenced and only 51,000 miles.

I have only made 4 payments on this car, and i am scheduled for my 7th repair attempt on 12/3/02. to date, i have had 2 steering pump replacements, 1 rack & pinion replacement, a complete steering fluid change with fluid supposedly specified by dodge, 1 appointment that ended up being a test drive only-was advised to take car home pending response from dodge on how to proceed with repairs..(was told response "didnt really pertain to my car.."), 1 vent wire and oil sender unit replaced, and in august 02, i had a 1 month auto check up. these repairs, while not all in sequence, took place between 9/17/02-11/20/02.my steering problem returned in full force 11/25/02. the steering is loud and does not quiet when driving. i am terrified to drive this car for fear of causing an accident. this car, in my opinion, is very dangerous! of late, dodge is covering it's inability to repair this car with arrogance, and i'm frightened enough of this car that i intend to start a lemon law arbitration. as you may notice, i was unable to answer some of the mechanical questions on this form, so i left them as they were. dt

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Consumer states while driving the rack and pinion went out causing lost of steering. mr

consumer states while driving and rack and pinion . please provide additional information . ts

The steering locked up, which caused consumer to loose control of the vehicle.*jb

I thought i had filed a complaint about this incident before but it does not show up in the searches. the steering would lock-up when turning to get the car to straighten out i would have to force the steering wheel with all of my strength later the steering failed completely the dealer replaced the rack and pinion. i noticed that there are a lot of complaints about this component failing more than once on several vehicles. *nm

I purchased my 2000 dodge intrepid with only 26,000 miles in nov. 2001. since then i have replaced my input/out transmission sensors, and have been told that i must now replace my rack and pinion assembly due to steering problems. after doing some research i have found that this premature failure is very common and an on going problem with dodge intrepids. the manufacture should be held accoutable and forced to recall all vehicles having these and other common problems with defective parts. the problem with the steering defect on this vehicle is a very dangerous and will cost lives if not address by nhtsa. mr

Traveling at 70 mph on interstate 65, the vehicle was drifting right and then veered right. vehicle would not respond. vehicle hit right guardrail and was deflected to the left across 3 lanes and impacted the center concrete divider.

Loss of steering control. vehicle veered right and would not respond. *jb

I have found an excellent and informative website against daimler chrysler at www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com for anyone who would like more information mainly in regard to intrepid, 300m, concorde, lhs premature engine, steering, transmission and other common failures. i have experienced many of these problems myself and daimler chrysler simply does not care, i could have even been killed in one instance. after own another vehicle and putting nearly 30,000 miles on it i have not had any of the ridiculous problems experienced with chrysler's dodge brand of vehicles. there is a lot of information consumers need to know that daimler chrysler does not want you to know about these vehicles and their common problems chrysler ignores, some of which are potential safety concerns such as the defective seat belt design chrysler continues to use and defective steering design and or components that can cause sudden looseness or change of response in steering, which can lead to a serious accident. these guys have been receiving complaints daily about these problems and have been referring consumers to the nhtsa, i hope that in turn the nhtsa will add this to the list of their complaints so others will also know about this. thank you very much for your time. *nlm

While driving home, all of a sudden the steering wheel loosened up and vehicle was almost unable to steer, vehicle was taken into dealership and consumer was informed the tilt mechanism was coming apart at the column, steering column was replaced, consumer is also requesting reimburesment for rental fees that were incurred due to dealer having vehicle for over three weeks.*jb

While driving then stopping steering wheel will lock up, making a turn. could occur without a prior warning. *ak *slc

After puchasing my 2000 dodge intrepid es in november of 1999 and began noticing a steering vibration at approximately 37,000 miles. the vibration increased to steering difficulties while at various speeds. after opinions received from three separate mechanics, the rack and pinion assembly required replacement at a cost of approximately $1,700.00. after numerous attempts to find any recall notice for the intrepid, no dealer was able to provide any assistance. several other claims of similiar occurances have been found posted on the internet all matching the descriptions of steering assembly failures. the original rack and pinion assembly was inspected by the mechanic and was noted to have "fractured" thereby causing the steering problems.*ak

When driving vehicle and making a left turn steering wheel will turn, but wheel won't follow through. connection is not able to impact. consumer was traveling about 35mph on highway, went to turn vehicle left, and vehicle went straight. he ended up in a ditch.*ak

It started with a "small" noise in the right front end. the dealer said they couldn't find anything. after 2 years of listening to the "small" noise, the steering started acting strange. when making a turn, it wouldn't go back to the center. then it started locking up and would not return to the center position unless i use all the strength i have. i took it to the local dodge dealership but "they couldn't find anything". i took it to a local repair shop and they determined the entire rack and pinion steering is shot and needs to be replaced at somewhere around $1000.00. so as it stands, i have a 2000 dodge intrepid with 35,000 miles, no warranty, and no help from dodge either.

Steering mechanism feels loose. at a high way speed vehicle need continual adjustment it wanders. this defect is not allowing consumer to have full control of vehicle. dealer has not acknowledged defect or provided remedy.*ak the vehicle was at the dealership three times but the problem was not solved and the vehcile is unsafe. *yh