1996 Dodge Intrepid Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe steering problems: worn rack-and-pinion bushings that produce clunking, loose or drifting steering, and in some cases broken bolts at the rack. Fuel leaks from the injection system, reported alongside NHTSA campaign 98V184000, also come up repeatedly, as do cooling-system problems. Many complaints arrive on high-mileage cars, though several describe steering and fuel issues between roughly 55,000 and 90,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Steering rack bushings worn, loose or drifting steering

   • 142 complaints (28%)
   • median 82,500 mi at 8.9 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2012

   Complaints describe clunking or grinding from the steering, a wandering or drifting feel, and play in the wheel that some owners call a delay before the car responds. Several report that the bushings holding the rack and pinion were worn out, and some had the whole rack replaced. Owners say shops and dealers diagnosed the bushings or rack after other repairs, such as new bushings or a new power steering pump, did not solve the problem. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 120,000 miles, with some owners noticing noise from a cold start.

   What to check: Turn the wheel slowly at a standstill and at low speed and listen for clunks or grinding, and have the rack bushings and tie rods inspected on a lift before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rack and pinion problems, the bushings that hold the rack and pinion keep going bad I've had the bushings replaced (november 2007) but then it failed again (september 2008). When ever I go around a turn there's a delay in my sheer almost resulting in a crash.”

   NHTSA complaint #10254139, filed 2009-01, 115,000 miles

   “I have owned a 1996 Dodge Intrepid for 6 months now and when I bought the car I was aware that the steering was a little loose, what I did not know was that the entire rack and pinion system as well as most of the tie rods around them were completely shot. My steering wheel grinds when I turn it left and right now and my steering has a horrific drift when turning from extreme to extreme. The bushings on the rack and pinion (as told by my mechanic) are completely gone. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10380033, filed 2011-02, 56,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks from fuel rail / injector O-rings

   • 75 complaints (15%)
   • median 116,224 mi at 9.7 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2012

   Owners describe a gasoline smell in the engine compartment or passenger cabin, and in some cases visible fuel leaking from the injection rail or injector O-rings. Several cite NHTSA campaign 98V184000 and report that the repair was performed but the leak returned later, or that they paid for the work themselves. A few complaints mention fuel in the engine oil or the car catching fire after a leak. Reported from about 64,000 to 165,000 miles, often noticed as a smell before any visible leak.

   Recall 98V184000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 98V184000 was completed and when; check for a fuel smell under the hood and around the injectors, and look for weeping or residue on the fuel rail.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Nhtsa campaign id number : 98v184000 I own 1996 Dodge Intrepid. I am at least the 3rd owner of this car. Has this vehicle been recalled and repaired? I recently had the repairs done at my expense; october 6, 2006. This after smelling gas for months. Can I receive a reimbursement?”

   NHTSA complaint #10170245, filed 2006-10, 165,000 miles

   “I had a 1996 Dodge Intrepid purchased in 3/04 from original owner. On /1/99 he had the fuel rail recall performed at palmer Dodge. In february 25 2005 I smelled gas from the engine compartment. I took the car to shadeland Dodge on 2/18/05 and they said the fuel rail and o-rings needed to be replace again and did so under the recall. On 4/21/05 I smelled gas again and was on my way to shadeland Dodge, when I had to stop at a stop light. The car then caught on fire under the front hood. The car was not repairable.”

   NHTSA complaint #10118787, filed 2005-05, 116,224 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Tie rod bolts or rack mounting bolts broke, steering lost

   • 29 complaints (6%)
   • median 98,000 mi at 9.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2008

   Complaints describe sudden loss of steering while driving: owners report that bolts connecting the tie rods to the rack, or bolts holding the rack, broke or stripped, leaving the wheel unable to steer the car. In several cases the car was towed and the rack or hardware was replaced. Reported from about 66,000 to 112,000 miles, usually without warning while driving or turning.

   What to check: Have the steering rack mounting and tie-rod fasteners inspected for looseness, corrosion or previous repairs, especially on a car with a steering complaint history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Bolts holding tie rods to steering gear (rack) broke. Unable to steer vehicle. Fortunately, I was just leaving my parking lot and didn't cause any accidents and/or injuries. Paid $700 to have car fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10249831, filed 2008-11, 98,000 miles

   “When the steering wheel was turned to the right, vehicle went to the left. Upon lifting the hood consumer noticed that the steering rod was hanging down off the gear box, and a sheared bolt was laying in the engine compartment that was cut in half. Vehicle was towed to the dealership, who indicated that gear box was in pieces and needed to be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10083629, filed 2004-09, 66,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Overheating and cooling-system leaks

   • 50 complaints (10%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 9.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2008

   Owners report repeated overheating, coolant leaks, and replacement of radiators, thermostats and water pumps. One complaint describes coolant pipes that leaked out of view and led several shops to diagnose a head gasket problem. Another reports multiple water pump failures. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 150,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check coolant level and color, look for weeping at the water pump and the external coolant pipes, and ask whether the radiator or thermostat has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1996 Dodge inrepid with 61,255 miles on it as of today ( 1/16/2003). This vehicle has had three failuers of the water pump at a cost to repaire of $500.00 each time to repaire. I have also had the front suspension fail, which cost $1185.00 to repaire. This vehicle is not driven hard, mileage will show maybe 10,000 miles per year. I feel by the number of complaints on your system that the manufacture has had more than normal number of complaints for both these problems. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10002787, filed 2003-01, 61,255 miles

   “I have a 1996 model Dodge Intrepid. About a year and half ago, in one rainy morning I drove my car to work, just a few minutes driving on the road at approximately 50 MPH, the engine quit working... I had the car towed to the garage and finally took it to the chrysler dealership to get it checked, and was told I have a intake gasket problem, it cost me more than $300 to get it fixed. However, similar problem still comes and goes mysteriously after that. The most recent occurrence was about 2 month ago. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10023038, filed 2003-06, 90,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, have a shop inspect the steering rack, tie rods and their fasteners before buying, and confirm the fuel-rail recall was done and has not started leaking again. A pre-purchase check of the cooling system and airbag light is also worthwhile, since repairs on these systems come up repeatedly in owner reports.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.