U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Dodge INTREPID problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

333 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

93,700 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 48 of 333 complaints (14.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	96	28.8%
Transmission and shifting	23	6.9%
Braking behavior	22	6.6%
Fuel system concerns	13	3.9%
Electrical and battery issues	12	3.6%
Engine operation	2	0.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering:Rack And Pinion

Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly

Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Steering

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Air Bags:Frontal

Suspension

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Steering:Rack And Pinion	48
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly	24
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System	22
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	20
Steering	19
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	17
Air Bags:Frontal	15
Suspension	12

Steering:Rack And Pinion: 48; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 24; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 22; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 20; Steering: 19; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 17; Air Bags:Frontal: 15; Suspension: 12

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 11

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 258 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1996

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2016

1996: 13; 2000: 81; 2001: 57; 2002: 51; 2003: 38; 2004: 30; 2005: 29; 2006: 4; 2007: 12; 2008: 7; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 96 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10003315 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)

EXCESSIVE RACK AND PINION STEERING NOISE ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER, RACK AND PINION MOUNTING BOLT BUSHINGS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE. CAR HAS SEVERE STEERING SHIFTING WHEN ROUNDING CORNERS OR CURVES. DIAGNOSES REQUIRES NEW RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003315 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003698 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP.PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003698 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025492 · 2003-07-06 (July 6, 2003)

DEFECTIVE STEERING GEARBOX BUSHINGS. BUSHINGS WENT DEFECTIVE AFTER 70,000 MILES, MOST OF WHICH WERE HIGHWAY MILES. HAVE NOTICED KNOCK WHEN FIRST STARTING TO TURN WHEEL PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. HAVE CALLED MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT IT IS NOT A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP. IT IS A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025492 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057826 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)

THE CONSUMER WAS EXITING THE TURNPIKE WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CURVE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON THE BERM. *PH THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL, ROCKER PANEL AND ROTOR. THE BRAKE WAS GROUND DUE TO IT SLIDING ON THE ASPHALT (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057826 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063911 · 2004-03-26 (March 26, 2004)

I HAVE HAD THIS ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 1996 DODGE INTREPID WITH THE BRAKES. FIRST I THOUGHT I JUST NEEDED NEW BRAKES. WELL I HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON THE CAR AND THEN A WEEK LATER, THE BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHICH DAMAGED THE NEW BRAKES, THE ROTAR, THE CALLIPER, AND THE SPINDLE. THEN TWO WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR FOR THE FUEL REGULATER TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTARS NEEDED TO BE TURNED AGAIN ALREADY. THEN IN ANOTHER WEEK AND A HALF THE BRAKES CAUGHT ON FIRE AGAIN. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE IN THIS KIND OF TROUBLE WITH A BRAKE SYSTEM. I AM A SI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063911 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016117 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)

THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE RECALLED FUEL INJECTOR (NHTSA RECALL # 98-V-184-000). *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016117 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024831 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH 3.5L ENGINES. THE FUEL INJECTION DELIVERY SYSTEM CAN LEAK FUEL FROM SOME OF THE SEALING O-RINGS OR FROM HAIR LINE CRACKS IN THE FUEL INJECTION RAIL. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL O-RINGS AND REINFORCE THE OUTLET (PASSENGER) SIDE FUEL RAIL. VEHICLES SHOWING FUEL LEAKAGE ON THE OUTLET FUEL RAIL MUST HAVE THE OUTLET RAIL REPLACED WHICH INCLUDES CHANGING THE UPPER AND LOWER INJECTOR O-RINGS. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024831 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003582 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)

THE MULTIFUNTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS AND WIPERS STARTED TO SMOKE AND BURNED OUT. MY WINSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND I LOST MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT. IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE SWITCH I FOUND THE WIRING AND PLUG TO BE BURNED AND MELTED. ONE WIRE HAD ABOUT 3/4 INCH INSULATION MISSING. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WIRE LUME NOW HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $200.

Owner-reported narrative. 96,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003582 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026365 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ALSO, STATED THAT THE REAR LIGHTS DON'T WORK AS WELL AS THE PANEL AND OTHER THINGS IN THE VEHICLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026365 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8005181 · 2002-03-08 (March 8, 2002)

ENGINE SPORADICALLY STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVNG. SOMETIMES IT WILL START BACKING UP IF ENGINE COOLS OFF. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES, AND CANT DUPLICATE OR FIX PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8005181 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 896054 · 2001-09-10 (September 10, 2001)

VEHICLE STARTED UP BY ITSELF. WHEN CONSUMER PUT KEY INTO RESTART VEHICLE AND IT WOULDN'T SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER HIT BRAKE PEDAL AND ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS USED AND NEVER PASSED INSPECTION. CHRYSLER REFERRED CONSUMER TO DEALER,AND HISTORY SHOWED THAT PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED BEFORE. PLEASE ADD THE VIN# AND MILEAGE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 896054 at NHTSA ↗