Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Dodge Intrepid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My son was traveling to work on August 10 2005. He was driving a 1996 Dodge Intrepid. He was turning a corner when his steering control was suddendly and completely lost. His car went over a curb at an elementary school before he was able to stop. No one was hurt. Inspection of the car showed that 2 bolts that connect the tie rods to the rack and pinion steering were completely severed. A picture here is worth 1000 words. If you go to this site : http://www.allpar.com/fix/Intrepid-steering.html you will see a clear picture of 2 center bolts that connect the inner tie rods to the rack and pinion steeing. These were the 2 bolts that suddenly broke leaving the car with no steering control. If that had happened a week earlier when I was traveling with my son on a super highway I am quite sure that several people would be going to the hospital or worse. …
Repeated overheating problems resulted in replacing my radiator two times, thermostat three times and thermostat w/ breather housing two times. Cooling system includes external metal pipes which help circulate coolant to heater. The pipes are hidden from clear view and when mine sprung leaks due to their placement the leaks were diagnosed as being blown head/head gasket by three separate shops. Replacement of pipes solved overheating. Moisture gets trapped in and around the frame and subframe areas where the motor and transmission mounts are located and allows for unnecessary premature deterioration of all the mounts, bushings, main frame and subframe. This hidden condition has resulted in all mounts needing replacement, transmission dropping, front inner&outer tie rods and bushings going out, rack n pinion problems and the subframe collapsing. …
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. The broken pieces are rattling and vibrating so violently that the shimmying I feel on my car is actually caused by the steering. When I brake at high speeds (50mph) the steering pulls to either an extreme left or right. After doing research, I found out that I wasn't the only one struggling with these same issue. It seems like every owner of a 1996 Dodge Intrepid is experiencing the exact same issues. …
While traveling 10 MPH and without any indication two half inch bolts had broke. Dealer has been contacted. The consumer crossed over the rail road tracks when the steering wheel turned completely around without changing the direction of the wheels. The bolts which held the rods to the rack and pinion gear box had broken into two parts.
I would first and formost like to report the premature wear of the steering rack on my 1996 Dodge Intrepid at around 77,000 miles. The rack had to be replaced at a hefty price. I have since learned that this is an alarmingly widespread problem with Chrysler lh bodied vehicals, especially Dodge intrepids, and has been for many years. I had the rack replaced about three years ago and already my car is showing symptoms of more steering related problems. I drive only a moderate amount so this could not be just "usual wear and tear". In addition to the steering rack, within the last three years I have had to have an axel replaced, all of the breaks due to prematurly warped rotors (the breaks actually went out once and I almost rear ended someone), the multifunction switch had to be replaced, the transmission shifts hard and gets stuck in gear for a mysterous reason no one can figure out, and …
While driving children to school my wife stated the car "drifted" in the lane a lot without steering input. I took it for test drive, noticed a strange "feel" to the steering and the drift she spoke of. I decided it was unsafe for her to drive and took it to a local repair shop to be checked. The mechanic put it up on the rack and immediately recognized the problem--the left side steering rack bushings were completely gone. He gave us a quote for the repair (it is being done today), and then he pulled me aside to let me know he had seen this type of failure several times before and suggested I contact the dealer to see if they would "goodwill it" (his term) as he says it was his understanding the part was defective as originally manufactured and that a new style bushing was available that did not deteriorate like this one and was much safer. …
I have a 1996 Dodge Intrepid I bought in 1998 I have had numerous steering problems with this vehicle and have spent much money to fix this car. The bushings have been replaced,the bearings have been replaced, the power steering pump has been replaced, the steering hoses have been replaced,all this was done at under 55,000 miles and luckily gefore my fiance and my children were seriously hurt in an acident due to steering lose or control. These problems totaled around 2,500.to fix. Now we are having the same problems again with the car having 90,000 miles now the power steering pump is out again and the rack and pinion is out and it is impossible to steer. We are a low income family so trade the car in is out of the question and getting it fixed right away is sometimes not possible. …
Purchased 1996 Dodge Intrepid in May 2005. Following week had to take car back to dealer re: brakes, to no avail. A mechanic stated brakes will need to be replaced. Was advised that tires were not in such great condition either. Kept hearing strange sounds (rattling noises) from the car. In August, smoke started coming from under the hood. Car would not steer at all. Had to take car to mechanic, who told us fan belt had come off while driving. Power steering pump had to be replaced and power steering line. He also advised that rack and pinion would need to be replaced. Finally, on August 26th, was getting in car to drive and did not get very far, when the car came to a sudden stop and made a loud noise. Got out of the car and found two bolts on the ground. Please help !!! Distressed. Do we have any recourse here? Have receipts, but do not have old parts.
As my wife was in a parked position in a parking lot, she proceeded to pull out. To do this she had to go around a light pole. As she pulled out she hit the light pole. She got out of the vehicle and inspected the damages. The damages were, crushed left front bumper, a small nic on the hood and a damaged left front headlight light assembly. With damaged not looking severe, she proceeded to bring the automobile home. On her way she immediately experienced a check enginge light, alternator ligh. As I went to inspect the car, I noticed the power steering pully was completely missing and the main serpentine belt was missing. The frame was no bent and the is no way that anything could have touched the power steering pump causing the pully to break off. I am courios to ask if this is a nown problem. Thank you for your time, larry roudebush.
Loss of steering due to poorly designed rack and pinion bushings that mount the assembly to the chassis, 90 degrees of excessive amount of play in the steering causing .crashed into the a hill side at 15 miles perhour.vehicle is impossible to drive in a straight line, excessive wear on tires.most important, possible life threating defect.vehicle had this since I bought it,not as bad but gradually deteriorated with time.$1500 to repair, the bushings cannot be replaced since they are pressing into the assembly. Please advise!!!
NHTSA investigations
Steering system rack and pinion
Since opening the preliminary evaluation (pe), odi has received 6 additional complaints.during the pe it was determined multiple failure modes are involved in this matter.the warranty claim rate is high for a steering system concern.the issues reported involve premature wear out at the rack and pinion interface with the inner tie rod end(s), binding and sticking of the steering gear, cracked or broken tie rod ends,…
Steering system rack and pinion
There is no summary currently available
Steering complaints in other Intrepid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1996 Dodge Intrepid?
NHTSA has 152 complaints about the steering of the 1996 Dodge Intrepid, 30% of the model year's 505 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (70 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Intrepid steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 1996 Dodge Intrepid, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Dodge Intrepid steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.