Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
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).
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 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. …
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. I think a recall is called for, and some sort of remibrusment for the cost of repaires made. All my repaires where done by a Goodyear facility or dealership.
1. The event occurred while backing into my driveway 2. 1996 Dodge Intrepid, 3.5l, 196,000 miles. The lower control arm mount that is a structural element of the car's subframe had metal fatigued and separated from the subrfame. This caused the bottom of the front passenger side wheel to move outward and lodge against the fender. When the wheel moved outward, the half-shaft pulled out of the constant velocity joint disengaging the drivetrain from the front wheel. 3. The replacement cost of the subframe was prohibitively expensive, so the car is going to be scraped.
Under normal driving conditions, automatic in "drive" position shifts into 3rd gear causing high [300-400K] RPM and high fuel consumption. Condition can be corrected by stopping vehicle, turning switch off, waiting until signal lights have disappeared, then turning switch on again. This is also a safety hazard due to potential for rear-end collision while vehicle is in off.
1996 Dodge Intrepid had to have alot of front end work done on tie rod ends and bushings worn out then while driving the car the brakes failed for no apparent reason and caused a accident whole front end totaled and the air bags did not deploy why is it that Dodge auto air bags do not deploy.
It started out my steering would get really tight and you couldn't move it at all and it happens everyday now we took it to the dealership and they said it was the rack-n-pinion and so they fixed it and its still doing it.
Vehicle pulls to the left while driving 25 MPH. Consumer was able to drive the vehicle home. Then, consumer noticed that the bushing was worn out, and steering rack broke. Manufacturer was notified.
There is a loud "clunking noise" coming from the front end of the car on cold mornings. The car must be warmed up for approximately 15 minutes. If you start the car and go the noise occurs. When you turn the wheel to the left and right it clunks until the car is warmed up. We had the dealer check it out on two occassions. The first time they did not hear it because it was a fairly warm day. The second time, the car was dropped off the night before. We specified to them to start the car the first thing in the morning. When we checked with them to see if they started the car when we told them to, they said they did in the afternoon. They claim they still did not hear the noise. The car is still making the c lunking noise on cold mornings and sometimes if it is cold in the afternoon.
I'm a mother of a 2 year old, and have to take her in my car everyday. Come to find out my bushings are bad, and that whole part has to be replaced with the part costing $800. Plus labor. The dealership in town said that it is a common thing in the 96 and 97 intrepids, because they went to the new body, I can't afford a new car, or $800 to get this fix, and believe that Dodge should do a recall on this, because it is unsafe to drive and is common. I've read lots of complaits of this same problem, and worry about having my daughter in the car everyday. My steering is very lose because of this problem. I did not include date and milage of when this happened, because it was a slow process. I just noticed when it was making the load noice when I turn.
Suspension complaints in other Intrepid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1996 Dodge Intrepid?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the suspension of the 1996 Dodge Intrepid, 9% of the model year's 505 complaints. The component named most often is front (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Dodge Intrepid suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension 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 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to suspension 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.