1994 Dodge Intrepid complaints

NO SUMMARY LISTED FRO ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO IT DROPPING INTO LIMP MODE, DEALER MAKES A REPAIR KIT BECAUSE THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. *SLC

BOLT THAT HOLDS LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BRACKET FELL OFF, CAUSING TIRE TO DISCONNECT FROM VEHICLE. RECALL 99V215000 HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

TRANSMISSION "SLIPS" OR WON'T DROP IN LOWER GEAR AT STOP FOR A FEW SECONDS WILL "SLIP" WHEN STARTING OUT.*AK

WIRING HARNESS WAS CUT BY CYLINDER HEAD DUE TO BEING LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO IT. *AK CONSUMER STATES HARNESS WAS CUT BY PROTRUDING EDGE OF REAR CYLINDER HEAD, LEAD FROM COMPUTER TO CRANK SENSOR SHORTED TO GROUND. *SLC

MY DAUGHTER RAN INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND TOTALLED A 1994 INTREPID. NEITHER AIR BAG NOR SEAT BELT RESTRAINT DEVICE WORKED. SHE IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS INJURED.

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, BOB BOST DEALER IN BRADENTON ,FLORIDA, SEVERAL TIMES FOR RECALL 99V215000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 837. BUT, DEALER COULD NOT PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS WITHOUT A SPECIAL TOOL WHICH DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN FROM MANUFACTURER. MEANTIME, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FROZE AT 55 MPH 1998 REPLACED STILL PROBLEMS???, ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WENT WHILE IN DRIVE AT 35MPH, FRONT TIE RODS REPLACED 2 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR, AIRCONDITIONER WENT WITHIN 4 YEARS, COOLING SYSTEM REPLACED WITHIN 4 YEARS FROM MANUFACTURED DATE, ABS MODULE FAILED DURING DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND AGAIN IN CITY LIMITS AFTER DEALER STRESSED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH ANTI LOCK BRAKES I HAVE HAD THIS CAR IN THE SHOP FOR MAJOR NOT MINOR REPAIRS SINCE THE MANUFACTURED DATE AT LEAST 15 TIMES AND CAN PROVE EACH TIME. I AM APPAULED THAT AMERICA CAN MANUFACTUR SUCH A VEHICLE WITH ALL THE MAJOR ISSUES AT HAND, TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL,BRAKING SYSTEMS,FUEL,AIRBAGS,STRUCTURAL, I WISH THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO COULD ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND GET US ALL RESTITUTION. IF IT MEANS LEGALLY OR CONSUMER AGENCIES I AM INTERESTED. I DRIVE WITH 2 CHILDREN AND DURING THE TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL AND THE ABS FAILURES THEY WERE IN THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE SOME TYPE OF A REPLY FROM THEM IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR THE WEBSITE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

INSIDE HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT EXPERIENCED A FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER TO NOTIFY NHTSA. *AK *SLC

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A DODGE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED BY US. THE FIRST TIME WAS A DODGE CARAVAN-V6, PROBABLY A 1990 BUT I AM NOT SURE. MILEAGE WAS JUST OVER 60,000. THIS TIME IT IS A 1994 DODGE INTREPID, PERHAPS THE SAME TYPE OF TRANSMISSION AT 87,000 MILES. MY FEELING IS THAT DODGE HAS KNOWN ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR OVER 10 YEARS NOW AND THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE CARS WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT FAIL AT WHAT I CONSIDER UNACCEPTABLE MILEAGE. TO HAVE TO PAY $1,790 TO REBUILD A TRANSMISSION ON A '94 CAR IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE PERSON WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION TOLD US THAT HE DOES A LOT OF DODGE'S AND THAT IF THEY PUT IN A DIFFERENT SHIFT KIT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN. *AK (TIRESIZE: 15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS VERY ROUGHLY. THE PREVIOUS OWNER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. AGAIN IT HAS STARTED AND IS SLOWLY GETTING WORSE AS WAS THE SITUATION WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TWICE TO BE FIXED. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THE CLUTCH FAILED AND THEY FIXED IT. THE SECOND TIME, THEY SAID THAT THE MACHINE SHOWED NO FAULT CODES. HOWEVER, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AND IT IS SLOWLY GETTING WORSE.*AK

EVAPORATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND ONLY LASTS FOR ABOUT YEAR. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.*AK THE EVAPORATOR TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE OF LEAKS. *YH

BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I HEARD A BANG AND THE STEERING FAILED. INSPECTION REVEALED THE FAILURE OF BOTH OF THE BOLTS CONNECTING THE INNER TIE RODS, TO THE RACK AND PINION. I NOTED AT LEAST 4 OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS FAILURE REPORTED IN YOUR FILES IN 2000. PLEASE STRIVE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RECTIFIED SOON, ANOTHER 5 MINUTES AND I'D HAVE BEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND MAY NOT BE HERE TO REPORT THIS OCCURRENCES. *AK

DRIVING 25MPH & WAS MAKING LEFT TURN WHEN WITHOUT ANY WARNING STEERING WENT OUT. VEHICLE KEPT STRAIGHT. STOPPED VEHICLE & CHECKED IT. NOTICED UPPER CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN & FELL OUT ON TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. ENTIRE UPPER CONTROL WAS REPLACED. MECHANIC COULD NOT INDICATE WHAT CAUSED IT TO BREAK. *AK *SLC

BRACKET HOLDING DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK FAILED. SEAT BACK WOBBLES. *AK

CONNECTING BOLTS IN INNER TIE ROD BROKE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BOTH CONNECTING BOLTS THAT CONNECTS THE INNER TIE RODS TO THE STEERING GEAR BROKE AS I WAS TURNING IN A DRIVEWAY. I HAD JUST DROVE 50 MILES ON INTERSTATE 85 FROM SMITHS, AL TO TUSKEEGGEE AL. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AS I TURNED FROM THE ASHFAULT HIGHWAY ON TO THE CONCRETE DRIVE WAY I HEARD A THUMP! THAT WAS WHEN THE BOLTS SHEARED INTO. MY ESTIMATE SPEED WAS AROUND 2 M.P.H. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE INTREPID ARE TOO DIM FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE PARKLIGHTS LENS STAY CLEAR WHILE THE HEADLIGHT LENS COLLECTS MOISTURE DUST AND DIRT AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE LENS START TO TURN BROWN WHICH INPAIRS THE ABILITY TO SEE WELL ENOUGH FOR NIGHT DRIVING

IT AMAZES ME THAT THERE IS THIRTEEN OR MORE INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETINS AND 150 OR MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION ON THIS SITE AND YOU HAVE NOT ENFORCED A RECALL FOR THE DODGE INTREPID. I WAS JUST TOLD THAT NOW THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT I MUST NOW REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $2,500.00. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN WORKED ON A NUMBER OF TIMES WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK YOU SHOULD MAKE THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS AT THEIR COST. IT IS A TERRIBLE INJUSTICE THAT THE CONSUMER MUST INHERIT THIS COST DUE TO POOR WORKMANSHIP. *AK

VEHICLE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, IN COLD WEATHER TRANSMISSION WILL FALL OUT OF GEAR OR IT WILL NOT SHIFT AT ALL. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLS ON HIGHWAY AT ALL SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT.

AT A SPEED OF 2 MPH, ROLLING, HIT BRAKE AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. *AK

RECALL 98V184000. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. HOWEVER, O-RINGS HAVE STARTED TO LEAK. DEALER / MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT PROBLEM.*AK DEALER IS STATING THAT THEY NEVER PERFORMED THE RECALL ON VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAS PAPERWORK SHOWING THEY DID. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

2ND TRANSMISSION FAILURE UNDER 95,000 MILES - I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE PROBLEM ON INTREPID TRANSMISSION FAILURES - I COUNTED 140 COMPLAINTS SINCE 1995 ON YOUR WEB SITE ALONE - OTHER COMPLAINTS ARE SPREAD IN MANY DISCUSSION FORUMS THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET ON THE POOR WORKMANSHIP OF THE POWERTRAIN - EVEN THE DEALER HAS ADMITTED TO ME AND I SEE TO OTHERS IN YOUR COMPLAINTS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM - WHILE NOT CAUSING FATALITIES, THIS DOES CAUSE MAJOR FINANCIAL HARDSHIP TO REPLACE A $3000 TRANSMISSION EVRY TWO YEARS. PLEASE GET INVOLVED AND INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL! *AK

CONSUMER SMELLED GAS AND NOTICED FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING GAS OUT OF FRONT. TWO YEARS AGO, DEALER REPLACED " O" RING, AND FUEL OUTLET RAIL. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

WAS DRIVING SEAT BROKE ENDING UP IN THE BACK SEAT. *AK

THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN WHILE ACCELERTATING. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP, WON'T ACCELERATE AS USUAL, TIRES ARE BALDING AFTER BUYING CAR JUST IN MARCH (TIRESIZE: 60R22516)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 60R22516 )

OUR DODGE INTREPID WAS PARKED IN OUR FRONT YARD WITH THE ENGINE OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND WE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WE LOOKED OUTSIDE AND THE ENGINE OF OUR CAR WAS IN FLAMES. WE HAD TO CALL THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEY HAD TO PRY THE HOOD UP BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE SO BAD THAT IT HAD MELTED THE HOOD LATCH CABLE TO THE OUTER PART OF THE CABLE. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS. THE ENGINE IS TOTALLY RUINED. WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT ANY RECALLS AND I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE CARS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS. 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 THERMOSTAT FUEL INJECTION RAIL. FUEL LEAKAGE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE. THIS SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR CAR. I AM WANTING SOME INFORMATION ON WHO I TALK TO AND HOW I CAN GET THIS SITUATION HANDLED. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT WHAT SO EVER. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. CHARLES LONG. *AK

WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN A LOCAL STREET AT APPROX. 25 MPH, THE CAR STARTED MAKING A FUNNY SOUND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF. WE LATER HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO INFORMED US THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUINED WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE CAR. WE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP HOW THIS COULD'VE HAPPENED WHEN WE HAD SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES WITH THEM ON TIME. THE CAR WAS THERE WITH THEM LESS THAN 30 DYAS PRIOR TO THE ENGINE BLOW-OUT. THE DEALERSHIP COULNOT GIVE US AN EXPALANATION OF WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE T BLOW ON A VEHICLE THAT HAD LESS THAN 70,000 MILES.THERE WAS NO WARNING SUCH AS OIL LEAKS OR SMOKE FROM BURNING OIL EVEN THOUGH WE WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR WHEN IT WAS GIVEN TO THEM.NO EXPLANATION GIVEN AS TO WHERE 5 QUARTS OF OIL WENT FROM THE SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE ON 5/8/00 AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. THE TOTAL COST TO US WAS $2165.00 WHICH THE DEALER STATED WAS THE BEST THEY COULD DO FOR US. THEY FELT IT WAS NO FAULT OF THEIR'S AND WE FELT AND STILL DO THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY DID OR DIDNOT DO DURING THE OIL CHANGE.*AK

METAL FRAMEWORK OF SEAT BROKEN AT RIGHT REAR CORNER OF POWER DRIVERS SEAT WHERE IT ATTACHES TO SEAT BACK. OBTAINED REPLACEMENT SEAT FROM JUNK YARD. IT BROKE AT SAME PLACE 10/01/2000. I FEAR THAT WITH ONE SIDE BROKEN IT WILL PUT MORE STRAIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SEAT AND EVENTUALY CAUSE IT TO BREAK WHICH COULD VERY LIKELY CAUSE INJURY OR CRASH. I AM HAVING MUCH DIFFICULTY TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER REPLACEMENT SEAT.

THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED APPROX. A YEAR BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT. WE HAD THE CAR APPROX. 2 YRS. AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WAS ONLY 6 YRS. OLD AND HAD 2 TRANSMISSIONS GO BAD. BOTH WERE REPLACED AT A DODGE DEALER WITH ORIGINAL PARTS. WE ONLY PUT APPROX. 27000 MILES ON THE CAR SHOULDN'T A TRANSMISSION LAST LONGER THAN THAT? SINCE THEN I HAVE TALKED TO OTHERS WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEIR TRANSMISSION ALSO. WHAT'S GOING ON. THE DODGE PEOPLE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. I FEEL CHEATED, TRANSMISSIONS COST A FORTUNE AND THEY SHOULD LAST ALOT LONGER THAN THEY HAVE. IS THERE ANY THING I CAN DO TO BE COMPANSATED FOR THIS PROBLEM?

DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT IS A POWER SEAT AND IT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE. SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH LIKE THE SEAT IS OFF BALANCE.*AK CONSUMER STATES SEAT IS SAME AND FACTORY RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR DRIVER'S SEAT ONLY, AND NOT PASSENGER'S SEAT WHICH HAS THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM.*JB

WAS DRIVING A 1994 DODGE, INTREPID WITH FIRESTONE TURANZA T P225/60R16 WITH 5,000 MILES, TIRES BOUGHT FOR VEHICLE AT 65MPH. HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AT LOW SPEED, BUT NO NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. NOISE WAS WORSE LATER & THEN NOTICED TREAD LEFT TIRE. PULLED OVER & THE RIGHT FRONT TIRES WAS STILL INFLATED BUT BALDED. HAD DONE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. A MONTH LATER A 2ND TIRE WAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM OF LOUD NOISE. TOOK TO RETAILER & HAD TIRE REPLACED BEFORE ANY DAMAGE COULD BE DONE.*AK ALL FOUR TURANZA TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. *YH

WHEN STARTING UP CAR THERE ISA REAL STRONG GAS SMELL. THEN, IT GOES AWAY A LITTLE, BUT IS STILL PRESENT.*AK FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE AREA WHERE FUEL INLJECTOR MATES TO FUEL RAIL. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ENGINE IS COLD AND GOES AWAY AFTER ENGINE TEMPERATURE GOES UP. INDICATION IS THAT SEALS ARE INADEQUATE OR NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. *YH

RECALL 99V21500 WAS COMPLETE, BUT ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO TIE ROD WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALLED PARTS, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSED. *SLC

THE FAILURE IS THE WIRE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE TURN SIGNAL PLUG, IT MELTS, BARE WIRES ARE EXPOSED, AND ALMOST CAUSED FIRE, THEN STOPPED WORKING COMPLETLY NUMEROUS TIMES. *AK

SUN HAS CAUSED AIR BAG ON PASSENGER'S SIDE TO COME THROUGH THE DASHBROAD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THE SITUATION WOULD NOT DISRUPT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CONSUMER PARKED CAR AND OPENED HOOD AND SAW A FIRE, CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT OUT FIRE WITH A EXTINGUISHER. *AK

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BRACKETS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-215 WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM. NOTHING INDICATES THERE'S A PROBLEM ON THE DASHBOARD. A PRIVATE MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER TO GO DEALER BECAUSE IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED.*AK

CONSUMER HAS NO PART TO REPAIR RECALL CONCERNING LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS HAS BEEN A WHOLE YEAR DELAY.

WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR BURST INTO FLAMES. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE WINDOW PANEL OF THE DOOR SIDE, AND MECHANISM BOX FOR THE POWER WINDOWS. FLAMES WERE STOPPED BY THE WIRING OF THE ELECTRICAL WINDOW PANELBEING PULLED APART. DOOR RECEIVED DAMAGES THAT MIGHT BE UNREPAIRABLE.*AK

RHS PASSENGER FRONT SEAT FAILURE IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION REPAIR OUT NOW FOR THE LHS DRIVER'S SEAT, SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE MANUFACTURER (FILE NUMBER 7715416) AND THEY. *AK

CAR DIRECTION UNCONTROLLABLE DURING ACCELERATION, REPLACED TIE RODS. VEHICLE MAKE CLUNKING NOISE, DURING BRAKING AND STEERING, DEALER RECOMENDS SWAY BAR LINK REPLACEMENT IN FRONT END. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ERATIC, VEHICLE SLOW TO SHIFT ON ENTERING HIGHWAYS CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATION. TRANSMISSION ALSO CAUSES VEHICLE TO LURCH DURING ACCELERATION. SHIFTINH IS DELAYED, BUT WHEN IT DOES SHIFT THERE IS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CRUISE CONTROL SHUTS OFF INTERMITENTLY, ACCELERATES OR DECELERATES UP TO 5MPH WHEN SET. HOOD HAS SHUT AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE MANY TIMES. HAS NOT CAUSED INJURY BUT IS VERY DANGEROUS. NO VISIBILITY AT NIGHT DUE TO HORIBLE HEAD LIGHTS.

TRANSMISSION SKIPS AND JUMPS, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WON'T GO ANYWHERE, AND LOSS OF POWER.*AK CONSUMER HAD RECALL (99V-215) COMPLETED ON 12-MAY-2000, RECALL INDICATES THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT CAN OCCUR DUE TO DEFECT IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. CONSUMER FEELS THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AFTER RECALL REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE IT REPAIRED AT NO ADDITONAL COST. *YH

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND FRONT END COLLAPSED. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL GARAGE, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS. CONSUMER SAID THAT WHEN SHE TURNED KEY IN IGNITION SWITCH IT WOULDN'T TURN. *AK

INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY DETERMINED THAT THE RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY REQUIRES REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. *AK

INSPECTION OF THE SEAT SLIDING RAILS AND THE STATIONARY RAILS ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT FOUND THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. FOUR PIECES OF PLASTIC WERE FOUND ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE SEAT. THESE PIECES WERE 5 & 15/16" LONG AND APPROXIMATELY 1/4" THICK. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BACK OF THE SEAT COULD BE LIFTED APPROXIMATELY 1/4" IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION. THESE PIECES WERE BROKEN FROM A PIECE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE SIDE OF THE STATIONARY SEAT RAIL BY 5 3/16" NUBS THAT ENGAGED MATCHING HOLES IN THIS STATIONARY RAIL. THIS WAS OBSERVED FROM THE REAR PASSENGERS AREA. THE PLASTIC PIECE WITH THE 5 NUBS IS 5 1/2" LONG AND HAS 5 TABS THAT SHOULD ATTACH TO THE AFORE MENTIONED PIECES. THIS WAS OBSERVED ON BOTH THE INBOARD AND OUTBOARD SEAT RAILS. THESE PIECES PROVIDE A SLIDING SURFACE AND A SPACER TO TAKE UP THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE MOVING SEAT RAIL AND THE STATIONARY SEAT RAIL ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR. SIMULAR DEVICES WERE OBSERVED ON THE FRONT OF THE AFFECTED SEAT WHICH WERE NOT BROKEN. THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS CONDITION IS THAT THIS FREE APPROXIMATE MOVEMENT OF 1/4" COULD ALLOW MOVEMENT TO GENERATE, DURING AN ACCIDENT, AND CAUSE THE SEAT TO TEAR LOOSE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR A FATALITY TO THE PASSENGER.

BOTH PLASTIC SPACERS OR GUIDE WERE BROKEN AND LAYING ON THE FLOOR. IT ALLOWED THE BACK OF THE PASSENGERS SEAT TO MOVE UPWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF AT LEAST ONE QUARTER OF A INCH 1/4 ". THE SEAT BELT IS HOOKED TO THIS ASSEMBLY AND THIS FREE PLAY COULD IN CASE OF A ACCIDENT BE ENOUGH TO GIVE A HEAD START AND ALLOW THE SEAT TO TEAR OUT AND INJURE THE PASSENGER.