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1996 Dodge Intrepid reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1996 Dodge Intrepid — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source
NHTSA complaints
709
on record
Top problem area
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
70 complaints
Recalls on record
0
none on record
Reported harm
41 reported crashes · 37 injuries · 25 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#678

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Dodge median

+354

median 355 across 271 Dodge records

Vs 1994-1998

+464

median 245 complaints in 551 records

Top component share

15%

Steering: 108 complaints

What owners report fails — 1996 Dodge Intrepid

  • STEERING:RACK AND PINION 70
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM 40
  • STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY 38
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM 30
  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 26

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1996 Dodge Intrepid

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1996 Dodge Intrepid units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 1996 Dodge Intrepid reliable?

NHTSA has 709 consumer complaints on record for the 1996 Dodge Intrepid. The most-reported problem area is steering:rack and pinion (70 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1996 Dodge Intrepid units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Dodge Intrepid?

Owners most often report problems with: steering:rack and pinion (70), fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system (40), steering:linkages:tie rod assembly (38), engine and engine cooling:cooling system (30). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 1996 Dodge Intrepid?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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