CarComplaints.com Notes: The Dodge Intrepid, Stratus & other Chrysler sedans are infamous for oil sludge problems with the 2.7L V6 engine. If someone offers to sell you a 2.7L V6 model, it's only worth the price of the scrap metal it's going to shortly turn into.
NOTE: Only the 2.7L V6 has the oil sludge problem. Our "Avoid like the Plague" designation is ONLY for models with the 2.7L V6 engine. All other available engines are very reliable with no major problems.
Even with regular maintenance, the oil sludge defect eventually destroys the 2.7L engine typically around 80,000-100,000 miles. The only true fix we know about is to put in the larger 3.2L engine, which has a great reputation.
This issue was never deemed a safety defect by the Feds, so there was no recall. In the end, Chrysler got away with FOUR YEARS worth of defective 2.7L V6 engines in their sedans.
3.5
definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,500 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The consumer owns a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. Consumer states that her doors will lock sometimes and sometimes they will not. The doors will also unlock itself. Consumer has tried locking the doors from the inside and not using the electronic door lock on her key chain and this still will not help. The doors will unlock anyway.
1999 Dodge Intrepid. Driver's side window: Continuously gets off-track. Dirver's seat: 1-seat falls back 2-seat at semi-recline position. Front seat passenger door lock: 1-often will not unlock with key; 2-will unlock only after electronic lock/unlock button on driver's side is used and then manually lifting front passenger door lock; and 3-when using the electronic lock/ unlock button a terrible loud noise is heard. I do not know what, "oem" is or means, therefore I don't know how to properly answer the questions referring to the oem block.
From what they say, my timing belt came off and took out the engine. I also had problems with the power locks going out at the same time, the steering was starting to go out and the cam sensor went out.
- Darien, GA, USA
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- Warrenville, SC, USA