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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,581 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 engine stalled while the consumer was on the freeway. The consumer was able to pull off on a shoulder of the road. The vehicle had the brakes and rotors replaced, and regular maintenance. The consumer took vehicle to the dealership and they told her that the engine had to be replaced. The consumer has not had the problem fixed.
The driver's side power window didn't go down, the passenger's side power window operates intermittently. The window motor must be replaced. The anti-lock brakes were inoperative, and Dodge neglected to repair an oil valve which caused the engine to fail. The vehicle was involved in a fender bender after the leaving the dealership, the consumer believed it was due to the anti-lock brakes.
Cruise control component over took the brake system. Car accelerated from 25 miles a hour in stop and go traffic to 40 miles an hour. This happened in spite of the brakes being compressed. This cause me and my family to end up unde the rear of truck. This action kad occurred again to me personally and to two other persons. This problem was reported to the dealership several times and claimed to have repaired it, but the same thing happenned again on the way home from the shop. The first tiome it was supposedly repaired, the O2 sensor and cruise control cable were replaced. This action has not stopped this vehicle from accelerating on its own. After this incident it accelerated with two different people behind the wheel. My attorney has located two other 99 Intrepids that have done this. One accelerated in reverse and the other in drive like mine. I have contacted Chrysler/daimler customer service, but to no avail. This vehicle has been taken back by the finance company because we refused to pay on anything that almost killed our family. Of course they, household finance, could care less and were only interested in getting their money. I intend to put this information every where I can to hopefully prevent anyone from purchasing this vehicle. They could be killed because it has not been repaired and continues to accelrate ob its own. This car is a death trap and should be taken off of the road. If there is anything else I can do to accomplish the foregoing, please contact me.
While driving on freeway near tracy, ca vehicle drove over smoothly part in freeway that slightly went upward then slightly downward causing vehicle springs or struts to lift up or hop far too much creating very poor vehicle traction, traffic then abruptly halted, had to brake hard to stop vehicle, vehicle had poor traction and just slid making a loud tire screeching noise, had to very quickly release the brake since vehicle was skidding, shifted into autostick and downshifted quickly in conjunction with quickly using brake get vehicle to stop properly. I am using stock Goodyear tires with good tread, service center told me tires are ok, I am supposed to have ABS (anti-lock brakes) so this does not happen. I beleive that the ABS failed due to the springs or struts bouncing allowing the vehicle to lift up too much thus loosing traction causing ABS to fail. I have not had any other problems with ABS however brakes are starting to sometimes feel funny, almost a little rough when applied lately. I talked to independent mechanic that told me that my vehicle should not have skidded as it did and my springs could be responsible for the excessive uplift that occured. Vehicle does seem to hop or bounce a little much also at times causing the front wheels to loose traction or slide on slight turns. New springs or whatever with only 32,000? I have never had that happen in my old 1995 Dodge Intrepid although it had it's problems. This should not happen and is dangerous, I almost smashed into the traffic in front of me. Please advise. Thank you.
While driving out of driveway vehicle accelerated at full speed, causing loss of vehicle control, brakes failed to stop vehicle. Consumer turned ignition switch off to gain control. Rear brakes locked causing the vehiclce to skid. The front brakes could not over come the full acceleration of the vehicle. The vehcile has heater and window motor problem. The consumer believes the problem was caused by electronic failure.
- North Syracuse, NY, USA
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Consumer was in park and engine started racing real hard. Consumer thought by turning heat & radio off it would help engine calm down. Vehicle was starting to move forward in a park postion. Consumer put foot O brakes, and vehicle suddenly took off with two feet pressing down on brake. Consumer was one car length behind another vehicle. Other driver saw consumer's vehicle moving forward, but consumer had rearend other vehicle doing over $1000 worth of damages. Chrysler was sending someone out to cosumer's house to look at vehicle on 04-02-2001.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Earlton , NY, USA