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.
4.5
definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,467 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.
Repeated repairs of same problem, I had to have a timing chain put on this car twice within a year and half of having this car, I also have had leaks from the oil pan and the transmission which has been repaired twice thus far. Now the problem is that the oil light comes on when the car goes from fast moving speed to lower speed and it stays on for a minute or two then it goes off, but it does come back on eventually.this car has had more repairs than all the cars I have owned and just a matter of time before the engine does go out.
Complete engine failure at 75000 miles, oil light began to flash on and off engine started to knock loudly vehicle lost all speed and stalled on expressway enterance ramp.this vehicle's oil and filter was changed every 3000 miles yet when the engine was disassembled there was large amounts of sludge through out the it's inside, engine was cleaned and rebuilt with new rods, camshaft, bearings pistons ect, this was the cheapest fix. From all the information that I have read there seems to be a problem with a great many of the 2.7 liter V6 engines installed in this vehicle. The repairs are very costly and time consuming.
Consumer took vehicle for a routine check up. Mechanic stated that water pump needed to be changed because it was leaking antifreeze, part number 501718388aa. Tube and gasket, part number 5277928, were replaced. Dealership iwas aware of problem.
- Forest City, IA, USA
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Water outlet housing contains metal bleed screw which randomly leaks antifreeze. First leak occurred approx 3 months ago and housing was replaced. Housing leaked again, dealer tightened bleed screw but would not replace housing. Housing is once again leaking, dealer will not repair. Service manager says that Chrysler engineers report that this leakage may occur and that no action will be taken to correct antifreeze leak. Leakage occurs where bleed screw fitting inserts into the plastic water outlet housing. Leakage does not occur from bleed screw but instead from the fitting to housing interface. Chrysler engineers also reported (thru service manager) that they have had several complaints on this but there is no service bulletin or corrective action to stop leakage.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Mill, SC, USA