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:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,048 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.
At 1145 am, 29 November 2005, I was driving on interstate 675 at about @ 65 mph, when the engine suddenly, without any prior warning, just quit. I made my way across one lane of traffic to the shoulder and came to a complete stop. Attempts to restart was unsuccessful. Initially, it was thought that the car was out of gas (guage indicated 1/4 of a tank. I called a tow truck and ask that they bring gas. After putting 1 gal of gas in the tank, repeated attempts to start were unsuccessful. The car was towed to dave dennison Dodge, col glen highway, dayton, oh. The agent call me at @ 630pm, 29 November 2005, and informed me that they were investigating the problem. But as of that moment, there were computer codes (cam: P0340, crank: P0320), and that in order to start the car, these sensors would have to be changed. I authorized this service, and on 30 November 2005 @ 200pm, the agent informed me that they were unable to start the engine, and that it was defective, and not a candidate for rebuild. Estimated cost of a new engine $7,000 dollars. Also, they have billed me for the replacement of the sensors, $350 estimated. After review of all available info on the internet, it appears there is a history of problems with this engine. On 14 Dec 05, crysler's agent, impartial services, made a office of $650. To settle this account. It was not accepted. The complaint was entered into the database: 01 December 2005.
The contact stated the engine stopped working. While stopping at a red light the engine made a knocking noise. She turned off the engine, and attempted to restart. However, the engine would not restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop. The mechanic determined the engine would had to be replaced.
While driving home from work, going 60 mph, my car stalled (jerked) and within 2 seconds came back on by itself. The next day while driving to work, the car did the same thing. Today while driving to thanksgiving dinner at 25 mph, my car stalled completely. I heard no knocking or ticking prior to the stall. I was able to pull off to the side of the road; a hard feat in itself since the power steering went out. After 30 seconds, I was able to restart the car and finish my journey. On the way home from the dinner, traveling at 60 mph, my car stalled again. I was driving down a rural road and just wanted to make it home with my daughter; it was extremely cold outside with 25 mph winds and I was 25 miles from home. I was able to restart the car and continue on; this happened 3 times until the fourth time when the car would not turn over again. I got the car towed home on thanksgiving night at 7:00pm, most certainly ruining someone's holiday!
The contact stated while driving vehicle it stalled and lost power. There were no prior problems with the engine before this failure. A repair shop said the engine needed to be replaced. The mechanic did not provide a reason for the failure. Updated 1/4/2006 -
My 1999 Dodge Intrepid 2.7 motor seize up for no reason, oil is always changed on time, but have found out that this is a on going problem & that there are several company's taking up law suits for this situation.
Contact states while driving to work one morning a light came on. After turning the car off and then back on the light goes off then back on again. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership twice. Both times they told her it was her engine. The dealership refuses to repair the vehicle under warranty because they say it's a manufacturer problem. Updated 11/29/2005 -
The contact states while driving she heard a knocking sound in the engine. She had the vehicle checked by a mechanic. The timing chain came lose and caused the engine to fail. The dealer was contacted and they offered no free remedy. The manufacturer was not contacted.
My name is [xxx] and I own a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. I am the second owner of the car purchased with 22,000 miles on it. I kept up with maintenance through the route 4 Chrysler/ Dodge dealer where I purchased the car (which has a pending class action lawsuit against them). The oil light began to blink so I had it diagnosed at a Dodge dealer near piscataway New Jersey. I was told that the car was leaking oil in the engine. I advised them that I have specific parking spaces at home and work and never have I had any oil spots under the car. Three weeks ago, the car unexpectedly stopped running when I slowed down for a red light. When the light turned green, I started the car and proceeded to turn right and the car died as I was trying to turn. I had it towed to three different auto mechanics and all concluded that the car manufacturer should have issued a recall. The engine is no longer operable and the lowest quote I have found is $6000. Can you please help me? information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The problems with my Intrepid started with my check engine light coming on and it had stalled out on me a few times. I had my oil changed and had a diagnostic run and was told I had to bring it to a Dodge dealer if the light came on again. On Friday Sept 16th I brought my car to a local dealer. I was told that if I needed to have the cam and crankshaft sensor replaced or the car would most likely leave me on the side of the road. So after paying $400 dollars for my two sensors I drove away happily thinking everything was ok. So, on Monday Sept 19, 2005 I retrieved my 99 Dodge Intrepid from the local dealer. On Wednesday Sept 21 2005, yes two days later, I was on the side of the road with a dead car. On a busy highway I waited with an active toddler and my "fixed car" for two hours. Now from everything I have been reading, it seems I do not have a unique situation. My car is right over 80,000 mile my extended warranty was up to 79,000 miles. I have 2 years before it is paid off and do not have enough money to fix/replace the engine or have a down payment for another car and two notes.
I had only owned the car for a week, and there was an awful ticking noise coming from the engine, as well as excessive burning of oil from my tail pipe. I have to put about a quart and a half into the engine every other day. I was driving my car on a busy interstate and my car started making this awful loud ticking noise, the oil light fluttered, and the engine stopped. I pulled over to check out the oil level, finding the engine bone dry. I had put two quarts in it that morning, only driving 30 miles before this happened. The car has not been repaired because, like many people, I cannot afford a repair costing between 2,500 and 4,000 dollars to fix. So many complaints have been shown on these 99 Dodge Intrepids, I just hope that NHTSA can help prevent this problem of risking peoples lives.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. While driving the engine blew out. The check engine light came on for a couple of hours and went off one month prior to this failure. The dealership told the consumer that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealership told him that there was a crack in the engine, and the spark plugs were not working. This happened in mid July 2005. Updated 12/27/2005.
The contact was driving 1999 Dodge Intrepid when the car locked, including the steering and the engine. The car came to a stop on the highway. This was the first incident of this kind with this car. Also, the contact has a 2000 Dodge Intrepid and the same thing happened. He reported of having no problems with the car prior to this. No lights came on, and there were no noises or any warning. The dealer said they could not do anything about it because the warranty on the engine expired.
I had a 99 Dodge Intrepid. My car was having problems with the oil and we believed there to be a leak because it would never hold oil very long before the tank would be bone dry. But even after taking it to a mechanic we could not find a leak. In March was driving back into town when my car broke down. It started making a really loud clunking noise like the engine was about to fall out. After having it towed home a mechanic looked at it and said that the engine had gone out and I needed a new one. I ended up having to file bankruptcy due to the fact that the car was only worth $3000 or so and it would have cost more than that to fix it and that I was already $4000 upside down. However, I am about to be sued by the credit union that I had the loan for my car on due to them losing so much money on it.
The engine in my 1999 Dodge Intrepid failed in the middle of traffic with no warnings whatsoever. I was told by the dealership that it not a default, but it was the fact that the oil needs to be changed every 3000 miles on point and use 5W 30 oil. If this is true, why was this information not included in the manual or even relayed to us before we bought the car. If you know that oil has to be changed every 3000 miles exactly, shouldn't there be a sensor that lets you know that. Who would buy a car if they were told that your engine would malfunction if you go over 3000 miles without an oil change. In my opinion, this is a defect.
The contact bought a 1999 Dodge Intrepid. He had it for 6 months and started hearing a knocking noise about 2 weeks ago. He took it to the mechanic. The mechanic said there was something wrong with the motor, and it was a manufacturing defect. He had bought an extended warranty, but the manufacturer will not cover the expense of putting a used motor in if there was sludge buildup because it was a defect in the motor. If there was no sludge buildup they will cover the cost.
While driving the engine blew out. The consumer was driving 40 km when this happened. The consumer said that T5 minutes before this happened the check engine light came on. The mechanic told the consumer that the timing chain slipped due to sludge build up which caused it to hit a rod. Previously, a knocking noise come from the engine area. The consumer had taken vehicle to the dealer to have an oil change and the noise was not as loud. There were no injuries. There had been no previous problems with the engine. No fire came from the engine, but there was smoke.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Huber Heights, OH, USA