Failure during vacation. While driving oil light came on, pulled to side of road and engine was 'ticking'. Towed (on Sunday) to dealer who later reported motor was totaled.

We were 3-400 miles from 1st destination, and unable to travel with 6 people in the remaining Toyota car. So wifes sister had to drive 6hrs up to get us, then back again. in addition to a total loss of the Dodge, we have had to purchase an additional car to finish the trip....

Motor has already been replaced once due to oil conditions with a take out motor that had a reported 40,000 miles on it. This would put the total mileage on the motor at around 65,000 when it failed.

Bought the 99 intrepid from dealer in 2000. Also purchased warranty to 75000 miles. At 70000 miles I noticed it start to smoke and need oil. The dealer was confused and told me to drive it till the part broke. He knew I was nearing 75000 miles. I told him to fix the f-n problem. I bought the car because it looked nice and was comfortable and ran. They cheaply fixed the car I would believe because the repair was only $1400. Upper engine repair is what it was called. Now at 140000 miles it needs it again. So what, every 75000 miles this damn car needs major overhaul. I know most foreign cars dont need this type of maintence. Also the car has pissed me off in other ways. Ex.-power window stopped working, transmission slips, axle makes clicking sound, and what the hell is that sound under the hood when you slow down to stop. I want $5000 dollars for having to deal with the crappy car and not being able to rely on it. Piece-o-shat.

This POS from Dodge was my 84 year old fathers car. He bought it used 3 years ago and was still making payments. It has started smoking when you take off from a stop. I saw all the oil sludge complaints, so I bought this 4 wheeled turd from Dad and sold him my 2003 Taurus (it's been trouble free) at a loss so he wouldn't end up stranded somewhere. My father is a WWII veteran and deserves better. To Dodge, you scumbags probably don't read these posts but you should. I've always told everyone I know to look at the front of any stalled, smoking and/or dead vehicles that they see because it will most likely have a pentastar on it. That's no &#!T, try it Chrysler! Are you A-holes going to F-up Daimler's name next? Chrysler is number three for a reason. To everbody else, don't buy thier junk, Ford and GM are pretty damn good these days, so you can still buy American with confidence, just not at a Chrysler dealer. I now have to absorb or recoup the cost of this dung heap. It is still running, I will probably sell it for whatever I can get. Unlike those Chrysler dirtbags, I have a conscience and will fully inform any prospective buyer of the risks. P. S. FU Dodge neckties! My father put his life on the line for this country, apparently, so dipsticks like you could rip him and others off. I hope you are all run over by a truck (Ford or Chevy) because one of YOUR cars dies unexpectedly in the middle of the freeway! Sincerely, Tim Coleman.

Yep, I too took mine to the dealer and asked about having to put in a quart of oil in between each oil change. This was after they had already completed a $2500 engine repair job that was covered under my purchased warranty (thank God I let my husband talk me into this $1200 warranty). The first break down they couldn't figure out what it was and it took them 6 weeks to get it fixed. I had something to do with the timing belt and they redid half the engine then. After asking them about the leak they said they couldn't find it and if it got worse come back and they would see if they could find it then. Well it never got worse, but the oil light kept coming on and I would check the oil and it would be fine. My last oil change before the engine went I asked them if they could see a leak and sure enough they found one on the sending unit. But before I could get it back to the dealer the engine started acting funny and on my way to work it starting making all kinds of loud strange noises and then died. After a big joke of getting it towed to the dealer and The dealer wouldn't look at the engine in depth untill we called told them to do it. They said it could be that it wouldn't be covered under warranty and they wanted us to guarentee to pay for it if it wasn't. Duh why do you take a car in if you don't want them to figure out what it was. Sure enough it was oil sludge and it messed up pistons, heads, rods and all that good stuff. But before the warranty would authorize fixing it I had to provide receipts for all my oil changes. Being a woman I kept changing where I got it done and had a family member change it several times. Needless to say after running all over and talking to the guys who changed my oil one comment kept coming up.."Yep this engine is doing this to a lot of people!". Well I have to say I am one of the lucky ones, the warranty paid for all but the oils and our deductable plus a couple of little things and our bill was $102.00 of the $4200 bill. If it hadn't we would have been paying for a car we couldn't drive. I figure I have been driving a used car for three years now that is worth $15,000 and the original price brand new would have only been $10,000. I love the car even with all this stuff, but hate to think what else will go wrong before we get it paid for. And my husband drives one as well but doesn't put as many miles on it, so are we looking forward to the same thing with his. I hope not. I think Dodge should have addressed this problem some how.

I just purchased this car 1 1/2 months ago, took it in for service/oil change, and everything was fine. As soon as I left the shop, the oil light popped on again so I called the shop and explained the situation. They took a look at it, and said it was probably a bad sensor. So it was driving smoothly for a month, and all of sudden hell happened. I was on the freeway, when I started hearing this ticking/clunking noise from the engine, so I pulled off and, of course, checked the oil. No problems there, so I drove another 15-20 miles till my exit, as soon as I got to the light, the engine stalled, so I put it in park and restarted, of course, with the noise still occuring. I parked in a parking lot, and had it towed to the house. Took it to the mechanic today, and was told the engine is gone, and had to be replaced. I was shocked, and do not have the $4-6K to replace engine, but the real kicker is when I researched this problem, and found out that it is the most common problem (read: disaster) with this engine. And am irate, livid, and devastated that Dodge has not recalled this engine. This vehicle was my only form of transportation save for the bus and my 2 feet. Dodge really sucks and encourage any owner of this vehicle to get rid of it, and encourage anyone who has had this problem to consider a class-action lawsuit. Dodge is horrible to know about this common problem and not recall the damn engine!

This is my second report. My first post was Oct 27 2004. My engine was finally covered under the extended warranty I purchased. Once they switched the engine, it died within 2 weeks. I went through the song and dance, and finally got them to get another one, because it was obvious the problem was with the engine, and I threatened a lawsuit.

Well, now the symptoms have returned. The oil light is on again, and I know what happens next. This engine was replaced, and now I am at the same place, only without coverage, and I still owe money on the piece of crap.

I know I won't be getting anything from Dodge. Getting screwed two times is enough for me . . . . . .

My 1999 intrepid had many of the common problems I have heard about. A transmission sensor went out causing the car to start in 2nd gear.( had that fixed by a friend for $175) My driver seat collapsed and the back went all the way back.( I propped up a computer monitor behind it to drive sitting upright) All of my interior lights went out.( who needs to see inside the car anyway) Then came the big one. My oil light would come on when I would idle. Only when I would Idle and not all the time. Then I heard a knocking. Then the car stopped completely. I had a mechanic from the dealer come to my house off duty to look at it. He told me that the 2.7 engine was poorly designed and that the oil should actually be changed every 2000 miles. I solved this problem by not making anymore payments. I'd rather have my credit be a little jacked up than make payments on a car I can't drive or patch a problem that can't be fixed. Oh yeah... recently my 1999 dodge stratus caught on fire while my brother was taking his driver's test.

My daughter was graduating from college a week before this last Christmas. A day before graduation on the way home ( a one hour drive) with the car loaded with her "stuff", the engine decided to make some noise then eventually froze up by the time she got it stopped and pulled off the side of the highway (in 20 degree weather). She called me at work and I had to leave to get her - 45 minutes away. We were in between counties which caused alot of problems with AAA responding, so we towed it home by ourselves to our local automotive garage that we deal with. He later told us that the engine was froze up and would need replaced but he doesn't do that but recommended another local garage. I checked with a couple garages which gave me $2800-3000 quotes for a used larger engine and they informed me that this was a major problem with this car's engine. The car was not under warranty, but I started digging into this problem through Chrysler's customer service unit and they told me that I needed to follow the claim procedure through the local dealership by starting with me paying for a diagnostic test. I did and the service manager even said that this engine has a history. He told me that a reconditioned engine would be $6000 with a 3/36mo. warranty or a used engine with no warranty would be $4700. Chrysler customer service said they would help with $1000 towards a reconditioned engine and that's it - their final offer. I am currently trying to work with the salesperson who sold us the car to see what they can do for us. My last possible means of assistance is going to be arbitration through Chrysler - STAY TUNED.

In 1.5 years with this vehicle, this is the 3rd problem with this car: #1 was the fan's switch transducer blew out 3 times; #2 was the transmissions shifter viewer (not under warranty or recall=$800+); and #3 is this engine problem. This obviously was the straw that broke the camel's back. I NOW CONSIDER THIS CAR A LEMON.

*WITHOUT A DOUBT THIS ENGINE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED OR A LAWSUIT IS IN ORDER! ARE YOU LISTENING CHRYSLER??? THERE'S DEFINITELY A LONG HISTORY HERE. HELP US NOW!

I'm not sure if the timing tensioner failed or if I had a sludge-borne engine failure. The tech at the Dodge dealer told us it would not be worth the amount of money it would cost to diagnose the problem and that we would need a new engine anyway.

So the 1999 Intrepid with that 2.7 L engine that we bought used from the Dodge dealer sits in the driveway for a year now while we continue to make our monthly payments and curse Chrysler on the way to the mailbox.

Our treatment on the phone to Chrysler was horrible. The Chrysler represenative was unfeeling and her patter sounded well rehearsed. Like she was reading her reply from a card. I am Mopar no more (and I was a big Mopar guy since childhood). They deserve a major class-action suit, but for some reason nobody is filing one.

I walked into a Honda dealer today to buy a new car (sorry Ford and GM, no more American cars for me due to my Chrysler experience) and when I mentioned that I had a 2.7 everybody seemed to know what I was going through. It was like EVERYONE knew of the problem with the 2.7.

What's up with that? Everyone looks like they know there is this problem, but nowbody really officially agnowledges it. It's like they're afraid.

I purchased my Intrpid new late in 1998. As a Realtor my car was my office so kept it in immaculate condition. One day while driving I noticed that my oil light was coming on at idle. I immediately check the oil and it was fine and well ahead of the next scheduled change. Just to double check I stopped at an Exxon station and they said it was fine. When I arrived back at my office and pulled into the parking garage I noticed a ticking noise. Called a tow truck and you know the rest. My 6th and last Dodge There may be hope though, the ABC affiliate in Chicago aired a sludge report on 9-16-04 and the ABC affiliate here in Austin also aired one on 11-9-04. Keep up the heat and pressure and just maybe we'll get somewhere.

Driving with pregnant wife and two young children on Garden State Parkway 3:00pm on a Saturday, heavy traffic but moving. Car engine failed without warning. No oil light turned on, engine seized. Chrysler customer service told me that it is my problem because it is past the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty. Other vehicle is Jeep and was considering buying Chrysler Town and Country. Some much for loyalty to customers. Chrysler not willing to help at all! Need new engine and or looking to rid myself of all Chrysler vehicles and start anew.

I AM MAD, MAD, MAD... November of 2004 I took my car in because the oil light stayed on and my car was using NO oil. The car dealer has always done all repairs and oil changes(I had extended warrenty also) Well it took them 3 tries to fix it and it finally was fixed (I thought). No more oil light on. It felt different and sounded different. The service guy tried to tell me that "when cars get age they are like old prople" "they start to moan and groan" GIVE ME A FRICKING BREAK!!!! In Januaray of 2005 we decided to move to NC and my last car payment was in February 2005. I bought my car from birth with 2 miles on it in 1999. had a few kinks to get out at 1st then it was a perfect car. Well 2 weeks before the move my car started to clack. ONLY 500 MILES SINCE CAR WAS REPAIRED FROM OIL LIGHT STAYING ON.. Never heard it before. I get the car home and NO OIL.. I called to make an appointment and they could not get it in for 4 weeks. I put oil in car and still clacked a little. So we moved to NC. Drove all the way from Florida and used no oil. Well it is November 2005 and my car has not used any oil at all and still has a slight clack. Only have added 2500 miles since the move in Feb. 2005 Guess what? Go to work the other day and car motor starts jumping all over the place and I pull off road and call tow truck. Call local car dealer and they can not accept the car at this time to work on it. So I have it towed home. Oil is fine... When I try to start my car it sounds as though the motor is trying to jump out of the body. We cancelled the extended warrenty when we decided to move for the warrenty that we had would not cover out of Flrida residence area. My brother lives in another county and he is a mechanic and says motor is gone. I have tried to call the manufactor and they put me on hold and never come back.. I THINK THER SHOULD BE A LAWSUIT FOR THESE $$$$$$ PEOPLE OR THEY SHOULD SEND US A CHECK FOR 5K FOR THE REPAIRS.