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:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 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.
All seat belt buckle release buttons intermittently stick, requiring excessive force to unbuckle. Also, passenger rear belt occasionally will not pull from retractor.
The seat belt buckle issue we mentioned to the dealership when we had the car in to repair the output speed sensor. Even though we discovered there is a recall on seat belts for the very problem we have had with the seat buckles coming loose that hold our child seats in, the dealership told us that they would not repair ours. The output speed sensor issue almost caused an accident as it instantly downshifted the car to 2nd gear. It caused a terrible jolt to us and we were almost rear ended...taillights didn't flash to warn other cars. Air conditioner issue, well, that just never worked properly. The temperature selector often doesn't change the temperature. Cold comes out luke warm.
- Overland Park, KS, USA
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- Chicago, IL, USA