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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 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.
Consumer received a recall notice regarding the front seat belt retractor. When calling the manager at the local dealer, it was told to consumer the parts needed to be ordered or looked into. No one followed up and consumer again called inquiring about the recall. To date the manager has not gotten back to consumer.
Recall letter 01V119000 was sent. Consumer took letter to dealer and parts were not available/they would call. After second recall notice, no call as of March 2002 from dealer.
The seatbelt would not extract from the retractor. The belt would only come out about a foot and then would lock up. It could not be used to hold a person in the seat as required by law. This has happend in the past, but later it would work. This time I tried several times to pull the seatbelt out but it would not come. Because we had the room we had the person sit on the other side of the seat.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chicago, IL, USA