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:
24,068 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.
1999 Dodge Intrepid ES: Transmission had been overhauled three weeks ago because of intermittent bump, surging in automatic, rough shifting in lower gears. There was also a one time slippage, a jam in fourth gear and transmission once shifted back in fourth rapidly in lower gears. Transmission was overhauled, input/output speed sensors, torque converter, disc clutch replaced. Transmission seemed to work better since overhaul and replacements three weeks ago. Problems are now slowly starting to come back. Transmission does not function consistantly as it should. Recent examples: 11/19 made U-turn, let of accelerator pedal then pressed pedal for medium acceleration, tranny hesitated then bumped then finally worked. 11/20 while driving to work I stopped at traffic light then lightly pressed accelerator pedal, tranny seemed to lock down hard and vehicle accelerated very quickly, faster than usual. Vehicle almost smashed into car in front of me. Engine did not rev as like it was a throttle request. This has only happened once or twice since owning the vehicle. Dealership says transmission is fine and shifts fine. I asked dealership to check for fault codes, they state that no codes were found. I will be taking it to another dealership.
- San Leandro, CA, USA
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- Cypress, TX, USA