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:
10,000 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.
2000 Dodge Intrepid bought in April used with 11,000 miles. Since then it has been in shop 9-10 times, mostly consisting of steering problems, such as rack and pinion and the steering coupler. There were other issues, but this was the main concern. One week ago the consumer was involved in an accident, front end impact for which the air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained injuries. No repairs after the accident because there was over $6,000 worth of damage. Emergency brake handle was loose. The dealer determined the it was not connected. The dealer repositioned/reassembled the emergency brake. The key wouldn't come out of the ignition because the shift interlock cable broke. The check engine light illuminated. The dealer replaced the wiring to the brake light switch.
Consumer got out of the vehicle, put it in park, and pulled the parking brake, the consumer got out of the car and turned around because she heard a noise and saw the vehicle going down the hill, the park gear snapped and the parking brake failed, the passenger in the vehicle tried to control the vehicle from the passenger side but could not, the vehicle ended up hitting a small tree, hitting another vehicle, and crashing into a wall.
- Bronx, NY, USA
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- Granger, IN, USA